Headless Leia

I've been tracking this for the past few days. This is Kiesel's new release for Summer 2020. It's another headless one for the list but not quite a refreshing design. Leia looks very close to Zeus, the main difference being the neck-through feature of the former versus the latter's bolt-on design. Anti-climax, really. OK maybe I'm not meant to spec another Kiesel.

Goodbye, June.

PIC: Kiesel FB

Indigo

Fender camp's latest release. See anything new? It's actually that blue finish, based on some lost art of Japanese colour dyeing or something along those lines. Bottom line - nothing new, another Fender Strat & Tele. If you find this blue affair to die for then be informed that it's a limited edition, Japan exclusive listing for USD3.8K each. OK maybe that lipstick tube trio in the Strat is kinda appealing.

PIC: Fender Japan

All that (faux) jazz

I talked to someone a few days ago regarding having good single coil tones in the neck position. I specified a beefy & rather treble-ish response. If there's any P-90 in mind, maybe that learned person could rattle some recommendations. His outright response was that P-90s won't give that kind of tone in the neck. They tend to mud-out for that wooly tone which is the reason why Gibson favour them in their early hollow bodies. He was right.

I have no issues with P-90s in the bridge but in the neck position, it needs more bite for solos. My best reference for a P-90 neck tone along this requirement would be my Seymour Duncan Phat Cat. This pickup isn't quite a P-90 but it's very close to something else which I could not pin-point until this morning.

This morning was a morning with my Jazzmaster (above - American Performer Jazzmaster). This is the kind of single coil tone I favour; thick & treble inclined. It doesn't wool-out for that Les Paul-esque woman tone pioneered by a certain Eric. Nothing jazzy transpired this morning. Instead, I'm still after that crunchy tap tone which I believe only a single coil could champion. How about the standard, Strat single coil, wouldn't that solve everything? Not for me; it's twang excessive. I'm moving away from that tone but still staying in the non-humbucking territory. 

Price watch (10)

Before you shoot me for swaying others into a biased perspective, know that I have no intentions to discredit anyone/ any entities relating to unreasonable price issues. I have every intention for this to be informative. At the end of it all, if you exercise some thinking before buying, then my mission is accomplished.

The guitar depicted above is Ibanez's RGD61 which is a whisker shy of $1.8K. It is made in Indonesia.

This is Gibson's Les Paul Special Tribute (humbucker) lists for $400 lesser than the Ibanez counterpart. It's American.

If you are looking for a worthy investment, the Gibson is an obvious pick. The brand name ensures a good re-sale value while the Ibanez would be a lucky clearance if it could retain 60% of its original price. In this American vs the-rest-of-the-world hypocrisy, people are more inclined to go with the Gibson. American, today, implies some quality assurance but if you are a guitar geek & know what's been happening in the Gibson side of things, you'd know that QC & Gibson are hits & misses. But let's give it to them, they've been picking themselves up well after much debacle & disrepute. They have even won me over on a couple of occasions. It's a good thing.

The Ibanez, on the other hand, is still manifesting a cult appeal. Its Indonesian pedigree has yet to instil buyer confidence because in the minds of the lay people, China & Indonesia are the pariah grounds for guitar manufacturing. People don't value the finished product per se, they still choose to judge where these products are made in above all else. However, we know that China (Eastman guitars) & Indonesia (Ibanez Premium series/ Solar guitars) hold its own when it comes to construction standards. If you choose to exercise selective acknowledgements then we cannot compel you to acknowledge the Emperor is naked & his invisible new clothes were orchestrated conspiracy to begin with.

What am I driving at? Let's look at these two examples for now- the Ibanez costs more than its American counterpart but you are basically paying for the branded pickups (Lace Fluence) & bridge (Evertune) more than anything else. We know Ibanez make affordable RGD models without these appointments & these are not dud instruments (I own one) by any means. At that price point, the RGD should come with a bag but it's not offered. The Gibson on the other hand is a niche appeal. Its flat top & compensated fixed bridge is an obvious compromise leading to affordability. Some of us thrive on such limitations & would go with the Gibson any time & hey, it comes with a bag. So my friends, we assess our needs & willingness to pay for anything before committing to purchase, guitars included. In any case, if you consider the above Gibson as a direct competitor to the Ibanez, do tell us what you are smoking. 😁

Genesis: Blue (2)

Since I bought it in February, I've only managed to give my Ibanez RG550DX some TLC & due attention recently. The main consideration was getting the electronics done before tinkering with everything else. That means waiting for Mr. Beez to resume business after the CB period ended & it took longer than expected. The intonation for this guitar was off for most of the strings (4 out of 6 to be precise). The most horrible was the low E & from the physical evidence seen above, someone in the store was aware of this & pushed the saddle way back to address the issue. It looked wrong thereafter. If you have to push it way back, that's where the other (front) hole is for.

