Another distortion

This was the last item I bought at Woodworks before they bowed out of the scene. This pedal was one of the leftovers because prior to closing, Davis GMC took over the Blackstar distributorship. If you are new to this brand name, the ISF control there is a voicing control. Blackstar offers both American & British type of distortion voicings & these are available on board the amplifiers. Despite being orange, it sounds quite removed from BOSS' DS-1. It sounds a little more intense but not quite the metal type of intensity. This is also one of those pedals whose LEVEL control adds quite a bit of intensity as opposed to merely making the pedal more audible. I have a few Blackstar pedals, one of which had been gladly handed over to brother Ijau over at West Malaysia.

Godzilla

As Japanese as it gets, this is a Fender (Japan) Godzilla Strat. Looks to be a limited run so don't expect it to appear in the stores here unless there's an exclusive arrangement for its appearance. Nothing too exclusive in terms of specs less those Godzilla graphics. I'm not too keen on this one because it's black.

Pic: Fender Japan

Chleo SE

Due to its unattainable price tag (to many of us), PRS has released the SE version of Herman Li's Chleo signature model. But it's still unaffordable (more on this later). Unlike the core version, the SE take is a bolt-on affair & sports a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge. The core is a set neck make with a GOTOH whammy bridge.

PRS did a bulge design for the core to avoid interfering with the flame top aesthetics which actually backfired; players claim these look like bulging genitals under a blanket. Right. The SE version simply appointed metal plates (rear mounted so the screws aren't visible from the front) which are definitely a less costly construction approach. Personally, I find the SE version more appealing. The input jack is more functional as it is visible unlike the core version, according to players, require a certain degree of estimation when plugging in is concerned. 

The SE Chleo lists for USD1,999 & makes it the most expensive SE in the mean time. To the manufacturer, this is justified in view of the signature affiliation & exclusive specifications but it goes against the PRS philosophy of affordability, first & foremost. When the Santana SE debuted (the initial wave of SE models), these were downright affordable. Putting things into chronological context, the SEs had been affordable over time despite price hikes along the way but the Chleo here is a spit into the face of the average Joe who are indeed looking forward to embrace this guitar's SE version but that price tag is downright unreasonable. In any case, PRS is not the only commercial entity to slowly make their affordable models more costly; Squiers & Epiphones are manifesting unaffordability as well. 

Pics: PRS

424 GS

This is quite the hype right now but it's a percolated love affair, from some throwback moments with a certain analog track recorder - the TASCAM 424 Portastudio. This pedal is a dedicated emulation of the 424's volume & gain channels. I'm usually a sucker for drive / distortion pedals with an exclusive appeal, regardless if it's minimal. After watching / hearing various promo videos / clips, this one sounds a little too fuzzy to appeal to those who are after a good (regardless of what good means these days) drive / distortion unit. It will definitely win over those of us who are dwelling in nostalgia & trying to acquire the actual 424 to achieve this objective. Wonder if there's any such individuals here. Looks like the JHS 424 GS will make it here. No ETA in the mean time.

Pic: JHS

Kid's gear

Some kids at work did solo performances this morning. One of them played this guitar & sang. Kids these days are fortunate to have good gear at their disposal for such indulgences. By the way, the parents came down to help set up the gear prior to the performance proper. Salute to parents who dedicate their time & effort in seeing their kids blossom in other aspects of life. Life is too short for merely an academic inclination, kids should be given opportunities to pursue their passion in equal measure at the very least. 

G&L @ CM

This is happening now at City Music. We know how it is with G&L in the mean time, it would be sad to see the company shutter. I have no idea if there are fans here who appreciate the G&L stuff & not see them as a Fender competitor (inevitable). My take on the American models - a worthy consideration. Friends whom I talked to tend to mention the rather unsightly bridge design of the whammy models but these hold their own when it comes to reliability & durability. Those of us on a tight budget & would like to move away from the Squier offerings, the Tribute range might have some good stuff for your consideration.

Pic: CM