Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Hollow Johnson



Eric Johnson had teamed up with Fender once again for another Strat adventure, this time, it's a semi hollow. Despite featuring only an F-hole on the bass side, chambering was done at the treble side as well. This might be a good thing for the Fender camp because the Tele had been a thinline flag bearer for the manufacturer all this while & now the Strat is coming into the picture. Lest we forget, the Starcaster & Coronado were the Fender versions of what was successful at Gibson- the ES models but they weren't quite the hit in this semi-hollow campaign. The Fender benders among us are still loyal to the Strat & Tele incarnations first & foremost so this EJ version is a smart move. 

Monday, February 26, 2018

Ironing unplugged


Spent last evening unplugged. I foresee an unplugged contribution in the near future so brushing up my acoustic antics. It was finger style mostly but the solo bits, I needed a pick for that. For someone with a pick inclination, I'm losing it when it comes to acoustics 🙄 However, I take pride in the fact that my finger style adaptations underwent improvements since doing away with picks when it comes to unplugged moments. Had a hard time looking for a thin/ medium picks in the house but found this Iron Age one lying around. 

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Band Cake


While you were asleep, this happened. If Gibson said they are mitigating their dire finances, this is a good sign. Also, good to know a business entity of similar standing had acquired Cakewalk & not just some interested party without a convincing portfolio. By the way, do you know who owns Bandlab?

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Ibanez 2018 @ Swee Lee


It's a well-spent Saturday morning at Swee Lee (Bras Basah) sitting through the Ibanez 2018 promo. The much awaited AZ Series were present together with other models, less the Genesis line up.


A thorough presentation took place with generous insights on the AZ series conception. A big thank you to Mr. Faizal & Swee Lee for the invitation. 

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Ibanez: RG521 (Part 2)


Here's an initial appraisal of Ibanez's RG521 which is one of the members in the Genesis series. 


I'm just pleased that there's no Prestige label on the headstock despite being made in Japan; telling people your product is of a certain high standard through shameless tagging simply reeks of desperation. Kudos to Ibanez for keeping standards high. There are no blemishes to report, not even a hint of skimping.

The scary thing is, the Indonesian standards are currently, in my opinion, as imposing as the Japanese ones. We have the Premium models to account for this progress. Even the Standard models, albeit not entirely, are manifesting good production standards. These models were made second fiddle only because of material grade & definitely not on grounds of workmanship.


The Genesis models return to the block heel of yesterday. If you are a proficient player, this joint type becomes an issue only because it discomforts you, nothing to do with impeding ability. Thank you, Ibanez, for keeping the Super Wizard neck carve true to form despite the alternative approach (neck construction is neither a single piece nor 'skunk striped). The biggest Ibanez selling point is definitely its patented neck carve.


This isn't a detail disclosed at the Ibanez homepage but the RG521 is equipped with a set of locking Gotoh tuners. It seems that the Japanese hands got the Math right as these don't contribute to a neck-heavy episodes; certainly not when I was handling it both in the store & at home.


Also, the string posts are the staggered type to wisely supplement the absence of a string retainer at the headstock- in case you didn't notice that. 

Everything is top notch here, arguably like the good ol' days when the RG was king in Shred Land. Some people like to be transported back to familiar territory & this is that escape. The default V7/V8 pickups are bland-sounding units, nothing stellar, nothing too disappointing as well. I have better use for these for clean tones, surprisingly, but not that inviting when it comes to distortion territory. The pots here are good stuff, very smooth unlike the ones in the Indonesian models.

