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

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Introduction (Overview of Tone)

Yuuri is not only a talented singer-songwriter but also showcases remarkable expressive capabilities through his guitar playing in his music production. His guitar sound is characterized by a warm acoustic tone, skillfully transitioning from deep, clean sounds to light overdrive as needed.

In iconic tracks like “Dry Flower” and “Milk Tea,” the natural resonance of the acoustic guitar and the dynamic interplay of strumming and arpeggios create a captivating spatial expression. Additionally, in band arrangements using electric guitars, smooth leads and riffs that highlight the sounds of Jazzmaster and Les Paul are particularly striking.

The reason his sound design garners attention is that he maximizes the individuality of the guitar while expanding the musical atmosphere through the functions of amplifiers and built-in effects. This results in a sound that is highly reproducible in live and studio settings, delivering the “warmth of Yuuri” to listeners.

▶ Search official YouTube videos of Yuuri

List of Amplifiers and Features

One of the key pieces of gear supporting Yuuri’s guitar sound is the YAMAHA amplifier. The recently introduced model features multiple modes, including “Crunch,” “Classic,” “Modern,” and “Boutique,” allowing for versatile tone switching tailored to different songs and performance situations.

The built-in effects of the amplifier include distortion, chorus, phaser, tremolo, flanger, and spring reverb, enabling a wide range of sound creation when combined with the guitar’s internal effects during live performances. Notably, the Crunch mode pairs well with acoustic guitars, characterized by a soft and prominent midrange.

In the studio, he utilizes the Modern mode for a transparent sound and the Boutique mode for a deeper clean tone. Additionally, applying light phaser or tremolo effects from the built-in effects adds subtle variations to the expression of arpeggios and strumming.

Due to its high reproducibility in both live and recording settings, as well as its ability to faithfully extract the guitar’s tone, the YAMAHA amplifier is considered an indispensable part of Yuuri’s sound design.

Types of Guitars Used and Features

The core of Yuuri’s guitar sound lies in a variety of acoustic guitars. The main guitar he uses is the YAMAHA LL36 ARE, which features a unique processing that provides a vintage-like rich resonance. It captures the vibrations of the strings well, allowing for a careful reproduction of nuances in strumming and arpeggios, making it widely used in both live performances and recordings.

During television appearances such as NHK SONGS, he uses the YAMAHA LJ36 ARE, a model officially introduced by Yamaha, known for its clear highs and stable lows. Other models like the YAMAHA N-1000 and FG series, as well as the Martin D-18, are also used depending on the situation, particularly the Martin Little Martin series and Taylor Baby Taylor NAT, which are utilized for their portability as mini guitars.

For electric guitars, he has been seen using the YAMAHA RSP20X, Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Sunburst, Fender Jazzmaster Black, and Fender Telecaster Black, switching them according to the song and arrangement. The Jazzmaster, in particular, was used during the 2024 ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL, showcasing a wide range of tonal expressions from smooth cleans to lead lines.

The selection of guitars is likely influenced by the high reproducibility in live settings and the ease of switching tones within songs. Using the TransAcoustic™ guitar allows for reverb and chorus effects without an amplifier, enabling expressive performances. This diverse selection of guitars contributes to the warm guitar sound characteristic of Yuuri.

Effects and Pedalboard Setup

In Yuuri’s sound design, he often utilizes the built-in effects of his guitar and amplifier, resulting in a relatively simple external pedalboard. Particularly, the YAMAHA TransAcoustic™ guitar includes built-in reverb and chorus, allowing for spatial effects with just a connection to an amplifier. This approach minimizes the need for additional effects while maintaining a warm and natural tone during live performances.

He also effectively employs the built-in effects of the YAMAHA amplifier, lightly applying phaser, tremolo, and flanger to add subtle fluctuations to the expression of arpeggios and strumming. Distortion can be adjusted through the amplifier modes, accommodating a wide range from clean to light overdrive based on the arrangement of the song.

The selection of effects is crucial for accommodating both acoustic and electric guitars while ensuring high reproducibility in live settings. The built-in reverb and chorus of the TransAcoustic guitar are particularly significant, as they create a natural spatial feel without going through an amplifier or multi-effects, making them central to Yuuri’s sound.

