Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Upgrade poll


A belated wrap up of a poll done here. Before we get started, upgrade here is subjective. Some people feel that parts replacement is heretical because for an instrument to reflect its true worth, the original parts should stay put. Also, what's upgrade to us might not be the case with others.

Looks like the most popular upgrade is a pickup swap. We can agree that this is the most noticeable change to tone but then again, some people can hear the difference, others can't. That aside, the most fundamental agreement here should be that a different output pickup would manifest a different reaction, tonal differences included, for both clean & driven tones. The marked difference could be heard between passive & active pickups. Many of us have treaded this path & we know the outcome.

Capacitor is the interesting runners-up. This had been a recent phenomenon after stores here inventorised capacitors as replacement parts & the fact that we can purchase some easily online. Capacitor swaps are experimental because we know that it's a component that is highly unlikely to corrode or deteriorate. It's also one of the most controversial parts swap because according to the electronic engineers, the different materials involved did almost nothing to tone. 

In third position, we have a tie: Volume/ tone parts vs. nut. The thing about volume/ tone pots is that we have to replace them over time due to deterioration; oxidization, rusting, corrosion, you name it. It's inevitable. Those of us who chose to replace them before they expire, now that's experimental as well. Fender dweebs for instance, will tell you righteously that you don't quite possess the Fender tone until you have CTS pots in your instrument(s). Moving on to nut swaps, this occur more commonly with acoustic players. Solid body electric players who are in driven mode most of the time are not too particular about their nuts. Also, whether the different nut materials manifest any tonal difference, is another area of subjectivity. 

Looking at the bigger picture, we see the guitar stores here having pickups as part of their inventory (almost but not all stores). We also see stores carrying replacement parts like pots, pickup selectors, input jacks, etc. because these expendables are necessary purchases over time for instrument owners. Subliminally, stores with such spares with them display a knowledgeable front at the very least. It's a platform for technical conversation because instrument care in its basic understanding is dealing with technicalities- which pots work better with which pickups, which guitar polish gives the best gloss, which input jacks are more durable; you get the picture.

To me, parts swap/ upgrades is an adventure & the most worthwhile if we do not let our expectations get the better of us. Also, let's not impose our parts embrace unto others; what might work for us might be the formula for disaster for others. 

Monday, July 30, 2018

Snap the horizon


Some interesting LTD releases in Japan. This is the SN-1000...

... and the H-1000.


Just look at that generous belly cut. OK so these two are part of LTD's summer release in Japan. No idea if they will be offered to the international market but LTDs had been around the world with no issues. Even the discontinued limited edition LTD Elite (made in Japan) appeared in the international market with no issues. From the looks of it, the LTD range had been kept in check in terms of quality. That could only be a good thing.

Sunday, July 29, 2018

The weekend (2)


Dead pot, dead 3-way selector... was at Beez's after lunch.


Seen here, Beez dissecting my Tele. Replacement parts were the ones featured here: CLICK Need to remind myself that just because it says Fender on the pack doesn't mean parts are guaranteed to fit. Beez did some widening to make sure American parts fit into a Japanese guitar. Damn, Fender!


Always good to have something dead brought back to life so the rest of pre-dinner time was my Tele time. Have a great week ahead, everyone.

The weekend


Heading to Beez's. More on this later... 😎

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Picking Morgan


Bought these at Davis GMC today- Morgan picks. There were a few designs to choose from & I ended up with these two on grounds of being the least excessive in terms of looks/ design & preferred thickness.

These are definitely not acrylic picks; light as celluloid but tough as delrin. That left one is actually a signature model by a Danish player named Binzer. It reminded my of the Howling Monkey pistol grip feature but feels nothing like it. The right one is basically a standard selection with a fusion twist; the grip area is thick while the pointed tip sports a thinner affair. 

In use both were slippery against the strings so if you fancy this kind of reaction which inevitably manifests some speed, good for you. The pointed tip is also a popular spec for speed freaks. The grip factor here is nothing less than excellent. For those of us who dislike grip-inducing indentations, be assured that these textured surfaces are doing their job very well.

However, they are not my kind of picks. Acrylic pick surfaces rubbing against metal has that wicked friction only metal/ angry players could appreciate so there lies my loyalty. Riffing with these slippery picks don't really manifest definition. Nothing too repulsive here, just personal preference. 

