Friday, August 31, 2018

No sugar coating


My Takamine sounded absolutely dead but the strings- no signs of corrosion, still very shiny. That out-of-the-box condition.


A quick re-string with a set of no-nonsense D'Addario really made my day. FYI the previous set in this guitar was a coated set, lots of longevity promises but very little delivery on tone. I believe I can take good care of a set of non-coated string set. On a regular playing basis, I can keep it in kicking good tone for more than a month. No more coated set for my acoustics. All those sweet promises without real delivery- hmph!

Selling: Sigma 00MSE (SOLD)


Priced to clear (less than half price... 😔), pre-amp not working. One of my fav but it has to go...

  • Model: Sigma 00MSE (bag included)
  • Solid spruce top, mahogany back/ sides
  • NOTE: This is a parlor-sized guitar
  • Pre-amp NOT working
  • Slight discolouration (from factory) at treble side body bout
  • No reservations/ trades
  • Absolutely last price: $199 $170
Item SOLD ✌

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Little time


Nobody in the office lounge, just me & my little buddy here 😉 Opportunity to play- why not?

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

What the Fooz?


A new one from the SD camp- it's a fuzz/ trem/ synth pedal. For those of us who love the beeps & tweets in our playing, it's something to look forward to. As for me, I'm not even a fuzz fan. 😁 OK here's some persuasion:

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Not today


Had some playing time before dinner. Itching to hear single coils in action but couldn't dial up a good driven tone from the Strat. Simply awful & nasal. The humbucking guitar was nearby so that saved the day. It's times like this that I just wanna smash something. 

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Weekend acquisition


How the Saturday went:

  • John Mayer. Not exactly a fan but he's one of the most formidable songwriter out there so it's worth the time & money. Had been listening to his motivational talks lately so checking his music out. He went into a blues phase which puts me off so those songs got quickly deleted from the playlist. More into his pop sensibilities & compositional approach.
  • Obscura. Awesome as ever. Checking how the new Kiesel is working out for Trujillo but with  that much gain in action, it sounded like his former Ibanez adventure. It's about the music, not the brand name. 
Yes, I'm still buying CDs. I don't do downloads. 

Treated belief


Before we begin, please be informed that a figure of 46 in the poll above is arguably not representative of the real guitarist/ bassist population out there who took time to participate. On that note, I thank those who took time to participate, much appreciated! This is a climate survey of sorts. Moving on...

Here's the beef- quite recently, someone talked to me about coated guitar strings being the way to go for the future. In terms of cost savings, less frequent string changes mean less expenditure set aside for expendables. Also, it does wonders for the environment as less frequent string change equals less metal being extracted to fulfil a certain need. Initially, the figures showed that there is a sizeable pool guitar/ bass players who embrace coated strings. However, towards the end of the poll period, the figures took a turn & that's the closing figures right there. We could agree that a difference of 2 is not as influential as we want it to be in terms of compelling statistics.


Let me share a personal observation when it comes to coated/ treated technology of guitar strings. Of course, some senior readers here might have come across more offerings along the way. If you could spare the time to share what came & went, I'd appreciate that very much. Please forgive the arrangement above, it's not chronological.

My first exposure to 'better' strings (in terms of durability) is GHS' Sub-Zero. At that point in time, the basis of comparison was a set of D'Addario which, in my opinion, is the epitome of immediate disintegration. So the Sub Zero was great indeed. Then someone recommended the DM Blue Steels which I thought wasn't that for off from the Sub Zero in terms of performance standards. They didn't last that significantly longer for me to totally ditch the Sub Zeros.

Years later, a good friend of mine asked me to check out the Black Diamonds (he used to be in this band called Stomping Ground). These feature coated technology instead of cryogenic treatments. I thought this made more sense because the coating wasn't part of the string material so the rate of preservation should be longer. The idea was good but the manifestation of intention was poor; the coating proved to be insular & stood very little chance against aggressive players who embrace stubborn, thick picks. The string coating over at the fret end did its job somewhat but we get bald patches at the picking end. Damn! Shortly thereafter, DR improved on this take & they proved to be popular for a while but the issue in hand wasn't put to rest, insular string protection is simply too feeble against stiff picks. 

The situation today
String preservation technology is currently in a fusion state. What Elixir & Cleartone (among others) are doing proved to be the combination of chemical & insular approaches. As it is, it's proving to be effective & convincing. Effective because strings do last longer compared to the non-treated ones. Convincing because players are buying the technology more than giving them up after the initial embrace.

