Issei Noro

In a YouTube video by Titi Rei, Issei Noro discusses his custom Yamaha SG-IN guitar, which was specifically manufactured for him by Yamaha in 1983.

The guitar can be seen in the whole video. It became Issei Noros Signature guitar since the mid of the eighties. In the late eighties the guitar was added with a single coil and was available as "Yamaha SG-I" on the Japanese market.

Picture Source:

http://gakki.gaku-ya.jp/shopdetail/000000009532/

Yamaha Issei Noro Signature guitar can be seen on the left here according to this blog post from Yamaha

Issei Noro has been known to use the Yamaha DG-1000 for many years. It is visible behind him from the beginning of this source video.

In this Youtube video from 1982 at 1:26 Issei Noro can be seen with a yamaha G-100 2x12 Combo.

(English translation) Noro currently completes his sound make-up using only (1) Line 6's Helix. He has no stage amp and sends the line output from (1) directly to the PA.

"【Pedal List】 ①Line 6／Helix Floor（マルチ・エフェクター）②BOSS／TU-2（チューナー）③TC ELECTRONIC／G-Minor（MIDIコントローラー）"

"【Pedal List】 ①Line 6／Helix Floor（マルチ・エフェクター）②BOSS／TU-2（チューナー）③TC ELECTRONIC／G-Minor（MIDIコントローラー）"

(English translation) "The photo above reproduces the live setup. A Yamaha DXR12 is used as the monitor speaker for the guitar, and the signal is output from the Helix 1/4" OUT."

(English translation) "This mixer (YAMAHA/MG-06) is used to adjust the volume of the guitar coming out of the monitors."

You can see the Orange Squeezer on his guitar around 0:30.

At 2:04:23 in the video titled "Again" by Casiopea, it showcases Issei Noro's collection of guitars, including the Roland G-707.

The insert from the Casiopea Perfect Live II record lists Issei Noro's gear used during the concert, listing the Boss FV-200 Keyboard Volume Pedal.

The insert from the record Casiopea Perfect Live II specifically lists the gear used by Issei Noro during the concert, including the Korg SDD-3000.

The insert from the Casiopea Perfect Live II record lists Issei Noro's gear used during the concert, listing the SPX-90 in which he uses 3 units.

Issei Noro, the guitarist known for his clean and expressive guitar tones, confirmed in an interview that he used the Yamaha F100-115 amplifier. He stated, "Did you use that with a Yamaha F100-115 amp? Exactly. The F100-115 came with distortion, but I preferred the character of a separate pedal." This was highlighted in a Sound & Equipments Part 1 interview shared by noroism on Instagram.

Issei Noro, the renowned guitarist, is confirmed to use a Yamaha System Board SB-200, as detailed in an interview excerpt from Guitar Magazine, shared on Instagram by user noroism. The May 1981 issue outlines his setup, which includes the Yamaha SG 2000 guitar, Dan Armstrong's Orange Squeezer compressor, a Yamaha 100-45 amplifier, and two analog delays, with a Maxon overdrive also noted in the foreground.

In the YouTube video “T-SQUARE 35th Anniversary Festival disc 1”, Issei Noro is observed using an Ex-Pro Pro-10z Wireless Instrument Receiver as part of his live rack setup. At approximately 1:05:18, a close-up of Noro’s rack reveals a unit that matches the Ex-Pro Pro-10z Wireless Receiver by its 1U rack format, centered Ex-Pro logo, dark front panel, antenna layout, and LED indicator section. This setup is consistently part of Noro's live guitar configuration throughout the concert. The video is credited to Jerry's Funk and Fusion Collection.

In the YouTube video “CASIOPEA vs THE SQUARE Live 2003”, Issei Noro can be seen using a Yamaha SPX990 as part of his live guitar rack system.

At around 1:04:35, the camera briefly shows a close-up of Noro’s rack. The unit positioned below the Yamaha DG1000 matches the Yamaha SPX990 based on its characteristic green LCD display, front-panel controls, rotary encoder, and visible front-panel memory card slot, a distinctive feature of the SPX990. The processor appears to be part of Noro’s primary live effects rack throughout the performance.

In the YouTube video “CASIOPEA vs THE SQUARE Live 2003”, Issei Noro can be seen using a Yamaha MFC10 MIDI Foot Controller as part of his live guitar setup.

At around 5:50, the camera shows Noro’s floor setup, where the Yamaha MFC10 is visible in the stage. The controller appears to be used for switching presets or controlling Noro’s rack-based guitar system during the performance.

In the YouTube video “CASIOPEA vs THE SQUARE Live 2003”, Issei Noro can be seen using a Yamaha HC2700 power amplifier as part of his live guitar rack system.

At around 8:24, the camera shows the lower section of Noro’s rack. The bottom rack unit matches the Yamaha HC2700 by its dual analog VU meters, yellow meter illumination, left-side power/indicator section, large channel level controls on the right, and black Yamaha Professional Series rack design.