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Arrnstrong tactics


Not a fan of signatures but the new Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong LP Jr. looks simple & effective. It might be a winner with players looking for bare minimum features & maximum delivery. That pick guard however, is an indication of partial commitment- won't be surprised if there's a neck pickup cavity under it. Implication- it's a production line body with no special considerations for BJ to begin with. Unless, BJ himself told the Gibson people to include that cavity for subsequent tinkering. 

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Chapman mark-down @ Musicark


Some good discounts happening at Musicark for Chapman guitars- offer ends 31st July 😁

Monday, July 23, 2018

Warped. Not.


This happened over time, it wasn't an immediate reaction- the Kiesel Vader neck you see here, warped. If you have come across the standard Vader neck, you know how substantial it is in terms of thickness & on this note per se, it's an unlikely candidate for a neck warp. But be informed that the guitar neck's susceptibility to warping is not about how thick it is. It's about the manufacturer's reinforcements in dealing with temperature changes. At the end of last night, the neck was all straight again, all thanks to the truss rod; some quick turns & it's cured. I must say that Kiesel equipped this guitar with a very reactive truss rod & the headless access at the neck end made it a breezy rectification episode.

Sunday, July 22, 2018

A worthy trip


Mike Stern is one of those formidable names in jazz/fusion/rock you won't want to mess with. His latest offering, Trip, which I purchased late last year was another serving of wonderful contemporary jazz- a worthy trip indeed (forgive the pun).


I was aware that the recording of Trip was done post-accident after Mike Stern got well enough to get things going again. The tragedy involved a fall from a ladder that broke both his arms/hands. The mishap required extensive surgery which stretched over months after consulting different physicians.

What I didn't know was that he suffered nerve damage & it left a permanent deformity which affected the picking hand (as seen above). It's unbelievable because after listening to Trip there were no signs of the other Mike Stern whose hands got temporarily destroyed by an accident. There's a simple understanding to all this according to Mike Stern himself-  grit & the embrace of limitations. More often than not, we are simply unhappy people because of our under-accomplishments. Individuals like Mike Stern see life beyond current limitations; it's forging ahead with one's abilities, not disabilities.

I managed to play some guitar today before leaving for lunch, struggling to make out some insane techniques to deal with 4-notes-per-string legato. The struggle was real. It brought out the worst in my picking-fretting coordination & control. I was cursing my short fingers, the guitar's action got the brunt as well (but actually, the action had been the same all this while)- so much blaming without trying to figure out how to overcome the hiccup within my abilities. So the final 10min of play saw me sorting things out pertaining to whatever shortcomings needed to be addressed & going round what I could not accomplish, replacing them with my own interpretation of how things should be. That final 10min was indeed the most satisfying & this is how things should be when we are faced with aberrations; thinking of knowledgeable solutions should be it. It's never about replicating how others did it.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Selling: LTD ST-213 (final price) SOLD


Letting go of my LTD ST-213 (ash), summary of specification changes:

  • string retainer- switched to the rounded version for a snag-free application
  • pickups- TESLA Plasma 1 in all positions
  • bridge string saddles- Graphtech Tusq
  • tone cap- Orange Drop
The usual applies:
  • Self-collect @ CCK mrt station (open to nego on days I'm free)
  • No reservations/ trades
  • Confirmation/ queries: subversion.sg@gmail.com
  • Price: $380 (final)

Friday, July 20, 2018

BFG 2018: Price


If you are interested, the Gibson BFG 2018 is now available here sporting a sub-$1.5K price tag. When I bought mine more than 10yrs ago (yes, it's that old), it was going for the same price. Is this a big thing- the price? I see it as the commercial ability to keep prices reasonable on the less celebrated range. The Standards & Traditionals for instance are seeing price hikes on grounds of 'upgrades'- whatever that means. The BFG is a niche appeal & an opportunity to fish buyers into the brand through affordability. Good to see this happening, no idea if it's intentional or otherwise but a win-win situation at the very least. 

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Gibson 2019- moving on (3)


This is part of Gibson's 2019 release; an upscale hard case. What do you see here beyond the obvious? Price increase. 

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Hunt


I didn't know George Lynch was off the Duncan roster for a while after the Super V episode. He's now back on the list with The Hunter you see above but it's now a custom shop thing in the mean time. However, I got to know that it'll be available here soon. 

