Akira Takasaki "The Japanese EVH"

[Tone Slinger]

Yeah, I was tripping on the fact that Klaus Meine, Scorpions Vocalist, sang in Japanese on the Japanese tune "Kojo No Tsuki" on the 1978 "Tokyo Tapes" album, which was live in Japan. He spoke between songs in english, but with that strong german accent. So it was a german, singing in english, then in Japanese . I bet a young (15 or 16 at the time) Akira Takasaki was at that show.

[Smokin Tone]

Great band. I had revisited them a while back and never realized that they had so many CD's.


http://www.mp3search.ru/artist.aspx?id=19391

[Tone Slinger]

I've been listening some more to this dude (Akira Takasaki). I have been checking out some clips at a friends house on YOUTUBE. He is still incredible. He doesnt look,sound or play 'old'. He sounds full of life and energy and doesnt have a 'fat faced' double chin and beer gut. Not bad for a rocker thats 46 years old huh ?

His solo on the 'Dissillusion' ('84) album's "Aries Lament" is truly incredible. Sounds like he's going for a phased out Uli Roth sorta tone (ala "We'll Burn The Sky"). He fuses tone ,chops and great feeling to emote one hell of a good solo.

Also, Akira is absolutly one of the most melodic fast type players out there. His solo's are alway's interesting and fresh sounding, unlike others from his era .

His solo in "Run For Your Life" is also incredible.

[nikki-k]

Hi!
Oh yeah, great band. I picked up Disillusion from an import bin (back in the "Record Store" days ) and was blown away. I love prog rock, so this was sorta.. close. Thunder came out, they got recognition, and it was so different an album to me at the time.

Yeah- they had a few albums before Disillusion. I had all three of those, still have their third, "The Law of the Devil's Land." Disillusion remains my fav. When CD's became commonplace, you have no idea how rough it was finding a copy of Disillusion... Was not going to pay like $40 for an import CD.

I really miss those old days of flipping thru import rock/metal records, discovering new stuff.

[Tone Slinger]

Me too ! I remember seeing Uli Roth's 'Fire Wind' on album in those "Import bins'. I passed it up with the intent of getting it later. It was gone ! That pissed me off. This was '85 and there was no internet or ebay. I thought I'd never get it again. I finally got that stuff on cd 9 yrs ago (expensive !)

I agree about 'Dissillusion' it along with 'Thunder In The East' are my favs. 'Clockwork Toy' is a super solo.

[ericopp]

I'm still a huge Akira fan. He's probably influenced more than I realized.
He would rip-off EVH one solo, RR the next, and Yngwie on another solo; but that's OK by me. I do that, too!

Anyhow, LOVE that rip-roaring Marshall tone he had back in the 80's. Sounds like a JCM800 and a TubeScreamer to me...
Regardless, I can very close to buying a Metaltronix head not long ago on CraigsList mostly cuz of Akira.

Not to get off topic, but has anyone had success modifying their early Marshalls with the Lee Jackson mod kits/DVDs?

[Derkoettner]

Yes I ordered the mod 1 DVD last month and gave it a try. Sounds really great and clean.
If you would like to have more gain out of your amp this is the deal!

[Tone Slinger]

Right on, mod a JMP mv or a 800 mv ! Akira used Jose AND Lee Jackson modded Marshalls (pics show JMP and 800 series) Akira also read and KNEW that Ed's strat was ash, thats why his flying star's and Killer guitars are ash. Akira has that unmistakable brightness and attack, not to mention having that floyd type attack as well.

