Taiji's basses

Hollywood · **on:** February 01, 2008, 09:17:15 PM

I've noticed that Taiji seems to have a definite preference for four-string, passive-electronics basses. Many Japanese bassists seem to be this way but I think it's especially cool how even Taiji-- with his very active and guitar-like bass playing style-- stuck with such traditional instruments. In theory, someone playing bass like that would "benefit" from additional strings... but personally it's hard to imagine him playing a five-string.

I'm curious though, does anyone know if he ever has used a five-string or six-string bass, either live or in recording? Or even a bass with active pickups?

Maverick · **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2008, 07:04:33 PM

When I remember right I at least have seen a five and six string bass while he was recording or so... it's already some time ago, but I remember that i was impressed to see those instruments

Hollywood · **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2008, 10:42:32 PM

Wow, very interesting, I'm surprised to be honest. If you ever come across a pic, could you post it?

Maverick · **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2008, 08:19:41 AM

No problem - i can search for it again, though I can't promise, that I will find it...

Arucard · **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2008, 06:24:45 PM

I've never seen Taiji using 5 or 6 string basses... I'd like to see some pictures of those too...

One cool instrument I've heard Taiji uses is a "Killer VULTURE W NECK":

I'd really like to see him playin' with this one live... ^^

Hollywood · **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2008, 06:55:24 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

One cool instrument I've heard Taiji uses is a "Killer VULTURE W NECK":

Very cool! Which of his bands does he use it in? I'm guessing Cloud Nine or DTR?

I think that's the first time I've seen a combined guitar/bass instrument in fact... two-neck guitars are usually both guitars. Nice.

Maverick · **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2008, 07:26:15 PM

Wow... I see that the first time, as well, but never seen Taiji using it... anyhow _ I tried to find the picture but somehow it's... vanished... but I'm sure i've seen it! Damned!
Only that he used a 12-string guitar in the Voiceless Screaming PV... that's for sure

Arucard · **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2008, 10:29:43 PM

Yeah, this is the first twin neck bass/guitar I've seen... I believe he used it in D.T.R, or at least it said so in the website were I found this pic...

@Maverick; Are you sure he used a 12-string guitar on the Voiceless Screaming PV? To me it seemed like a regular 6-string guitar...

Maverick · **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2008, 08:43:14 AM

Quote from: "Arucard"

@Maverick; Are you sure he used a 12-string guitar on the Voiceless Screaming PV? To me it seemed like a regular 6-string guitar...

Yes, i'm sure with that.
Here you can have a look at a picture though it's not very good quality - but if you have a close look at the machine heads, you'll see that there are 6 of it on every side of the neck:

Click on the picture to enlarge

Arucard · **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2008, 03:32:27 PM

Yeah, that's definitelly a 12-string guitar... I was watching the PV again, and I'm pretty sure there are moments where he's using a 12-string guitar, but there are moments where it looks like he's using a 6-string... o.o

12-string:

6-string (I think):

Hollywood · **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2008, 06:46:04 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

Yeah, that's definitelly a 12-string guitar... I was watching the PV again, and I'm pretty sure there are moments where he's using a 12-string guitar, but there are moments where it looks like he's using a 6-string... o.o

Yeah, I would say definitely that's a 12-string in the top photo and 6-string in the bottom one. These kinds of videos are often edited together from different takes or different performances, so maybe whoever was in the editing room either didn't notice the difference or didn't think it mattered for the video.

Arucard · **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2008, 07:50:56 PM

Quote from: "Babak"

Is it even possible to play a 12-stringet beauty with fingerpicking? :shock:

I'm not sure it's possible, either... It does look like Taiji is holding a pick on that 12-string guitar picture...

Hollywood · **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2008, 10:37:47 PM

You guys got me really curious about the 12-string/6-string thing, so I pulled out my Visual Shock 3 tape and took a look... been a while since I've actually watched that PV.

He's fingerpicking a 6-string for the majority of the song, except for a few parts where they cut to a close-up of him playing a 12-string guitar with a pick. It's edited together; the transition between the two instruments is too fast to do live. The audio is the same as on the CD-- if you want to hear the 12-string, the first 12-string part is after "got to find my way out of here"-- and it looks clearly like what they call a "studio live", i.e. a fake stage performance done under studio conditions with no live audience, like the Joker and Desperate Angel PVs. Based on all of that I doubt he has ever used the 12-string in a live concert.

