Board To Death Ep. 39 - Wata (Boris) | EarthQuaker Devices

We're back with another edition of Board To Death! This one's special because we take you on a journey through the pedalboard of none other than Wata of our favorite Japanese heavy experimental trio Boris. True pedal nerds should get a kick out of this one because Wata's board has an interesting configuration and a few EQD treats!
Wata kindly takes through her signal chain, which includes two wah pedals, one for traditional Wah tricks and another for when she wants to get really weird. Her EQD pedals include the Aqueduct vibrato (in pitch bend mode), the Avalanche Run stereo reverb and delay, the Hummingbird tremolo, and naturally, the Wata/EQD collaboration the Hizumitas Fuzz Sustainar, which replaces the original 1970s ELK BM Sustainar she has used for years.
"The reason why I have Hizumitas on my board now is, I've been using Elk's Big Muff copy for a long time. It keeps breaking when I take it out for a tour. It's broken down many times, and I've had it repaired many times. So I've wanted pedals that don't break down and something compact that can fit on my board," Wata said, noting that her bandmate, guitarist/bassist Takeshi has been using EQD pedals for some time.
"We've visited the HQ in Akron when we were on tour, and we've done a tour together (with EQD band Relaxer) in Japan too. We've been super close, and they told me that they could make a clone of my Elk BM that is compact that I always wanted, and this became the one. I added it on the board as the main dirt that I use," she said.
Wata also shows us how she stacks her DS1 with the Hizumitas and gives a taste of the main riff of the Boris tune "Pink." For free!
Wata uses several different fuzz pedals in addition to the Hizumitas in various combinations, including the Dwarfcraft Shiva, the Mattoverse Air Trash, and the MASF Watafuzz depending on the needs of a particular song. Boris has 30 years of songs, so that's a lot of choices to be made. For wilder sounds, Wata has the MASF Possessed, the Electro-Harmonix Freeze sound retainer, and the Bananana Mandala. Wata also takes an actual Roland Tape Echo out on the road with her because she has yet to find a pedal version that gives her the level of control she desires.
Wata also reveals her custom switcher made by Soul Power Instruments with a unique setup allowing her to easily switch between combinations of her many onstage amps or use individually or in any configuration rather than serially.
Wata is a fascinating guitar sorceress, and fans (including us) seldom get to hear her speak on her methods and gear. So please, relish this opportunity to spend some quality time with Wata, her pedalboard, her black Les Paul Custom and her amps!
Want to know more about WATA? Of course you do!
Check out her “Top 5 (plus one) Guitarists” over on the EarthQuaker Devices Blog www.earthquake...
Video: MINORxU, Yosuke Torii, Rio Muraeda
Edit: Dave Whited
Audio: Koichi Hara (www.koichihara-mix.com)
Assistant engineer: Rio Ikuhara
Coloring: Yutaro (Art Love Music)
Studio: Tuppence House I’s Studio Tokyo, Japan
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[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

Doom Metal droning accordion is something this world needs more of.

[@OgamiItto70]

Her playing is the first time I haven't thought of accordions as shotgun targets.

[@bassplayinggoalie]

I don't often play accordion, but when I do I run it through a Space Echo and three amps turned up to 11

[@Lucky_Chase]

My thoughts exactly!!

[@ericindierocks]

I think this is the most I've ever heard her talk. She plays it cool but you can tell she's proud of the way it all sounds put together.

[@Spencergundersenmusic]

She should honestly it’s some of the absolute best guitar tone I’ve ever headd

[@oceanmachine420]

@@Spencergundersenmusic That shit at the end is probably THE absolute best guitar tone I've ever heard. Hearing that completely out of the context of a full band playing, and in one take, fucking melted me

[@DavidKAnderson]

@@oceanmachine420 Just saw them last Saturday night (9/17/22), and the live tone was just enormous. What a great show.

[@yenadaisy]

Honestly a lot of soft-spoken people who completely open up when talking about gear. It's pretty cool!

[@billyalarie929]

a goddess must take pride in the work she has done, and seeing it splayed before her, there is no need to hide it. this is only natural. something even a goddess cannot avoid. nor should she.

[@narasimha7187]

Damn it, this woman is the effing guitar God of our times. Wata should get a shit load more attention and respect.