The front hole was utilized this time leaving the rear vacant & the issue was solved. 

Compare these front screws to the rear counterparts, these are obviously oxidixed. It happened when the instrument was not wiped down after play, leaving sweat to act on those metal parts.

These were removed, sanded & re-sprayed black. To make it a consistent affair, all four screws were given this treatment instead of only the two affected ones. 

Finally, the joke of it all; look at the orientation of the rear cavity cover. The slots are there to facilitate  tension spring adjustments. Even if your screw driver is the long version, it won't reach the adjustment screws as the inclination there requires some clearance.

This is the correct way. The slots give you immediate access to the adjustment screws. You can even see them to begin with.

Please bear in mind that this guitar was in showroom condition when I purchased it. It's not an out-of-the box unit in pristine condition. We can understand that all these anomalies were present in an attempt to re-string the instrument, making it more presentable (at least) before the sale event took place (it's what I wager, you need not agree). However, due to unfamiliarity with the features & mechanics, tuning & subsequent intonation issues manifested. I am glad that I could attend to these setbacks without breaking out too much sweat. If it's sent to a tech, it might entail some costs which might defeat the instrument's sale price to begin with.

Sweet dreams

In the mean time, Taylor has released the American Dream acoustic. These are full solid body instruments at affordable price tags. By affordable here, it means that when they touch our shores, expect a sub-$2K price tag. Remember, these are full solid makes, not merely a solid top. I'm just grateful that the big names in acoustic-dom are slowly, but surely, offering quality at reasonable asking prices. This isn't the first for Taylor, the Academy series are, in my opinion, serious value for money. Wish the American Dream had the elbow relief design incorporated like the Academy models but these are good stuff per se. 

Hollow goodness

The good people at PRS has released this SE Hollowbody II Piezo. At a single glance, it doesn't look like an SE; it's simply too stunning to qualify as a non-American with possible sub-par performance. If there's any GAS-inducing SE goodness, this has to be it. The demo clip below will justify its worthiness. I'm all for the H-II Piezo less the price. Don't get me wrong, it's still very affordable for its pedigree but it's approaching the $2K mark. Some American Fenders are going for less, Gibson's Specials are good for $1.4K +/- even PRS' own S2 range offers models for less than this. Unless you are bent on performance goodness (the H-II Piezo is a darn fine player), many of us would be hard pressed to fork out that kinda money for an SE. I want this one, but not at this price. *sigh* 😓

Mark his words

I would usually give such headlines a careless glance but this one kinda perked me up a bit. Not much but still good. I own the PRS MT15 head in the meantime & the distortion is menacing. It's not equal to an EVH/ Peavey 5150 in this light but it's in the same ballpark for sure. The Tremonti has an above average clean & that's quite an upper hand for high gain amps. I'm wondering if the 100W version would actually extend the distortion threshold to maybe surpass the 5150 standard. Now that would be something. Sure hope they provide some kind of internal attenuation this time round because the MT15 is currently performing beyond its demure specs. For your reading pleasure if you can spare the time: MT15 review

PIC: GW

Genesis: Blue

On the final day of the Swee Lee Katong closing down sale, this was the final guitar I managed to grab. Nothing special, just the Ibanez RG550DX, the follow up to the successful RG550 in the Genesis series. This version was less popular among the RG550 die-hards due to its non-maple fretboard & shark tooth inlay. These, to me, are not earth shattering differences. More importantly, it's going for a bargain. 

Essential monologue (2)

Ibanez guitars are better with whammy bridges, right?

Ibanez made a name for itself by riding on the whammy bridge popularity especially in the 1980s. The instruments did not become better due to a certain implement, those became popular & in demand. Let's remind ourselves that Ibanez started out as copycats & those imitations were largely models without whammy features.

Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci were all whammy bridge heroes, it's all too obvious.

That's because these people were in the limelight. Steve Miller, Paul Stanley, Pat Metheny, George Benson & John Scofield, among others, were equally heroic without whammy bridges in their instruments. These people are not in the limelight due to the nature of their music. It's good you mention Paul Gilbert, I'm sure ardent fans like you would notice how equally amazing he is without pushing any whammy bars. Steve Vai too, click HERE to watch this very recent video of him playing a guitar without you-know-what.