VioletCamicat · **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2008, 11:19:40 PM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

He's fingerpicking a 6-string for the majority of the song, except for a few parts where they cut to a close-up of him playing a 12-string guitar with a pick. It's edited together; the transition between the two instruments is too fast to do live. The audio is the same as on the CD-- if you want to hear the 12-string, the first 12-string part is after "got to find my way out of here"-- and it looks clearly like what they call a "studio live", i.e. a fake stage performance done under studio conditions with no live audience, like the Joker and Desperate Angel PVs. Based on all of that I doubt he has ever used the 12-string in a live concert.

I also think he didn't use that guitar live, but only in studio and for that one clip. And I never thought that this clip is from a gig. xD But now while many seemed to think that - could have been so. Never saw that stage-like look, hehe.

*sighs* The only ballad of X I really like! I even LOVE it! <3 I'm afraid it's the fault of the guitar, I'm not sure!

And about the basses I really haven't a single clue. On stage I only saw Taiji using 4-string basses, as far as I know. Just the Killer basses... I remember a red, a black and a violet one in X shape and two ones in a shape that reminds me a little of acoustic guitars - one black with some pattern and one brown. o.o'
Ah and before Killer he had another... err.. forgot the name but you can see it in the Tokyo Sports Valley gig, I think.. also a black one.

Hollywood · **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2008, 11:47:36 PM

Quote from: "VioletCamicat"

I also think he didn't use that guitar live, but only in studio and for that one clip. And I never thought that this clip is from a gig. xD But now while many seemed to think that - could have been so. Never saw that stage-like look, hehe.

Yeah, plus if it were at a real concert, they'd be sweaty and their hair and clothes wouldn't be so perfect.

And about his basses, I just found this-- can't believe I didn't think to look here before!
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAIJI#.E4.BD.BF.E7.94.A8.E6.A9.9F.E6.9D.90

It's a list of Taiji's instruments, from the Japanese Wikipedia. But no photos. I can't easily read it all but could work on translating some if anyone is really interested. Just skimming the article though, it mentions the ones you did plus some others. No mention of extra strings I don't think, unless I've missed it...

Oh yeah, and according to this article the combined guitar-bass (which they call here a Killer W-NECK "Vulturewing") was used in the DTR song "Apocalypse".

Arucard · **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2008, 04:40:59 PM

Quote from: "VioletCamicat"

*sighs* The only ballad of X I really like! I even LOVE it! <3 I'm afraid it's the fault of the guitar, I'm not sure!

And about the basses I really haven't a single clue. On stage I only saw Taiji using 4-string basses, as far as I know. Just the Killer basses... I remember a red, a black and a violet one in X shape and two ones in a shape that reminds me a little of acoustic guitars - one black with some pattern and one brown. o.o'
Ah and before Killer he had another... err.. forgot the name but you can see it in the Tokyo Sports Valley gig, I think.. also a black one.

Voiceless Screaming is not the only X ballad I like, but it's definitelly my favorite... Because of this song 'Jealousy' became my favorite X-album... ^^

That bass he uses on Tokyo Sports Valley looks like a BC Rich to me...

BC Rich NT Warlock Bass

There are some older pictures from 1985/86 where he's using a different bass, that looks a lot like a BC Rich model as well...

Hurley · **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2008, 04:41:16 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

Quote from: "Babak"
Is it even possible to play a 12-stringet beauty with fingerpicking? :shock:

I'm not sure it's possible, either... It does look like Taiji is holding a pick on that 12-string guitar picture...

Sure you can. The "double-strings" are so close together that it's not difficult at all.

VioletCamicat · **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2008, 05:12:09 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

Voiceless Screaming is not the only X ballad I like, but it's definitelly my favorite... Because of this song 'Jealousy' became my favorite X-album... ^^

Well, to me Voiceless Screaming is the only ballad which sounds really like a rock ballad to me the way it is composed. I don't hate the other ballads, they hust bore me. :oops:

Quote from: "Arucard"

That bass he uses on Tokyo Sports Valley looks like a BC Rich to me...

BC Rich NT Warlock Bass

There are some older pictures from 1985/86 where he's using a different bass, that looks a lot like a BC Rich model as well...

