[TAKURO] – How to Recreate the GLAY Sound + Guitar Gear and Tone Settings [Effects & Amps]

Introduction (Overview of Tone)

TAKURO, the leader and main composer of GLAY, is a rare guitarist who skillfully switches between warm, enveloping clean sounds and heavy, dramatic lead tones. His playing style is rooted in hard rock, blues, and jazz influences, yet always emphasizes melodic phrasing, which makes him the “foundation” supporting GLAY’s musical world.

Signature tracks such as “HOWEVER,” “BELOVED,” and “Winter, again” highlight the guitar’s embracing power in ballads, while “SHUTTER SPEEDS no Theme” and “Kanojo no ‘Modern…’” showcase tight and driven tones in heavier numbers. What remains consistent is his attention to the overall balance of the band sound.

Elements that define his tone include the midrange thickness of vintage guitars, the warmth and punch of all-tube amplifiers, and a sophisticated rack system set up offstage for precision signal processing. In recent years, he has actively adopted modern digital effects and complex routing, yet his style always circles back to “a guitar sound that connects with the listener.”

This article explores TAKURO’s gear and tone approach in detail, providing guidance for recreating his sound both in live performances and home practice. It also serves as an essential study for understanding the essence of GLAY’s overall sound.

▶ Search official YouTube videos of GLAY

List of Amplifiers and Features [GLAY・TAKURO]

TAKURO’s amplifier setup is based on classic tube amps, adjusted flexibly depending on stage scale and song mood. Especially in recent years, his system reflects a balance between vintage tone and modern extended range.

His main amp is the Bruce Zinky NS-2, a rare all-tube model co-developed by Bruce Zinky and NANCY in Japan. Despite being 25W, it offers generous headroom and rich, three-dimensional cleans, perfect for GLAY’s ballads where transparency is key. This has become the cornerstone of his stage sound.

For harder tracks, he relies on the legendary Marshall JCM800. Known as a high-gain classic, its cutting edge and thick midrange form the backbone of GLAY’s rock anthems. Two heads are typically set up backstage, one as backup.

More recently, TAKURO introduced the MATCHLESS HC-30. Its Class A design ensures exceptional touch response and crisp mid-high projection, making it suitable for both chord backing and leads. This amp faithfully translates his expressive dynamics.

Backup gear observed in his rack includes the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head and Koch Supernova 120. While often standby, they may be switched in depending on song requirements, contributing to his layered tonal palette.

Speaker cabinets include a 1960s Marshall 1960A, MATCHLESS ESD212, and Zinky originals, carefully matched to each amp. This ensures consistency and width across his tones, with a solid core recognizable as TAKURO in every song.

Gear	Brand	Amazon Link	Artist	Guitarist	Notes
NS-2	Zinky	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Main amp. Known for its rich, dimensional clean tones.
JCM800	Marshall	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Classic high-gain amp supporting hard live sounds.
HC-30	MATCHLESS	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Expressive Class A amp. Recently added to his rig.
Dual Rectifier Solo Head	Mesa Boogie	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	High-gain standby amp often seen backstage.
Supernova 120	Koch	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Backup amp. Known for warm midrange imaging.

Types of Guitars Used and Features [GLAY・TAKURO]

To match GLAY’s broad musical range, TAKURO uses multiple guitars, each carefully chosen not only for brand or looks but for how well they express the atmosphere of each song and blend into the ensemble. His philosophy of tone aesthetics runs deep through his choices.

On recent stages, his mainstay has been Fender Custom Shop Stratocasters, often featuring matching headstocks. These guitars shine in ballads such as “BELOVED” and “HOWEVER,” where sparkling cleans and harmonic richness are required. Live videos clearly show TAKURO relying on these for the transparent, emotional character that defines GLAY’s soundscape.

He also turns to Gibson Les Paul Standards for heavier tracks like “SHUTTER SPEEDS no Theme” and “BURST.” The Les Paul’s thick, powerful midrange adds punch to GLAY’s rock-oriented moments, ensuring the guitar doesn’t get buried in the mix. The tonal weight anchors the band when the arrangement leans toward hard rock energy.

Another key instrument is the James Tyler Studio Elite HD, a superstrat known for its modern specifications. Its bright highs, fast response, and versatility allow TAKURO to extend his tonal palette. With a shimmering front-pickup clean and a tight, cutting bridge lead, this guitar bridges the gap between classic character and modern flexibility.

Telecaster types also make appearances, especially in lighter songs like “Haru wo Aisuru Hito.” Their bright attack and crisp presence lend themselves to airy arpeggios and rhythmic strumming. In these contexts, the Telecaster represents GLAY’s delicate side, balancing the band’s heavier moments with sparkle and nuance.

