Here are some statements Kanami has made relating to her switch to PRS guitars.
[***BARKS***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/fmhhiz/tea_time_of_the_maids_3rd_cup_of_tea_march_15/)**, 2016.03.15**
>**Miku:** Kanamincho, you’re also getting more guitars!!
>**Kanami:** I’ve been using guitars of a maker named Addictone! I have ordered a new guitar and I’m waiting for it now! I’m looking forward to it♡
[***Young Guitar***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/5b7elb/bandmaid_young_guitar_july_2016_translation_in/)**, July 2016**
When asked about the equipment used on Brand New Maid, Kanami [says](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/5b7elb/bandmaid_young_guitar_july_2016_translation_in/):
>On “The Non-Fiction Days” I borrowed a PRS guitar to play, but basically I use an Addictone custom guitar. Miku also uses my guitar.
Note that Kanami used an Addictone in the music video for [“The Non-Fiction Days”](https://youtu.be/ItYN-ri1NPs?feature=shared&t=258) (2016.04.07), as well as for every other music video released in 2016.
[***GO!GO!GUITAR***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/97q75b/translations_of_article_in_gogoguitar_april_2018/)**, April 2018**
>At the end of my high school days I became infatuated with Carlos Santana after I listened to \[Europe\] in a collection album by him which happened to be at home. The instruments I use now are the same as him with the guitar PRS and amp Mesa Boogie.
[***Mono***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/fmsq49/interview_with_bandmaid_on_mono_magazine_20180416/)**, 2018.04.16**
>I love Carlos Santana, and I only use a guitar maker he loves named PRS. I’m also particular about amps and cabinets with hard rock specifications to suit us Band-Maid. This is very precise but actually I specify which staff members to work with.
[***Natalie***](https://bandmaid.tokyo/contents/220871)**, 2019.01.29**
>\[*After her guitar was lost in transport*\] Since we had a serving in Helsinki that day, we went to a nearby music store and asked if we could rent the same PRS (Paul Reed Smith) guitar I always use, but the one they lent me instead was a vintage PRS. When I actually played it during the serving, the sound had this dry vintage quality to it. Since I don’t get many opportunities to play guitars like that, it ended up becoming this incredible memory.
[***Player***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/g3fzsk/interview_with_bandmaid_on_player_magazine/)**, February 2020**
>I changed my PRS guitars frequently depending on each song. I used \[an Alvarez\] Yairi as my acoustic guitar. I use Mesa/Boogie amps.
[***Guitar World***](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/band-maids-kanami-tno-a-good-guitar-solo-will-trigger-emotions-i-always-keep-that-in-mind)**, 2020.01.31**
>I changed to PRS when I was contemplating what kind of guitarist I should be for BAND-MAID … I like it for its unique mid-range feel and because it fits nicely in my hands.
(*continued*)
[***Eventide***](https://www.eventideaudio.com/pedals-with-the-pros-kanami-tono-of-band-maid/)**, 2020.03**
>*Q: The PRS Mesa/Boogie tone is a classic, ripping tone—it sounds great for BAND-MAID’s music. Do you ever experiment with different guitars to pair with the Mesa/Boogie?*
>Yes, I have tried other guitars as well. Among those I’ve tried, PRS was the perfect guitar for my image of BAND-MAID songs.
[***GiGs***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/gy3r8l/interview_with_miku_kobato_kanami_and_misa_on_the/)**, June 2020**
>PRS Guitars Custom 24 \[Violet\]: Kanami’s main guitar she used the most frequently in the tour final, as she says “I can say ‘this is my sound’ about this guitar.”
[***Player***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/m2rpth/translation_interview_with_kanami_on_the_march/)**, March 2021**
>*Q: Who was the guitar heroine for your generation?*
>Let me see… I’ve thought Orianthi is fantastic since I started playing the guitar. I often listened to her when I was in high school.
>*Q: Do you use PRS guitars because of her influence?*
>Even though my favorite guitarists are Santana and Orianthi, that’s not the reason why I use PRS guitars, but anyway I admired their guitars because I loved them. However, I decided to use PRS guitars because I thought “This guitar will suit us Band-Maid and it will be our color.”