[@gulagwithahumanface4471]

Other guitarists: “I need this next part to be louder - I’ll pick harder, or maybe kick on a boost pedal” Wata: “I need this next part to be louder - ill just turn on three more amps”

[@2007bmpgti]

You should check out Matt Pikes rig rundown from a few years ago, very similar setup amp and cab wise

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

This might honestly be my fave Board to Death in a long time.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Cool! Thanks very much for watching and for your enthusiasm!!

[@nickhynes9247]

There's something strangely mesmerising about this edition of BTD. Maybe it's the contrast between Wata's polite delivery and the brutal noise she manages to wring out of her equipment.

[@verg1l9]

I'm not a musician and understood like 2% of everything said in this video but it's straight up cute how excited she is to nerd out about her setup but is trying to keep it cool. Always great to see people talk about the stuff they're really passionate about. Amplifier Worship indeed

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

There are English subtitles for this video if you want to understand everything she said.

[@verg1l9]

@@EarthQuakerDevices Thank you for the reply but I didn't mean that I can't understand because it's in Japanese but that I know almost nothing about the technical aspects of playing guitar and the gear involved. Still a great watch though

[@mattgilbert7347]

Thanks to Earthquaker, via the Hizumitas, for introducing me to this wonderful guitarist and her band!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Our pleasure. Enjoy the deep dive

[@billyalarie929]

welcome! enjoy your stay :)

[@spiderfingers2005]

Props to the cameraman!

[@OriginEffectsUK]

One of the most truly rock'n'roll rigs going at the moment. What a setup!

[@pandacat17]

such an amazing mind - she understands every single piece of the process in so many ways. she blends the cerebral and the creative, the technical and the stylish...my favourite artist of my lifetime haha

[@gazzy_burns]

What a fantastic episode. Wata has such an amazing and unique sound. A true musician and genius.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

agreed x💯

[@tussk.]

'Intro' from Akuma No Uta is my absolute favourite instrumental. The controlled power from that guitar is just mind blowing.

[@Scarecrow6459]

Love seeing Wata get into the nitty gritty of her sound! Thanks, EQD!!

[@BoyAditya]

Still my top 5 best video on this channel. I've watched 3 times 🤣

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Wow, thanks!

[@CuaxB]

Her set up is Intense to say the least! I would never use all those effects but I think its cool. Also she is right on about the space echo.

[@MrBeardsley]

This is awesome. I know Wata’s talked about her rig in interviews before, but this is the first deep dive I’ve seen into how everything’s set up.

[@baax]

Thank you Wata and EQD, that was superb.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thank you too!

[@stealthyBLK]

she's adorable but a BADASS! great combination .I love it when she said she said she needs to play it loud to feel the air of the sound in the room yes ma'am!! you go girl!!

[@seanmckelvey6618]

Man, I have no idea how she manages to keep track of and work with such a mountain of pedals and amps, I think my head would explode with just half the amount of gear, but it sounds absolutely incredible so what do I know. Excellent episode.

[@hamletpowpowpow4774]

I could easily watch another two hours of this. Wata is god, and we are not worthy.

[@SomeSunshineOutside]

12:44 that's a promising sound. "tricky stuff" lol, wish she kept going on that bit. in fact i could listen to wata developing distortions and loops for a disturbing amount of time and never get bored.

[@skyelarwhite7222]

I've wanted this video for so long

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

we frickin' deliver

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

Even with my solid state Crush 120, and Dark Micro, my Hizumitas sounds exactly like hers through all those tubes and modded heads! Talk about constancy.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

glad it is working out for you! thanks for the love

[@grad13nt1]

solid states and modelers sound better than ever i run a xxl tube combo but surprisingly my headphone amp sounds better and more lush, nothing beats a tube stack on 11 but very rare to ever burn them that high.

[@teriakamoto]

Orange hit it out of the Park with the Crush 120, and now they have a newer model with more control.

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@teriakamoto You must be referring to the Super Crush 100.

[@andrewdomonic6603]

Honestly, I'm kinda surprised her main distortion is a DS-1. She's so rad.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

appreciates the classics

[@uraniumjones5902]

@@EarthQuakerDevices I wonder, is it modded? It does have custom knobs. Also, I have wondered - is the tape inside the Space Echo easily replaced?

