Ian Gronow
GearIQ 579
Joined Jun 2014
Singer/songwriter, currently based in Tokyo, Japan. www.iangronow.com
Setup when Gigging with Ten Past Due (band)
8
Guitar Setup when Gigging as duo or solo
4
Solo Ukulele Gigging Rig
3
Other Guitars
3
Ukuleles
5
Home Practice & Recording Pedalboard
14
Home Practice & Recording Equipment
8
Bass Guitar Setup
2
Other Instruments
5
Spare Pedals
1
Previously Owned Items
34
Wishlist
3
Gear Photos
4
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Create your EquipboardSetup when Gigging with Ten Past Due (band) 8
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I was faithful to Dunlop capos for far too long... lifetime warranty with this one, which I never hope to have to use, and really hope I don't leave it anywhere!
Expensive, but well worth it, based on ease of application, and doesn't knock any strings out of tune!
Can sometimes be hard to apply, especially when nervous on stage!
Guitar Setup when Gigging as duo or solo 4
I bought "Lily" in March 2009, and she's pretty much my perfect acoustic - unfortunately, she's not made it to Japan... yet!
As far as I'm aware, there were only 600 of this model produced. The wood is HPL Koa.
Update (Sep 2025): Almost two years ago, I finally brought Lily to Japan!
After getting used to how to configure it, there are a lot of useable effects. Mostly caters for acoustic instruments, but enough effects to get by with electric guitar, for now at least!
I was faithful to Dunlop capos for far too long... lifetime warranty with this one, which I never hope to have to use, and really hope I don't leave it anywhere!
Expensive, but well worth it, based on ease of application, and doesn't knock any strings out of tune!
Can sometimes be hard to apply, especially when nervous on stage!
Solo Ukulele Gigging Rig 3
After getting used to how to configure it, there are a lot of useable effects. Mostly caters for acoustic instruments, but enough effects to get by with electric guitar, for now at least!
Other Guitars 3
I had always played steel string acoustics, although my playing style more recently suits nylon fingerstyle. I liked the tonewood combination, which is ebony back and sides, and I think the top is spruce. The size of the body is comfortable, but perhaps the scale length could be longer. The nut is 48mm, which is about halfway between a typical steel string at 42mm, or classical guitar at over 52mm.
My first acoustic guitar in Japan, named Suisen II, bought second hand. I had an LR Baggs pickup installed, and used her for solo performances, until forming the band and converting to electric, and have since bought a Yamaha acoustic for live performances and recording.
However, this remains a nice little guitar for practicing at home, or an afternoon in the park, and hopefully not my last Taylor guitar either!
I believe mine to be from the early 2000's.
Ukuleles 5
At the start of the pandemic, I was browsing the music store websites, and I came across what looked like a steal - a Yamaha ukulele from 1964, made in Japan.
When I went to the store, it had a beautiful history attached as well - the case has been custom painted, and inside there are momentos (photos, a business card etc.) of the original owner - a music teacher and performer from New York.
She sounds stunning, and I would definitely like to keep this ukulele in my family.
About a year or two after aquiring my prized No.80 ukulele, I found that another "Nippon Gakki" (Yamaha) 1960's ukulele was available at about half of what I paid for that one. I decided to go for it, but the sound is quite a bit shallower than the No.80.
I believe this is because it is thinner - and the legend is that it was produced specifically to be quieter to cater for those living in the tight-knit and paper thin housing in Japan.
Still a nice enough ukulele though.
Around the time I was curious about baritone ukulele, which are hard to come by in Japan, I saw this second hand at a local music store. It was strung with a high D string (dGBe) and sounded beautiful! I have kept this arrangement, and it always stays nicely in tune as well!
Home Practice & Recording Pedalboard 14
The first time around, it broke after a few months - probably because the input/output are so tight due to the small size.
I was able to get a replacement due to it being still under warranty, and that one lasted about 2 and a half years, before the screen went skewiff - slightly rotated and lighting up partly out of place.
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Home Practice & Recording Equipment 8
I have tried to aquire one for each of my stringed instruments, to keep on. It is discrete enough to do so.
Although sometimes, finding a place to fit it can make it awkward to view, dependig on the headstock and layout of the instrument.
Also, the screen sometimes isn't easy to see at some angles or in some light.
In theory, this capo should make it easier (or indeed instant) to switch to DADGAd, however, you have to learn a new fingering for the bottom E string, and it's tricky to fret that bottom E under the second fret.
You also have to apply the capo extremely carefully in order to avoid knocking some strings out of tune.
Bass Guitar Setup 2
Other Instruments 5
Spare Pedals 1
Previously Owned Items 34
I'd been playing acoustic guitar for around 12 years before eventually deciding to venture into the world of electric guitar. After ditching a new Epiphone ES-339 to return to my roots, I fell in love with this second hand Danelectro, who I named "Dahlia". Really ideal for the warm and clean sound I strive for.
Update: I sold this guitar after the band slowly dissolved - and later found a love for Telecasters. I'm sure I'd enjoy it if I still had it, now that I know better what I'm doing!
It wasn't working for me after a while. The signal doesn't mute whilst tuning, which is expected of guitars with in-built tuners.
I enjoyed playing this ukulele when I was starting out, but I found the sound to be a bit thin after trying other ukes.
I picked up this uke on discount from Amazon, as I had always been curious about what a 5-string ukulele would be like. It has satisfied my curiosity, and is very good value. It would be unfair to compare it to a more premium ukulele.
I'm not sure if I will keep it around forevever, but for now it serves a purpose.
...it broke on me just after the one year warranty was up. They quoted at least 60% (possibly more) of what the amp cost new to fix, so I will probably try to move it on and look elsewhere. It was very good whilst it worked!
A good tuner pedal can be for life - this was great but sold it because I wasn't playing live anymore.
Beautiful EQ, helps me find a warm tone - and found second hand!
Although it was very heavy for some reason, so I started to look elsewhere.
Really beefs up the bass, although there could be more sustain. Great for such a low price!
Offers a diverse range, from very subtle, to full on wah, tiny, light... just very fiddly, and not ideal sound quality.
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Managed to find one second hand at half the usual price, and does a good job of removing noise from the pickups and noisy pedals!
