【Akagashira Ryuji】How to Recreate the Frederic Sound + Guitar Gear and Tone Settings【Effects & Amps】

Introduction (Overview of Tone)

Frederic’s guitarist Akagashira Ryuji is an indispensable presence who simultaneously supports the band’s distinctive dance-rock sound with both “sharpness” and “floating atmosphere.” His guitar work achieves an exquisite balance between rhythmic sharpness and melodic phrases, leaving a strong impression on listeners.

In songs like “Oddloop” and “Yoru ni Rock wo Kiite Shimattara,” his light and bouncing cutting techniques combined with spacious delay/reverb tones create impressive depth. In recent tracks, he has also incorporated three-dimensional guitar sounds that blend seamlessly with synthesizer sounds, achieving a fusion of digital effects and analog guitar.

What’s particularly noteworthy is his exquisite mixing sense of being “danceable yet rock” and “guitar-forward yet non-intrusive.” His tone creation is based on crisp clean tones while using spatial effects to create depth and dimensionality, contributing to the band’s overall groove.

In live performances, he uses various Fender-style Stratocaster guitars, deploying pedalboards with JC-120 clean amps and modulation/spatial effects according to each song. He clearly expresses Frederic’s colorful musical palette through guitar sounds.

Akagashira Ryuji’s tone creation attracts attention from guitar enthusiasts to engineers alike. By analyzing his sound, we can learn how to create guitars that are “not flashy but memorable.”

Below, we’ll thoroughly analyze the amplifiers, guitars, effects, settings he uses, and relatively affordable gear to achieve similar tones.

▶ Search official YouTube videos of Frederic

List of Amplifiers and Features【Frederic・Akagashira Ryuji】

Akagashira Ryuji selects amplifiers capable of producing a wide range of tones from clean to crunch to support Frederic’s distinctive dance-rock sound. In live performances and recordings, his guitar tone is a crucial element that significantly influences the atmosphere of each song.

His amplifier choices reflect a sophisticated understanding of how guitar sits in modern pop-rock mixes. The Two-Rock amplifiers he favors are known for their pristine clean tones and dynamic response, which perfectly complement his playing style that emphasizes clarity and spatial awareness.

The Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 III provides versatility from delicate clean tones to thick crunch sounds, showing excellent compatibility with his Gibson ES-335. This combination allows him to achieve the warm, semi-acoustic tones heard in Frederic’s more intimate arrangements.

His use of the Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box demonstrates his forward-thinking approach to modern recording and live sound. This reactive load box and cabinet simulator allows him to capture the full dynamics of tube amplifiers at any volume level, crucial for both studio work and consistent live performance.

The inclusion of the Kemper Profiler Power Head shows his embrace of digital modeling technology alongside traditional tube amplifiers. This allows for precise recreation of various amp tones and consistent sound delivery across different venues and recording situations.

Gear Name	Brand	Amazon Best Price URL	Artist	Guitarist	Notes
Two-Rock Coral	Two-Rock	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Mainly used with humbucker guitars like Les Paul. Suitable for clean tone-based sound creation.
Two-Rock Bloomfield Drive	Two-Rock	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Used with single-coil guitars. Features rich clean tones and dynamic response.
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 III	Fender	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Handles from delicate clean tones to thick crunch sounds. Good compatibility with Gibson ES-335.
Peterson P100G Mk2	Peterson	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Used as acoustic guitar amplifier. Vintage item with high rarity value.
Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box	Universal Audio	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Used for home recording and live line output. Combines reactive load box and cabinet simulator.
VOX Amplifier (model unknown)	VOX	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Used as home amplifier. Specific model unknown, but features VOX’s characteristic bright clean tones.
Kemper Profiler Power Head	Kemper	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Confirmed use in live performances. Has diverse amp modeling functions enabling flexible sound creation.

Types of Guitars Used and Features【Frederic・Akagashira Ryuji】

Akagashira Ryuji’s guitar selection is characterized by a style that balances visual impact with sonic practicality. In live performances and music videos, many guitars based on Fender-style Stratocasters with distinctive colors and shapes have been confirmed.

Particularly notable are guitars based on the Fender Stratocaster shape, including vintage-looking models with HSS (humbucker + single-coil) configurations, and potentially modified instruments with updated hardware to achieve more modern sounds.

In the music videos for “Oddloop” and “Mei Akuyaku,” he’s seen using a shell pink-colored Stratocaster. This guitar combines visual appeal with well-balanced midrange output, serving as the main instrument for cutting rhythm tones that define Frederic’s sound.