Yay or nay?
So is the current string preservation technology a thumbs up/ down contribution to the industry? The technology works & it's not pretentious so players are investing good money to buy treated strings every time re-stringing is due. I know people who swear by Elixirs for example, they claim the strings last much longer & it's in terms of weeks. In the long run, we can say that if the situation holds, we would have less trash in the bin as guitar dweebs the world over buy lesser strings because theirs last longer. The main set back is of course price. You'd argue that the higher prices of treated strings would cancel out the need to buy more untreated strings but is chemical treatment the only factor that keeps your strings going? Are we really plain lazy when it comes to string cleaning considering there are products out there that help preserve string life? Ditto winding technology- are you aware that if the wound strings were done a little differently, it would trap less dirt/ moisture & affect string longevity (eg: Dean Markley Helix)?

There is also a case of tonal integrity. We have people out there telling us that while treated strings last, tone doesn't. I hear this coming from the Elixir camp not that Elixir is a failed product in this aspect (nothing personal against Elixir), people are coming forth to share their experiences & manufacturers should listen, especially from the acoustic camp where bona fide good tones coming directly from strings really matter.

Treated strings are not ready to drive their non-treated counterparts into extinction. Not yet. People are still buying non-treated strings because there's something about them that appease the tone mongers. This might be a purist take on the situation but strings started out without treatment to begin with & they worked, they still do. However, treatment technology is quickly establishing some standards in terms of performance delivery which should be of interest in today's world of limited resources. 

Friday, August 24, 2018

Watching it


This is definitely guitar-related 😁

I'm particular about strapping on light watches because that's my fretting hand as well. I have small hands & heavy watches (metal frames/ chassis, G-Shocks, etc.) are a definite no for me because it fatigued the hand rather quickly while playing. But come to think of it, I've been with light watches since 1990, way before constant guitar-ing took over my life. On that note, those of you who put on watches onto your picking hand, do not be offended if the salespeople at guitar stores request you remove it before testing their instruments for an obvious reason- it scratches the instrument's surface. 

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Dio axes


Some of Dio's personal collection (music-related) are currently being auctioned off. Seen here is a customized Charvel.


A Gibson MM is on the list as well. No surprise which guitar is currently exceeding three times its asking price. It's down to the brand name & legacy. 

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Eid Ul-Adha 2018


Blessed Eid greetings to all Muslim blog readers & friends. May this year's sacrifices add meaning to our commitments in life. To the rest of us- have a good midweek break 👍

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

My way


Holiday eve... chillaxing... re-stringing... done 😁

I'm still sticking to my Sigma parlour guitar despite some friends telling me how Taylors & Martins are now more affordable than ever. I'm also still sticking to my preferred 10 - 47 (Dean Markley for today) gauge for acoustic guitars despite friends telling me 11s should be it for acoustics. Simple reason- these work for me, there are no reasons to change. 

Monday, August 20, 2018

Thin picking


This happened over the weekend. When you recommend others your preferences, chances of them liking your selections is a 50/50 affair. I had some people asking why my acoustic picking sounded precise. My immediate answer- I use hard picks. I ended up giving some folks a few samples of what I use (namely DAW picks which I have plenty of) to get a feel of how non-flex (aka stiff) picks give that precise click during fast runs but the oversight here is that, the folks whom I talked to were ardent strummers. They don't do single notes on acoustics so having a hard pick would definitely be the wrong way to go. So to make amends, I recommended them the red/ green Jim Dunlops you see above (both were less than 1mm) to their delight because the raised etchings there improved their pick grip. Oh, well.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Limitations, focus


Stuck in a rut- sort of. However, this approach usually works; I'll just grab a single pickup guitar & focus on chromatics for like 10min. Beyond that, the mind struggles to break away from monotony & that's when creativity kicks in. Have to be disciplined, though- 10min of induced boredom. 😁

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Red assault


These pedals are on constant rotation lately:

  • Killing Floor (Seymour Duncan)- Very intense booster, just the way I like it. Top of the list if I wish for a non-drive boost with lots of intensity. Works best with high output pickups.
  • Raspberry Booster (One Control)- Another great non-drive booster with drive-type responses. Not as intense as the KF but the fact it features MASTER control means you have saturation unlike standard volume boost units. Thumbs up to the presence (Z) control as well. Works best with darker voicings.
  • Santa Ana (Fender)- 2-in-1 unit (drive/ boost) featuring 3-band EQ & two bypass types for a slight difference but something you'd appreciate. Not as creamy as expected but a good drive unit to own. 
Coincidentally, they are all red. 😁

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Better late


It's late night. I'm just about done with work. But this one needed a re-string & it's done. This is my office buddy, something I keep under the workstation for days when I'm bored stiff. Looks like Martin strings are getting the Cleartone treatment (if you can see that label) 👍

Monday, August 13, 2018

Skyhawk revisited


G&L Skyhawks are being re-introduced this late Summer/ Fall & that's a good thing. It was quite the staple of the '80s being a non-Fender alternative featuring a trio of single coils. This time, the manufacturer included a toggle option for more sonic choices. Let's see if these make their way here now that we have an official G&L dealer. 

