Caparison Guitars
Encyclopedia
Caparison Guitars is a Japan
-based manufacturer of custom shop electric guitar
s.
/Charvel
Japan designer Itaru Kanno and was owned by Kyowa Shokai, a company that made contracts with factories to produce guitars for them (like Hoshino Gakki
). In May 2011 Kyowa Shokai was declared bankrupt, however Caparison resumed production in September 2011 under the ownership of Caparison Guitar Company Ltd. The company retains Itaru Kanno as lead designer and the instruments contiune to manufactured together with Iida Music Co. in Nagoya, Japan.
neck with clock inlays that change time for each fret position (1 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock, etc.) The Caparison Dellinger, TAT (Through and Through), and PLO models also feature these clock inlays on the fretboard, however, these guitars feature 24 fret necks. Other Caparison Guitar models are the 7 String Dellinger, Angelus, Michael Romeo Signature, Chris Amott Signature and Apple Horn (Mattias Elkundh Signature). Caparison currently has a Dellinger bass guitar in production. Another notable Caparison guitar is the Orbit which is recognizable for its unusual take on the standard 'Flying V' shape; the Orbit added a curve at the left of the neck joint and possesses the signature Caparison 27-fret neck.
Caparison also has a line of guitars intended to perform better with low tunings, as well as with standard tunings, called the "HGS" (Heavy Gauge Strings) series. The bridge of these guitars is mounted 3 mm farther back on the face in an effort to provide better intonation when using higher gauge strings for lower tunings. Caparison makes both Horus and Dellinger HGS models.
Caparison makes its own humbucking
as well as single coil guitar pickups. The company also produces a dual-rail humbucking pickup that fits into the footprint of standard single coil pickup (However the back of many Caparison pickups have the GOTOH MIJ stamped to the bottom plate so Not all may be made in house as originally drafted). Another common feature on Caparison Guitars is the use of "Push/Pull" volume and tone potentiometer
s. These special "pots" are used to activate coil splitting and pickup selecting functions on certain models.
Caparison is considered by several influential metal guitarists to be an up and coming guitar company, and the best known one besides the other big Japanese makes. Since 2006, Caparison Design has updated the quality standard of their instruments, using even higher quality parts and are considered to be one of the highest quality instruments on the market.
Itaru Kanno personally designs and oversees the hand painted finish as well as inspecting every Caparison Guitar before it leaves the factory. The Iida factory, also apply custom features like hardware and/or painting.
Since they are hand crafted instruments, Caparison produces only about forty guitars per month. For years, Caparison Guitars were only available in Japan. However, Caparison now has dealers in a growing number of countries worldwide.
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Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-based manufacturer of custom shop electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s.
History
The Caparison Guitar company was established in 1995 by former JacksonJackson Guitars
__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
/Charvel
Charvel
Charvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
Japan designer Itaru Kanno and was owned by Kyowa Shokai, a company that made contracts with factories to produce guitars for them (like Hoshino Gakki
Hoshino Gakki
is the owner of the Ibanez guitar and Tama drums brand names.-History:The Hoshino company was founded in 1908 by Matsujiro Hoshino originally as the Hoshino Shoten bookstore which mostly sold books and sheet music and then gradually over the years also began to import musical instruments into...
). In May 2011 Kyowa Shokai was declared bankrupt, however Caparison resumed production in September 2011 under the ownership of Caparison Guitar Company Ltd. The company retains Itaru Kanno as lead designer and the instruments contiune to manufactured together with Iida Music Co. in Nagoya, Japan.
Guitars
The company's best selling guitar is the "Horus" model. This guitar that features a 27 fretFret
A fret is a raised portion on the neck of a stringed instrument, that extends generally across the full width of the neck. On most modern western instruments, frets are metal strips inserted into the fingerboard...
neck with clock inlays that change time for each fret position (1 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock, etc.) The Caparison Dellinger, TAT (Through and Through), and PLO models also feature these clock inlays on the fretboard, however, these guitars feature 24 fret necks. Other Caparison Guitar models are the 7 String Dellinger, Angelus, Michael Romeo Signature, Chris Amott Signature and Apple Horn (Mattias Elkundh Signature). Caparison currently has a Dellinger bass guitar in production. Another notable Caparison guitar is the Orbit which is recognizable for its unusual take on the standard 'Flying V' shape; the Orbit added a curve at the left of the neck joint and possesses the signature Caparison 27-fret neck.