Monday, July 16, 2018

Goldcut


I bloody hate 1) Singlecut guitars 2) Finished necks. That was my rotten attitude some time ago towards all things non-Ibanez. That's how it was when you stick to a guitar for a good number of years & not being open to embrace difference. Glad that phase was over. 😁

It's kinda strange but I guess it's reverse psychology. With singlecut guitars, I tend to play more at the upper frets. It's like proving to an invisible audience that playing a guitar with only one area of upper fret access is really a mental barrier. If you are an able player, nothing should get in the way. Ditto finished necks. Yes, that coated feel does affect play to some extent for many of us but if you make time to overcome this hindrance of sorts, you'd be as worthy a player playing such necks as your preferred unfinished models. 

Managed to end the Sunday (last night) with the PRS S2 Standard depicted here. Since it's fitted with a Duncan Super V bridge pickup, the '70s-esque voicing was apparent regardless of how much distortion was pumped into the signal. I wouldn't say it's in the Led Zep/ KISS territory exclusively but that's the kind of sonic quality you hear coming from this one.

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Half


Bass dweebs can relate better to flatter string wound. They understand the benefits of going flat, namely, a longer string life & smoother travel up & down the neck. The immediate effect of having flats is the clamped brightness. This is the main reason why big time jazz cats embrace flats; they sound fantastic in terms of warmth. I'm certainly not using the Schecter KR seen here for jazzy moments but the less rounded strings are the immediate address for bright-sounding pickups. There you go. 😁

D'Addario Half Rounds are available @ Davis GMC. So far I've only seen the 9s & 10s. Wish there's 95s...

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Maple brotherhood


Had been busy for the last couple of days; was acclimatizing to the new work place & after three weeks, all's good.

Played a little bit last night, 15min with each guitar seen above. I have to say that I'm totally OK with both rosewood/ maple fretboard. The thing with maple is, you don't get to feel the open grain under your fingertips while playing. That's ridiculous you say? Maybe. But do not discount the fact that some of us out there feel this & it affects play more than affecting choices with regards to tone. Feel-wise, the Kiesel has a more rounded profile & things are not that slim while the Schecter has a shallower C-carve; very Fender-ish but slimmer. 

Guitars seen here:
  • Black: Kiesel DC400H
  • Amber: Schecter KR-24-2H

Friday, July 13, 2018

Gibson 2019- moving on (2)


Still on what's to come from the Gibson camp (2019)- the B2 series, starring this Flying V...


... and the Explorer.

These really look the works, especially if you're in a metal outfit, black is it. Dirty Fingers humbuckers, all mahogany, rosewood fretboard & slim taper neck seems to be a workable formula. Also, these instruments will be priced cheaper than the 'standard' versions as they come with a bag instead of a hard case. 

Mini roaring


Just have to get this 😄

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

City's Kelly


Looking forward to trying Michael Kelly guitars @ City Music now that it's official 😁

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Gibson 2019- moving on


Some official Gibson announcements this Summer & the world awaits the 2019 lineup revelation with reasonable anxiety after seeing what the brand name went through recently. I'm not a keen Gibson fan but I respect formidable craftsmanship & Gibson is one of the forerunners in this aspect, no contest. The brand name chief made himself heard recently by saying the 2019 selections would shed foul features in favour of sensible appointments. I'm not highlighting the entire range but the significant few that illustrate repentance more than anything else.

The LP Standard HP seen here for instance, ditched the rubbish robot tuners for a more functional set of locking Grover units instead. The model also includes an internal 5-way DIP switch for more sonic options- thumbs up!. Potential deal breaker- richlite fretboard.



Happy to know that the LP Studio-Tribute model is retained & continues to offer no-frills features. The satin finish is here to stay & fretboard markers are simple dots this time. 



'New' for 2019 is the SG Standard Tribute. It's as no-frills as the LP Tribute but I'd say it's a re-named SG faded more than anything else. 


Last but not least in this entry, I'm super stoked to see this Firebird Tribute. I was in the market for an entry-level Firebird which Gibson offers in the mean time (Firebird Studio) but without a reverse headstock. Also, I'm not into that raised through body section which is eliminated here in the 2019 version (it was never a feature for the Studio version anyway) & the inclusion of the mini humbuckers is ace; it retains the authentic vibe. 

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Super Stock-ing


Something for the '80s dweebs among us- the shred-worthy Charvel Super Stock 1888. Based on the Model 88, FR 1000 series bridge, DiMarzios & that iconic old school logo at the headstock; this will definitely be enticing for many of us zooming down the shred super highway. 