In the YouTube video "CASIOPEA vs THE SQUARE Live 2003," Issei Noro is seen using a Roland M-120 Line Mixer as part of his live guitar rack system. At approximately 8:24, the camera captures the lower section of Noro's rack, where the unit positioned directly above the Yamaha HC2700 power amplifier corresponds with the Roland M-120's distinctive features, including its compact rackmount layout, row of channel controls, right-side master/monitor section, headphone output, and horizontal level meter area. This unit is utilized as a rack line mixer, presumably routing or mixing signals from his rack effects before feeding into the power amplifier. This information is corroborated by the video source provided by YouTube user "Kumquats."

In the YouTube video titled “T-SQUARE 35th Anniversary Festival disc 1,” guitarist Issei Noro is shown using a TC Electronic G-major effects processor in his live rack setup. At approximately 1:05:18, the camera captures a close-up of Noro’s rack, revealing a unit that strongly resembles the TC Electronic G-major, identifiable by its dark 1U chassis, amber/red display, and distinctive front-panel control layout. This rack unit is visible on stage throughout the concert, indicating it is part of Noro’s consistent live guitar effects setup for this performance. The video is provided by Jerry's Funk and Fusion Collection on YouTube.

In the YouTube video “Casiopea - 大世界/Grand Universe (The Party: Visual Stack) [UHD Upscale] | [Remastered]”, uploaded by visualbeats, Issei Noro can be seen using a Yamaha MFC1 MIDI Foot Controller as part of his live guitar rig.

At around 3:13 into the video, the camera shows Noro’s floor setup during the performance. The MIDI controller can be identified as the Yamaha MFC1 by its distinctive floorboard design, Yamaha branding, compact multi-footswitch layout, numeric program selection switches, and display/control section.

The MFC1 was likely used to send MIDI program change commands to Noro’s rack equipment, allowing him to switch guitar sounds and effects presets during live performances without manually operating the rack units.

In the YouTube video “Casiopea + Synchronized DNA - Documentary (Full DVD, 1080p60)”, uploaded by ejay, Issei Noro can be seen using a Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby Wah Pedal as part of his floor setup.

At around 9:13 into the video, the camera shows Noro’s pedal area during the documentary footage. The wah pedal visible on the floor matches the Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby by its classic black treadle enclosure, rectangular wah-pedal shape, side-mounted input/output jack placement, and overall Cry Baby-style chassis design.

The pedal appears to be used alongside Noro’s MIDI foot controller and rack-based guitar rig, likely providing manual wah control as part of his live performance setup.

In the YouTube video “Casiopea 3rd - A･So･Bo Tour 2015 (カシオペア・サード)”, uploaded by T grace, Issei Noro can be seen using a Line 6 POD HD Pro X as part of his live guitar rack system.

At approximately 16:58 into the video, the camera briefly shows Noro’s rack setup on stage. The rack-mounted unit can be identified as a Line 6 POD HD Pro X by its distinctive front panel layout, large blue central display, encoder arrangement, characteristic POD HD series design, and rackmount form factor.

The POD HD Pro X appears to be integrated into Noro’s touring rig during the A･So･Bo Tour 2015 era, likely serving as an amp modeling, effects processing, and signal-routing unit within his rack-based guitar system.

In the YouTube video “Casiopea 3rd - A･So･Bo Tour 2015 (カシオペア・サード)”, uploaded by T grace, Issei Noro can be seen using a Line 6 Relay G90 Rackmount Wireless System as part of his live guitar rig.

At approximately 16:58 into the video, the camera briefly shows Noro’s rack setup on stage. The upper rack unit can be identified as a Line 6 Relay G90 by its characteristic pair of front-mounted diversity antennas, dual RF signal meters on the left side of the front panel, central blue backlit display, rackmount format, and overall front-panel layout unique to the Relay G90 wireless receiver.

The Relay G90 appears to serve as the wireless front end of Noro’s touring rig, receiving the guitar signal before it is routed to the rest of his rack-based processing system.

In the Yamaha Backstage article “HELIX導入でギターサウンドが激変!? 野呂一生の最新システム” (published on Yamaha Art Blog in April 2018), Issei Noro's live guitar rig is shown featuring a Line 6 Relay G70 Wireless System.

The article documents Noro's transition to a modern Line 6-based setup centered around the Helix platform. The Relay G70 can be seen as part of the signal chain, serving as the wireless front end for his guitar system. Its distinctive floor-based receiver/transmitter architecture, display layout, and integration with the Helix-era rig identify it as the Relay G70.

In the Yamaha Backstage article “20年以上使い続ける愛機と最新機材を融合した野呂一生のギター・システム” (published in February 2022), Issei Noro's guitar rig includes a Korg DT-10 Chromatic Pedal Tuner.

The tuner can be seen as part of Noro's pedalboard and signal chain, where it serves as the primary tuning device for his live performances. The unit matches the Korg DT-10 by its distinctive pedal-style enclosure, large LED note display, and characteristic front-panel layout.

In Yamaha ART "BACKSTAGE" coverage of CASIOPEA 3rd's 2015 touring rig, the Line 6 EX-1 Expression Pedal is visible on Issei Noro's pedalboard next to his MIDI controller, indicating its use as an expression controller for his Line 6 live rig, as documented in the backstage equipment photos.