Are you saying that the whammy bridge is no longer important?

Our music genre & ideas dictate the type of guitars we play. We need to embrace suitable instruments to deliver our intentions as these are fundamentally tools. Take the pencil for instance. There are mechanical pencils & wooden pencils that require sharpening every now & then. If you are an architect, the mechanical pencil would serve you better as you need your lines to be consistent all the time. Sketch artists would thrive on wooden pencils because they need blunt tips at times to manifest tones & textures which are not the forte of mechanical pencils. 

If I were to choose between a whammy bridge or a fixed bridge guitar, which one is a more pressing consideration?

Choose both 😅 The tools we have in hand, regardless if we favour them or otherwise, help trigger creativity & ideas. We shouldn't reject tools, we keep them handy for opportunistic moments. However, if your playing style is predominantly whammy reliant, start with that first. Acquire a fixed bridge instrument later along the way when you are ready to explore or challenge yourself by working out of your comfort zone using less familiar tools. The opposite applies. 

Pics: Ibanez catalog

Selling: Jackson Soloist SLXT (SOLD)

Another one on the to go list, my Jackson Soloist SLXT (funding for chemo, thanks). I really like the neck profile, it's between an Ibanez & an ESP. I just want a satin version hence letting this go.

• Jackson Soloist SLXT (unpadded bag included)
• Neck binding on both sides have creamed off/ stained
• No reservations/ trades/ testing
• Self-collect: CCK mrt station
• Queries/ confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $500 (FINAL, non-nego)

Driving trio

Summer driving - that's right folks, MESA has released a trio of OD pedals. That MESA name alone would ignite some GAS among us gear dweebs. These look like they are more affordable than the other series of MESA pedals, the Flux Drive, Throttle Box & co. My take on this is, & has always been, MESA pedals are unnecessary if you already own an amp with the drive you like. For those who rely on clean amps & a lineup of go-to pedals, these might have something for you. Tones from the MESA camp:

Selling: Yamaha PAC510V

Thought long & hard but decided to let this go. The P-Rails in the bridge position is something I should consider more often. In coil split mode, it's a P-90 & it's a constant reminder of how commanding a single coil could be. 

• Yamaha PAC510V (no mods, bag included)
• Self-collect @ CCK MRT station
• No reservations/ trades
• Queries/ confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $450 (FINAL, non-nego)

Essential monologue

I thought Ibanez sounds better with DiMarzio pickups?

Ibanez can sound good with any pickups, it's a matter of you liking what you hear. What you like to hear might not be what I like to hear.

So Seymour Duncan pickups sound better to you?

Seymour Duncans give me what I want to hear. They have this special chemistry for guitars plugged straight into an amp without effects in between. They don't get muffled when the amp's volume is turned up. 

Basically you don't like DiMarzio, is that it?

I like pickups that give me what I want to hear. I do have Ibanez guitars with DiMarzios in them. I don't judge the name, I listen to what the pickups have to offer. D Activator, Super 2, Evolution (neck) & Super Distortion are some examples.

Are pickups important when it comes to tone?

In my opinion, the amp comes first. Some beginner guitars with factory default pickups can sound incredible with the right amp. What is the right amp, then? There's no right amp, there's only the amp that would serve your needs well. Know your needs & try as many amps to understand which are the worthy ones for your money. 

You almost replaced all the default pickups of your guitar, you're wasting precious money.

So are those who smoke, get drunk on weekend nights, visit nail saloons every other week, buy iPhones every 20months or so... the list goes on. 

Safety first

This should be a required procedure once Phase II kicks in come Friday (19th June). Handled gear in stores should be cleaned. It concerns the safety of both buyers & sellers. The last thing we want is a second wave of infections plus another episode of semi-lockdown & movement restrictions. Enough already.

PIC: Rotosound

T Green

I kept forgetting to update this here - new PRS CE24 model is now available at Davis GMC. Why bother? Two things: 1) If you have not heard a bolt-on PRS in action before, you should take the time to do so. It sounds a little snappier so for those of us who turn down the guitar's volume for tonal variation during play, you'd appreciate the difference. 2) Also, the neck's satin finished for fans of non-gloss playability. This tampas green version is really tempting (since I've called off plans to get the Silver Sky). Hmmm...