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Not sure if it is modded, unless you consider knob replacement a mod. Which it is technically. Nothing about a space echo is easy. It's best to just leave it to Wata.

[@andrewdomonic6603]

@@EarthQuakerDevices Good point. She's also running some pretty serious heads to beef it up. It blows my mind that she runs the tape live when the COSM stomp is available that's *relatively* close. That's a dance, and I appreciate that kinda dedication. Unrelated, I run your Acapulco Gold when I want to really punch above my weight live. Love that pedal. Cheers.

[@andrewdomonic6603]

@@uraniumjones5902 It's not too bad. If you can string a guitar you can do it, but the tapes were hard to find at one point.

[@MaskedRiderChris]

She speaks softly and carries a BIG LOUD GUITAR with an even bigger louder rig, and she's gorgeous, to boot. How can I not adore Wata-san? She shreds the heck out of that thing and does it well.

[@amphitheatre]

i've listened to them since 2004 and ya know i'm not sure i've ever heard her speak? at least not this long, and with a full breakdown of the boris sound, too. i followed them around back then and took pictures of their gear and always had fun trying to figure out what went where (:

[@andrewpappas9311]

I remember a friend of mine told me about this band, she’s a really cool guitarist and the sounds she’s getting with these pedals is just awesome

[@tcollacott]

Such a massive tone💪❤️

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

brutal yet refined

[@totoribenjamin]

This has inspired me a lot - thanks EQD & Wata!

[@whiskybravo4648]

Wata is amazing. This is fantastic guys!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

happy to share!

[@GhostsOfJenova]

That guitar tone is diabolical

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

😈😈😈

[@donnareedfan]

I could listen to her play for hours.

[@michaelkay611]

I didn't think it was possible for me to be more in awe of Wata than I already am, but this video did it. Thank you for this. Incredible. One question: how does she maintain her hearing?

[@royalsounds4625]

Was wondering the same. Amazing sounds but how!

[@oursentenceisup]

haha, Boris literally sell branded earplugs at their shows. I remember seeing her kid running around on one tour wearing a massive set of earmuffs. Stay safe!

[@cathoderituals]

I have the Hizumitas and run analog synths through it, often paired with an Afterneath, Space Spiral and weirdo Aculpulco Gold thing a friend built for me. Absolutely fantastic for experimental/industrial/noise type stuff.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

That sounds dope!

[@pttrn]

Wata: "There are many simulators of this out there, but they don't fully emulate how the tape spins." EQD: "Say no more."

[@julianhills4740]

Loved Boris since Akuma no Uta blew my head off - all that lovely dirt and sludge. Wata is so cool and love the Hizumitas. She must have spent ages building this board up - so much attention to detail. Respect to Wata and EQD for the vid

[@rdomain]

Legend! Hope to see Boris live again at some stage.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

you will

[@corycourtney8923]

Always play them loud!

[@Slinkylinky179]

so glad she played pink so I could learn that you can still play it just fine in A# standard. all the tabs are written in Eb Standard

[@ElHijoDelMysticalShadowDancer]

Wow. Best BTD episode yet! Can we get a Chelsea Wolfe episode?

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

We’ll try

[@FrMehman]

How awesome would that be?!

[@jasonchristian8362]

she is so freakin adorable it makes my teeth hurt. bless the BORIS. and ALL HAIL THE MELVINS.

[@luminousbrilliance1711]

Melvins Suck! LOL 🙂

[@2112zabrinskie]

Wata one of my guitar hero!!!!I love her tones and Idea of sound...very cool...I fall in love

[@iamgodbringmecake]

👏🏼 she’s rad as hell

[@alemmingsdeath]

So much crushing power in that tiny frame. Fucking hell.

[@thommuseddard537]

Lucky to see her and Boris on the Twins Of Evil Tour this September with The Melvins.

[@faunoram]

Wata ROCKS !!