In recent live performances, he’s also been spotted using guitars similar to the Fender Telecaster Deluxe with humbucker pickups, which likely serve as his main instruments for songs requiring stronger distortion or fuzz-like tones.

Notable is his attention to individual guitar identification through colors, pickguards, and stickers. This reflects not only his focus on “sonic consistency” as a guitarist but also his consciousness of “visual presence and impression,” which links to Frederic’s artistic and fashion sensibilities.

Common elements in his guitar selection include: relatively lightweight bodies prioritizing live performance maneuverability; tone creation based on clean to crunch sounds with mid-range emphasis while avoiding excessive high or low frequencies; strategic use of both single-coil and humbucker-equipped models; and color choices reflecting the band’s artistic pop sensibilities.

Gear Name	Brand	Amazon Best Price URL	Artist	Guitarist	Guitar Type	Notes
Stratocaster (Shell Pink style)	Fender	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Stratocaster	Used in MV “Oddloop” and others. Features pop aesthetics and clean tones.
Telecaster Deluxe	Fender	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Telecaster (Humbucker)	Strong for fuzz to distortion range distortions. Confirmed in recent live performances.
Custom Modified Stratocaster (estimated)	Fender	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	Stratocaster (Modified)	Possibly modified pickup configuration and internal components. Live performance setup.

Effects and Pedalboard Setup【Frederic・Akagashira Ryuji】

Akagashira Ryuji’s effects pedalboard incorporates carefully selected effects to create diverse sounds in live performances and recordings. His sound is based on clean tones while cleverly combining spatial and distortion effects to add a unique atmosphere to Frederic’s music.

His pedalboard philosophy centers around creating space and dimension rather than overwhelming the mix with effects. The Strymon BigSky and Timeline serve as the foundation of his spatial processing, providing everything from subtle ambience to dramatic soundscapes that complement the band’s electronic elements.

The inclusion of both the Line 6 HX Stomp and Neural DSP Quad Cortex demonstrates his embrace of modern digital processing alongside traditional analog pedals. These units allow him to access a vast library of amp models, effects, and impulse responses while maintaining the tactile control of individual pedals for core functions.

His overdrive selection includes both classic options like the Marshall Guv’nor and modern boutique pedals from Bogner. The EVH 5150 Overdrive provides the high-gain capabilities needed for Frederic’s more aggressive moments, while the Wampler Ego Compressor ensures consistent dynamics across different playing techniques.

The Free The Tone ARC-4 switching system indicates a professional approach to live performance, allowing seamless preset changes and complex routing options. This level of sophistication ensures that his tone remains consistent and reliable across different venues and performance conditions.

Gear Name	Brand	Amazon Best Price URL	Artist	Guitarist	Effect Type	Notes
Pitchblack Advance	KORG	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	チューナー	High-precision tuning capable standard pedal tuner.
EP Booster	Xotic	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	ブースター	Natural boost improving sound presence.
Ego Compressor	Wampler	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	コンプレッサー	Organizes dynamics and improves clean tone articulation.
EVH 5150 Overdrive	MXR	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	オーバードライブ	Provides high-gain distortion for powerful lead tones.
BigSky	Strymon	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	リバーブ	Diverse reverb modes creating spatial expansiveness.
HX Stomp	Line 6	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	マルチエフェクター	Multi-functional multi-effects covering various tones.
ARC-4	Free The Tone	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	スイッチングシステム	Switcher for smooth effect transitions.
Timeline	Strymon	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	ディレイ	High-quality delay effects creating rhythm and space.
Guv’nor	Marshall	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	オーバードライブ	Provides classic British tones.
Harlow	Bogner	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	ブースター	Booster to increase sound thickness and presence.
Wessex	Bogner	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	オーバードライブ	Uses two units with different distortion characters.
DT-10	KORG	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	チューナー	Floor-type tuner supporting accurate tuning.
Carbon Copy	MXR	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	ディレイ	Analog delay providing warm sounds.
AD-5	BOSS	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	アコースティック用エフェクター	Preamp improving acoustic guitar sound quality.
Quad Cortex	Neural DSP	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	マルチエフェクター	Multi-functional modeling effects enabling wide-ranging sound creation.
SP-1-ND	Mission Engineering	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	エクスプレッションペダル	Used for Quad Cortex control.
Pitchblack mini	KORG	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	チューナー	Compact floor tuner supporting accurate tuning.

