Kai Hansen

This is Kai Hansen's signature guitar, its seen in I Want Out video and he still using this guitar today.

During the 2015 Best of the Best Party Tour in Paris, Kai Hansen can be seen using the Digitech Control 2, as shown in a user-uploaded photo from Gammaray. This device often accompanies the GSP1101 in his live performances.

An Engl Powerball II can be seen behind Kai Hansen in these pictures.

In the photo Kai its seen using a white model, black pickguard of this guitar.

During the "Kai Hansen and Friends" live show, Kai Hansen is seen playing an ESP Flying V Custom in white, as captured in images from Getty.

used during the gammaray and the kay hansen and friends tour

The Karl Sandoval Polka Dot V guitar was one of the guitars Kai Hansen used on the Pumkins United tour.

Kai Hansen used a Antonio Guitars Type V, specifically an Antonio Yggdrasil model built by Augustin Cristian Apostol of AntonioGuitars, during his live performance at Hellfest in France on June 23, 2022. A user-uploaded photo substantiates this usage. Further details about the guitar can be found at AntonioGuitars' website.

In this article, Kai mentions he has used a 1987 Amp since before Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt 1.

At the time of purchase, it has been modified to advance the master volume and gain section. It's played on a 4x12 Marshall cabinet with a Celestion Vintage 30.

Kai mentioned to Youngguitar.jp:

Peavey's 20W small head. The distortion sound is great, and he uses it mixed with Marshall sounds. This one was played with a Hughes & Kettner 2x12 cabinet.

BOSS's graphic equalizer is essential when playing old Marshalls. This setting was already used in WALLS OF JERICHO'' ('85) and theKEEPER'' two-part series, in other words, in the early Halloween movies with Kai.

Kai Hansen uses the Seymour Duncan JB Model Humbucker as the bridge pickup in his Flying V guitar, a model from the late 1970s, for solo and overdub recordings. This information is confirmed by Young Guitar, where Kai states, "The guitar that always makes the best sound."

Kai Hansen, the guitarist, uses the Seymour Duncan SH-6N Distortion Humbucker on his Flying V model from the late 1970s, as confirmed by a feature in Young Guitar. The pickup is mounted upside down on the neck side of the guitar, with a JB Model on the bridge side. Hansen has stated, "The guitar that always makes the best sound."

Kai Hansen has replaced the pickups in his well-known "Pink V" ESP guitar with the Bare Knuckle Pickups Juggernaut Set. This change was documented in a feature on his recording equipment by Young Guitar, highlighting the gear used for Helloween's latest project.

Kai Hansen uses Dunlop Max Grip Nylon 1.0mm Guitar Picks, as confirmed by Michael Weikath in an interview with guitarguitar. Weikath mentioned, "Kai Hansen played with them all those years ago... we went back to these very grey Dunlop ones. In fact, this is a 1.0mm and that’s it." This choice was influenced by the pick's non-slip surface, which was particularly beneficial when Kai Hansen rejoined the band.

Kai Hansen uses the Maxon OD808 Overdrive, as confirmed in an interview with GITARRE & BASS by Lars Horstmann. Hansen states, "For me, the OD-808 is the best tube screamer for a vintage Marshall sound and more. It only compresses discreetly and does not falsify the amp sound."

Kai Hansen uses the Blackstar HT-5R, as confirmed in an interview with GITARRE & BASS conducted by Lars Horstmann, where it is described as "a very good, flexible combo, with 1 × 12 ″ speaker, which can offer everything from punk to metal to reggae."

Kai Hansen uses the Royer R-121 ribbon microphone, as stated in an interview with GITARRE & BASS by Lars Horstmann. Hansen describes it as "the soundbringer in front of every guitar box, preferably in combination with a Shure SM57," and suggests that a favorable alternative would be a Thomann the t.bone RB 100.

Kai Hansen uses a Shure SM57 microphone, as he describes it as "the soundbringer in front of every guitar box, preferably in combination with a Royer Labs R 121 ribbon microphone." This information is confirmed in an interview conducted by Lars Horstmann for GITARRE & BASS.

Kai Hansen uses the Neumann U 87 Ai vocal microphone, as stated in an interview with GITARRE & BASS by Lars Horstmann. Hansen describes the Neumann as "transparent, has fat mids and pleasant heights," noting that he doesn't require an EQ in the mix, only a compressor/limiter.

‘The Flying V, a model at the end of the 70's, is used for solo and overdub recordings. The pickup has been replaced by Seymour Duncan, with “Duncan Distortion” (mounted upside down) on the neck side and “JB Model” on the bridge side. According to Kai, "The guitar that always makes the best sound."

Additionally, you can see Kai playing it at 3:13 in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icoIkq1jBGw

Kai Hansen uses the Antonio Guitars "The Pirate," which is a custom guitar handcrafted for him by a builder in Romania. This is confirmed by the Antonio Guitars website, where video clips of Kai with "The Pirate" and his other custom guitar, "Yggdrasil," are featured. This information is sourced from Antonio Guitars.

In the 2007 article "Age of Metal" by Paul Southwell for Stroppy Baby, Kai Hansen talks about his use of the Engl Straight 100 amplifier. Hansen states, "I still play my old Engl straight which is a great amp and had it worked over by a good technician and it sounds killer."

In the 2007 article "Age of Metal" by Paul Southwell for Stroppy Baby Kai Hansen confirms his use of the Marshall JMP-1 Tube MIDI Guitar Preamp in conjunction with a Marshall power amp, stating, "I’ve played with JMP-1 [rack mounted pre-amp] with a Marshall power amp for years now which is pretty reliable."

In the music video for Rise by Gamma ray you can clearly see 2551bv cabinets stacked up all around the studio. At 2:50 there is a clear shot of the band backed by cabinets and you can see Kai's Engl Straight on top of a mic'd cabinet on the left. These cabinets can also be seen in live Gamma Ray performances such as Wacken Open Air 2003.