To be continued. 😐

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

A ray from the broken dawn


In a knee-jerk reaction against naysayers, Gibson's CEO spells a brighter future ahead with a review of the circumstances. The primary strategy is to eliminate doomed brand names under its umbrella so things aren't so rosy for Cakewalk. He reiterated the belief in propelling the Philips brand consumer audio as one of its business focus citing growth potential as its strength. There's also a 7-year plan to bring debts down to zero. 😐 The irony here is that Gibson currently owns brand names which can possibly help ease its predicament; Kramer, Tobias & Steinberger, among others. This is what happens to putting your revenue eggs squarely into the 'Gibson' name & neglecting the potential of others.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Ibanez: RG655 discont'd




The Ibanez RG655 had been discontinued this year, rightly so when there's the RG550 to take its place. The 655 is indeed spec'd out like the 550 in every way but people are not looking at it as much as the 550. The latter has a marked history in the Ibanez archive but it all boils down to the name.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Bantam boom


I see this as good news more for the guitar dweebs than the bass bunch- a new short scale model by Spector called the Bantam. It's a 30" player but the manufacturer promises a full on bass boom. Looks promising but prices are a little steep, expect an upwards of SGD2K.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Ibanez RG521


I have plans to add an RG550 to the Ibanez fold this year but things are a little dreadful in terms of colour availability & price (I'm not agreeable with the hike) when it comes to the Ibanez Genesis series. You can say that the RG521 you see above (in absolutely boring jewel blue finish) is a consolation. The Genesis models still do NOT come with a case/bag & this year, they're asking a little too much for one. I have my reasons for buying this one, will disclose in due time with a little appraisal. 

James' exit


Long time ESP endorser, Andy James has left the camp.


He is now seen playing Kiesel guitars (Aries/ Crescent), made to specs- EMG pickups + Evertune bridge. There is no official endorsement news as yet so we keep our eyes peeled for updates. 

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Broken dawn ahead


Being guitars geeks, we have Gibson creeping into our souls for want of its reputation more than anything else, dare I say. Yes, Gibson wielding people are equivalent to Rolex & Mercedes owners strutting their stuff, telling the world they have arrived. Somewhere where it matters, of course. The issue here is, the Gibson name, as we speak, is going down, most probably dragging you down with it.

Here's the current mess- Gibson has till July 2018 to refinance its debts before folding (The Street, Aug 2017). Its credit ratings had been lowered nine notches into rubbish territory. Alarming? The finance sector had cited three primary reasons why Gibson is in this predicament: Product diversity, commercial regulations & management turnover.

We often berate the manufacturer for its lack of variety, often returning to proven success to propel its business. The believers countered by saying we can't push an entity into specializing what it's not famed for. Gibson has its traditional inclinations & that's its selling point. It's also the manufacturer's Achilles' Heel. If you don't move with the times, you'd be consumed by it. However, we note Gibson's foray into audio territory by virtue of Onkyo, KRK & Stanton but the question remains- is it working out?

It is rather unfortunate that current commercial regulations are compounding the struggle. We know what CITES is doing to many instrument manufacturers in general & not just Gibson. Let's not get into details as we've already seen that picture before.

The people running the show is of utmost importance to any organization. Management runs the business. If these people know nuts about your dealings, don't bother having them in your camp. Selling reputation doesn't count; even fishermen can sell furniture but they are not into the furniture per se. They see fish parts making up the furniture & that's gonna bring your company down. 

All this makes some juicy speculations; imagine Fender & Gibson swallowing their egos & merging. Or PRS acquiring Gibson for cheap & forging on. We can't rule out the government from owning/ part owning the company & getting things done. Whatever the case may be, it's a bleak run into the sunset for Gibson. Personally, I have always looked forward to checking Gibson out at the stores expecting to be impressed but that had not been the case. I could have spent good money on Gibsons but I always ended up buying something else. At the very least, Gibson has to ask if their business plan is set in context; you might have the best plan out there but the timing of it all is crucial. What is the buy/sell trend right now? Have you done enough to know what's out there before being out there with the rest who might know more than you. 

Business entities dealing with Gibson; it's the time to re-think & re-consider. I'd just be blunt with you here- renegotiate because you have the upper hand now. 

