Luke ROTJ Ver. 2 Conversion in new Dragon Ash music video

[Matt Thorn]

I am very proud to introduce a brand new music video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0wHLQGdLb0%3Cbr%20/%3E) by the popular (and, as you can see and hear, talented) Japanese band, Dragon Ash (http://www.dragonash.co.jp/), titled "Ambitious." A tribute to athletes of all kinds--including a rugby player who is a serious babe--the video also features a Master Replicas Luke ROTJ Force FX saber that I converted for eccentric bassist Ikuzo Baba, a.k.a. "Iküzöne". Iküzöne practices his spins in a park near his home in Tokyo, and, as far as I know, is the only person in the world who actually plays an electric bass with a lightsaber...or at least the only one who does so with such style. Unfortunately, there's only one brief cut in which we get to see him really bust a move, but, hey, the video's about athletes, not Jedi musicians. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0wHLQGdLb0

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAb5Zhso61I/AAAAAAAAE1E/A_IOYBXEsMk/s800/Screen%20shot%202010-06-03%20at%209.28.56.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aYPXDFnLmUr8KwTrFNi8UA?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAb5abHfQdI/AAAAAAAAE1I/vNm1SkOWWpw/s800/Screen%20shot%202010-06-03%20at%209.30.57.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J1L1Jfq3rXGCIYYAdDHGvQ?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAb5bCC0B0I/AAAAAAAAE1M/qnrfWcFxmlw/s800/Screen%20shot%202010-06-03%20at%209.31.04.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zrKf6E9ZPmz4UIQShN-x3Q?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAb5brZNlqI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/t1x_Vm-fJr8/s800/Screen%20shot%202010-06-03%20at%209.31.08.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ykiQFNRPv0ynhkkoWkLOxw?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAb5cQd6ofI/AAAAAAAAE1U/99KisbWLT7Q/s800/Screen%20shot%202010-06-03%20at%209.31.11.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2wlmgxlBhC4tYIY-ovs7Rg?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAb5dB1YyuI/AAAAAAAAE1Y/6CJHaw9fAU8/s800/Screen%20shot%202010-06-03%20at%209.31.16.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_l3C1mey7c4oDpe-bvLB-Q?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAb5dnQb_MI/AAAAAAAAE1c/DO9JHHgyBRU/s800/Screen%20shot%202010-06-03%20at%209.31.32.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_Q5w5woauMO8B03syPTlQQ?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/Sxi69Q2PonI/AAAAAAAACfI/bZPgHjtqbdE/s400/IMG_1454.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R_b8T3WUmX1fAUfiExuLpQ?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/Sxi6-f2qbkI/AAAAAAAACfM/WaLsWhvjZj0/s400/IMG_1455.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PAYzSNyPYZ6VgwggqJCpHg?feat=embedwebsite)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/Sxi6_nbj00I/AAAAAAAACfQ/xUG7tqQIdHg/s400/IMG_1456.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CiwgSgBcrDqve_EynK7g5A?feat=embedwebsite)

The saber uses a LedEngin 5-Watt green. I don't think they enhanced the brightness in post-production. It really is that bright. And, as you can tell by the way it bends, it's a thin-walled polycarb tube. Hopefully I will finish the double Yoda (http://picasaweb.google.com/littlenemo1905/IkuzoneYoda?feat=directlink) I'm making for him in time for their next music video!

[Knighthammer]

That is cool! - I like there sound as well. I can definately see them on radio here in the states (well maybe except for the language barrier).

[ARKM]

That's pretty cool.

[Obi-Ben]

I had no idea the thin walled blades would bend like that. I figured the difference between thin and thick walls was a durability issue, not a bending one.

[Matt Thorn]

I had no idea the thin walled blades would bend like that. I figured the difference between thin and thick walls was a durability issue, not a bending one.
They do bend, but this might be an illusion caused by the video. Just check out the drummer's stick in this frame:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TAfKdIw2t2I/AAAAAAAAE2I/BKsbVCk4bEw/s400/Screen%20shot%202010-06-04%20at%200.28.30.png (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q1PLtUZ3cgQuUzlsDQHt9KL1jFYx4VSq6PmFy8goX-g?feat=embedwebsite)

[Jedi-Loreen]

It might be partially an illusion caused by rapid movement, but thin walled blades are kind of bendy and whippy, especially when you change directions with it quickly.

[Jase Kala Maris]

Nice video, I thought I was getting old because I couldn't understand alot of the words and some I could! I feel better now. They would do well in the states very radio playable. Where can I get a dl?

[mihunai]

Finally i see how you play the bass with a saber!
But i have to agree on the bendy-ness, combination of thinwalledness and optical
illusionism.

Still a pretty awesome feat!
And a great saber ;)

mTm

[Skottsaber]

It might be partially an illusion caused by rapid movement, but thin walled blades are kind of bendy and whippy, especially when you change directions with it quickly.

Just watch the video on the Parksabers website. Those are 3/4" blades and have been called 'wet noodles' :mrgreen:

[Jedi-Loreen]

I know, I have Parks sabers with 3/4" blades, too. A lot of my friends used to use them, too.

I've made both thin and thick walled 3/4" blades, myself.

[Lord Dottore Matto]

That was cool Matt, congratulations!

[Matt Thorn]

Thanks, LDM. The single was just released on the Japan iTunes Store a few hours ago, is already #13 on the list of top ranking downloads.

I hope they appear on Music Station (a venerable weekly TV show that counts down the top songs in Japan and features "live" performances by many of the artists) and Iküzöne uses one of my sabers. It would be even better if the host of the show (a famous old comedian named Tamori) asks Iküzöne about the saber. :D

EDIT: Make that number 12. If the single doesn't make to the Top Ten in the next 24 hours and Number One within a week, I'll eat my tabards.:cool:

[Blue Fox]

Awesome Matt!! He needs something more custom now ;)
I watched the video. I love the song! I hope it goes to #1 :D

[Matt Thorn]

Awesome Matt!! He needs something more custom now ;)
Yeah, when will he get that "more custom" saber? ;)

I watched the video. I love the song! I hope it goes to #1 :D
At Number Seven and counting. Setting aside the singer's English pronunciation *ehem*, I do think it's a great song, and I have a feeling it will go to Number One in Japan.

[Blue Fox]

Yeah, when will he get that "more custom" saber? ;)

At Number Seven and counting. Setting aside the singer's English pronunciation *ehem*, I do think it's a great song, and I have a feeling it will go to Number One in Japan.

Shhh... it's supposed to be a secret.. :P
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