[@heyalright_]

what a total legend of reality

[@teriakamoto]

I missed how she uses the Orange BAX Bangeetar Pre-Amp pedal for. I have one, never used it and want to know how she uses it . Proof that you don't have to be a prodigious Player to be successful.That's not an insult either, quite the opposite. Just original and loud, and have a Warriors Spirit. Love my EQD Hizumitas Fuzz. So glad I picked up an Open Box OR15 years ago. Love the old Burny Les Paul Custom. I'm big on 70's Japanese Guitars and have several.Great Stuff EQD and Boris. I salute you.Peace-

[@samkoopmann8833]

10:58 incredible

[@KMinami1]

Anyone know if it's an actual song or just a straight up impro around the end of the video ? I am OBSESSED with that riff and lead guitar The build-up is insane and I absolutely love it

[@luminousbrilliance1711]

And i thought my pedal board was overkill! Thank you for sharing! 🙂 I just put this band on my fitness watch!

[@stevejones4567]

I think I'm in Love. So Cool.

[@Proceedtheweedian]

This is mesmerising

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

we are very honored to bring it

[@Proceedtheweedian]

@@EarthQuakerDevices my new Transmisser arrived yesterday. I can’t be more grateful for your pedals guys, time to get lost in infinite loops along with the Afterneath and my beloved Depths!!

[@BrianGrinie]

WOW! Thanks Wata and EQD

[@trancetuberevived1131]

Holy fucking shit!! What an ending too! Would love to hear a solo feedback recording of her just messing around... SORCERESS!

[@johnlattimer350]

Thanks again, EQD and Wata. Had a Hoof for years and I always will. Added the Spires for a different flavor. Love to stack fuzzes! The Hizumitas adds so much to the pallet. Black-face Princetons love gettin' dirty! ;) Have to dial things back a bit through the '64 Danelectro twin-twelve to avoid falling plaster, shattering glass and overall structural integrity of the dwellings!? ;O That's Rock and Roll

[@polimana]

that switcher is truly impressive

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

huge!

[@mattoverse]

Wonderful!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Many thanks!

[@benjammin4840]

Saw Boris last night. Whoa!

[@jiesus2596]

i was just wondering last night why tf aren't there any in depth explanation videos on wattas pedalboard. and now here we are.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

💜😈💜

[@jiesus2596]

@@EarthQuakerDevices Thanks

[@chriswilliams7928]

Brilliant.

[@DarkShaman667]

I love how slow she speaks. It makes it so much easier to follow her!

[@conoraq]

Wish there was more of her playing in this vid, could easily have watched a full 20 minutes of her just riffing solo

[@BRD0211]

A full fucking beefy size tape echo. You gotta love it.

[@jleighwolfe]

I want to be wata when i grow up.

[@toddjoseph1tj]

I'm lost😂😂😂

[@AhYesIndeedItsFunTime]

Glad I’m not the only one, that’s a lot of function for that switcher

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Just fast forward to the accordion part then. You will be found.

[@pierreyveshuet1763]

I will never see the accordion the same way again...

[@alex888brain]

I was not expecting her to pull out that accordion...

[@walterudovicic7795]

sweet...

[@aerialcombat]

Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

that's right

[@ashgonza92]

Massively sonic sounds from her gear

[@MosesT-vl6xn]

Wata is like your friend's mom, when you go over for band practice and start talking music she just casually says; "I was in a band." Then you say; "oh that's nice, what did you play?" and she just casually responds; "guitar". That's the end of the conversation. Then 10 years later you find Boris and realize your friend's mom was Wata and you were literally talking to one of the Behemoths of modern guitar. Wata would have it no other way.

[@ghjhiwyninishyyi3467]

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤such an inspiration

[@fromfilmtocode]

Wata will be happy about the new Boss Tape Echo pedals.

[@talis788]

i have no idea what half of this womans words means but she can shred on that fucking guitar and i fuck with it

[@sellosinfin]

Diosa del ruido

[@andrij.demianczuk]

Wata would be lvl10 on the ‘try not to headbang’ challenge

[@trysth]

"I have to play them loud"

[@pim2paul]

heavy cool

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

cool heavy

[@3db-]

Does Wata have a bio somewhere? Wondering when she was born

[@lightnesstraveling]

彼女は非常に秘密主義です。。。 あなたは驚くかもしれません。 彼らは1992年にBORISを結成し、長い間一緒に滞在する理由があります。

[@HADRABAK]

Total chaos sound..

