MS Beetle

Something new from the Vox camp; the Micro Superbeetle amp (20W). Not to be confused with the Mini Superbeetle (50W) which is the larger counterpart & tube equipped. This smaller-scaled version, which is about the size of a guitar body (as depicted) sits in between the table-top & beginner practice amps. Its internal power is re-chargeable making it very busker / outdoor-friendly. 

It may look vintage but the control panel sreveals some contemporary applications like bluetooth & various drive voicings.

Potential buyers should be wary of the fact that this amp isn't a firm representative of the flagship Vox (tube) tone. In fact, it's very utilitarian & more present-day in its offerings. Also, bear in mind that an internal rechargeable battery will wear out (might even perish) over time. Please check with the dealer if this is replaceable for those of us who have a potential to fall in love with it & wish to keep it for a very long time.

Pics: VOX

FHH

I kinda knew this would happen; the PRS Fiore is now offered in a dual humbucker version & a rosewood fretboard for this model. The Fiore is a guitar I would purchase if the price tag is less exorbitant.

Pic: PRS

Asahi & Oscar

Paying it forward - I did my bit to ensure the people at work benefit from a fresh set of strings & clean, gunk-free guitars. Between the two, the Oscar Schmidt wins it in terms of tone & playability. No idea if it was ever set up before but it just played great & the tone wasn't excessively bright. Maybe the fresh strings contributed to this positive encounter. The Asahi just sounded bland despite being more visually attractive.

My employment contract ends this week, another impending episode of a miserable year end. At least I would end my stint here knowing I did my part in making others happy.

Used

Off to the recycling bin. About a third of the year's worth of used strings. Yes, I used this many strings throughout the year & this is the reason why I refuse to spend too much on strings because it's a significant expenditure for me.

2209

I am a Telecaster fan. This affiliation extends to guitars in this outline despite sporting a non-Fender brand name. The Ibanez AZS2209 is one such guitar so the obsession was inevitable. The model you see here is the initial AZS model which is slightly different from the current AZS models - no body binding, non-ply pickguard.

The Ibanez AZS is not a Telecaster per se despite the familiar outline. Many people out there are averse to this understanding & targetted the curved control plate as a hideous deviation. One more time - the AZS is not a Telecaster & the manufacturer has no obligations to include a Telecaster-type control plate. 

I am happy with this guitar for its Tele-esque vibe & tone but the humbucking neck is a good move away from the Tele single coil tone which many Tele fanatics out there wish could be refined. However, if that tone is revised, it wouldn't manifest the signature Tele honk when both pickups are in use. The AZS2209 does well to mimic that voicing but having a humbucker in there is actually a move away from that honk but things remain tasteful. If you wish for a more Tele-like tone, please buy a Fender.

Had a spare set of Ernie Ball 9s which went into this guitar before playing started. FYI, the Seymour Duncan pickups in there are: Magic Touch (n) / AII Pro (b).

The other baby

My other (remaining) baby guitar is this Ibanez PF-58. I got this used for a very good price because: 1) The previous owner's daughter gave up learning to play & the strings were very corroded. She has no idea how to re-string + she doesn't intend to keep it any longer 2) The default internal tuner is not working. 

The default tone here is bright. I'm usually averse to such voicings because (to me) bright tones don't go well with fingerpicking. One day, I accidentally bought a bright set of strings for it & somehow it sounded great for finger-picked chords. As such, I've been putting on bright strings in there, this GHS is just one of the many brands I've tried for this guitar.