Resumption

Finally, that news that we've been waiting for - the remaining commercial entities (so called non-essentials), resume business this Friday, 19th June, under Phase II of the Covid-19 recovery process. Davis GMC & TY Music have confirmed their business resumption & I believe many others would follow suit, they are just waiting to announce at the right time. 

However folks, please be patient if you have to wait for your turn to enter the store, limitations still apply, same goes for safety measures (temperature taking/ QR code scanning/ etc.). These are not laid down by the stores, the authorities would penalize businesses if they failed to observe safety guidelines. If you think you 1) Have no patience for all this extra waiting/ precautions 2) Are a sovereign & excluded from established regulations, please stay home & continue your online shopping pleasure.

Pics: todayonline/ yelp

Silver bird

Gibson has 3 exclusive models this summer strictly distributed within USA borders. One of them is seen above - the Firebird I in silver mist finish. I'm a sucker for single pickup guitars & this definitely triggered some serious GAS & I definitely prefer non-Steinberger tuners. There's very little hope of seeing one here. We can always do an online purchase but it entails a significant amount of shipping cost. Some things are just not meant to be.

More new Solars

Solar guitars are beefing up their bolt-on lineups which is the right thing to do. A gold hardware version is now available (FR bridge, do note) & that delicious maple flame top veneer. Seen here: SB1.6FRFM.

At the fixed bridge front, we have this wonderful AB1.6HTPB. It's not quite obvious here but the burst edges are not black, it's purple. Basically, my prayers for a non-evertune bridge version for this model is answered with this model. One more time, we rest in utmost trepidation knowing that the Solar dealer here is not pro-active when it comes to having the latest offerings in store. Damn! 

Classic notes

Managed to play this one midweek. The thing about having dedicated volume/ tone controls for each pickup is that you get more tone dynamics albeit the need to manage the features in hand. For live performances, the last thing that we need to deal with are fiddly knobs because they get the better of us. We get caught off guard due to our poor knowledge in handling them; we are not aware of their ability to drastically change tones/ voicings at higher volume levels. 

I'm trying to get a decent tap-friendly tone. It's a little tricky because I still rely on high levels of gain -  that's my thing, I'm affected if the gain stage is below my needs. Can't help it, I have a light touch, I need increased sensitivity & higher gain is one way to see that through. However, over the years, I discovered that tapped notes sound more inviting with single coil pickups & lesser gain along the lines of Yvette Young & the Polyphia/ Chon guys. The LP Classic here is equipped with a coil split feature so getting single coil tones is no issue but once that happens, the high gain levels means lots of hum. Because I depend on the amp's gain levels to prevent me from being noob-ish (missed notes, half-baked fretting, stuff like that) I managed to get round this by lowering the pickup volume to taste (Currently - neck at 75%, bridge at 50%). This solution is actually there all along & it only occured to me to try after watching Kiko & Vinnie Moore play; these people are very particular about their guitar's volume levels & it pays to actually see them play as opposed to just listening.

Here's wishing everyone a good week ahead. We're still under restricted movements but life must go on.

New sigs @ SL

New signature Ibanez models are in at Swee Lee, this on one of them - the JS140M (List: $1,159). Looks stunning in this blue finish & a maple fretboard. I'm also digging the H-S pickup combo. 

The other is the PIA3761 (List: $4,499). I've no idea why SL does not cite this model by it's official citation but chose to quote the colour instead (Stallion White). I find this finish boring. Just me (maybe).

Leaving these here for those of you who are interested. I am actually interested in some guitars in SL's listing right now but will not commit to buy till I get to try one in person; still not confident in buying an instrument without prior testing. No idea when that chance will come. The wait continues.

Eye of the Tiger

This is too good to ignore. More importantly, I used to own one. If you want a good singlecut design on a budget, this is highly recommended. The neck profile is a little flatter than the average Les Paul profile making it great when it comes to fast licks. OK, so this is not a Les Paul & it has no obligations to replicate one. Uno got it right tone-wise, by including those Tesla UNO Custom humbuckers. These are not available separately & they are simply good all round. More importantly, it's on sale & costs way lesser than when I first got it: CLICK 

PIC: SV Guitars

Thumbs up - MTyler

Recommended my colleague this M Tyler acoustic since it's on a clear out at their web store. He brought it to the office for a re-string since the default 12s were too much for playing comfort. I did a set of 10s for him & would gladly put 11s in there when he gets accustomed to the feel. The highlight of this guitar is definitely that neck; it's a wonderful satin feel plus a profile that would get you going for hours. This is the definite playing comfort for beginners & those who spend prolonged hours with their instrument.