Visually, TAKURO’s guitars often feature custom details such as matching headstocks, gloss finishes, and stage-friendly colors. These aesthetic touches complement GLAY’s large-scale performances, showing that his artistic sensitivity extends beyond tone into visual presentation. His approach reflects a holistic view of the guitar as both an auditory and visual instrument.

Considering his consistent use of these models over decades, it is safe to say that TAKURO’s guitar choices form the backbone of his tonal identity, though substitutions or variations may appear depending on tour cycles and recording sessions. Thus, these instruments can be regarded as central to his artistry.

Gear	Brand	Amazon Link	Artist	Guitarist	Type	Notes
Custom Shop Stratocaster	Fender	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Stratocaster type	Frequently used in ballads. Clear, transparent clean tones.
Les Paul Standard	Gibson	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Les Paul type	Used in rock-heavy tracks. Fat midrange delivers power.
Studio Elite HD	James Tyler	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Superstrat type	Versatile with strong highs. Expands tonal range.
American Vintage Telecaster	Fender	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Telecaster type	Used in light, bright songs. Ideal for arpeggios and cutting rhythms.

Effects and Pedalboard Setup [GLAY・TAKURO]

TAKURO’s pedalboard is built around elegance and necessity rather than flashy theatrics. His tonal philosophy focuses on clarity, spatial depth, and supporting the band’s arrangements rather than overwhelming them. This results in a setup that may look minimal at first glance but is finely tuned to deliver emotional nuance across GLAY’s diverse repertoire.

A cornerstone of his rig is the use of multi-effects units such as the BOSS GT-100 and the Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx. These serve as both amp modelers and processors, handling reverb, delay, equalization, and impulse response cabinet simulations. The Axe-Fx, in particular, is highly suited for a band like GLAY, where each song requires distinctly different textures. Presets allow him to store delay times, EQ curves, and tonal shifts, with MIDI foot controllers enabling seamless switching during live shows.

Complementing these multi-units are expressive pedals that add nuance in performance. The Morley Bad Horsie Wah provides auto-on/off functionality, making it practical on stage, while the BOSS FV-500 volume pedal gives him smooth control over dynamics. Both are staples for adding articulation and subtle shading during live performances.

For time and space effects, TAKURO incorporates pedals such as the Strymon blueSky reverb and MXR Carbon Copy analog delay. These contribute warmth, depth, and natural ambience to his clean tones, especially in GLAY’s ballads. Though not always confirmed in every setup, their sonic character fits the lush, enveloping quality often associated with his playing.

On the drive side, TAKURO favors tasteful overdrive pedals that retain string clarity while adding presence. The Fulltone OCD and Xotic SL Drive are widely linked to his setup, offering dynamic, responsive gain structures. These pedals allow him to move from supportive rhythm tones to lead passages without sacrificing tonal integrity.

Interestingly, TAKURO’s approach often blends compact pedals with multi-effects. This hybrid strategy ensures flexibility, giving him access to both studio-quality digital effects and the tactile immediacy of analog stompboxes. It reflects his balance between precision and emotional feel—hallmarks of GLAY’s guitar work.

In summary, TAKURO’s pedalboard is not about extremes but about refinement. Each piece is chosen with the ensemble in mind, shaping his guitar sound into something that complements rather than competes with vocals and other instruments. His consistent tone identity is maintained while allowing adaptability across the band’s wide stylistic spectrum.

Gear	Brand	Amazon Link	Artist	Guitarist	Effect Type	Notes
GT-100	BOSS	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Guitar Multi-Effects	Reliable live processor. Known for versatility and ease of use.
Axe-Fx III	Fractal Audio Systems	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Preamp/Amp Simulator	High-precision presets. Used for both live and studio setups.
FV-500	BOSS	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Volume Pedal	Smooth dynamic control. Essential for expressive live play.
Bad Horsie Wah	Morley	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Wah Pedal	Auto-on/off wah with great stage usability.
blueSky	Strymon	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Reverb	Creates lush, atmospheric spaces in clean tones.
Carbon Copy	MXR	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Delay	Warm analog delay. Adds depth to rhythmic playing.
OCD	Fulltone	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Overdrive	Responsive natural overdrive. Enhances phrasing.
SL Drive	Xotic	Search on Amazon	GLAY	TAKURO	Overdrive	Compact pedal delivering authentic Marshall-style tones.

Tone Settings, EQ, and Mixing Approaches [GLAY・TAKURO]

TAKURO’s approach to tone is deceptively simple yet meticulously refined. His priority is always ensuring the guitar resonates within the ensemble as if it were “singing” alongside the vocals rather than dominating the mix. His settings reveal clear divisions between clean, crunch, and distortion tones, with each occupying its own role in the band’s sonic architecture.