Yeah, this is the one I thought about as well. Though I'm not sure if it really IS that one or just a similar model from another label, to be honest. ^^;

Hollywood · **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2008, 08:18:10 PM

From the Japanese Wikipedia article about him, it seems the one he used was a Fernandes Warlock, but clearly it's a copy of that BC Rich Warlock design. It also says that Heath used the same model as Taiji did, but Heath's was a Burny Warlock (Burny is made by Fernandes, so same thing).

I can't confirm or deny the Heath part since I don't know much about Heath's basses, but interesting trivia I guess.

Oh, and Voiceless Screaming is my favorite X ballad too. Though I also like Unfinished (especially the Vanishing Vision version).

Arucard · **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2008, 12:00:30 AM

One difference you can see from Taiji's bass to this one I've posted is the head:

I don't know much about Heath's basses as well, but if I remember correctly, there's a Toshi video, where he, the guys from Night Hawks, and Heath, Pata and hide are performing "Somebody Loves You" live... in that video I think Heath is using a Warlock bass...

And here's the other bass I was talking about, that looks like a BC Rich:

VioletCamicat · **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2008, 03:11:23 PM

Yes, you're right, but I didn't choose that on purpose. In fact I cannot identify myself with the way Yoshiki's ballads go.

I even don't know why.

And I got a question to all about the basses. Not about the instruments theirselves but about the way to play them. Can someone tell me about other poeple who have a similar way to play the bass? I just think Taiji has a very unique style there and I really love it. When I think of Xclamation and his bass solos - just awsome! And I just noticed that it's really easy to hear him play in the songs - not so with Heath. I really have problems to spot out Heath unfortunately.

So since I like Taiji's way of playing the bass, I just wanted to ask, if someone knows similar players. I noticed that Duff from G'n'R sometimes had a similar way to play - are there more? I would wonder, if not. :?

Maverick · **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2008, 03:49:59 PM

Quote from: "VioletCamicat"

And I got a question to all about the basses. Not about the instruments theirselves but about the way to play them. Can someone tell me about other poeple who have a similar way to play the bass? I just think Taiji has a very unique style there and I really love it. When I think of Xclamation and his bass solos - just awsome! And I just noticed that it's really easy to hear him play in the songs - not so with Heath. I really have problems to spot out Heath unfortunately.
So since I like Taiji's way of playing the bass, I just wanted to ask, if someone knows similar players. I noticed that Duff from G'n'R sometimes had a similar way to play - are there more? I would wonder, if not. :?

I told you that before, but I really do think that Ban, the bassist of 44 Magnum has a similar way to play... since to me it's so easy to figure out the bass there, and it sounds pretty playful... similar to Taiji's style.

Arucard · **Reply #22 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:01:33 PM

One bass player who has a style that reminds me of Taiji is Markus Grosskopf, from Helloween...

Another one is Billy Sheehan, from Steve Vai's band, Mr. Big, Talas, Niacin, David Lee Roth's band, etc, etc...

But I really can't remember other bass players that manage to use slap in Metal songs the way Taiji does... I love his slaps in songs like "Xclamation" and "Give Me The Pelasure", and "Twisted" or "Everyone Lies" from Loudness...

VioletCamicat · **Reply #23 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:19:03 PM

Yes! These slaps! That's exactly what I meant. Also this playful kind of playing.. somehow autonomically. xD

ThanX for the hints! (damned the amount of new music I wanna listen to becomes more and more! xD)

Hollywood · **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2008, 08:42:00 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

One difference you can see from Taiji's bass to this one I've posted is the head:

...

And here's the other bass I was talking about, that looks like a BC Rich:

Good spotting, you're right, the heads are definitely different. Was he sponsored by Fernandes during the time he was playing the Fernandes one? If so then that could explain things-- maybe he started out in the indies days playing the BC Rich, and Fernandes made him an (almost) look-alike model later, or something.

@Maverick, I haven't listened to any 44 Magnum lately (I had some CDs of theirs once upon a time and for some stupid reason I sold them), but I remember seeing some magazine article where Taiji listed 44 Magnum as one of his favorite bands or influences or something like that. So if they play similarly then that would explain it (and would explain some of Taiji's early image too, similar look).