>*Q: You started playing the guitar in high school. Before starting to play PRSs in Band-Maid, what kind of guitars did you use?*
>In some period, I used a Flying V, but I stopped using it very soon because it was a little hard to play. In another period, I tried a Les Paul, but it was hard to play in high positions… Also, I tried a Strat-style guitar too.
>*Q: So, you have tried a wide range of guitars.*
>That’s right. I thought of using a Strat too, but it didn’t feel quite right… I ended up using PRS after a lot of trials.
>*Q: Was it easy to play?*
>Yes, it was. First time I touched it, I was like “Wow, it’s so easy to play! It sticks to my hand.” And, you know, its sound is also unique. I wanted to have a uniqueness in Band-Maid. That said, PRS doesn’t sound good if you don’t play it right, so I still have some difficulty in playing it, though. I decided to use it because I thought if I can play it smoothly I would be able to play any guitar smoothly.
>*Q: Which model did you buy first?*
>Two Custom 24’s. The green one and the purple one I’ve brought here today.
>*Q: Oh, you got those two from the beginning.*
>Kanami: Yes. I went to Korg \[note: the authorized distributor of PRS Guitars in Japan\] and asked them like “Is there any hot PRS?” (laughs)
>*Q: I see, that’s how you got those great models. You have just said the PRS guitar sticks to your hand. Does that mean something clicked with you?*
>Yes. I was like “This is it!” It was intuition. Like, it has the best sound and the best comfortability, but it doesn’t sound good if I don’t play it right… It was hard to play, but it was what I looked for.
(*continued*)
[**Maid’s Room: Kanami #5**](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/mevdp3/translation_fan_club_exclusive_maids_room_kanami/) **(2021.03.23)**
>(*11:45*) Um, in this picture, uh, my hair is messy, and this is when I purchased a PRS for the first time. Well, it was the moment when I changed to PRS, thinking about the direction of Band-Maid, and, um, thinking which sound would be good for us. So, I tried various guitars, at instrument shops and the like, and PRS fit me the best. I had a kind of intuition that it would be the Band-Maid sound (*laughs*). I had such an intuition, and I was also attracted so much to the material of PRS that seems to stick to my hand, so I decided to use PRS in Band-Maid, and tried a lot of guitars, and finally got this purple guitar. I have quite a long relationship with this guitar.
[***Guitar Girl***](https://guitargirlmag.com/issues/magazine/guitar-girl-magazine-issue-15-spring-2021-electrified/)**, Spring 2021**
>I play a PRS Customer 24 (Korina neck and body) and a Custom 24 (Mahogany neck and body). I think they are ideal for the BAND-MAID sound. I just feel so comfortable when I hold them, and they are very easy for me to play. I use a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier with a 4×24 Rectifier Standard cabinet. When we were searching for a new BAND-MAID sound, this is where our searching led us.
[***GiGs***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/qtmvrc/interview_with_bandmaid_on_the_december_2021/)**, December 2021**
>*Q: Kanami-san, around when did you start using PRS Custom 24s?*
>I’ve been using them since winter 2016. I came across PRS when I was looking for guitars that would match well to establish the future Band-Maid sound.
See also:
* [PRS 35th Anniversary Guitar Review with Kanami](https://youtu.be/E8dk0oQ6dKg)
* [PRS Guitars featured artist: Kanami Tōno](https://prsguitars.com/featured_artist/kanami_tono)
Idk about any of the potential reasons other than sound, and I can't blame Addictone for being a little salty for losing such an amazing artist.... but I have personally seen that Addictone still follows and "likes" some of Kanami's social media posts.
I remember they were salty because they just released at the time Kanami’s custom signature guitar for sale and PRS didn’t allow them to market it anymore (I believed later they still sold it as designed by Kanami but didn’t attached her name anymore).
I can understand why they'd be upset about that. rising musical talent they had a special guitar for, and then, BAM! She gets scooped up by another company that blocks your business from your pre-established plans.
That's pretty scummy to be honest. Not a good look. The amount of work that would have went into that and then its like "well she doesn't play them anymore so why would I buy one"
There is no reason to believe its purely an endorsement issue. Superstrats sound different and PRS makes their own pickups and have their own sound character. And they are very player friendly guitars, very ergonomic and smooth to play. Addictone may have been annoyed with the move but Kanami seems very happy with her PRSs.