[yngwie308]

Akira Takasaki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi1jnd_J9nI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXJEYAAqvyg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVPBWq6TjNQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MczkUhkLsEM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5yc3r2hxHs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y91jF6bqJXw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-7H8t0RmZw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPDyA0BlCSs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph3zeAbDLl0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNyD6kFWbjM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu8Mi504Teg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajmNbmdugnw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAogtRdG-XA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRBXDufPaTM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur7VKM6LDh4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R32eIyIv ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUZzPpJE ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAygpYzJHAA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCiX6IQFDqE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoNj3ts1YBw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

yngwie308

[ericopp]

OK, so I've been able to download the majority of Loudness's discography from the '80s. It's awesome. Disillusion, Thunder from the East, Lightning Strikes are all excellent albums with great Marshall tones. Also very cool is the Early Singles album, which includes an instrumental called "Flash Out" and a totally kickass tune called "Gotta Fight".

Akira explores the harmelodic concept on some of his solos; kinda like Ornette Coleman on sax. There's some neat whole tone scale work - a great way to make your solos sound "out there". Talk about playing out of the box!

Another aspect of his playing that stands out is that he is typically tuned to 441Hz for "A" natural. This is normal in pop music, but for a 25.5" scale guitar, we're all used to detuned sounds. Tuning up to normal gives Akira's ash/maple guitar extra snap, crackle, and pop.

[yngwie308]

You guys need to talk to John (Outlier) he worked in Japan and was very close to Loudness, suprised he hasn't chimed in here yet!
yngwie308

[outlier]

Haha, just peeked in and I find this here. Yeah, that's correct. I'm thanked in the SPECIAL THANKS column of the Japanese pressing of Loud 'N Raw.

What can I say? A great player for sure, big influence for me. Aside from the fact that he taps, I'll be honest and say that I never really heard that EVH stealing that others do... I mean, none of it was like a say, Roxy Blue album or anything... That said, say, the solo to "Let It Go" lifts some licks from the Steve Lukather Star Licks VHS instructional video, and in the same order!

Had George Azuma staying with us for the Summer NAMM, had dinner with Mike Vescera, very nice guy. Found out that On The Prowl was initially intended as a Japan-only release. Heard a lot of other stuff, too.

George gave me an advance copy of the new Loudness DVD Munetaka Higuchi, Forever Our Hero. Chops wise . . . Akira is back. And how. He's shredding like a mad man and he's developed this style of vertical one-string playing in which he moves very rapidly along one string, picking very fast, but it's NOT a tremolo-picked glissando or portamento. No, instead, he is clearly hitting individual notes along the way. In effect, he is moving in a very rapid scalar fashion, albeit on one string and as fast as one would expect to hear from an Yngwie or Paul Gilbert moving across the strings. It would seem that mainly Akira does this in an ascending pattern. I've never seen anyone do this like this. It doesn't seem even possible, but he's doing it. I'm even thinking about throwing the DVD on again today 'cause I just have to see this again. Just watching over beers, I wasn't able to completely suss out how he is accomplishing this, if it's a glissando of one finger from one tone to the next, or if multiple fingers come into play at spots while sliding rapidly up the string.

I was told years ago that Akira had only owned two Metaltronix M-1000s, but that he no longer owns them. For the longest time, he's been using various preamps such as a Marshall JMP-1 into Roger Mayer RM-6550 power amps. When touring the USA, I'd imagine he probably uses what he can rent, hence the JCM900s.

I'd seen a recent photo of Akira's pedalboard in which he had among other pedals, a BSM RPA Major. That's on my wish list. Saving for that.

Regarding the Lee Jackson mod video for Marshall, I did that mod on a previously-modified late '70s 2203. I was also able to glean additional info regarding mods done to Akira's Marshalls and incorporate those as well. Sounds really good. I'm very pleased with it.

OK, two of my guitars:

[yngwie308]

Knew we'd get your attention !! Btw I gave you a call today Friday the 4th, please give me a call back today i you are free.
Cheers
yngwie'stevestevens'308

[outlier]

Know what? I saw that you'd called my cell phone while I was out of town on business. We've been going full-freakin'-tilt with our day jobs lately.

You gonna be around this weekend? I may have to do some computer work this weekend, but I will have time to call.

[yngwie308]

I may work Sat John, don't know until the AM ,but am free Sunday..
Thanx
Dave