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Air in stock

If you wish to go wireless, be informed that the BOSS Katana Air is now in stock at Swee Lee ($600+/- price bracket). As for me, I don't need the amp, I just need the technology. Waiting 😎

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Handler


This is a neat little ditty. As opposed to carrying a foldable guitar stand around, the instrument simply requires something to lean onto. Wonder if Davis GMC would bring this in...

Friday, August 10, 2018

Timmons @ Star Vista


Happening at Star Vista soon 😅 I've seen him play twice here (Fort Canning/ Swee Lee Katong), should there be a third outing?

Thursday, August 9, 2018

SG53


Happy 53rd birthday to my country. A very long weekend for some of us. Personally, I need this break... tired. 

Well, prices here are certainly going up. Not just for guitar-related stuff but everything in general. Still can't come to terms with the fact that they raised utilities tariff more than once this year & it's only August. Are our wages increasing accordingly? Hmmm... 

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Santa Ana- driving there


Overdue update on Fender's Santa Ana overdrive... 😁 As seen above, the guitar used is a Fender Tele. Not treading the purist path (Fender into a Fender) but it was the most convenient- grabbed & played.


What can I say but it's a good drive to own. Not that it sounds too different from a BOSS Super OD (so it's something voiced along this line) but it's good in its own right. The boost here is user preference; you either opt for a volume (LEVEL) boost or go the extra drive way. The former serves you well in stand alone mode, especially so if you trim the drive down for sweet voicings, nothing harsh. The drive boost is recommended if you engage in drive stacking (with another drive type unit or simply into the amp's dirty channel) for a more electrifying episode. 

These are some of the smoothest control knobs I've come across & we note the blue LEDs there. These are also optional, a slider switch at the rear end enables you to have them switched ON/ OFF; you'd definitely choose the smarter option if you are running this on battery. 


Speaking of battery, here's the acclaimed, super user-friendly flick cover which features a spring hinge. One of the fasteners has a magnetic feature that holds the battery in place. The annoying thing here is the cover on auto flip-close mode like a mouse trap so it definitely requires a little getting used to. 

All in all, the Santa Ana has some elements aimed at Strymon's Sunset unit but without being excessively boutique (OK so it's in the boutique price range anyway). The in-built boost feature is definitely a plus point knowing how this pedal could be the reference to some high gain desires without switching guitars with higher pickup output for some sizzling solos. 

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

National spending


Spending the patriotic way. Eh? 😁 Visit Swee Lee's homepage if you are interested.

Monday, August 6, 2018

Don't assume


Last weekend, a guy walked into the guitar store saying his on-board acoustic guitar tuner/ pre-amp was broken. It didn't work & while tuning, the guitar, it caused the high E string to snap (what...?). I happened to be there checking something out. 

So the store personnel took a look at the instrument's aforementioned on-board electronics & there was nothing amiss. It worked fine. The customer then said maybe it didn't work for that high E string (what... ?). Come to think of it, that might be possible because the under-saddle/ bridge piezo unit might be defective. After checking, again, nothing bad was discovered. 

The customer then shared that there was no response from the tuner so he kept going till the string snapped (duh!!). That's the very issue right there- over-tightening. If you suspect a faulty pre-amp/ tuner in your acoustic guitar, please do not keep tuning thinking that the sensors will eventually pick up some vibrations along the way. It doesn't work that way. I'm sure we own a smart phone & are able to download a tuning app to be used in such a case of emergency. So there we have it, a fault that remedied itself. 

Sunday, August 5, 2018

DC vs Paisley


Nah... I'm not pitting these two against each other, they are awesome in their own rights. It's the first time I played them sequentially in a single sitting.

Took the DC out to hear the pickups in action more than anything else. This is one of the guitars whose default pickups I'm happy with- the Lithium humbuckers. The fatter, rounder neck profile is also a break from the Paisley's which I've been playing the entire week.