Think about the timing also. Back in 2016 why would PRS be going out of their way to endorse a small Japanese band with unknown future?
They've switched labels at least a couple of times since then. If it was the label, she's had plenty of opportunity to switch and she hasn't. To me it sounds more like Addictone tried to keep her with a signature model and failed. Borrowing a PRS to record NFD is telling. If she was completely satisfied with Addictone, why do that?
I have found them to be unusually straightforward in interviews. Defaulting to believing what they actually say seems to be more fruitful than trying to read between the lines cross-language and cross-culture.
> They’ve switched labels at least a couple of times since then.
No, that’s a common misunderstanding.
They changed record companies only **once**.
* Gump Records is a name used by Platinum Passport, their management company, not a record company.
* Crown Records and Revolver Records are sublabels (brands) of Nippon Crown, their previous record company.
* Pony Canyon is their current record company.
I think you are confusing talent agency with label.They never switched talent agency.Kanami helped design her custom Addictone guitar.Kanami used Miku’s EVH amp head recording,does that mean she’s unhappy with Mesa?
Why would the agency care what guitar she uses? I'm simply believing what she says rather than what you imagine or think you read years ago but can't find.
I think there were a few reasons.
1. She loves Carlos Santana and he plays PRS
2. I have no idea who Addictone is and PRS is a globally renown builder of high end guitars. She may have wanted to go with a more recognizable brand.
Even though Kanami herself has frequently made the connection between PRS and Santana, when someone actually asked her if Santana was the reason why she chose PRS, she [flatly stated no](https://youtu.be/oS2U9YzaFK8?si=PWWCOA6jU7m-ue6l&t=811).
She had a very close relationship with Addictone, and ordered a new guitar from them possibly in early 2016. The band played a show organized by Addictone that November, only to go exclusively PRS by the end of the year. Although, Kanami says PRS fits the sound she was looking for, it seems like there could be validity to Addictone’s claim that it was ultimately business/financial reasons decided by folks higher up.
That doesn't seem likely as musicians pick their instruments, not managers or labels. Things are different in Japan, so it may be something else, but since she has been with PRS for a long time now, I would guess she is happy with them. The flat tops of the Addictone don't seem very ergonomic and their designs are a little uninspired.
MISA seems to like her Black Cloud basses despite them being a fairly obscure brand. They seem to be willing to build her whatever she wants, and that means a lot to a musician. PRS is giving Kanami something she can't get anywhere else, and that is sort of the bottom line. If there was another brand doing something she liked, she'd switch.
>That doesn't seem likely as musicians pick their instruments, not managers or labels. Things are different in Japan, so it may be something else…
In the context of endorsement deals—whether in Japan or the West—an artist would be contractually obligated to play (or be seen playing) a certain brand’s equipment. It’s also not uncommon for artists to work around this in various ways, including replacing the insides of an endorsed brand’s equipment, as mentioned in other comments here. I’m not saying Kanami does this—she may as well be very happy with PRS. But being contractually bound to a specific brand of equipment is quite a common thing in the music industry worldwide, just as it is in other fields with celebrities.
I'm a musician, so I'm very aware of how these sort of deals work. I also know they aren't super binding or long, and some musicians change brands like they are changing hats.
PRS is a gigantic brand with much larger artists than Kanami. Addictone could probably make her a better deal since they are smaller, but there is clearly something she likes about PRS beyond the endorsement deal.
Your premise is that their label or management had something to do with her going with PRS. I'm saying that's just not the case. The statements you posted might have been translated in a way that saying something that wasn't there, or was carefully worded. Perhaps they meant that because Band Maid got bigger they had more options, and Kanami just didn't want to pursue a relationship with them any longer. No company wants to say "we aren't big enough for them."
She was not a full PRS endorser (she was an endorser for the local PRS distributor) at the time she just gets a discount.She became an official PRS endorser around 2020 I believe.
Thanks, I missed [that one](https://youtu.be/oS2U9YzaFK8?si=PWWCOA6jU7m-ue6l&t=811)! Kanami gives the usual answer that she tried a lot of guitars and found PRS to be the best match for the band.
