Kaoru (musician)

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Kaoru
Background information
Born	February 17, 1974 (age 33) Hyougo, Japan
Genre(s)	Rock/metal
Occupation(s)	Guitarist Composer Producer
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Associated acts	Dir en grey
Notable instrument(s)
ESP Ganesa ESP Viper

Kaoru (薫, Kaoru^? , born February 17, 1974, in Hyougo) is a Japanese musician and one of the guitarists of Dir en grey. He has been with the band since its inception in 1997 and was previously a member of La:Sadie's and Charm.^{[citation needed]} He has composed most of Dir en grey's songs (at least up to the Vulgar album, at which individual credits for the music were dropped). His contributions display a fair amount of variety, ranging from slow ballads such as "Zakuro" to upbeat numbers like "Jessica". He performs many solos for the band, which vary strongly in feeling and tempo, similar to his compositions.

Contents 1 Equipment 1.1 Guitars 1.2 Pickups and other accessories 2 References 3 External links

[edit] Equipment

Kaoru is endorsed by ESP Guitars in Japan, who provides him with most of his guitars, picks, and straps. In the past, Kaoru primarily used ESP Custom Shop guitars from his signature-series, Ganesa. Recently he has stopped using the Ganesa guitars and switched to the Viper series, in which he has his own custom model, the D-KV-420.

ESP has released several replicas of Kaoru's signature guitars in Japan through the ESP and Edwards product lines. The ESP artist series offers replicas of the D-KV-420 and the Ganesa II. Edwards offers a miniature Ganesa and replicas of the Ganesa IV and VIII.

[edit] Guitars

Brand	Model	Notes
ESP	Ganesa I	Originally made with a see-thru purple finish on an alder body, which was covered when the guitar was sent to the ESP Custom Shop for repair. ESP also refers to it as Ganesa Sabe because of its faux-rusted metal finish.[1]
ESP	Ganesa II	Has a quilted maple top, which is typically used for aesthetic purposes on instruments, that has been covered by opaque black paint since the guitar's creation.[1]
ESP	Ganesa III	none
ESP	Ganesa IV	none
ESP	Ganesa V	First Ganesa to feature the slimmer body of the later models. Kaoru broke the headstock during the Tour 00 >> 01 Macabre and the guitar was fixed by the ESP Custom Shop but the damage was not painted over.[1]
ESP	Ganesa VI	none
ESP	Ganesa VII	The seven-string Genesa model. Two were made so Kaoru could use two different seven-string tunings.[1]
ESP	Ganesa VIII	First of Kaoru's guitars to have his "Japanese Zombie Heroes" slogan painted on the back of the neck, which was then added to most of the existing Ganesas.[1]
ESP	Ganesa IX	Little is known about this model, due to the artist's switch to the Viper series shortly after its creation.
ESP	VP-200	none
ESP	VP-CTM	Custom made for Kaoru, has a quilted maple top and a custom see-thru pink and purple sunburst finish.[2]
ESP	VP-SL7	The artist's only seven-string Viper.[2] It can be seen during the performance of "Obscure" on the It Withers and Withers DVD.
ESP	VP-Prototypes	Early versions of Kaoru's recent signature guitar. These and the models which followed have more definition in the body than regular Vipers.[2]
ESP	VP-DKV-420	His signature model from ESP.[2]
ESP	Horizon Custom	Has a black see-thru finish with a quilted maple top.[citation needed]
PRS	Custom 24	Has a see-thru black flame maple top.[3] The guitar can be seen during the performance of "Kodoku ni Shisu, Yueni Kodoku." on the It Withers and Withers DVD.
Fender	Jaguar	Has a sunburst finish.[citation needed]
Gibson	Les Paul Standard	none
Gibson	Flying V	Has a cherry finish with white pickguard.[citation needed]

[edit] Pickups and other accessories

• EMG 81 on neck and EMG 85 on bridge of Ganesa I, II, and IV
• EMG 81 on neck and Sustainer Driver EMG 5A on bridge of Ganesa III
• EMG 7 pickups on Ganesa VII
• Seymour Duncan SH-1n and SH-4 on all 6-string Vipers
• Seymour Duncan SH-1n-7 and SH-4-7 on Viper-SL7
• ESP custom-printed picks
• ESP Dir en grey series guitar strap

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} ESP Ganesa series information. espguitars.co.jp.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} ESP Viper series information. espguitars.co.jp.
3. ^ "Dir en grey Pure Essence of Machiavellism", Gigs, Sept., 2004.

[edit] External links

• Kaoru's custom guitars at ESP

Dir en grey
Members: Kyo | Kaoru | Die | Toshiya | Shinya
Discography
Albums: Gauze | Macabre | Kisou | Vulgar | Withering to Death. | The Marrow of a Bone
EPs: Missa | Six Ugly     Remixes: Kai
Singles: Jealous | -I'll- | Akuro no Oka | Yurameki | -Zan- | Cage | Yokan | Myaku | [KR] Cube | Taiyou no Ao | Ain't Afraid to Die | Filth | Jessica | Embryo | Child Prey | Drain Away | Kasumi | The Final | Saku | Clever Sleazoid | Ryoujoku no Ame | Agitated Screams of Maggots
Videography
Clips: Kaede ~If Trans...~ | Mousou Toukakugeki | Gauze -62045- | Kimon | Average Fury | Average Psycho
Live: Mousou Kakugaigeki | 1999.12.18 Osakajo Hall | Tour 00 >> 01 Macabre | Rettou Gekishin Angya | Blitz 5 Days | The Code of Vulgar[ism] | It Withers and Withers | Despair in the Womb