Tone Settings, EQ, and Mixing Approaches

Yuuri’s sound design is characterized by maximizing the individuality of the guitar. For instance, with acoustic guitars, he focuses on the natural resonance of the TransAcoustic™ guitar and YAMAHA LL36 ARE, adding subtle reverb and chorus through the amplifier’s built-in effects to enrich the spatial feel within songs. He pays particular attention to balancing the fullness of the low end with the clarity of the highs, often emphasizing the midrange in EQ settings.

For electric guitars, the clean and light overdrive sounds produced by the Fender Jazzmaster and Les Paul serve as the foundation, with the amplifier’s “Crunch” and “Modern” modes switched to control the nuances for each song. Especially in lead phrases, lightly applying the amplifier’s built-in chorus or phaser creates a smooth and expansive sound image.

In mixing, positioning the guitar in stereo during recording helps avoid interference with vocals while adding thickness to the track. The attack of strumming is often smoothed out with a compressor, maintaining a consistent presence even in dynamically varied songs. Furthermore, the application of reverb is adjusted for each track, with deeper settings for intros and interludes, while keeping it subtle during vocal accompaniment to enhance the dynamics of the performance.

During live performances, the ability to switch amplifier modes and utilize the guitar’s built-in effects allows for immediate adjustments according to the PA environment. Additionally, pre-setting EQ and effect configurations for transitions between electric and acoustic guitars ensures a smooth change in tone. These meticulous settings and mixing approaches help maintain Yuuri’s signature “warm and enveloping sound.”

Affordable Alternatives to Recreate the Tone

To recreate Yuuri’s warm acoustic and electric sound with relatively affordable gear, multi-effects units from brands like BOSS and YAMAHA are ideal. For example, the BOSS “GT-1” features built-in amp simulators and spatial effects, enabling a wide range of sounds from clean to crunch.

For acoustic guitars, models like the YAMAHA “THR5A” and “THR10II” are compact amplifiers that include modes mimicking the TransAcoustic vibe, allowing for easy access to Yuuri’s warm tones. These can be purchased for around $100 to $500, making them user-friendly for live or home recording.

For electric guitars, the BOSS “ME-80” or “GT-1000 CORE” multi-effects units are effective for easily replicating the sounds of Les Paul and Jazzmaster. Their amp simulator functions can recreate the thick crunch of a Les Paul or the smooth clean tone of a Jazzmaster while adding built-in chorus and reverb to easily achieve Yuuri’s spatial feel. This allows for creating similar sounds without needing expensive amplifiers or effects.

For beginners, the BOSS “AD-3 Acoustic Preamp” is also recommended. It connects directly to acoustic guitars, providing natural boosts and tone adjustments, making it an accessible way to emulate the TransAcoustic sound. Its affordability and high reproducibility make it a suitable entry point for trying out Yuuri’s sound.

Summary and Conclusion

The essence of Yuuri’s guitar sound lies in “maximizing the individuality of the guitar” and “combining amplifiers and effects in a balanced manner.” With acoustic guitars, he focuses on the natural resonance of the LL36 ARE and TransAcoustic™ guitars, adding reverb and chorus to create a warm spatial atmosphere. For electric guitars, he utilizes the characteristics of the Jazzmaster and Les Paul, switching between amp modes and built-in effects to navigate from smooth clean tones to light overdrive.

Moreover, Yuuri’s sound design is not merely about assembling gear but also involves fine-tuning according to the nuances of each song’s arrangement and performance. Adjustments in amp channel switching, EQ settings, reverb levels, and stereo placement in mixing all contribute to highlighting the sound’s individuality. Even for beginners, using built-in effects on guitars or multi-effects units can easily produce the warmth and spatial feel characteristic of Yuuri.

In summary, understanding and recreating Yuuri’s guitar sound requires a perspective that emphasizes “cherishing the guitar’s resonance and optimizing effects and amplifiers according to the song and performance.” This approach allows listeners to experience the unique warmth and depth of Yuuri’s guitar sound.