Down (again)

Dear blog readers, friends & gear geeks alike, looks like I'll be out for a while. This is my second bout with hospitalization + unemployment & too many things are on my mind in the mean time. By the time you read this, I would have already been discharged with numerous follow-up appointments to fulfil (while being away from work with no compensations). 

I experienced a chronic case of chest discomfort last weekend which did not go away for hours; it usually did after a moment of rest. When I walked into the hospital's A&E department, I experienced cloudy vision affecting only one eye. After a couple of day's worth of diagnostics & medication, the preliminary results showed liver issues & a possible tumour to deal with (still requires further diagnostics). 

Thanks for coming back here & reading stuff to dissipate your gear anxieties; I really appreciate it. In the days to come, if you see pieces of gear being put up for sale, do consider supporting.

I have no idea when updates here would be up & running once more. Giving up without a fight is not in my books so I look forward to return. Due to my extended leave at work, I am facing a real situation of termination; it happens when you are under contract appointment. In the mean time, if you have spare change, do consider sending them my way (QR code above - thanks in advance). More importantly, please look after yourselves & stay healthy. 

Donor appreciation:

• KJ. Thanks for the constant check-ins, appreciate it. Let's do dinner once I recover.
• Arvind Dev. Single-handedly paid for two of my treatments. You made my day, thank you!
• Ryan. Thanks for dropping by & contributing - every little bit counts.
• Mhd Usmani. Thanks for your generosity, this covers my meds for the rest of August. Much appreciated
• Ahmad Hosaini. For buying one of my guitars & helping me through time & again.

Fender mod

Got bored (again) & decided to custom design my own Strat using the MOD SHOP online app. I will never move away from being content with a single pickup guitar. Fender is advocating the MOD SHOP platform as giving the buyer infinite possibilities but that's not true, of course. Buyer chooses from listed options. I couldn't get: 1) 21 frets option 2) 3-bolt joint ... so much for infinite possibilities. Anyway, something like this would set me back $2.4K.

Pic: Fender

Solar: Relik

Kinda expected this to happen; a relic Solar. This is an AB1.6FRB Relik (USD1,699) to be precise. I personally don't fancy this kind of finish on a guitar but this look sells so many manufacturers are offering their respective interpretations of relic instruments. Come to think of it, I did own one, an LTD but simply could not come to terms with what it was.

Pic: Solar

New Sky colours

I seldom check out PRS updates. That PRS name invokes indulgence more than anything else. Price tags are simply north of affordability. But we forget there are SE models to be had. These are simpler guitars with next to no flash & are priced reasonably. If you are interested in the SE model, PRS has new colours for you as depicted above.

PS: These are now available at Swee Lee ($1,149)

Pic: PRS

Rotos - new look

We will see these Rotosound strings in their new packaging very soon. Now you know why Swee Lee is doing the buy 3 pay for 2 promo 😆

Pic: Rotosound 

Roto Rose

Had fun with this TL-Rose(wood) today. Played some heavy music with it & those Seymour Duncans took in high levels of distortion really well. They were not conceived to be demure to begin with.

Before actually playing took place, I took this down to Beez's for parts replacements. This was a terribly corroded tone pot that was beyond saving.

The capacitor was also affected. I simply do not understand why this guitar, stored in the same place & under the same conditions, is more susceptible to corrosion than the others. The logical deduction here is that something from inside the control cavity is causing all this to happen. It might just be the case of the body wood harbouring excess, albeit in trace amounts, of moisture & that it's continuing to dry at the expense of the susceptible metal parts.

Finally, a fresh set of Rotosound strings to make things happen. For the record, the Duncans in there are: Hot Stack (B) / Vintage Stack (N). I had to lower the bridge pickup in excess of the recommended settings as its simply too hot for the neck counterpart; the volume difference was very obvious.