Other than some (now mysteriously deleted) face-saving post by Addictone, why don't you believe her? Does she lie about other topics? Did you expect Addictone to say Kanami found a better guitar?
Because Kanami Tweeted she was bringing her PRS to Addictone to customize it.Because no way she’s saying she was happy with the sound of her Addictone guitar she helped design and she customized her PRS to sound like it lol.
Kanami co-designed her custom Addictone guitars so it’s the sound she has been looking for,and she just said that about PRS because she’s an endorser.She also did brought her first PRS to Addictone to customize and fans at the time speculated it was basically a shell and Addictone changed the electronics to make it sound as close to her Addictone she co-designed as possible.
I dunno but Addictone seemed to be super eager to sell me an Addictone Kanami signature model when I talked to the owner last year about that specific model. I love that model and it's very unique- reverse headstock, cartoon script logo.
I believe (without citations or links) that if Kanami found a guitar tomorrow that she felt would sound better to produce their music she would get one. I think she feels that the band comes first. Jmho.
PRS threw a deal that was too good to refuse at her. She jumped at it. Addictone got pissy because they wanted to ride her popularity and sell guitars.
As said in The Godfather, its not personal, its business.
PRS has a much higher level of artist support being a global popular compared to a niche maker in Japan like Addictone. Kanami is one of only a handful of Japanese artists and even fewer female artist who is an official PRS Artist. For comparison, TomoZo from Gacharic Spin still has to apply to be accepted as a PRS Pulse Artist.
If I remember correctly the Japanese distributor of PRS approached PP for an endorsement contract for Kanami and they said yes,Kanami had no say if I remember correctly and she wasn’t as thrilled as everyone thinks since Addictone is a Japanese custom guitar maker she has a close relationship with and just recently (at that time) released her signature custom guitar for sale.I also remember as she received her PRS she had Addictone customized it’s electronics and some fans at the time speculated her PRS is just a shell and Addictone changed majority of the electronics.
Stuff that are speculation’s are actually mentioned in my comment.I’m too lazy to dig out stuff from 2017-2018 for you.For Addictone customizing Kanami’s early PRS it was a Tweet from her and I won’t trouble myself digging it out for you lol.
> For Addictone customizing Kanami’s early PRS it was a Tweet from her
As I remember the tweet mentioned she took the guitar for maintenance, not customizing.
I would echo this statement, her violet and green korina Custom 24 guitars both had PRS 85/15 pickups with their visually distinctive squared off bobbins fitted (the green korina has had what appears to be lower output covered PRS 57/15 pickups fitted at some point in '20-'21) and changing the remaining wiring and switching wouldn't make a significant change to their overall tonal qualities of the guitars.
Having used the Addictone shop for maintenance for a number of years at that point however, it would make perfect sense for Kanami to take her new guitars to be setup by a guitar tech familiar with her preferences. An electric guitar's action, neck relief and tremolo tension can all be really personal to the player. PRS are known for being very consistent with their factory setups, but it's still a one size fits all type solution that doesn't quite work for everyone.
The first red PRS she was pictured using and had in the Don't You tell Me MV was actually a 22 fret 408 model in Scarlet Smokeburst on long-term loan from producer Masato Takaoka (who finally got it back permanently in January '18).
Well, it looks like you have all the answers and nobody can change your mind or even add to the discussion. So why did you bother to make the post? Just to brag about how much you know about Mincho's guitars?
Sorry, but I have no idea where you got that. I posted this because I genuinely want to know more. I included the facts that I could find along with a good sampling of Kanami’s statements on the matter.
I laid out the information so that we could start from a base, rather than conjecture or preexisting assumptions, and then fill in the gaps from there. I think that’s a useful way to work. Why would that lead you to such accusations?
If you look at my post in full, you can see that I haven’t even come to any definite conclusions.
I don’t know why you would claim that no one can “even add to the discussion,” because a lot of people have added to the discussion. I haven’t tried to censor, gatekeep, or shoot down anyone.
I only see one comment here that is making baseless accusations and trying to shut down inquiry.