Friday, February 16, 2018

Contact


Before you head to the stores in search of replacement parts, the first step in addressing connectivity issue is always cleaning. The 3-way toggle switch in my Fender Duo Sonic did not register any connection for the bridge pickup. I kept toggling while playing & after a few flicks, some contact took place but it crackled the signals, meaning, the switch is working but suffers from dirty contacts. A simple spray cured the problem but please use a dedicated contact cleaner for this purpose. Seen above- 3M contact cleaner. Effective but not a pleasant odour there.

Year of the Dog


It's the beginning of a long weekend, a deserving break for many of us. Despite being only the second month of the year, things had been hectic. We continue to persevere, offering our best & being loyal to those who deserve our commitment. To all Chinese friends & blog readers, here's wishing you a prosperous lunar new year with bountiful rewards coming your way. As for the rest of us, it's the perfect moment to play guitar & spend time with the family- bring them to the movies; Black Panther is showing!

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Borrowed freshness


If you detected the whiff of a new Gibson Flying V recently, you were right. The details are now official, images are made plain for all to see. 


However, if you think the design is a fresh perspective, then be informed that the Jackson Roswell Rhoads happened in 1996/1997. We note the very influential outlines seen in the new Gibson Flying V but we do not infer downright cloning. However, we cannot unsee what we saw. The new V has a steep list price of USD4,999 owing to its custom shop origins. We give it to Gibson for moving away form the traditional outlines but can't quite forgive the fact that its running on borrowed themes. Maybe it's just me. 

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Festive weekend operating hours (2)


More festive operating hours...


... for you to take note of. Thanks to all retailers who responded to my PMs.


Enjoy the long weekend, everyone. 👍

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

That orange


This is a new one by Jackson (2018), an orange SLX4, triple humbucking (single coil size) pickups, locking hardware, Floyd bridge- looks cool as heck.


Once upon the 80s, there was a Charvel version which was equally cool looking; the Spectrum, they called it. If I remember correctly, it used to be available at City Music.


Even Jeff Beck was into it along the way. Aw, damn! If only the current Jackson version has a more preferred bridge (FR Special in the mean time). 

Monday, February 12, 2018

Festive weekend operating hours


Festive operating hours for Davis GMC...


... and Swee Lee. Please note. More updates for other stores to come. 😁

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Squier Contemporary


Not to be out done by the other big names this NAMM 2018, Squier has some new models in the spirit of all things new. The HSS Strat here features a matching headstock-body finish.


Ditto the HH Strat & yes, they feature a volume & tone knob each unlike a typical Strat.


For metal geeks- the Active HH Strat. No specific model was cited for the Floyd Rose bridge which might be a Special. The pickups are in-house brands. 


Of course, an obligatory Squier (HH) inclusion. I'd love to check them out once they are made available in the stores. The QC & overall reputation of the Squire range are on an up swing. I'd rather invest in a Squier than an Ibanez GIO for instance, to get the money's worth. 

Saturday, February 10, 2018

The case of seeing clearly



This is a more applicable acquisition for the pro performers dealing with dimly lit stages & backrooms. OK, so it could be a case of seeing things at a remote corner of our houses without waking everyone up in the middle of the night. But how many of us would be that tragic? 😁 Anyway, thumbs up to a practical consideration.

Friday, February 9, 2018

RIP: Pat Torpey


Planet rock mourns the loss of Mr. Big's one & only ace drummer, Pat Torpey (13/12/1953 - 7/2/2018)

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Been had?


This was featured in the local papers last week. A website claiming to be selling guitars for 90% off the list price.


Seller claimed guitars were released for sale at cost prices due to export complications & salvage appropriation. 


Sale was further promoted by social media postings. We need to be cautious when dealing with such too-good-to-be-true deals. At the very least, engage in preliminary correspondence with the seller & do not commit to buy immediately. Yes, we should put a good deal of trust on accommodating online sellers but we also need to protect ourselves from commercial complications should there be legal repercussions. if you're willing to go down for this kind of deal, what does that show about you? 