Caparison also has a line of guitars intended to perform better with low tunings, as well as with standard tunings, called the "HGS" (Heavy Gauge Strings) series. The bridge of these guitars is mounted 3 mm farther back on the face in an effort to provide better intonation when using higher gauge strings for lower tunings. Caparison makes both Horus and Dellinger HGS models.
Caparison makes its own humbucking
Humbucking
For the purposes of this article, "hum" is defined as "an unwanted signal, generally at the frequency of the local A.C. electrical supply" ....
as well as single coil guitar pickups. The company also produces a dual-rail humbucking pickup that fits into the footprint of standard single coil pickup (However the back of many Caparison pickups have the GOTOH MIJ stamped to the bottom plate so Not all may be made in house as originally drafted). Another common feature on Caparison Guitars is the use of "Push/Pull" volume and tone potentiometer
Potentiometer
A potentiometer , informally, a pot, is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used , it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on...
s. These special "pots" are used to activate coil splitting and pickup selecting functions on certain models.
Caparison is considered by several influential metal guitarists to be an up and coming guitar company, and the best known one besides the other big Japanese makes. Since 2006, Caparison Design has updated the quality standard of their instruments, using even higher quality parts and are considered to be one of the highest quality instruments on the market.
Itaru Kanno personally designs and oversees the hand painted finish as well as inspecting every Caparison Guitar before it leaves the factory. The Iida factory, also apply custom features like hardware and/or painting.
Since they are hand crafted instruments, Caparison produces only about forty guitars per month. For years, Caparison Guitars were only available in Japan. However, Caparison now has dealers in a growing number of countries worldwide.
Notable users
- Dennis StrattonDennis StrattonDennis Stratton is a guitar player who is best known as a former member of the British band Iron Maiden from October 1979 to October 1980.-Biography:...
of Iron MaidenIron MaidenIron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
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, Praying MantisPraying Mantis (band)Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
, Remus Down Boulevard - Ace Shimizu (Seikima-IISEIKIMA-IIis a Japanese heavy metal band formed by guitarist Damian Hamada in 1982.According to the mythology created by the band, Seikima-II is a group of "Akuma" , from the futuristic hyper-evolved dimension "Makai", that are preaching a religion, in order to propagate Satan through the use of heavy metal...
, Face To Ace) - Signature SUSANOH, Custom signature Angelus-ACE SE model - Christopher AmottChristopher AmottChristopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.-Biography:...
(Arch Enemy, ArmageddonArmageddon (band)Armageddon was a Swedish heavy metal band, led by Christopher Amott of Arch Enemy. Originally conceived as a melodic death metal band with metalcore influences, the group's later efforts fall into the power metal category...
) - Signature Dellinger, TAT - Anders BjörlerAnders BjörlerAnders Björler is a musician from Sweden. He is the current lead guitarist for heavy metal bands The Haunted and the well-known melodic death metal band At the Gates. He joined them in his former position on a reunion tour in 2007...
(At The GatesAt the GatesAt the Gates is an extreme metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden, and a major progenitor of the Gothenburg death-metal sound. Their early albums lean towards a death metal sound, but later albums sound more like melodic death metal.Initially active from 1990 to 1996, the band reformed in 2007 for a...
, The HauntedThe HauntedThe Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...
) - Custom signature Angelus - Adam DutkiewiczAdam DutkiewiczAdam Jonathan Dutkiewicz is an American musician, recording engineer and music producer, best known as a guitarist and backup vocalist from Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage.-Biography:...
(Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
, Times of Grace) - Pete Lesperance Signature Model (PLM-3), custom Dillinger. He also uses Parker and PRS guitars. - Mircea Gabriel Eftemie (Mnemic) - Standard Dellinger
- Mattias "IA" EklundhMattias EklundhMattias "IA" Eklundhtou de meme' is a guitarist and vocalist, known for his work with the bands Freak Kitchen, Frozen Eyes, Fate, The Jonas Hellborg Trio, and Art Metal; he has also released several noted solo albums...
- Signature model, Apple Horn - Tom S. EnglundTom S. EnglundTom S. Englund from Sweden currently plays guitar and sings lead vocals for the band Evergrey. He is married to Carina Englund, who does backing vocals in most of their albums.-Discography with Evergrey:* The Dark Discovery...
and Henrik DanhageHenrik DanhageGösta Henrik Danhage from Sweden played guitar for the progressive power metal band Evergrey from 2001 until May 2010 when he along with Jonas Ekdahl and Jari Kainulainen left the band by mutual decision -Discography with Evergrey:...
(EvergreyEvergreyEvergrey is a progressive metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was founded in 1995 and released its debut album The Dark Discovery in 1998. Their most recent album Glorious Collision was released in 2011.-Lyrical themes:...
) - Custom Horus models - Ola Frenning (ex-Soilwork) - Custom Angelus
- Yukihiro "Chachamaru" FujimuraChachamaru (musician), is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter, arranger and producer. Usually referred to by his stage name "Chachamaru", little is known about his early years and personal life...
- Custom Horus - GacktGacktis a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
- Custom model Mercury, Custom model Venus - Harry HessHarry HessHarry Hess is a Canadian record producer, singer and guitarist best known as the former frontman for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem....
of Harem ScaremHarem ScaremHarem Scarem were a Canadian melodic rock band from Toronto, ON. Harem Scarem achieved popularity in Japan and their native Canada in the early 1990s. Harem Scarem were active from 1987 to 2008...
- Angelus model - Carl Johan GrimmarkCarl Johan GrimmarkCarl Johan Grimmark is a Christian guitarist born in Gothenburg, Sweden October 14, 1977. He has appeared with several influential Christian metal bands including Narnia, Saviour Machine, and Rob Rock. He recently joined the band Beautiful Sin in 2006. He also has been a special guest guitarist on...
(Narnia) - Custom Angelus - Peter Joseph (The AbsenceThe AbsenceThe Absence is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida. Their style has been described as aggressive thrash metal with Scandinavian metal influences. They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records...
) - Standard and custom Horus and Angelus - Max Kayajanian (Call of Thousands)
- Andy LaRocqueAndy LaRocqueAndy LaRocque is best known as a guitarist, songwriter, and occasional synth player for the band King Diamond.-Biography:...
(King DiamondKing Diamond (band)King Diamond is the heavy metal band that King Diamond formed after the split up of his heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, and the departure of Hank Shermann. He was joined by most members of the then defunct Mercyful Fate. The Satanic focus was replaced by a focus on horror stories...
) - Custom Horus - Pete LesperancePete LesperancePete Lesperance is a Canadian guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer best known as the former lead guitarist for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem. Lesperance was born October 13, 1968 in Scarborough, Ontario...
of Harem ScaremHarem ScaremHarem Scarem were a Canadian melodic rock band from Toronto, ON. Harem Scarem achieved popularity in Japan and their native Canada in the early 1990s. Harem Scarem were active from 1987 to 2008...
- PLM3 (signature model) - Jesse Liu of ChthoniCChthonic (band)Chthonic is a Taiwanese metal band, formed in 1995 in Taipei. The group incorporates influences from traditional Taiwanese music including the classical Asian instrument erhu...
- Nicklas Magnusson of DragonlandDragonlandDragonland is a power metal musical group from Sweden. The group is most notable for basing their two first albums upon the self-produced The Dragonland Chronicles fantasy saga and for the original symphonic/electronic parts by Elias Holmlid...
- Custom Horus Model - Rob Marcello of Danger Danger - Dellinger and Horus models
- Olof MörckOlof MörckOlof Mörck is a guitarist in the melodic death metal band Nightrage and guitarist of the power metal band Dragonland. Besides Marios, Olof is the longest running member of Nightrage...
of DragonlandDragonlandDragonland is a power metal musical group from Sweden. The group is most notable for basing their two first albums upon the self-produced The Dragonland Chronicles fantasy saga and for the original symphonic/electronic parts by Elias Holmlid...