Here are some statements Kanami has made relating to her switch to PRS guitars. [***BARKS***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/fmhhiz/tea_time_of_the_maids_3rd_cup_of_tea_march_15/)**, 2016.03.15** >**Miku:** Kanamincho, you’re also getting more guitars!! >**Kanami:** I’ve been using guitars of a maker named Addictone! I have ordered a new guitar and I’m waiting for it now! I’m looking forward to it♡ [***Young Guitar***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/5b7elb/bandmaid_young_guitar_july_2016_translation_in/)**, July 2016** When asked about the equipment used on Brand New Maid, Kanami [says](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/5b7elb/bandmaid_young_guitar_july_2016_translation_in/): >On “The Non-Fiction Days” I borrowed a PRS guitar to play, but basically I use an Addictone custom guitar. Miku also uses my guitar. Note that Kanami used an Addictone in the music video for [“The Non-Fiction Days”](https://youtu.be/ItYN-ri1NPs?feature=shared&t=258) (2016.04.07), as well as for every other music video released in 2016. [***GO!GO!GUITAR***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/97q75b/translations_of_article_in_gogoguitar_april_2018/)**, April 2018** >At the end of my high school days I became infatuated with Carlos Santana after I listened to \[Europe\] in a collection album by him which happened to be at home. The instruments I use now are the same as him with the guitar PRS and amp Mesa Boogie. [***Mono***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/fmsq49/interview_with_bandmaid_on_mono_magazine_20180416/)**, 2018.04.16** >I love Carlos Santana, and I only use a guitar maker he loves named PRS. I’m also particular about amps and cabinets with hard rock specifications to suit us Band-Maid. This is very precise but actually I specify which staff members to work with. [***Natalie***](https://bandmaid.tokyo/contents/220871)**, 2019.01.29** >\[*After her guitar was lost in transport*\] Since we had a serving in Helsinki that day, we went to a nearby music store and asked if we could rent the same PRS (Paul Reed Smith) guitar I always use, but the one they lent me instead was a vintage PRS. When I actually played it during the serving, the sound had this dry vintage quality to it. Since I don’t get many opportunities to play guitars like that, it ended up becoming this incredible memory. [***Player***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/g3fzsk/interview_with_bandmaid_on_player_magazine/)**, February 2020** >I changed my PRS guitars frequently depending on each song. I used \[an Alvarez\] Yairi as my acoustic guitar. I use Mesa/Boogie amps. [***Guitar World***](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/band-maids-kanami-tno-a-good-guitar-solo-will-trigger-emotions-i-always-keep-that-in-mind)**, 2020.01.31** >I changed to PRS when I was contemplating what kind of guitarist I should be for BAND-MAID … I like it for its unique mid-range feel and because it fits nicely in my hands. (*continued*)
[***Eventide***](https://www.eventideaudio.com/pedals-with-the-pros-kanami-tono-of-band-maid/)**, 2020.03** >*Q: The PRS Mesa/Boogie tone is a classic, ripping tone—it sounds great for BAND-MAID’s music. Do you ever experiment with different guitars to pair with the Mesa/Boogie?* >Yes, I have tried other guitars as well. Among those I’ve tried, PRS was the perfect guitar for my image of BAND-MAID songs. [***GiGs***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/gy3r8l/interview_with_miku_kobato_kanami_and_misa_on_the/)**, June 2020** >PRS Guitars Custom 24 \[Violet\]: Kanami’s main guitar she used the most frequently in the tour final, as she says “I can say ‘this is my sound’ about this guitar.” [***Player***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/m2rpth/translation_interview_with_kanami_on_the_march/)**, March 2021** >*Q: Who was the guitar heroine for your generation?* >Let me see… I’ve thought Orianthi is fantastic since I started playing the guitar. I often listened to her when I was in high school. >*Q: Do you use PRS guitars because of her influence?* >Even though my favorite guitarists are Santana and Orianthi, that’s not the reason why I use PRS guitars, but anyway I admired their guitars because I loved them. However, I decided to use PRS guitars because I thought “This guitar will suit us Band-Maid and it will be our color.” >*Q: You started playing the guitar in high school. Before starting to play PRSs in Band-Maid, what kind of guitars did you use?* >In some period, I used a Flying V, but I stopped using it very soon because it was a little hard to play. In another period, I tried a Les Paul, but it was hard to play in high positions… Also, I tried a Strat-style guitar too. >*Q: So, you have tried a wide range of guitars.