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

M & Q


So the NAMM 2018 instalment is done & dusted, Ibanez did pretty well this time round. The new AZ series are ace. Say whatever you want about treading in a certain boutique brand's shadow & coming out with borrowed themes. We very well know that it's a commercial affair. The AZ was there to sell, Martin Miller & Tom Quayle played a big part in that & by the looks of it, things are gonna go down well. The MM1 you see here...


... & the TQ1 are deserving models for the endorsers per se. These are not short term ideas especially churned out for 2018 but a well thought out plan for the AZ series in general. This is a lesson in moving away from the comfort zone but sticking to one's roots. The AZ guitars look very removed from the shredability of RGs & the sleek design definition of the S-series but one thing's for sure, you can pretty much do what you want them to do, namely, make great music. There is a high chance that an AZ model will make it here into my humble abode & it's gonna serve my needs. In the mean time, enjoy this wonderful clip featuring the endorsers mentioned here with a jazzy, Stevie Wonder number peppered with very tasteful shred passages:

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

New rhythm


This is my non-guitar, likely acquisition for this year. I've had good results with the Korg KR-mini but options are limited. Nothing bad about it, it got the job done. New for 2018, the KR-55 Pro has more lone ranger jam features for people who play with themselves (like yours truly) & external storage for other inspirational moments. More importantly, the 55 remains portable with battery power option for on-thego applications. Here's hoping that Korg keep prices sensible.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Knuckled E-II


New for 2018, ESP's E-II offers selected models with Bare Knuckle pickups. Seen above is the M-II NT with a pair of Aftermath humbuckers.


The NT 7 has Warpigs in there. Also new for 2018, selected models are offered with Hipshot fixed bridges.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Osiris


A little late but worth mentioning- Kiesel's Osiris 😁

It's the other headless highlight this year & it's a bolt-on like its Zeus sibling. Unlike the Vader/ Holdsworth models, the Zeus & Osiris joins the Letchford in featuring body outlines that accommodate the bridge without a tail end cutaway. 

PIC: Kiesel

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Jackson: Mick Thomson Soloist


This is one of Jackson's 2018 highlight, the Mick Thomson Soloist. It's not too far off my expected details of the instrument. To put it bluntly- nothing new. Even the fixed bridge there is an adaptation to the Ibanez FX Edge unit. We should know Mick Thomson by now; someone who's totally into playing the guitar, the brand name isn't a particular pre-requisite. He just needs a brand name that backs him up 100% while he's at it. All the best to him this year, he's still on my list of formidable metal musicians out there. By the way, this one lists for more than USD5K. 

Selling: VS Route 808


Going for a good price- Visual Sound Route 808:

  • Route 808 overdrive, box included, 8/10 condition
  • No reservations/ trades
  • Self-collect @ CCK MRT station
  • Enquiries through e-mail
  • Price is FINAL: $90

Exotic


PRS SE's Custom Exotic tops are now available at Davis GMC. This awesome looking version features a zebra wood.


The other sports a spalted maple top. I thought these would go for $1.4K+/- but they are not in the 4-figure territory so do check them out. 

Friday, February 2, 2018

The DSL (minor) turn


I'm alright with the low power Marshalls & it's good to know that the DSL had made a return of sorts this 2018. The DSL tone is as modern as it gets when it comes to the Marshall voicing & this release proved the fact that the manufacturer is in the small/ lunchbox amp league that's rather difficult to avoid. The 1W head you see here reminds us of the very successful albeit limited run of the 50th Anniversary small amps but some 'extra' goodness is in store.


They've included reverb in both head/combo versions & Softube cab emulation for direct-to-console recording as well as headphones application. Everything seems to be in place in anticipation of that unmistakable Marshall voicing but I foresee some anxiety when it comes to prices. It's listing for close to SGD500 with reference to external price lists. Let's hope things won't go a little out of hand in this aspect considering it's a 1W unit & there's nothing really new/evolutionary when it comes to features. 

Seen above: DSL 1HR head/ 1CR combo