For clean tones, he typically relies on Fender-inspired simulations through the Axe-Fx or clean channels of his tube amps. EQ is often sculpted with a slight mid cut to achieve clarity and presence without clashing with vocals. In ballads with slower tempos, subtle delay and deeper reverb are applied, creating natural sustain and giving arpeggios or single-note passages an emotional, floating quality. These settings are particularly effective in songs like “HOWEVER” or “Winter, again,” where emotional expression is paramount.

Crunch tones are usually built on Marshall-type voicings (JCM800 or Axe-Fx equivalents), with the midrange intentionally retained. This choice emphasizes rhythmic punch, aligning with HISASHI’s sharper guitar tones to create a layered wall of sound. By letting TAKURO’s mid-focused tones interlock with HISASHI’s edgy highs, GLAY achieves a three-dimensional guitar texture that feels both powerful and balanced.

When moving into distortion, TAKURO avoids excessively high gain settings. Instead, he prefers moderate drive that maintains note separation. Boosters like the Xotic SL Drive or Fulltone OCD are engaged to add extra thrust during solos, pushing his guitar slightly forward in the mix. EQ adjustments typically involve rolling off some low and high frequencies to concentrate the focus on the midrange, resulting in a forward yet controlled tone ideal for band interplay.

The Fractal Axe-Fx provides TAKURO with micro-level control of EQ points, allowing him to tailor presets to each track. Live, he uses MIDI foot controllers to switch tones instantly, often moving between clean, crunch, and lead settings within a single song. This ensures dynamic variation throughout performances, allowing the guitar to respond naturally to each section’s demands—choruses lift, bridges gain weight, and solos cut through without overwhelming.

From the PA and mixing perspective, TAKURO’s guitar is rarely placed dead center. Engineers often spread its stereo image slightly to add depth, creating space for vocals while still keeping the guitar’s presence intact. The effect is a tone that supports rather than competes, making the band sound cohesive and expansive. His guitar rarely dominates but always feels essential, which reflects his philosophy of supporting the melody rather than overshadowing it.

In solos, TAKURO sometimes opts for drier reverb or reduced ambience, ensuring the attack and phrasing are crystal clear. This contrast against the lush band mix draws the listener’s attention without needing extreme volume boosts. It’s a subtle strategy that highlights his phrasing and melodic intent, underscoring the emotional narrative of each song.

Ballads occasionally feature a blend of acoustic guitar DI and electric cleans, enriching the mix with both transparency and warmth. This dual-layered approach adds dimension to tracks, reinforcing the emotional depth that GLAY is celebrated for. The combination of acoustic resonance and shimmering electric cleans can often make the arrangement feel symphonic in scope.

Ultimately, TAKURO’s tone settings are not about individual brilliance but about band unity. His careful EQ shaping, restrained gain staging, and spatial awareness in mixes reveal a guitarist who treats tone as an architectural element within GLAY’s sound. Every knob turn is a conscious decision to enhance the emotional storytelling of the song rather than showcase technique. This mindset exemplifies why his sound feels so complete, even though it avoids extremes. It can therefore be assumed that his tone strategies are as much about philosophy as they are about gear.

Affordable Alternatives to Recreate the Tone [GLAY・TAKURO]

While TAKURO’s rig relies on boutique guitars, vintage tube amps, and high-end processors, his tone philosophy can still be approximated without breaking the bank. For beginners and intermediate players, there are practical, affordable options that bring you remarkably close to the GLAY sound if used with the right mindset and EQ adjustments.

On the amp side, a modeling combo like the BOSS Katana-50 MkII is a highly recommended entry point. It offers convincing JCM800-inspired crunch alongside Fender-like clean settings, both essential for covering TAKURO’s spectrum from emotional ballads to driving rock. Its power scaling makes it usable at home while still capable of stage volume, giving you flexible practice and performance utility.

For spatial effects, delay and reverb are central. Instead of high-end processors like the Strymon Timeline or Axe-Fx reverbs, compact pedals such as the BOSS DD-8 or NUX Atlantic provide rich ambient layers at a fraction of the cost. With careful tweaking—subtle delay times for ballads, medium feedback for leads—you can capture the same sense of depth that defines TAKURO’s cleans.

Overdrive is another key area. TAKURO’s use of refined pedals like the OCD or SL Drive can be mimicked affordably. The Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, a clone of the legendary Klon Centaur, is a standout option. It delivers transparent midrange boost, excellent for pushing clean tones into edge-of-breakup territory or reinforcing solos without muddying the mix. Similarly, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer offers strong midrange focus, perfect for rhythm crunch or a singing solo tone. These pedals are inexpensive yet staple tools for shaping GLAY-style tones.

For distortion leaning toward heavier GLAY songs, the MXR Custom Badass 78 Distortion is a cost-effective pedal that provides muscular mids and harmonics reminiscent of TAKURO’s live rock tones. Beginners will find it intuitive to dial in, with enough headroom to cover both rhythm and lead duties.