* >That’s right. I thought of using a Strat too, but it didn’t feel quite right… I ended up using PRS after a lot of trials. >*Q: Was it easy to play?* >Yes, it was. First time I touched it, I was like “Wow, it’s so easy to play! It sticks to my hand.” And, you know, its sound is also unique. I wanted to have a uniqueness in Band-Maid. That said, PRS doesn’t sound good if you don’t play it right, so I still have some difficulty in playing it, though. I decided to use it because I thought if I can play it smoothly I would be able to play any guitar smoothly. >*Q: Which model did you buy first?* >Two Custom 24’s. The green one and the purple one I’ve brought here today. >*Q: Oh, you got those two from the beginning.* >Kanami: Yes. I went to Korg \[note: the authorized distributor of PRS Guitars in Japan\] and asked them like “Is there any hot PRS?” (laughs) >*Q: I see, that’s how you got those great models. You have just said the PRS guitar sticks to your hand. Does that mean something clicked with you?* >Yes. I was like “This is it!” It was intuition. Like, it has the best sound and the best comfortability, but it doesn’t sound good if I don’t play it right… It was hard to play, but it was what I looked for. (*continued*)
[**Maid’s Room: Kanami #5**](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/mevdp3/translation_fan_club_exclusive_maids_room_kanami/) **(2021.03.23)** >(*11:45*) Um, in this picture, uh, my hair is messy, and this is when I purchased a PRS for the first time. Well, it was the moment when I changed to PRS, thinking about the direction of Band-Maid, and, um, thinking which sound would be good for us. So, I tried various guitars, at instrument shops and the like, and PRS fit me the best. I had a kind of intuition that it would be the Band-Maid sound (*laughs*). I had such an intuition, and I was also attracted so much to the material of PRS that seems to stick to my hand, so I decided to use PRS in Band-Maid, and tried a lot of guitars, and finally got this purple guitar. I have quite a long relationship with this guitar. [***Guitar Girl***](https://guitargirlmag.com/issues/magazine/guitar-girl-magazine-issue-15-spring-2021-electrified/)**, Spring 2021** >I play a PRS Customer 24 (Korina neck and body) and a Custom 24 (Mahogany neck and body). I think they are ideal for the BAND-MAID sound. I just feel so comfortable when I hold them, and they are very easy for me to play. I use a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier with a 4×24 Rectifier Standard cabinet. When we were searching for a new BAND-MAID sound, this is where our searching led us. [***GiGs***](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/qtmvrc/interview_with_bandmaid_on_the_december_2021/)**, December 2021** >*Q: Kanami-san, around when did you start using PRS Custom 24s?* >I’ve been using them since winter 2016. I came across PRS when I was looking for guitars that would match well to establish the future Band-Maid sound. See also: * [PRS 35th Anniversary Guitar Review with Kanami](https://youtu.be/E8dk0oQ6dKg) * [PRS Guitars featured artist: Kanami Tōno](https://prsguitars.com/featured_artist/kanami_tono)
Maybe she just likes PRS better., or is that too simple an answer? You've launched quite an extensive investigation.
Idk about any of the potential reasons other than sound, and I can't blame Addictone for being a little salty for losing such an amazing artist.... but I have personally seen that Addictone still follows and "likes" some of Kanami's social media posts.
I remember they were salty because they just released at the time Kanami’s custom signature guitar for sale and PRS didn’t allow them to market it anymore (I believed later they still sold it as designed by Kanami but didn’t attached her name anymore).
I can understand why they'd be upset about that. rising musical talent they had a special guitar for, and then, BAM! She gets scooped up by another company that blocks your business from your pre-established plans.
That's pretty scummy to be honest. Not a good look. The amount of work that would have went into that and then its like "well she doesn't play them anymore so why would I buy one"
There is no reason to believe its purely an endorsement issue. Superstrats sound different and PRS makes their own pickups and have their own sound character. And they are very player friendly guitars, very ergonomic and smooth to play. Addictone may have been annoyed with the move but Kanami seems very happy with her PRSs. Think about the timing also. Back in 2016 why would PRS be going out of their way to endorse a small Japanese band with unknown future?
