Guitar tone · jazz, rock

Masayoshi Takanaka guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 18 Masayoshi Takanaka songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Yamaha SG-2000 into Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus.

Guitars Masayoshi Takanaka used

Yamaha SG-200013 songs
Yamaha SG10003 songs
Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s-early 1980s, Japanese or US model)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s, maple fretboard, sunburst finish)1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s Japanese or US model, as used by Takanaka in this era)1 song
Yamaha SG-2000 (likely, but not 100% confirmed for this track; Takanaka is also known for using Fender Stratocaster and his custom surfboard guitar, but for the Rainbow Goblins era, the SG-2000 is most documented in studio photos and interviews)1 song
Yamaha SG20001 song
Yamaha SG-2000 'Surfboard' Custom1 song

Amps Masayoshi Takanaka used

Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus13 songs
Mesa Boogie Mark II4 songs
Suhr Badger 30 Head2 songs
Mesa Boogie Mark II (as referenced for studio tones in this era)1 song
Marshall tube amp (exact model unknown, likely JMP or JCM800 era, set clean or edge-of-breakup; some sources mention Mesa Mark II for Takanaka, but Marshall is more consistent with the era and tone for this album)1 song
Unknown (likely Roland JC-120 or Yamaha solid-state amp, but not confirmed for studio recording)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Mark II1 song

37 Masayoshi Takanaka tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Brasilian Skies · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Ready to Fly · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000	Mesa Boogie Mark II	4
Blue Lagoon · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG1000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
You Can Never Come To This Place · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000 (likely, but not 100% confirmed for this track; Takanaka is also known for using Fender Stratocaster and his custom surfboard guitar, but for the Rainbow Goblins era, the SG-2000 is most documented in studio photos and interviews)	Marshall tube amp (exact model unknown, likely JMP or JCM800 era, set clean or edge-of-breakup; some sources mention Mesa Mark II for Takanaka, but Marshall is more consistent with the era and tone for this album)	4
Beleza Pula · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
Beleza Pura · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha SG2000	Unknown (likely Roland JC-120 or Yamaha solid-state amp, but not confirmed for studio recording)	3.5
Blue Lagoon · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG1000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Brasilian Skies · solo	Solo · distorted	1970s Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or US, maple neck, single tone knob, as seen in period performances)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most likely, based on era, genre, and Takanaka's known studio use in late 1970s)	3.5
Brasilian Skies · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster (late 1970s, likely Japanese or US model)	Unknown (likely Roland JC-120 or Fender Twin Reverb, based on era and genre, but not confirmed for this recording)	0
Oh! Tengo Suerte · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s Japanese or US model, as used by Takanaka in this era)	Mesa Boogie Mark II (as referenced for studio tones in this era)	3.5
Oh! Tengo Suerte · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s-early 1980s Japanese or US model, maple neck, single tone knob)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Palm Street · solo	Solo · distorted	Unknown	Unknown	4.5
Summer Breeze · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s Japanese or US model, as seen in period photos and live footage)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most commonly associated with Takanaka's clean city pop tones in late 1970s studio work; no evidence of Marshall or Fender tube amps for this track)	0
Tokyo Reggie · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	2.5
You Can Never Come To This Place · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely vintage or Japanese model, as used by Takanaka in late 1970s/early 1980s studio recordings)	Marshall tube amp (model unspecified, set clean; likely JMP or JCM series based on era and genre)	0
Bay Street Fix (LIVE) · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (sunburst, maple fretboard, as seen in Super Live 2008)	Suhr Badger 30 Head	4.5
Beleza Pura · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000 'Surfboard' Custom	Mesa Boogie Mark II	5
Blue Lagoon · solo	Solo · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Blue Lagoon · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha SG1000	Suhr Badger 30 Head	4.5
Brasilian Skies · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster	Roland JC-120	2
Cry Baby Cry · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Cry Baby Cry · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (sunburst, maple fretboard)	Mesa/Boogie Triaxis Guitar Preamp (likely into Peavey power amp or Mesa/Boogie power amp, as per era and sources)	4
Finger Dancin' · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Fender Twin Reverb (model likely, based on era and genre)	0
Oh! Tengo Suerte · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s/early 1980s, maple neck, stock single coils)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	4
Ready to Fly · solo	Solo · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
Ready to Fly · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)	3
Ready to Fly · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000 (likely, based on era and Takanaka's main guitar for studio work in late 1970s)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on era, genre, and Takanaka's known studio amp use; no direct source for this song, but JC-120 is strongly associated with his late 70s/early 80s sound)	4.5
Sexy Dance · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (likely vintage 1970s, sunburst or natural finish)	Alembic F-2B preamp into Peavey power amp (studio), possibly Mesa Boogie for live	0
The Forest of My Heart · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s-early 1980s, Japanese or US model)	Mesa Boogie Mark II	3
The Moon Rose · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000	Mesa Boogie Mark II	5
Tokyo Reggie · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Jazz Bass (likely vintage or 1970s reissue, sunburst or natural finish, passive electronics)	Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 (for guitar), but for bass likely a clean solid-state amp or DI; no direct evidence of Ampeg/Fender/GK for this track	0
Tokyo Reggie · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass (likely vintage 1970s or 1980s, sunburst or natural finish)	Marshall Bass Amp (likely Super Bass or JMP era, set clean with drive from pedals/effects)	5
Tokyo Regie · riff	Riff · clean	Ibanez IMG2010 X-ING	Unknown studio amp (no explicit source for amp model on this recording; likely a clean solid-state or tube amp typical of late 1980s Japanese fusion sessions)	0
You Can Never Come To This Place · riff	Riff · clean	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
You Can Never Come To This Place · riff	Riff · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	5
トーキョーレギー · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s, maple fretboard, sunburst finish)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
トーキョーレギー · solo	Solo · distorted	Yamaha SG-2000	Mesa/Boogie Mark II	4.5

Masayoshi Takanaka songs on popular amps

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Masayoshi Takanaka use?

Across 18 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (13 songs), Mesa Boogie Mark II (4 songs), Suhr Badger 30 Head (2 songs), Mesa Boogie Mark II (as referenced for studio tones in this era) (1 song).

What guitar did Masayoshi Takanaka use?

Most often: Yamaha SG-2000 (13 songs), Yamaha SG1000 (3 songs), Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s-early 1980s, Japanese or US model) (1 song), Fender Stratocaster (likely late 1970s, maple fretboard, sunburst finish) (1 song).

How do I get Masayoshi Takanaka's tone on my amp?

Open any Masayoshi Takanaka song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.