A tuner pedal is essential for stability—models like the BOSS TU-3 or KORG Pitchblack are inexpensive yet road-tested by professionals worldwide. Likewise, a volume pedal such as the Ernie Ball VP Jr. offers expressive control over swells and dynamics, vital for reproducing the dynamic phrasing TAKURO often uses on stage.

For players who prefer an all-in-one solution, compact multi-effects units like the ZOOM G3n or BOSS GT-1000CORE deliver professional-grade modeling with flexibility in a portable package. GT-1000CORE in particular has presets that emulate classic Marshall and Fender tones while integrating high-quality delays and reverbs. These allow beginners to experiment with layered sounds without needing to invest in individual pedals.

All these alternatives demonstrate that recreating TAKURO’s sound is less about owning rare boutique gear and more about understanding the tonal philosophy: clarity, warmth, and balance. By focusing on EQ—boosting mids moderately, avoiding excessive gain, and layering ambience thoughtfully—you can achieve a tone that pays tribute to TAKURO’s voice while staying within reach of any guitarist’s budget.

Type	Gear	Brand	Amazon Link	Artist	Guitarist	Notes
Amp	Katana-50 MkII	BOSS	Amazon Link	GLAY	TAKURO	Offers Marshall-style crunch and Fender-style cleans in one affordable combo.
Delay	DD-8	BOSS	Amazon Link	GLAY	TAKURO	Compact delay pedal with versatile modes. Ideal for ambient layers.
Overdrive	Soul Food	Electro-Harmonix	Amazon Link	GLAY	TAKURO	Klon-style transparent drive. Mid boost works well for GLAY ballads and solos.
Overdrive	TS9 Tube Screamer	Ibanez	Amazon Link	GLAY	TAKURO	Classic mid-focused crunch. Ideal for supporting rhythm tones.
Distortion	Custom Badass 78 Distortion	MXR	Amazon Link	GLAY	TAKURO	Affordable distortion with muscular mids for heavier GLAY songs.
Multi-Effects	G3n	ZOOM	Amazon Link	GLAY	TAKURO	Beginner-friendly multi-effects unit. Cost-effective and gig-ready.
Multi-Effects	GT-1000CORE	BOSS	Amazon Link	GLAY	TAKURO	Professional-grade sound in a compact unit. Covers amps and effects in one.

Summary and Conclusion [GLAY・TAKURO]

The essence of TAKURO’s guitar sound lies in one philosophy: a guitar that supports the song. GLAY’s music thrives on soaring melodies and cinematic arrangements, and TAKURO’s role has always been to provide a sonic foundation rather than to dominate. His clean tones shimmer like strings in an orchestra, his delays create space around the vocals, and his mid-focused drive tones supply body and warmth. Every choice is made with one priority—making the songs shine.

His gear selections reflect this mindset. Rather than choosing instruments for visual flash or technical novelty, TAKURO consistently picks guitars and amps that emphasize midrange strength and tonal stability. Whether it’s a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, a Gibson Les Paul, or the James Tyler Studio Elite, each guitar is chosen for its ability to serve the music. Similarly, his amplifier rig blends Marshall tradition with modern processors like the Axe-Fx III, balancing vintage punch with digital precision. This balance between tradition and innovation is central to his identity as a guitarist.

For players aiming to capture his sound, it’s crucial to think beyond gear. Owning the same pedals or amps will not automatically yield TAKURO’s voice. Instead, focus on his approach: shaping tones that complement vocals, EQing to leave space for other instruments, and layering ambience with restraint. His guitar is not the star—it is the stage upon which the song unfolds. This perspective is what makes his tone both subtle and unforgettable.

At the same time, recreating his tones is achievable even with budget-friendly equipment. By applying moderate mid boosts, avoiding excessive gain, and using delay and reverb with care, you can approach the warmth and emotional clarity of TAKURO’s playing. Tools like the Katana-50 MkII, Soul Food overdrive, or GT-1000CORE demonstrate that his style is more about intention than about boutique exclusivity. The key is to listen closely, experiment with EQ, and adjust by ear until the guitar truly “sings” in the mix.

Ultimately, TAKURO’s sound teaches us an important lesson: guitar playing in a band is not always about standing out—it is about lifting the entire ensemble. His tones are proof that subtlety, balance, and empathy for the song can resonate more deeply than sheer volume or flash. For guitarists, this is both inspiring and humbling: to strive for a sound that enhances others rather than eclipses them. By adopting this mindset, you too can bring a sense of strength and kindness to your playing, just as TAKURO has done for decades with GLAY.

In embracing this philosophy, your guitar will not only cut through but also connect—turning each performance into something larger than yourself. That is the true legacy of TAKURO’s tone, and the greatest takeaway for anyone who wishes to follow in his footsteps.