Arucard · **Reply #25 on:** February 08, 2008, 11:40:42 PM

Quote from: "Hollywood"

...I remember seeing some magazine article where Taiji listed 44 Magnum as one of his favorite bands or influences or something like that. So if they play similarly then that would explain it (and would explain some of Taiji's early image too, similar look).

That's cool... I never knew Taiji liked 44Magnum... They're a great band, especially their earlier material...

VioletCamicat · **Reply #26 on:** February 09, 2008, 03:32:02 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

Quote from: "Hollywood"
...I remember seeing some magazine article where Taiji listed 44 Magnum as one of his favorite bands or influences or something like that. So if they play similarly then that would explain it (and would explain some of Taiji's early image too, similar look).

That's cool... I never knew Taiji liked 44Magnum... They're a great band, especially their earlier material...

x3 Yeah, that sounds like a really good taste concerning music, hehe!
As far as I remember right he also mentioned Queen, Motörhead, KISS and The Beatles - that was in his book though, hehe. At least I heard a really interesting bass in Queen songs. About the Beatles I have no clue really, but what I know from Lemmy from Motörhead and Gene Simmons from KISS isn't that specific like Taiji's way to play. I can be wrong naturally, but I'd count those two bass players as standard rock bass - nothing really dominant.
(:roll: At least I think Gene Simmons' solos are rather boring, when I just shut my eyes and listen. It seems to me, that his solos are much more about spitting blood and looking evil than about skilled playing.

)

Arucard · **Reply #27 on:** February 09, 2008, 03:47:28 PM

Yeah, Gene Simmons bass solos are really bad... But overall he's a good bass player... In my opinion he's better than John Deacon from Queen, who's also pretty good to me... But I never payed much atention to Lemmy's bass lines to say how good he is... And Paul McCartney doesn't seem like a very tecnical bass player either...

VioletCamicat · **Reply #28 on:** February 09, 2008, 04:19:48 PM

Quote from: "Arucard"

Yeah, Gene Simmons bass solos are really bad... But overall he's a good bass player... In my opinion he's better than John Deacon from Queen, who's also pretty good to me... But I never payed much atention to Lemmy's bass lines to say how good he is... And Paul McCartney doesn't seem like a very tecnical bass player either...

Well, I wouldn't say that Gene's solos are really bad - he just obviously has other priorities! XDDD He's just too visual! :twisted:
I don't know really if he's better than John, but I simply find it easier to hear John. I mean, I only have to think of "Anotherone bites the dust" for example - Yay! Bass! So easy to hear! xD There doesn't come a KISS song into my mind now instantly, even though I know more KISS songs than Queen songs.
And Lemmy... well... I think he does a good job, but thinking of that Motörhead has only one quitar (at least I only saw three bandmates, so I guess it's only one guitar), it's really difficult to hear him clearly as well... I mean hear his play. His voice is really good to hear! xD

Arucard · **Reply #29 on:** February 09, 2008, 08:38:33 PM

Quote from: "VioletCamicat"

Quote from: "Arucard"
Yeah, Gene Simmons bass solos are really bad... But overall he's a good bass player... In my opinion he's better than John Deacon from Queen, who's also pretty good to me... But I never payed much atention to Lemmy's bass lines to say how good he is... And Paul McCartney doesn't seem like a very tecnical bass player either...

Well, I wouldn't say that Gene's solos are really bad - he just obviously has other priorities! XDDD He's just too visual! :twisted:
I don't know really if he's better than John, but I simply find it easier to hear John. I mean, I only have to think of "Anotherone bites the dust" for example - Yay! Bass! So easy to hear! xD There doesn't come a KISS song into my mind now instantly, even though I know more KISS songs than Queen songs.
And Lemmy... well... I think he does a good job, but thinking of that Motörhead has only one quitar (at least I only saw three bandmates, so I guess it's only one guitar), it's really difficult to hear him clearly as well... I mean hear his play. His voice is really good to hear! xD

One KISS song where you can easily listen to the bass is "Sure Know Something". I think is harder to listen to Gene's bass lines because KISS has two guitar players, and the rhythm guitar is always playing pretty much the same thing the bass is playing... On Queen you have only one guitar, so it's easier to listen to the bass.

Motörhead had two guitar players for a while, I think... But Lemmy's bass is full of distortion, so it's harder to listen to it clearly...

Yeah, Lemmy's voice is unmistakale... :twisted: