[Takuya] How to Recreate the Antic Cafe Sound + Guitar Gear and Tone Settings [Effects & Amps]

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Introduction (Overview of Tone)

Takuya, the guitarist of Antic Cafe, is known for his ability to create catchy and pop-oriented phrases within the visual kei scene. His playing style encompasses a wide range, from supporting melodic lines to delivering impressive leads, making him a core component of the band’s bright and approachable sound.

His guitar sound is characterized by a shimmering and clear tone, effectively combined with various effects to create a sense of depth. In iconic tracks, Takuya utilizes chorus and delay to craft a transparent sound that adds a unique color to the fast-paced pop-rock genre. He skillfully switches between a single-cut Les Paul for a thick sound and a PRS or Telecaster to adapt to different song styles, showcasing his versatility.

Moreover, Takuya is meticulous about his sound during live performances, using a switcher to ensure consistency. As a key player in Antic Cafe’s sound, he maintains both stability and brilliance. Understanding his sound can deepen your appreciation for the band’s music and serve as a valuable reference for guitar playing.

▶ Search official YouTube videos of Antic Cafe

List of Amplifiers and Features

A crucial element supporting Takuya’s sound is his choice of amplifiers. According to official profiles and reliable sources, he is known to use Hughes & Kettner amplifiers. While the specific model names have not been disclosed, the brand’s signature clear and articulate tone is strongly linked to Takuya’s bright guitar sound.

Hughes & Kettner amplifiers are tube-based yet designed with modern sound characteristics, capable of covering a wide range from pop rock to hard rock. Particularly in Takuya’s playing style, the clarity of clean tones and the quick response when lightly driven are significant attractions. Even with effects like chorus and delay layered on, the sound remains clear, allowing him to maintain a strong presence within the band ensemble.

During live performances, it is assumed that he switches between amplifier channels in conjunction with his effects board. For songs that focus on clean tones, he likely employs a shimmering sound, while for more rock-oriented tracks, he boosts the mids for a distorted sound, tailoring his tone to fit the song’s style. Notable models from Hughes & Kettner, such as the TriAmp and TubeMeister, possess characteristics close to Takuya’s tonal preferences, making them worthy of consideration.

Additionally, in Japan, Pearl Musical Instruments serves as the official distributor for Hughes & Kettner, providing peace of mind regarding artist support and maintenance. This support system may contribute to Takuya’s stable stage sound. It is also believed that the sound creation during recordings is based on this brand’s amplifiers, directly linking to Antic Cafe’s unique transparent guitar sound.

Overall, Takuya’s amplifier selection emphasizes “clarity,” “presence,” and “compatibility with effects,” aiming to maintain a consistent tone both on stage and in the studio.

Types of Guitars Used and Features

Takuya’s guitar collection is diverse, reflecting the color of the songs and his expressive capabilities during live performances. A standout is the striking blue PRS Custom 24 (Royal Blue). The modern and hi-fi sound characteristic of PRS allows for a brilliant and well-defined tone, essential for Antic Cafe’s energetic pop songs. The clarity in cutting play and lead solos significantly enhances his stage presence.

On the other hand, the Gibson Les Paul Custom (Black) features a thick midrange and sustain, excelling in adding depth to ballads and hard rock tracks. This Les Paul is frequently seen in live photos and can be considered one of Takuya’s primary instruments.

Additionally, he also uses the Fender American Standard Telecaster (Candy Apple Red) and Fender Stratocaster (White/Maple), flexibly switching between them according to the song’s requirements. The Telecaster shines in pop tracks that require clear tones and cutting, while the Stratocaster is effective for solos and arpeggios, providing transparency. The Stratocaster has been confirmed in his video series “Takuya’s Atelier,” making it a familiar instrument for fans.

Moreover, Takuya employs the uniquely shaped Dean Z, which not only adds visual impact on stage but also delivers a powerful sound typical of Explorer-style guitars. This diverse lineup is seen as a strategy to freely express the atmosphere of the songs. Thus, it can be said that he has established a style of primarily using the blue PRS and black Les Paul while switching to Telecasters or Stratocasters as needed.

In summary, Takuya’s guitar selection is strategic, aimed at providing the optimal character for each song. By not sticking to a single instrument and flexibly using multiple guitars, he supports the diverse musical world of Antic Cafe.

Effects and Pedalboard Setup

Takuya’s effects board is a crucial element supporting the diversity of his guitar sound. Based on confirmed equipment from official profiles and live photos, he utilizes a wide range of effects, from tuners to spatial effects, modulation, and switching systems. At the core is the Korg Pitchblack tuner, a standard and highly accurate chromatic tuner that ensures stable pitch management during live performances and rehearsals.

To enhance expressiveness, the VOX Wah is incorporated. Takuya’s lead play often features nuanced phrases utilizing the wah filter effect, adding impact to his solos. The BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus adds a shimmering modulation, perfectly matching the bright and refreshing band sound. This effect plays a significant role in shaping the catchy guitar texture in Antic Cafe’s songs.

For spatial effects, the TC Electronic ND-1 Nova Delay is employed, with its echoes providing depth to the overall sound. In Takuya’s solos and arpeggios, he uses shorter delay times to thicken the sound, while longer settings create a dreamy expansion. Additionally, he has a history of using the classic BOSS DM-2, known for its warm analog delay sound, which supported the expression of past tracks.

In terms of modulation, the MXR Phase 90 is included, adding a psychedelic swirl to the sound. To effectively control these multiple effects, the Musicom Lab EFX MK III + Audio Controller is integrated into the board, allowing seamless switching during live performances. Utilizing presets enhances the reproducibility of tones for each song, which is a characteristic of Takuya’s setup.

Overall, Takuya’s effects configuration is built around “pop and clear sound,” “balancing brilliance and depth,” and “live reproducibility,” reflecting his musicality throughout the entire effects board.

Tone Settings, EQ, and Mixing Approaches

Takuya’s sound creation is characterized not just by the selection of guitars, amplifiers, and effects, but also by how they are combined and set up. Antic Cafe’s songs, while pop-oriented, have a rock backbone, necessitating a guitar sound that balances “brilliance” and “thickness.” Therefore, Takuya employs meticulous adjustments in EQ, amplifier channel settings, and effect application.

When setting up Hughes & Kettner amplifiers, it is assumed that he often starts with a clean tone. By keeping the bass low while slightly boosting the mids and setting treble high, he creates a bright and prominent sound. In a band ensemble, where bass and drums support the low frequencies, this setting effectively highlights the mid to high range of the guitar.

When using the distortion channel, he likely keeps the gain at a moderate level, aiming for a crunch to light distortion. Excessive distortion can undermine the pop character, so balancing is key to ensure that the core cutting and arpeggio sounds are not buried. Particularly when using a Les Paul, which tends to produce thickness, it may be necessary to slightly raise the treble to maintain definition.

In terms of EQ, studio recordings likely involve further fine-tuning by the engineer. For instance, lightly boosting the 2kHz to 4kHz range emphasizes the guitar’s attack and adjusts its blend with vocals and synths. Additionally, cutting low frequencies below 150Hz helps ensure clarity without overlapping with the bass and kick drum.

Effect usage is also crucial. The chorus (BOSS CH-1) is added to clean parts to enhance the pop and refreshing texture. The delay (TC ND-1 Nova Delay) is utilized in two ways: applying a light short delay to thicken the sound and using a long delay for a dreamy expansion. Particularly in guitar solos, focusing on delay rather than reverb helps create space, allowing the guitar to stand out within the overall band sound.

During live performances, Takuya employs the switching system (Musicom Lab EFX MK III) to instantly reproduce effect changes for each song. This allows him to deliver a sound nearly identical to the meticulously crafted recordings, providing the audience with a consistent experience. In live settings, reverb is kept subtle, considering the venue’s natural acoustics, while delay and modulation create depth.

In the mixing phase, Takuya’s guitar is often panned left and right, adding thickness through double tracking while creating a stereo effect. Particularly in pop-rock songs, one side may feature a clean tone while the other has a light distortion, layering different textures. This approach enables the overall sound to have depth and dimension, making even simple chord progressions sound rich.

In summary, Takuya’s sound creation style can be described as “focusing on clean tones while highlighting the mid-high range, adding color with effects, and reinforcing thickness and depth in the mix.” His adaptability in adjusting settings based on the song or venue reflects practical ingenuity developed through years of experience.

Affordable Alternatives to Recreate the Tone

To fully replicate Takuya’s sound, high-end guitars like the PRS Custom 24 and Gibson Les Paul Custom, as well as professional-grade amplifiers like Hughes & Kettner, are necessary. However, for those just starting out or looking to achieve a similar sound on a budget, there are relatively affordable alternative gear options available. The price range selected is approximately $100 to $500 (up to $1,000), focusing on beginner-friendly products that can closely approximate Takuya’s tone.

For guitars, the versatile “Epiphone Les Paul Standard” is a strong candidate. As a budget-friendly version of the Gibson Les Paul Custom, it offers sufficient thickness in the midrange and sustain, making it ideal for Antic Cafe’s ballads and powerful tracks. Additionally, the “Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster” and “Squier Affinity Telecaster” allow players to experience Fender-like sounds, effectively replicating the pop-oriented cutting and arpeggios. These can be acquired for around $300 to $500, providing excellent cost performance.

For amplifiers, the “BOSS Katana 50 MkII” is highly recommended for home practice. With its modeling capabilities, it covers a wide range of tones from clean to distorted, simulating the transparent sound characteristic of Hughes & Kettner. Moreover, it allows for sound customization via USB, making it a versatile amp for both live and rehearsal settings. If you’re looking to save a bit more, the “Yamaha THR10II” is another option, particularly suited for home practice or recording, easily replicating the clear tones of Antic Cafe’s pop-oriented tracks.

Regarding effects, while replicating Takuya’s entire board can become costly, utilizing standard models from brands like BOSS and TC Electronic can get you close enough. For example, the “BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus” can be purchased for just over $100, faithfully recreating Takuya’s signature shimmering modulation. For delay, the “BOSS DD-8 Digital Delay” is an affordable, multifunctional option that can effectively substitute for the TC ND-1 Nova Delay. Additionally, for a replacement of the MXR Phase 90, the “BOSS PH-3 Phase Shifter” can be a viable alternative.

For switching systems, beginners do not need to invest in professional-grade Musicom Lab setups. Instead, affordable options like the “Mooer L6 Looper/Switcher” can facilitate easy switching during live performances or practice. This allows for a stable sound creation, even when combining multiple effects, similar to Takuya’s approach.

In conclusion, by combining these affordable gear options, you can effectively recreate the essence of Takuya’s sound, characterized by “brilliant and poppy cleans,” “dimensional delays,” and “accentuating modulation.” It is possible to achieve a sound close to Antic Cafe without necessarily investing in high-end gear, emphasizing the importance of arrangement and creativity.

Summary and Conclusion

In summary, Takuya’s sound creation can be distilled into three key aspects: “pop and brilliance,” “rock thickness,” and “live reproducibility.” His sound is not merely a result of guitar and amplifier selection but is completed through a meticulous approach to how these elements are combined, colored with effects, and optimized in the mix.

In terms of guitars, he centers around iconic models like the PRS Custom 24 and Gibson Les Paul Custom, while flexibly utilizing Telecasters and Stratocasters. This allows him to switch between “thick and powerful tones” and “clear and bright cleans” according to the song’s style. Additionally, incorporating unique-shaped guitars like the Dean Z shows consideration for visual impact during performances.

His amplifier choice focuses on Hughes & Kettner, emphasizing clarity and mid-high presence. The effects board employs chorus, delay, and phaser to create depth, with a switching system enabling instant tonal changes for each song. This reflects a “craftsmanship approach to establishing pop rock.” His settings are designed to be ear-friendly for listeners while leaving a lasting impression.

Furthermore, in studio recordings and live mixes, he highlights the mid-high range through EQ, utilizing double tracking and spatial effects to create depth. Takuya’s sound creation does not rely on “flashy distortion or specialized gear” but rather on “flexible operation tailored to the song while mastering the basics,” which is likely why he has garnered long-lasting support.

For those looking to challenge themselves with his sound, it is not necessary to invest in expensive gear. The key points are “brilliant and prominent mid-highs,” “effects that create depth,” and “guitar selection that matches the song.” By focusing on these aspects, you can come closer to achieving the bright and pop sound characteristic of Antic Cafe.

Ultimately, Takuya’s sound creation embodies the balance of “practicality and brilliance to color the music,” making his guitar sound truly unique.