[@sonicase]

i hope she has very good ear protection

[@lightnesstraveling]

Audience too！ ◖(◔◡◉)◗

[@stickydoggie]

She’s so fucking cool

[@studi0robb]

Wata-san actually makes the accordion cool. eat your heart out, weird al.

[@lgv3051]

Wow 🤦‍♂️ ☺️

[@gmac2558]

Boris

[@orion10x]

what year Gibson LP are those?

[@lightnesstraveling]

彼女は彼女の古いギターが粉々に落ちることについての"Les Paul Custom'86"と呼ばれる歌を書いた。

[@djtomoy]

I thought boris just used like 5 ds-1s

[@michaelmarchello5211]

I would come out of retirement to be her guitar/FX roadie 😊

[@adamcoe]

That's super neat but ffs someone get this lady a proper power supply, that rat's nest is brutal

[@Sportfuck]

TO EVERYTHING, A FROG

[@lightnesstraveling]

Hail the GT-120!

[@primitiveknot3480]

Love the calm, graceful way she talks us through her fiendishly labyrinthine setup. What a glorious sound too - Doom ASMR.

[@SlyHikari03]

Nailed it.

[@Martyr9991]

Touring with a vintage tape machine that you dial in while playing is the most doom thing ever.

[@PageandPlant4Life]

Doug martsch from built to spill also does this, not the same genre tho

[@FreeJazzEnthusiast]

I love how Wata is just this sweet, calm, soft-spoken person who just absolutely shreds. Even on stage she doesn’t move around much, while her band mates are just absolutely constantly moving. She just power-stances and shreds.

[@billyalarie929]

she was the most impressive presence onstage, by a mile. like, everyone else felt absolutely genuine in their desire and intention to rock. but Wata was in control, in a way that didn't quite make the others feel out of place, or out of control, or doing too much. it was more like she made it come together in the most perfect balance.

[@mizumon2515]

I'm not sure you know what shredding is 🤔

[@feedeedo]

@@mizumon2515 She rocks heavily af*, perhaps

[@SlyHikari03]

Thats why shes awesome.

[@DallasGunther]

Yes, I've seen BORIS twice and she certainly plays loud. They really shine in the live setting not only because of the astounding amount of air being moved by their backline but from the journey they take you on through their expansive library. It isn't a quick sale, introducing them to people. In fact it takes more of an investment than most are willing to give. But whenever I've gotten through the new fans can't praise them enough. When it clicks, it fucking clicks. Don't pass up an opportunity to see them perform, they are easily one of the best bands on the planet.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

this

[@thadeckhoff5153]

You sold me.

[@DavidKAnderson]

Just saw them a couple days ago (9/17/22), and they were mind-blowing.

[@hellsbells1151]

be honest. i hate the singing. wata is way better without that guy screaming...

[@hellsbells1151]

@@thadeckhoff5153 how much? for how long? hehe

[@yaanno]

The sheer power of those amps is stunning. I was not prepared for the sonic attack of Boris live. Thank you EQD for yet an other stellar episode!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Our pleasure! Thanks for being here

[@KelticKabukiGirl]

@@EarthQuakerDevices this episode was a LONG TIME COMING for me🥲

[@akwilson1676]

Orange amp is fucking awesome

[@Wardenclyffe1901]

Just when you thought that Boris could do anything, Wata pulls out a gotdamm accordion to make space noises with. 🤘💀🤘

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

It's so cool she just casually takes a Space Echo on stage with her. I personally would be too scared of it getting broken and wouldn't risk it.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

that's rock n' roll

[@gstrfst]

I think I saw a picture of Wata posing with (no joke) 10 Space Echos/clones. That's dedication

[@noyd4172]

@@gstrfst She and Omar Rodriguez Lopez should bring all their Space Echoes together and build a small house

[@benjaminfowler4513]

@@noyd4172 yeah I'm pretty sure Omar has like double digits of each space echo and echoplex in various states of disrepair and he refuses to let anyone fix them lol

[@iaoshua]

a boris omar collab would be the highlight of my whole life

[@000MidnightSun]

Wata rules

[@claesvanoldenphatt9972]

@@jonathanstefanovic6543 all the Κόσμοι not just this one, this one is too small for all the LOUDNESS of WATA