Nothing serious here, just a dry fretboard which is the norm for instruments tucked away in storage for a while. Nothing some wood moisturizer couldn't cure.

Uke

Doing my bit for CB, strictly on a voluntary basis. Will do a follow-up since I noticed stuff along the way that would make us all better off in terms of acquisition & maintenance. 

Candling

I don't listen to Vai much these days but still respect what he offers to Guitardom. This is one of his newest clips showing how he conquered playing/ gear aspects which are beyond his comfort zone; fingerstyle, cleans, single coils, etc. I find this very inspiring, really. Hearing someone getting over what could possibly lead to some real fumbling & embarrassment is something we should all look up to. But coming from someone like Vai, beyond comfort zone is really irrelevant; these people are too good to begin with.

JM mini

This Squier Mini Jazzmaster HH is one of the lineups featured this Summer. The thing about a guitar of this scale length (shorter, less than 23") - it doesn't intonate well. I've talked to at least two players online who experienced such an issue after acquiring this particular guitar. I've had experiences owning shorter-scaled guitars before & I would concur to this anomaly. Beyond certain frets, the tuning would be off. Strangely, shorter-scaled acoustic guitars does not experience this problem. I'm calling off plans to get this one, even if it's for novelty's sake, it should be functional. 

H-offset

I'm still in ESP mode, I think I missed them too much. This here is the Horizon III. It's another ESP & another black finish but I bought this one due to that offset body design. Not too many manufacturers take pride in an offset body outline, Fender had always stolen the limelight here & deservingly, they are the very few to have dedicated models which are still in production today. The thing about the offset design is that it removes a little bit of the elbow area making things a little less in the way & I appreciate such considerations. On that note, I'm glad PRS kept the Vela in production. That's another offset make slated for a cult following.

Also, the H-III features this 'tongue' design & I always look at it as the improved EBMM headstock but i"m sure the ESP camp did not have this in mind when they got this going. It's only Monday but I'm glad the week had already kicked off. I really need June to zip by a little faster.

Paranormal

What you are looking at here are the instruments for Squier's Paranormal Series. Details were made available earlier in the year (Winter NAMM) but were withdrawn leaving many confused. Regardless, these are now officially released & should entice the cult followers of Fender's Parallel Universe & Alternate Reality camps. 

There is actually no real 'new' models in this range. The line-up - Cabronita/ Cyclone/ Offset Tele/ Super Sonic/ Toronado - were once in the Fender offerings less the Offset Tele which is still in production. These should be affordable (SGD500 - $600 bracket) & could become the tinkerer's choice for personal/ quirky tone exploits. 

PIC: Guitar.com

Special

Gibson's Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 is now available here (Swee Lee, List: $1,399). Some of us might have reservations when it comes to P-90 pickups, especially so for heavy distortion/ intense drive applications, namely due to humming issues. Personally, I find the P-90 to be extremely rich in clarity & any attempts to address the humming issue by stacking a dummy coil in the pickup itself would subtract some top end richness. For those of us who are looking into tonal variety, the P-90 option should be considered.

Good SEs

Folks, some new PRS SEs have just arrived at Davis GMC. The Paul's Guitar is one of them. Still can't believe it's under $1.5K & it's a lot of guitar for not much money if you know what I mean.

I just want to give special mention to the Mira SE which is also a lot of guitar for not much money; it's listing for under $1K. Unbelievable. The SE version features the adjustable bridge which is something I would want in mine. Reason being - I wanna put thicker strings in mine (& tuning down) with the correct intonation. If you still doubt the SE reputation/ performance, know that it has come a long way since the early Santana SE days. The amount of attention put into these guitars really reflect the PRS philosophy. Definite value for money yo say the least.

Horizon FR

Still in ESP mood 😎

This is not my first ESP but my first featuring a Floyd Rose bridge. I bought this to put the bridge head-to-head against Ibanez's Edge model. If this is your first reference when it comes to Floyd Rose-Edge bridges, know that the latter is not a Floyd Rose but a derivative which is heavily drawn from the former. In fact, Ibanez had to license its Edge models for use in the guitars & the licensing note was imprinted on the bridge itself. 