Tone Settings, EQ, and Mixing Approaches【Frederic・Akagashira Ryuji】

Akagashira Ryuji’s guitar sound creates a unique atmosphere in Frederic’s music through meticulous settings, EQ adjustments, and mixing techniques. His approach to tone creation is both technical and musical, prioritizing how the guitar serves the song rather than showcasing the instrument for its own sake.

The foundation of his amplifier settings centers on pristine clean tones, with strategic addition of saturation based on song requirements to enhance musical dynamics. Using amplifiers like the Two Rock Coral and Bloomfield Drive, he establishes clean tones as the base while incorporating overdrive pedals as needed to add harmonic complexity without sacrificing clarity.

His EQ philosophy emphasizes midrange presence while judiciously cutting low and high frequencies to ensure the guitar’s prominence in the band’s mix. This is particularly crucial in Frederic’s arrangements, where synthesizers and bass occupy significant sonic territory. By carving out the appropriate frequency space, his guitar maintains presence without competing destructively with other elements.

In mixing applications, spatial effects like reverb and delay are strategically placed to create expansive soundscapes that complement the band’s electronic elements. The Strymon BigSky and Timeline provide different spatial characteristics for each song, from intimate room ambience to vast hall reverbs, creating the three-dimensional sonic landscape that defines Frederic’s sound.

His use of multi-effects units like the HX Stomp and Quad Cortex demonstrates a modern approach to flexible tone creation in both live and studio environments. These units allow rapid switching between optimal sounds for different songs while maintaining consistent quality. The ability to recall precise settings ensures that the carefully crafted tones heard on recordings translate accurately to live performance.

The signal chain typically begins with compression from the Wampler Ego Compressor to even out dynamics and enhance sustain, followed by overdrive staging using the EVH 5150 or Marshall Guv’nor depending on the desired saturation character. Time-based effects are placed post-dirt, with the Timeline handling rhythmic delays and the BigSky providing ambient washes.

Recording techniques likely involve close-miking amplifier cabinets combined with room microphones to capture natural ambience, supplemented by direct injection signals for maximum flexibility in post-production. The Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box facilitates this approach by providing consistent amplifier sounds regardless of volume constraints.

Live sound reinforcement requires careful attention to monitor mixing and front-of-house balance. His use of the Free The Tone ARC-4 switching system ensures seamless transitions between different tonal setups within songs, maintaining musical flow while accessing the wide palette of sounds required for Frederic’s diverse repertoire.

Gear Name	Brand	Amazon Best Price URL	Artist	Guitarist	Effect Type	Notes
BigSky	Strymon	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	リバーブ	Diverse reverb modes creating spatial expansiveness.
Timeline	Strymon	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	ディレイ	High-quality delay effects creating rhythm and space.
HX Stomp	Line 6	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	マルチエフェクター	Multi-functional multi-effects covering various tones.
Quad Cortex	Neural DSP	Search on Amazon	Frederic	Akagashira Ryuji	マルチエフェクター	Multi-functional modeling effects enabling wide-ranging sound creation.

Affordable Alternatives to Recreate the Tone【Frederic・Akagashira Ryuji】

Akagashira Ryuji’s sound, based on clean tones while skillfully combining spatial and distortion effects, adds a unique atmosphere to Frederic’s music. Here we introduce relatively affordable gear that can approximate his tone, making his professional sound accessible to guitarists on various budgets.

The foundation of recreating his tone lies in achieving pristine clean tones with strategic effects processing. A solid-state amplifier like the Fender Champion 40 can provide the clean platform necessary, while the Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive offers the transparent overdrive character that complements rather than dominates the clean foundation.

For spatial effects, the TC Electronic Flashback Mini Delay captures much of the expansive delay character found in his more expensive Strymon Timeline, while the Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano provides lush reverb textures reminiscent of the BigSky’s more subtle settings. These pedals offer professional-quality processing at accessible price points.

Dynamic control is crucial to his sound, and the MXR Dyna Comp compressor provides the consistent sustain and enhanced articulation that characterizes his clean tone approach. This legendary pedal design has influenced countless guitarists and offers excellent value for achieving professional-level dynamic control.

The Zoom G3n multi-effects processor serves as an excellent entry point for accessing the variety of tones required for Frederic’s repertoire. While not matching the boutique quality of his high-end gear, it provides adequate amp modeling, effects processing, and routing flexibility for learning and performing the band’s material.

Guitar selection focuses on versatile instruments that can handle both clean artic