- Custom Horus Model - James Murphy (Death, ObituaryObituaryAn obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
, TestamentTestament (band)Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
) - Standard Dellinger and Angelus - Michael RomeoMichael RomeoSince 2005, Romeo has taken advantage of a new custom model, Caparison Dellinger II - Michael Romeo Custom, which he used to record the Symphony X album Paradise Lost...
(Symphony XSymphony XSymphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community...
) - Custom Dellinger II - Andy Rosser-Davies of Onslaught - Dellinger HGS-SE
- Ryu (Blood Stain ChildBlood Stain ChildBlood Stain Child is a Japanese melodic death metal band from the city of Osaka. The band's musical style combines modern melodic death metal with electro-industrial and trance or as they call it 'hybrid metal trance'...
) - Custom Dellinger-HGS - Rune Stigart (MnemicMnemicMnemic is a Danish metal band, formed in Aalborg, Denmark in 1998. Their music has been described as a fusion between metalcore, melodic death metal, industrial metal and progressive metal, with additional elements of thrash metal and groove metal, to form a style the band themselves have...
) - Standard Dellinger - Jake Bowen (PeripheryPeriphery (band)Periphery is an American metal band from Bethesda, Maryland , formed in 2005.- Formation and lineup changes :Periphery was formed by guitarist Misha Mansoor in 2005...
) - used to use a Caparison Apple Horn with a Bare Knucle Warpig in the bridge position for songs played on a 6 string. He now exclusively uses Ibanez guitars. - Joel StroetzelJoel StroetzelJoel Michael Stroetzel is best known as one of two guitarists from the Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage.Stroetzel's guitar style is influenced by the bands Slayer, Anthrax, Zakk Wylde, as stated on the World Ablaze DVD....
(Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
) - Dellinger Model, Angelus Model - Philip VernonPhilip VernonPhilip Vernon may refer to:*Philip A. Vernon, American psychologist*Philip E. Vernon, British psychologist...
of Last Chance To Dance - Dellinger II HGS - Jona WeinhofenJona WeinhofenJona Weinhofen is an Australian guitarist and musician from Adelaide, South Australia. He is currently the guitarist for the Australian based band I Killed the Prom Queen, Canine Tricycle Bereavement, and British band Bring Me The Horizon. Jona was guitarist for California based band Bleeding...
(Bring Me The HorizonBring Me the HorizonBring Me the Horizon are a British metalcore band from Sheffield, Yorkshire, who formed in 2004. Bring Me the Horizon constits of Oliver Sykes as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist Lee Malia, rhythm guitarist Jona Weinhofen, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls...
Ex-Bleeding ThroughBleeding ThroughBleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
, Ex-I Killed The Prom QueenI Killed the Prom QueenI Killed the Prom Queen is an Australian metalcore band which formed in 2000 with mainstays JJ Peters on drums and Jona Weinhofen on guitar. The band featured prominently on the Australian live music scene and toured the USA, Japan and parts of Europe several times...
) - TAT II Crimson - Peter WichersPeter WichersPeter Wichers is best known as one of the founding members of Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, he was known as the lead guitarist and also a songwriter, especially on their Stabbing the Drama album...
(SoilworkSoilworkSoilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork .Their sound is a fusion of the classic...
) - Custom Angelus - Jeff Williams of OnslaughtOnslaughtOnslaught may refer to:* Onslaught , a Marvel Comics supervillain* Onslaught , an expansion to the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game* Onslaught , a 1989 Amiga beat'em up computer game...
- Dellinger Bass - Tim Millar of Protest The HeroProtest the HeroProtest the Hero is a Canadian progressive metal band from Whitby, Ontario. Originally named Happy Go Lucky, the band line-up has remained the same since their formation in 1999. The band changed their name to Protest the Hero shortly before releasing their debut EP, Search for the Truth, in 2002...
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