I had a tiff with someone not too long ago when I told him that the Edge is not a Floyd Rose model. He insisted that it is because it says LICENSED UNDER FLOYD ROSE PATENT. It took quite an effort to educate some people what a license is. If you insist the Edge is a Floyd Rose, think about this - why does Floyd Rose require a license to use its own product? Moral of the story - don't expend too much effort educating those who chose to live in their own world. This is a byproduct of cultured technicalities; the Floyd Rose name is so synonymous with this bridge type, it is used as a noun instead of a name. The same goes for Pampers (disposable diapers) & Dettol (antiseptic washing agent) among others. 

I believe Ibanez has the upper edge (forgive the pun) in this technology (slight but significant) but I dislike both for the cumbersome implements. Beginner guitarists should steer clear of this bridge type. Those with limited patience should do likewise. Enough said.

Seymour Duncan's JB (b) & Phat Cat (n) - what a combo! I had initial reservations about putting a single coil in the neck of this instrument since it's utilized for high octane rock & beyond but the PC is under-rated when it comes to such applications. I wish it comes in black cover as an option.

This model would today become the E-II Standard series & the 'ESP' label there would disappear. A proud proclamation would be, "Hey man, I finally saved enough $$$ to buy as ESP." Because if you tell your bros you're buying an E-II, it would need further explanation, the authority reference is lost. If one buys a Rolex or Porshe, no further explanation is necessary. This guitar will be a decade old this year & it's still shiny & dependable as heck! 

New JCs

Ibanez recently released a quartet of J Custom models. Unlike the overkill of vine inlay & other visual bling, these are relatively restrained in looks aimed at those who prefer to stay away from the limelight yet owning an exclusive piece of Ibanez gear.

The guitars are divided into two camps, one featuring an alder body + maple neck (JCRG2001) vs mahogany body + wenge neck (JCRG2002) with both camps sporting stained bird eye maple fretboard. The narrative behind these guitars' finish scheme relates to nature & the elements which might strike a cord with druids more than anyone else, really. Anyway, I'm not here to demerit these releases considering that I'm rather fanatical when it comes to Ibanez but to date, I'm pretty much turned off by what the J Custom range has to offer. I'm just not into them but would keep options open, of course. I'd rather spec a Kiesel/ ESP for this kind of money. I'm waiting for the day when Ibanez opens up options to the common people as opposed to keeping their custom shop details strictly to endorsers

Natural bolt-on

Following the launch of its bolt-on series, Solar adds this natural finish to its line up, featuring a Floyd Rose bridge. There had been many new additions to the Solar catalog since the confirmation of its official distributor here (CLICK) but local inventory had been slow & showing disinterest till the current stock had been cleared. Sigh.

SVG online

Would like to take this opportunity to wish SV Guitars all the best as they move online full time. As at time of posting, we understand that repair/ upgrade services are still available by appointment. Glad to see that things actually picked up for them during the CB period as the team attend to online purchases with items being markedly discounted. Cyber business might be the new gear experience for more of us & SV Guitars are heading in the right direction. Onwards!

Beyond the horizon

Mid-year is here. On any other pandemic-free year, we would have plotted our vacation & look forward  to some R&R time. But not this time.

That aside, was in the mood for some ESP goodness & got this Horizon NT out. Till this day, I still believe that the ESP quality is up there in terms of prestige. I stopped buying because in this series, the instruments are now labelled as E-II instead of ESP. Such a trivial matter to some of us but it shows how the commercial entity bends over to segregate products to serve placements. They can do anything they want to their own manufacture, it's an open market & we are free to move on with others. I'm keeping my options open, if there are enticing E-IIs out there calling to me, I'll gladly oblige. I already own one.

Anyway, just to put things in context, I bought this for $1.7K - $1.8K (2011), hard case included. Let's take a look what this much money could get us today (comparable quality/ functionality):

Prices are trending up, it's beyond our control. If you think a certain amount of money dictates the instrument to be of certain class quality & manufactured in a reputable plant, that is not the case today. Manufacturers are constantly residing in countries with low cost production, currently, Indonesia is hot on the list. The thing about Indonesian-made instruments (in this price range) is that their quality exceeds expectations & manufacturers dare to peg prices against the quality on show per se. I'm coming from the perspective of someone who owns Indian & Vietnamese instruments which could see better outcome in terms of QC-price considerations. 

I had a special bond with ESP & glad to have acquired some models which were made available in the stores here. I'm not saying the ESP quality is now dead or a second tier performance in view of prices - definitely not. For the same quality standards today, the E-IIs are on the higher end of the price bracket & it's nothing Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, Schecter & Co. could not oblige. Even LTD, ESP's subsidiary company, has something to offer. 

Enough ranting. Let's say hello to June 👋