The Paisley was played after the DC as a psychological reminder of what I've been used to for the last few days or so. It's a return to familiar settings of sorts but it didn't affect my playing in that way. The only familiar feel that I would call 'familiar' is the Ibanez neck profile as I've been accustomed to this neck type for the longest time. 

OK so the real 😁 reason I played them this morning was to feel the difference in fretboard radius; flat (Kiesel @ 14") vs curved (Fender @ 7.25"). The Kiesel did well for both solos & riffs, especially for the latter. The Fender's curved profile manifested some challenge in terms of riffing especially at the E & A strings. The fingers tend to work harder resisting the curvature as notes get muted easily if you don't observe/ maintain a certain arching. For someone who riffs incessantly with furious right hand movements & keeping ideas at the lower neck register, the flatter radius wins it. However, I tend to legato better with a curved fretboard radius & this is indeed a recent discovery (OK maybe not that recent as in this morning); my picking hand is more relaxed. So ladies & gentlemen, if you think fretboard radius influences the fretting hand exclusively, know that the picking hand gets affected as well but not as much. It becomes more apparent if you hear your playing through recordings, you'd realize the degree of extraneous noise presence changes when playing different guitars with different fretboard profiles. However, this is not a marked occurrence because implements like the noise gate & fret wraps play their role effectively to make sure you are what you play without those little things getting in the way. 

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Price watch (10)


Ah, yes... another episode of ignorant pricing (official distributor's price on the left). I have nothing against people who are selling stuff online. They are enterprising to say the least. But I have my beef against those who do very little to look up market prices & offer misleading figures. In this day & age, people are quick to visit alternative avenues for bargains often believing sellers at that end of the market are free from extra overheads that manifest into higher product prices. That could very well be the case but it helps to know the official list prices before committing your precious dollars to purchase. Just a gentle reminder 😎

Friday, August 3, 2018

PF blue


My immediate acoustic guitar 'upgrade' years ago was an Ibanez PF. Back then I didn't know nuts about acoustic guitars & thought the Ibanez name on the headstock would prove some potency in terms of quality & tone. More importantly, the guitar wasn't costly & proved to be a very comfortable player neck-wise. Ibanez still makes the PF range to be affordable instruments & today it comes in this cool blue finish (seen above: PF18) for daring players who believe in being seen. Definitely a no-frills instrument in terms of features, something worthy in the $250 price bracket.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Thin shreds


This was another lesson in snob appeal. I entered guitardom with a shred-type guitar (whatever that means) & honed my speed on the tried & trusted formula of thin profile neck + jumbo frets with regards to fretting hand dexterity. Along the way, I was indeed drawn to other neck profiles from other brand names due to the music I listen to; who could really resist a Fender temptation after listening to SRV, yes? I did try many guitars along the way but rejected the less familiar feel of both the neck carve & fret profile. 

The Fender Telecaster you see here is a Japanese Pink Paisley model with a rather slim neck but a much rounded carve (a C if you will) & narrow, short frets the industry deemed as vintage (again, whatever that means). I actually had second thoughts about this guitar because it was rather off my preferences; it was hardly shredable, to put it bluntly. However, guitardom consists of people who can shred on any guitar because of their ability & not about the tools per se- Danny Gatton & John Lowery (that's John 5 to the rest of us) are just two among many to underscore this understanding. After handling it in the stores with lots of gain in the mix, it's indeed one of my most shred-worthy guitar I came across despite the 'wayward' spec. The only annoying thing I have to deal with is the tendency for the strings to scratch the fretboard each & every time excessive pressure was applied. 

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Picking


This was a necessary withdrawal. I had not been playing my so called preferred pick for a good reason- it made me play badly. Sloppy, to say the least. I returned to others which played a marked role in terms of inspiration & focus. These are the picks you see at the background: Howling Monkey/ Dunlop/ V-Pick/ Dragon's Heart. There are others but I do not intend to make this entry excessive. Bottom line- when you observe a hiatus with good intentions, you'd return refreshed & appreciate what made you effective to begin with. 

There is bound to be something in our lives that clicked with us but more often than not, we tend to take them for granted. It's after these things had gone missing then we start to realize the potent ingredient that makes us who we are. At this point in time, I'd say that my picks are the ones that matter the most to my playing. On a peculiar note, my preferred pick don't always work all the time. There were days when I played worse than a noob. Then the necessary withdrawal begins & the ultimate realization manifests itself- have I taken things for granted? 

Have a good August ahead, everyone. 👍