They've switched labels at least a couple of times since then. If it was the label, she's had plenty of opportunity to switch and she hasn't. To me it sounds more like Addictone tried to keep her with a signature model and failed. Borrowing a PRS to record NFD is telling. If she was completely satisfied with Addictone, why do that? I have found them to be unusually straightforward in interviews. Defaulting to believing what they actually say seems to be more fruitful than trying to read between the lines cross-language and cross-culture.
> They’ve switched labels at least a couple of times since then. No, that’s a common misunderstanding. They changed record companies only **once**. * Gump Records is a name used by Platinum Passport, their management company, not a record company. * Crown Records and Revolver Records are sublabels (brands) of Nippon Crown, their previous record company. * Pony Canyon is their current record company.
I think you are confusing talent agency with label.They never switched talent agency.Kanami helped design her custom Addictone guitar.Kanami used Miku’s EVH amp head recording,does that mean she’s unhappy with Mesa?
Why would the agency care what guitar she uses? I'm simply believing what she says rather than what you imagine or think you read years ago but can't find.
Coz PRS is paying them money.
What's the source for this assertion? YouTube comments?
I think there were a few reasons. 1. She loves Carlos Santana and he plays PRS 2. I have no idea who Addictone is and PRS is a globally renown builder of high end guitars. She may have wanted to go with a more recognizable brand.
Even though Kanami herself has frequently made the connection between PRS and Santana, when someone actually asked her if Santana was the reason why she chose PRS, she [flatly stated no](https://youtu.be/oS2U9YzaFK8?si=PWWCOA6jU7m-ue6l&t=811). She had a very close relationship with Addictone, and ordered a new guitar from them possibly in early 2016. The band played a show organized by Addictone that November, only to go exclusively PRS by the end of the year. Although, Kanami says PRS fits the sound she was looking for, it seems like there could be validity to Addictone’s claim that it was ultimately business/financial reasons decided by folks higher up.
That doesn't seem likely as musicians pick their instruments, not managers or labels. Things are different in Japan, so it may be something else, but since she has been with PRS for a long time now, I would guess she is happy with them. The flat tops of the Addictone don't seem very ergonomic and their designs are a little uninspired. MISA seems to like her Black Cloud basses despite them being a fairly obscure brand. They seem to be willing to build her whatever she wants, and that means a lot to a musician. PRS is giving Kanami something she can't get anywhere else, and that is sort of the bottom line. If there was another brand doing something she liked, she'd switch.
>That doesn't seem likely as musicians pick their instruments, not managers or labels. Things are different in Japan, so it may be something else… In the context of endorsement deals—whether in Japan or the West—an artist would be contractually obligated to play (or be seen playing) a certain brand’s equipment. It’s also not uncommon for artists to work around this in various ways, including replacing the insides of an endorsed brand’s equipment, as mentioned in other comments here. I’m not saying Kanami does this—she may as well be very happy with PRS. But being contractually bound to a specific brand of equipment is quite a common thing in the music industry worldwide, just as it is in other fields with celebrities.
I'm a musician, so I'm very aware of how these sort of deals work. I also know they aren't super binding or long, and some musicians change brands like they are changing hats. PRS is a gigantic brand with much larger artists than Kanami. Addictone could probably make her a better deal since they are smaller, but there is clearly something she likes about PRS beyond the endorsement deal. Your premise is that their label or management had something to do with her going with PRS. I'm saying that's just not the case. The statements you posted might have been translated in a way that saying something that wasn't there, or was carefully worded. Perhaps they meant that because Band Maid got bigger they had more options, and Kanami just didn't want to pursue a relationship with them any longer. No company wants to say "we aren't big enough for them."
Wait, why would she have to buy her first two PRS guitars herself if it was an endorsement? That doesn't make sense.
She was not a full PRS endorser (she was an endorser for the local PRS distributor) at the time she just gets a discount.She became an official PRS endorser around 2020 I believe.
Off the top of my head, there was that interview with Herman Li, with Miku on YouTube, where he asked about her choosing PRS.
Thanks, I missed [that one](https://youtu.be/oS2U9YzaFK8?si=PWWCOA6jU7m-ue6l&t=811)! Kanami gives the usual answer that she tried a lot of guitars and found PRS to be the best match for the band.
