Anyone heard of this guy called Tetsu?

BrandonBass · #1 06-07-2006, 09:38 AM

Hes the bassist of L'arc en ciel, a popular Japanese Rock band. He has a unique and melodic approach. Not like the typical average bassist who plays the root notes, not excessive shredding like sheehan. Just a nice melodic approach kinda like flea's style in 'Soul to squeeze'

maybe you guys can hear abit of him from these clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWIxq...ver%27s%20high

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltoWH...rch=ciel%20usa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCfVs...l%27arc%20live

Marcus · #2 06-07-2006, 10:24 AM

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

Tet has inspired me quite a bit, as you could've probably guessed...

P.S. I get to see Hyde in L.A. next month

edit:

Here's a link to Tets' signature basses.

Marcus · #3 06-07-2006, 10:32 AM

Songs that you should check out...

New World (from their 2005 album "Awake")

Honey (Live)

Stay Away (from their 2000 album "Real")

Anemone (from their 2000 singles collection, this is a fan PV)

BrandonBass · #4 06-08-2006, 08:58 AM

^^^

those r pretty cool man, btw do you happen to know the name of the song in my second link? I thought it was a pretty cool song but have no idea whats the songname

Marcus · #5 06-08-2006, 10:15 AM

That would be Kasou.

phxlbrmpf · #6 06-08-2006, 03:25 PM

Cool, that guy's all over the fretboard and keeps on pumping out nice runs, his style reminds me of Simon Gallup for some reason.

No offense, but his band's music doesn't strike me as that exciting, with the guitars strumming away all the time, but I guess that's the reason his style works with their music the way it does.
They have some nice melodies, though.

Snarf · #7 06-08-2006, 07:29 PM

I dig it.

unagi · #8 06-13-2006, 12:46 AM

hi all, im pretty new here. n pretty new to bass as well (now a rusty comeback musician after 5 yrs of not touching the guitars).

im interested to know how tetsu gets his nice smooth bass tone (guitar, amp and skills aside). might it mainly have to do with the effects or some DI he is using? n yes i a fan of tetsu since many years back.

Marcus · #9 06-13-2006, 01:07 AM

Tetsu uses a Zon Legacy Elite (as pictured below, I believe he uses the Walnut predominantly) for the majority of the Larc recordings, and he plays with a pick.

I assume in terms of EQ that there is a slight boost in the treble frequencies as well as a bit of boost in the low-end frequency with both pickups equally balanced (at least that's what I do when I play Larc tunes alone ^_^).

As of late, Tet has been using Ampeg amplification live for that... well... Ampeg tone, as well as his custom ESP Jazz bass (also pictured below)

Other than that... it's all his ability ^_^;;

wujuu · #10 06-13-2006, 01:11 AM

haha tetsu is the man...lotsa japanese rock bassists play like that though, you should look for some more if you're interested...there are a lot of melodic pick bassists..however...tetsu has one of the more well-rounded approaches imho..hes a personal fav.

never heard kasou before, really dig the bassline. haha...but the guitar sounds so good in the beginning too!! that's some thick tone coming out of a strat.

as for his smooth tone, his bass is probably boosted a bit..he plays with a pick so it kind of rounds out..muddy=smooth? sort of..if that makes sense..and you're probably hearing all his sliding..that may be part of his "smooth" sound also

wujuu · #11 06-13-2006, 01:13 AM

heres a nother japanese band that i used to listen to

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Tgq4laQxW...ir%20en%20grey

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cB42wmn3W...ir%20en%20grey

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c14uhgm_7...aid%20to%20die

wujuu · #12 06-13-2006, 01:15 AM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VzeVOsWOu...%20grey%20live

heres another song, he gets a nice tone out of his bass on this...warm and clear

Marcus · #13 06-13-2006, 01:21 AM

I'm going to see Diru in a couple of months (and Hyde in about 3 weeks) and they're an interesting band... I say interesting because... well... they are a bit out there (just watch some videos...)

And I agree with Wujuu, the majority of the smoothness of Tets' tone is from his sliding.

wujuu · #14 06-13-2006, 01:22 AM

yea they are a bit....weird...lmao

but thats okay!

Marcus · #15 06-13-2006, 01:24 AM

Indeed ^_^;;

unagi · #16 06-13-2006, 01:52 AM

thanks marcus n wujuu. its great to see laruku fans here in talkbass. i guess its natural since tetsu is such a great musician and that l'arc is pretty well marketed beyond the far east.

i stay in singapore and well, its pretty easy to access japanese stuff from this part of asia. n hence, my exposure to jrock since years back.

about tetsu's tone, im glad u guys have the information. i think it'll helped alot in future. although i wont be 100% copying his tone, i think his is rather vintage and tubelike sounding? at least dats some direction i can move forward to. i dont think i can afford a zon bass or an esp at the moment. gonna live with a fender japan aerodyne j bass for as long as i can. asians have smaller build and palm size so the aerodynes are a real blessing.

MakiSupaStar · #17 06-13-2006, 11:42 AM

Haven't heard this guy before, but man, that's good stuff.

However, I have been into a Japanese dub reggae band for quite some time. They're called Dry and Heavy (after the r-section: Dry=drums Heavy=Bass). Good smooth dub grooves with really heavy bass. I would recommend all of their albums. Good blend of instrumentals and vocals (singing in broken English - still very good).

Marcus · #18 06-13-2006, 11:56 AM

Cool, I'll try to check it out

RMXSeven · #19 05-18-2008, 06:34 PM

Hey Guys, Awesome Tetsu info!
Although, Is tetsu still recording with the Zon's?
I was under the impression that he stopped using them for recording in 95 or so.... not sure though ^^

Just a quick question.... do you think that he uses Flatwound strings?

RMXSeven · #20 05-21-2011, 03:00 AM

Check out the newer okawa tetsuya thread. (although it's actually spelt ogawa...)