[Hidetoku Mukai] How to Recreate the NUMBER GIRL Sound + Guitar Gear and Tone Settings [Effects & Amps]

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Introduction (Overview of Tone)

Hidetoku Mukai, the frontman and guitarist of NUMBER GIRL, has been a pivotal figure in the Japanese rock scene since the late 1990s. His guitar sound spans a wide range, from dry cuts to explosive noise, characterized by an aggressive yet delicate touch. Iconic tracks like “Toumei Shoujo” and “I don’t know” showcase a perfect blend of raw distortion and intricate chord work.

Mukai’s playing style is marked by an alternative punk-like slicing stroke, combined with an exquisite control that retains melodic elements even amidst thunderous noise. His guitar is not just an accompaniment; it forms the core of NUMBER GIRL’s sound, exuding a unique presence.

In live performances, the ability to manage both guitar and vocals simultaneously makes equipment stability and usability crucial. Therefore, Mukai’s sound design emphasizes “simple yet effective tones,” consistently maintaining the power that drives the overall sound.

This article will systematically organize the guitars, amplifiers, effects, and signal chains used by Hidetoku Mukai (NUMBER GIRL), delving into the key points of his sound creation. Pay particular attention to how he balances thunderous noise with delicacy through EQ and effects.

For fans and guitarists looking to replicate his sound, this structured information will be beneficial for beginners and intermediate players alike.

▶ Search official YouTube videos of NUMBER GIRL

List of Amplifiers and Features

Hidetoku Mukai’s choice of amplifiers for live performances and recordings primarily revolves around the high-quality German brand Hughes & Kettner. He opts for models that offer high versatility in channel switching and sound shaping, allowing him to navigate between raw distortion and delicate clean tones.

The main amplifier he uses is the CORE BLADE, which features a four-channel configuration capable of handling everything from clean to high-gain sounds. It employs 6L6 power tubes, balancing an edgy sound with powerful drive. This amplifier serves as the backbone of NUMBER GIRL’s thunderous sound.

For smaller venues and live houses, he utilizes the GrandMeister 36. Despite its compact size, it retains the warmth characteristic of tube amps and is well-suited for clean and crunch sounds. This amp likely shines during delicate arpeggios and cutting riffs.

Additionally, for home recording and silent sessions, the Tube Meister 5 is also in use. With headphone outputs and recording capabilities, it is speculated to be a valuable tool for late-night or studio work.

These amplifiers are selected based on the scale of the performance and the direction of the music, ultimately contributing to the “noisy yet meticulously crafted sound” that defines NUMBER GIRL. The presence of the CORE BLADE is particularly significant, forming the core of Mukai’s sound design.

Below is a table summarizing the amplifiers used.

The selection of these amplifiers contributes to the “hard attack feel” and “heavy sound pressure” in NUMBER GIRL’s music. The CORE BLADE, in particular, stands out as a significant piece of gear that symbolizes Mukai’s sound.

Types of Guitars Used and Features

Mukai’s guitar sound is primarily supported by SCHECTER multi-string guitars and custom models. His tone, rooted in punk and alternative genres, balances heavy low-end rumble with intricate chord textures, facilitated by models featuring multi-string configurations and unique pickup setups.

One of his signature models is the SCHECTER Spacious AC-KZ. It features an H-S-H pickup arrangement (front: Sustaniac, center: SSL-5, rear: SH-4) and coil-tapping capabilities, allowing for sharp single notes and thick riffs. This guitar is central to creating NUMBER GIRL’s iconic sound.

Additionally, he is known for using seven-string models such as the Hellraiser C-7 FR and CUSTOM C-7 FR, which are equipped with EMG 707-TW pickups, enabling deep, heavy sounds. These guitars are essential for delivering powerful low-end riffs and high-gain sounds filled with noise during live performances.

He has also incorporated V-shaped seven-string models like the Hellraiser V-7 FR and the expanded eight-string model Hellraiser V-8. The eight-string model covers down to F#, likely used for experimental approaches and arrangements emphasizing low-end.

In earlier stages, he used the SCHECTER Damien 7, which he later customized by swapping pickups to fit his unique specifications. This period already hinted at a style focused on “heavy low-end while controlling noise,” which paved the way for his signature models.

Overall, Mukai’s guitar selection emphasizes a balance between “raw explosive power and meticulous control.” The choice of pickups and multi-string configurations likely evolved to ensure clarity of chords and melodies amidst the noise.

Below is a table summarizing the guitars used.

Mukai’s guitars not only support NUMBER GIRL’s explosive live energy but also reflect his musical curiosity. The design allows for a blend of heavy low-end and high-gain noise while maintaining melodic phrases. These guitars are considered the core of the “NUMBER GIRL sound.”

Effects and Pedalboard Setup

Hidetoku Mukai’s guitar sound is supported by a meticulously crafted effects board that, while appearing simple, is intricately designed. His playing oscillates between “thunderous noise” and “delicacy,” and the selection of effects reflects this duality. The effects confirmed for live performances and recordings are as follows.

For wah effects, he uses the Morley Bad Horsie II. Its switchless design allows for instant activation by simply stepping on it, emphasizing responsiveness during performances. Additionally, the Jim Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q is also utilized for more precise tone control, allowing him to tailor wah sounds according to the song.

For volume control, he employs the Morley Little Alligator. This pedal is crucial for adjusting dynamics during live performances, enabling swift transitions from thunderous sound to silence.

For pitch-shifting effects, the Digitech Whammy DT has been confirmed. It serves as a pitch shifter, allowing for half-step down tuning and creating harmonic phrases, contributing to a unique floating sound.

In terms of spatial effects, he uses the Eventide PitchFactor. This multi-effect unit enhances single-note phrases with harmonizing and detuning effects, adding thickness and depth. The Carl Martin Compressor/Limiter is employed to even out volume levels and emphasize attack, supporting the strength of riffs.

For modulation, the Carl Martin Classic Flanger is used in a chorus-like manner, adding depth to thunderous riffs while maintaining a sense of floating ambiance.

Furthermore, the MXR KFK 10-Band EQ is integrated for tone adjustments. It cuts unnecessary low frequencies and emphasizes mid-high frequencies, allowing the distinctive “choppy riffs” of NUMBER GIRL to stand out in the mix.

The entire effects setup is managed by the programmable switcher Providence PEC-2, which allows for flexible routing and switching of pedals, enabling instant tone changes during live performances.

Below is a table summarizing the effects used.

These effects create a “complex control that appears simple.” They allow for dramatic tonal shifts, oscillating between thunder and silence, enhancing the dynamic quality of NUMBER GIRL’s music.

Tone Settings, EQ, and Mixing Approaches

Mukai’s sound design may initially appear raw and explosive, but it is actually the result of a meticulously adjusted combination of EQ and effects. His guitar sound creates a “wall of noise” while maintaining a presence that does not overshadow vocals or other instruments.

Starting with amplifier settings, when using the Hughes & Kettner CORE BLADE as the main amp, the clean channel is set almost flat to ensure clarity during cuts and arpeggios. In contrast, the distortion channel has reduced low frequencies and emphasized mids. This adjustment prevents interference with the bass and drums in the overall band ensemble, allowing the guitar to stand out.

Specific EQ settings observed with the MXR KFK 10-Band EQ include:

• 31.25Hz–62.5Hz: Nearly cut (eliminating muddy low frequencies)
• 125Hz–250Hz: Lightly reduced (ensuring separation from the bass)
• 500Hz–1kHz: Slightly boosted (bringing the guitar’s presence forward)
• 2kHz–4kHz: Strongly boosted (highlighting the attack of cuts and riffs)
• 8kHz–16kHz: Lightly boosted (adding harmonics and airiness)

This setup allows for clear sound even in thunderous riffs, avoiding muddiness. Additionally, the compressor (Carl Martin Compressor/Limiter) is applied to equalize the attack during riffs, stabilizing sound pressure.

Using different tones for each song is also crucial. For instance, in “Toumei Shoujo,” a relatively clean crunch sound is used to balance delicate riffs with vocals. In contrast, “Tekkaze Surikaku” and “I don’t know” emphasize deep distortion, highlighting the raw guitar sound filled with noise. This “switching channels per song” creates dynamics in live performances.

During recording, a combination of sE Electronics X1 R (ribbon mic) and guitaRF (reflection filter) captures the amp’s raw texture. Furthermore, using the Avid Eleven Rack for line recording adds auxiliary tracks, constructing a thick wall of guitar sound.