Do you know that Swee Lee still brings in Charvel stuff? Now you do 😎

Ana in the house


Ah, yes... 😑

Friday, July 6, 2018

Summer Yammy


Yamaha unveiled its limited edition Pacifica 612VIIFM this Summer (available in August, soonest) with delicious features- Duncan pickups (SSL-1/ TB-14), Grover lockers, Wilkinson bridge- the works! Loving that flame top.

Thursday, July 5, 2018

New trio


So folks, more new Fender pedals in the market Summer NAMM 2018), this time it's a booster, distortion & fuzz serving. It's a waiting game, really. Despite constant visits to the stores, I don't see them in store till I gave up & dismissed them as unavailable that I get personal updates on availability. Hopefully these three won't be subjected to such lesser treatments. Interested in the boost. 

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Keyless


Latest fitting for those of us whose guitars sport a locking nut- Tone Vise Keyless lock. It's aimed at addressing the hassle of carrying nut wrenches to lock/ unlock the nut.

Personal take:
  • looks totally unattractive
  • subject to a wide embrace by the industry, spares for worn out/ lost parts remain limited
  • if you are into locking nuts, you won't mind the separate wrench application to begin with
PIC: Tone Vise youtube

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Want G&L?


Folks, the good people at City Music is currently doing this G&L promo. It's contest-based involving a sub-1 minute video recording & social media exposure (first phase). More details can be found at their home page by simply clicking here: City Music G&L PROMO

Monday, July 2, 2018

Single maintenance


Was at Beez's yesterday for an electronics make-over for the guitar seen here- my Ibanez RG2610.


Culprits: 1) Dead volume pot. Contact spray couldn't cure this. Discarded. 2) Corroded input jack, thought it was my cable but it had been this one all along.

Subtle changes along the way 😎


A set of GHS 9s in there & it's as good as ever.


Was raining, so a good serving of latte while waiting.

For a good dose of metal-esque, over-the-top distortion, the Seymour Duncan Full Shred in this guitar always comes up tops. Initially, I thought this pickup was solo-inclined as the name suggests but it's a diabolical riff monster given the right amp. This is one of my guitars with a good inherent sustain & is a perfect example of a bolt-on construction having very little to do with a poor performance in this aspect. 

Sunday, July 1, 2018

For victory!


I've been waiting for a good release to swing by & re-purpose my playing in terms of aggression. There had been good releases along the way but those just trampled past, leaving dents but no real impressions. Then came Viktoria just last month (a few weeks ago, in fact). Marduk is an old school black metal outfit, if you're into the genre, you'd know them by now. For the last couple of releases or so, the materials had been singular in approach; lots of attack with the band's philosophy in mind, full stop. No real listener engagements, I'd say. They cam & they went, if you missed stuff, most likely, you didn't get it to begin with. 

Viktoria maintained Marduk's signature aggression but there's a wee more focus this time & I simply like the production here. The title track- bass solo. I didn't see that coming & it made a difference, you see the song a little differently this way. Still on the bass, it's by far the clearest the band has to offer in terms of presence. There were overlapping phrases with the guitars & drums but they are there & they are significant. Drums- first class performance by Widigs & a clear one-up with respect to Frontsschwein. Also, this is how Mortuus' vocals should be captured; controlled reverb/ echo without being excessively panned out. 


Finally, some guitar bits because this is a guitar blog to begin with 😎

Morgan Hakansson shared some gear background pertaining to Viktoria. He recently ditched his Ibanez 7-string in favour of familiarity & constant reference, the standard 6-string guitar. Also, hopes of seeing him in action with his Fender can be laid to rest because after more than 8 years in use, it's beyond stable & reliable.


He is currently sporting the ESP M-type camo guitar which he picked up before endorsement deals were penned down so this guy, he knows his gear. 

Looking forward to more impactful releases like Viktoria, I know Immortal has something to offer very soon.

Jazz-tivity


Howdy folks! We're into the other half of the year & things would pretty much go with the new at this time. Lots of Summer Namm updates, we begin with this one (actually, it began a few entries ago with the Vox update)- Squier's Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH. 


Whammyless, simple controls & active circuitry- these should give you the idea of where you should go with this instrument, music-wise; definitely not the jazz way. I've not tried any of the Contemporary Squiers in person so no comments on the QC till next time. What I see from this range of guitars is that Squier up the game in terms of appeal. Appeal hear refers to features & objectivity to propel the brand name on. More importantly, these guitars will have a specific camp of believers who see something in the details & that would mean Squier had paid attention to the details in terms of marketing considerations.