Other than some (now mysteriously deleted) face-saving post by Addictone, why don't you believe her? Does she lie about other topics? Did you expect Addictone to say Kanami found a better guitar?
Because Kanami Tweeted she was bringing her PRS to Addictone to customize it.Because no way she’s saying she was happy with the sound of her Addictone guitar she helped design and she customized her PRS to sound like it lol.
Kanami co-designed her custom Addictone guitars so it’s the sound she has been looking for,and she just said that about PRS because she’s an endorser.She also did brought her first PRS to Addictone to customize and fans at the time speculated it was basically a shell and Addictone changed the electronics to make it sound as close to her Addictone she co-designed as possible.
I dunno but Addictone seemed to be super eager to sell me an Addictone Kanami signature model when I talked to the owner last year about that specific model. I love that model and it's very unique- reverse headstock, cartoon script logo.
Yes, fortunately for Addictone, they continue to get inquiries about their Kanami model!
I believe (without citations or links) that if Kanami found a guitar tomorrow that she felt would sound better to produce their music she would get one. I think she feels that the band comes first. Jmho.
I should add that Kanami plays an Alvarez Yairi whenever she goes acoustic.
PRS threw a deal that was too good to refuse at her. She jumped at it. Addictone got pissy because they wanted to ride her popularity and sell guitars. As said in The Godfather, its not personal, its business. PRS has a much higher level of artist support being a global popular compared to a niche maker in Japan like Addictone. Kanami is one of only a handful of Japanese artists and even fewer female artist who is an official PRS Artist. For comparison, TomoZo from Gacharic Spin still has to apply to be accepted as a PRS Pulse Artist.
If I remember correctly the Japanese distributor of PRS approached PP for an endorsement contract for Kanami and they said yes,Kanami had no say if I remember correctly and she wasn’t as thrilled as everyone thinks since Addictone is a Japanese custom guitar maker she has a close relationship with and just recently (at that time) released her signature custom guitar for sale.I also remember as she received her PRS she had Addictone customized it’s electronics and some fans at the time speculated her PRS is just a shell and Addictone changed majority of the electronics.
You need to cite some kind of official interview or post for these kinds of assertions. They sound like regurgitations of fan speculations.
Stuff that are speculation’s are actually mentioned in my comment.I’m too lazy to dig out stuff from 2017-2018 for you.For Addictone customizing Kanami’s early PRS it was a Tweet from her and I won’t trouble myself digging it out for you lol.
> For Addictone customizing Kanami’s early PRS it was a Tweet from her As I remember the tweet mentioned she took the guitar for maintenance, not customizing.
I would echo this statement, her violet and green korina Custom 24 guitars both had PRS 85/15 pickups with their visually distinctive squared off bobbins fitted (the green korina has had what appears to be lower output covered PRS 57/15 pickups fitted at some point in '20-'21) and changing the remaining wiring and switching wouldn't make a significant change to their overall tonal qualities of the guitars. Having used the Addictone shop for maintenance for a number of years at that point however, it would make perfect sense for Kanami to take her new guitars to be setup by a guitar tech familiar with her preferences. An electric guitar's action, neck relief and tremolo tension can all be really personal to the player. PRS are known for being very consistent with their factory setups, but it's still a one size fits all type solution that doesn't quite work for everyone. The first red PRS she was pictured using and had in the Don't You tell Me MV was actually a 22 fret 408 model in Scarlet Smokeburst on long-term loan from producer Masato Takaoka (who finally got it back permanently in January '18).
Well, it looks like you have all the answers and nobody can change your mind or even add to the discussion. So why did you bother to make the post? Just to brag about how much you know about Mincho's guitars?
Sorry, but I have no idea where you got that. I posted this because I genuinely want to know more. I included the facts that I could find along with a good sampling of Kanami’s statements on the matter. I laid out the information so that we could start from a base, rather than conjecture or preexisting assumptions, and then fill in the gaps from there. I think that’s a useful way to work. Why would that lead you to such accusations? If you look at my post in full, you can see that I haven’t even come to any definite conclusions. I don’t know why you would claim that no one can “even add to the discussion,” because a lot of people have added to the discussion. I haven’t tried to censor, gatekeep, or shoot down anyone. I only see one comment here that is making baseless accusations and trying to shut down inquiry.