In the mixing phase, the guitar’s positioning is spread wide left and right, ensuring thickness through double tracking. One side is EQ’d to emphasize mids, while the other is adjusted for highs, creating a space where the vocals can firmly exist in the center.

Moreover, the Eventide PitchFactor is used to add harmonizing and light detuning, providing a three-dimensional quality to the thunderous sound. This results in the unique “noisy yet cohesive sound image” characteristic of NUMBER GIRL.

In summary, Mukai’s sound design can be distilled into the following points:

• Boldly cutting low frequencies and bringing mid-highs forward in EQ design
• Utilizing compressors to equalize sound pressure and ensure stability during live performances
• Switching between clean and distortion tones for different songs
• Combining miking and line recording to emphasize three-dimensionality in mixes

While often perceived as “explosive punk,” the sound is achieved through meticulous sound design. When attempting to replicate NUMBER GIRL’s music, it is essential to focus not only on distortion but also on EQ and dynamics.

Affordable Alternatives to Recreate the Tone

Hidetoku Mukai’s sound design is built on high-end gear, including Schecter signature models, multi-string guitars, and premium Hughes & Kettner tube amplifiers. However, beginners or those on a budget can still achieve a similar sound using accessible commercial products. Here, we introduce gear priced between $100 and $500 (up to $1,000) that can effectively recreate his tone.

First, amp simulations and multi-effects units are well-suited for replicating Mukai’s diverse sounds. Particularly, BOSS and Line 6 multi-effects units can handle a wide range from high-gain to clean, allowing for the simultaneous management of EQ and compression, enabling the creation of NUMBER GIRL-like dynamic sounds.

Being mindful of EQ and dynamics is crucial, so adding an affordable 10-band EQ or compressor will help you get closer to the “slicing midrange” and “controlled thunder” sounds.

Below is a table summarizing relatively affordable and high-reproducibility alternative gear.

Highly recommended are the “BOSS GT-1” and “Line 6 POD Go.” By combining EQ and compression, you can get quite close to Mukai’s emphasized midrange sound. Adding wah and Whammy effects will also allow for aggressive sound variations during live performances.

Even without investing in high-end Schecter seven or eight-string guitars, it is entirely possible to achieve a sound that balances the “rawness and precision characteristic of NUMBER GIRL” using standard six-string guitars, a multi-effects unit, and EQ adjustments.

Summary and Conclusion

Reflecting on Hidetoku Mukai’s sound design, its essence lies in the “delicacy within thunderous noise.” Utilizing Schecter signature and multi-string guitars, he creates explosive sound pressure with Hughes & Kettner tube amplifiers while skillfully employing EQ and compression to maintain sound balance. This results in a sound that transcends mere noise, embodying “rawness that functions as music.”

Moreover, the introduction of effects like wah, Whammy, and harmonizers adds dynamic expression to NUMBER GIRL’s tracks. The presence of the wah pedal suddenly cutting through thunderous riffs and the pitch-shifting effects slicing through space heighten the tension during live performances. Mukai’s sound is “simple yet complex,” and its intricacy leaves a strong impression on listeners.

To summarize the key points of his sound design:

• Using EQ to highlight mid-high frequencies while cutting low frequencies to achieve a sound that stands out in the band ensemble
• Utilizing compressors and EQ to control thunderous sounds and ensure clarity
• Incorporating dynamic effects like wah and Whammy to add dynamism to tracks

Thus, Mukai’s sound design is supported by the duality of “raw punk spirit” and “meticulous sound design.” When fans and guitarists attempt to replicate his sound, it is crucial to focus not only on distortion but also on EQ and dynamics processing.

Above all, the most important aspect is the “energy in live performances.” NUMBER GIRL’s sound is not only defined by studio recordings but is completed on stage, facing the audience. Mukai’s explosive sound pressure, combined with his engaging performance, creates an unparalleled presence.

In conclusion, Mukai’s sound design represents a fusion of “the primal impulse of rock” and “craftsmanship in sound design,” which has shaped NUMBER GIRL’s legendary sound. By understanding his approach and incorporating it into your playing, you can move beyond mere replication to achieve a “guitar sound as expression.”