Someone with more knowledge might be able to correct me, but from what I know, there’s no Ware, Yami tote… because it requires a specific guitar, and bringing one extra just for that song wasn’t worth it?
And apparently, this is also why they didn’t play the new FINAL? At least that’s what I was more or less told, but I’m not sure…
If I’m not mistaken it’s a 12-string acoustic guitar.
This actually gave me quite a chuckle when i saw it, definitely not expected. 
Also agree on Kyo sounding a bit strained at times and the repeat songs… Although the repeat songs were all top tier Dir (imo) it would have been nice to mix things up, not like they have never done two totally different sets back to back…
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Were you wearing it on day two as well? I saw somebody with the full Adidas getup and remembered reading this post earlier in the day, so I wondered whether it was you that I saw 
Anyway, people have already said most of what I had to say: just two really fun shows with only minor nit-picks regarding the repeat tracks.
Kyo parting the crowd during Reiketsu was unexpected but cool. I’m always self-conscious about blocking people’s views at shows (because I’m tall as heck), so I was at the back and away from the pit that formed, but I’ll admit that I was a little tempted to join in as it the track built up, heh.
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Nope, I have only gone to Day 1 gig, and now I kind of regret it 
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I mentioned it before but It has little to do with the Guitars. Kaoru has been able to play it using his 6 string electric, which we can assume still has the acoustic pickups installed.
Take a look at the UROBOROS with Proof performance, and the Mode OF Performance.
Or he can play using a clean effect.
Die is using his acoustic to Play Akuro. I’m sure they could’ve packed another acoustic tuned to C# (which is what Uroboros and Withering is majorly recorded with).
This is all a matter of them choosing not to play it. Also IIRC, they don’t really play acoustic heavy joint’s overseas.
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Tnxxx!!! I can see me fall on the ground lmao 
this was insane 
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Yeah, I highly doubt it’s because they don’t want to pack a 12 string acoustic.
It’s been played —according to Setlist — 18 times in 15 years. They treat it like a special song that only comes out once in a while. It makes it more special to the fans.
EDIT: Also, I believe it’s never been played outside of Japan. That’s clearly intentional.
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You nailed it.
I just got it in my head early to never expect DEG to give us Similar sets with Deep cuts/b-sides like Japan. We’re a different crowd vibe wise, acoustics are different, and also I recon they can only travel with so much gear.
And to their credit, they’ve thrown us some nice bones here and there throughout their career. Hell, I think the ONLY reason EU (and possibly US) is getting Akuro is because they played the OG One overseas awhile back.
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Did he ever actually have a piezo pickup installed? I’ve never seen a second output or a toggle switch for it, just the normal output and the main pickup toggle. I always assumed he was using a Boss AC-3 or similar lol
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The piezo is in the bridge of his guitar, as far i know.
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I know that’s where they usually go. But I’m saying I’ve never actually seen evidence it exists in his guitars - there’s no controls for a piezo like you might see on an Ernie Ball Majesty model, and none of the specs from ESP’s artist page for him include it in any of his guitars
So I’m left to assume he’s using something like this on his pedalboard
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Shit man, i just checked his ESP/Edwards page, and you’re right. This must be new-ish, as his 6 & 7-string models did have that piezo pickup.
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How would he control it? I don’t remember him ever having a guitar with a second toggle switch or any other controls to switch between the magnetic pups and the piezo
Not like I have a photographic memory though lol
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Push/pull on the coil tap/volume knob.
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It could very well just be an effect but that shit sounds way too crisp (even more than Die’s actual guitar). I also remember a years old Convo with another Guitar head who also pointed out that it was a piezo.
Lemme see if I can find a screen cap or something
The problem is that it’s hard to actually confirm it. Most of his custom ESP listings (that I can find) dont list it. Weird…
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I used to have an AC-2, and it IS that crisp lol. That’s actually part of why I stopped using it - it’s SUPER bright, and while that helps cut through a dense mix in a live situation it’s not what I would call a “good” sound in most cases. This is also part of why I’m convinced it’s one of those pedals, because I’m familiar with how they sound from using them myself. Whenever I’m listening to say a live version of Vinushka or Revelation of Mankind it’s a super nostalgic sound for me. Brings me right back to being 13 again in my parents’ house lol
That’s certainly possible!
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Is anybody else here going to the final gig in Berlin on sunday? It’s the 31st of March so it happens to be Toshiya’s birthday and I think it’s always nice if the audiance aknowlegdes it with a little Happy Birthday singing but I know it’s a mixed crowed. Is this something the metal heads would join in? 
Too cringe? It would be pretty common in Japan, right? 
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Not only are there no visible controls, but due to the TOM bridge if Kaoru was using a piezo, there would be some level of wiring visible from the piezo saddles since the bridge is not 100% flush to the body. Even if it’s a recessed bridge (like the ESP VP SL7), we would still see some level of wiring from the piezo evident.
I also don’t think ESP would build a guitar with piezo wires exposed like that. That just screams “bad design” to me, which would be very unlike ESP Japan.
I agree with you. I don’t think Kaoru has a piezo in the bridge and instead is using a pedal for the acoustic simulation.
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