GSG

Monday, spending time with an unglam guitar - Grass Roots G-SG-STD. I love this one because the neck's a little wider than a Gibson. Come to think of it, it feels like a 2015 / 2017 Gibson model where the neck was indeed a little wider.

Of course, an obligatory re-string because it was last played in July & I don't remember wiping the strings down. We will be seeing lesser Edwards / Grass Roots guitars which bear resemblance to a Gibson due to copyright infringement issues, of course.

Stoptail

Looks like it's a busy time of the year over at the PRS camp. Not too long ago, we saw the SE CE Standard 24 taking headlines in the value-for-money consideration & now, the same guitar is offered in a hardtail version. I've played the previous incarnation in the stores here & it was a serious contender in terms of playability & affordability. I was also of the opinion that the default pickups require no replacement if there's a decent amp to supplement the tone. The hardtail version here is slightly more affordable than the whammy version which is already a steal at $659.

Pic: PRS

Another distortion

This was the last item I bought at Woodworks before they bowed out of the scene. This pedal was one of the leftovers because prior to closing, Davis GMC took over the Blackstar distributorship. If you are new to this brand name, the ISF control there is a voicing control. Blackstar offers both American & British type of distortion voicings & these are available on board the amplifiers. Despite being orange, it sounds quite removed from BOSS' DS-1. It sounds a little more intense but not quite the metal type of intensity. This is also one of those pedals whose LEVEL control adds quite a bit of intensity as opposed to merely making the pedal more audible. I have a few Blackstar pedals, one of which had been gladly handed over to brother Ijau over at West Malaysia.

Godzilla

As Japanese as it gets, this is a Fender (Japan) Godzilla Strat. Looks to be a limited run so don't expect it to appear in the stores here unless there's an exclusive arrangement for its appearance. Nothing too exclusive in terms of specs less those Godzilla graphics. I'm not too keen on this one because it's black.

Pic: Fender Japan

Chleo SE

Due to its unattainable price tag (to many of us), PRS has released the SE version of Herman Li's Chleo signature model. But it's still unaffordable (more on this later). Unlike the core version, the SE take is a bolt-on affair & sports a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge. The core is a set neck make with a GOTOH whammy bridge.

PRS did a bulge design for the core to avoid interfering with the flame top aesthetics which actually backfired; players claim these look like bulging genitals under a blanket. Right. The SE version simply appointed metal plates (rear mounted so the screws aren't visible from the front) which are definitely a less costly construction approach. Personally, I find the SE version more appealing. The input jack is more functional as it is visible unlike the core version, according to players, require a certain degree of estimation when plugging in is concerned. 

The SE Chleo lists for USD1,999 & makes it the most expensive SE in the mean time. To the manufacturer, this is justified in view of the signature affiliation & exclusive specifications but it goes against the PRS philosophy of affordability, first & foremost. When the Santana SE debuted (the initial wave of SE models), these were downright affordable. Putting things into chronological context, the SEs had been affordable over time despite price hikes along the way but the Chleo here is a spit into the face of the average Joe who are indeed looking forward to embrace this guitar's SE version but that price tag is downright unreasonable. In any case, PRS is not the only commercial entity to slowly make their affordable models more costly; Squiers & Epiphones are manifesting unaffordability as well. 

Pics: PRS

424 GS

This is quite the hype right now but it's a percolated love affair, from some throwback moments with a certain analog track recorder - the TASCAM 424 Portastudio. This pedal is a dedicated emulation of the 424's volume & gain channels. I'm usually a sucker for drive / distortion pedals with an exclusive appeal, regardless if it's minimal. After watching / hearing various promo videos / clips, this one sounds a little too fuzzy to appeal to those who are after a good (regardless of what good means these days) drive / distortion unit. It will definitely win over those of us who are dwelling in nostalgia & trying to acquire the actual 424 to achieve this objective. Wonder if there's any such individuals here. Looks like the JHS 424 GS will make it here. No ETA in the mean time.

Pic: JHS

Kid's gear

Some kids at work did solo performances this morning. One of them played this guitar & sang. Kids these days are fortunate to have good gear at their disposal for such indulgences. By the way, the parents came down to help set up the gear prior to the performance proper. Salute to parents who dedicate their time & effort in seeing their kids blossom in other aspects of life. Life is too short for merely an academic inclination, kids should be given opportunities to pursue their passion in equal measure at the very least. 

G&L @ CM

This is happening now at City Music. We know how it is with G&L in the mean time, it would be sad to see the company shutter. I have no idea if there are fans here who appreciate the G&L stuff & not see them as a Fender competitor (inevitable). My take on the American models - a worthy consideration. Friends whom I talked to tend to mention the rather unsightly bridge design of the whammy models but these hold their own when it comes to reliability & durability. Those of us on a tight budget & would like to move away from the Squier offerings, the Tribute range might have some good stuff for your consideration.

Pic: CM

TRX2E

I will always make time to check out travel-sized acoustics. I'm more at ease with such acoustic guitars as opposed to the full sized counterparts. This may not be everyone's cup of tea but those of us who are constantly out & about, performing outdoors, this type of travel-friendly guitar is the way to go. I have no idea if the electronics in this guitar added weight to the overall feel (highly unlikely) but it feels like a 3/4 instead of a travel incarnation. On that note, the top end here is not that sizzling when played unplugged & this is a reference against something similar; the Sigma TM-12E which was conveniently available in store for comparison. In any case, build-wise, this TRX2E ($425, Davis GMC) is worth every cent if you are in the market for a travel companion.

Pic: Tanglewood

 

Classic Saturday

Was at Beez's earlier today to get the 3-way toggle switch replaced. That's right, for no apparent reason(s), it stopped working. When it was removed from the guitar, we couldn't see any signs of corrosion / oxidation that affected its good life. Still perplexed as to what really happened. The rest of the electronics were working just fine.

Should have avoided travel to town today as many roads were closed & traffic routes diverted due to the F1 race. The authorities said this annual event helps boost the economy the benefits of which should be re-distributed to the people, yes? But heck no. So who did this benefit, really?

MOMM (61)

 

I only like Sabbath albums featuring Dio. It's been like that from the start. Dio is the epitome of a good vocalist. He didn't manipulate his voice to be impressionable. He's downright good. In fact, I enjoy all his outings in other bands & his live performances are simply incredible. Salute.

There are twelve years between Heaven & Hell & Dehumanizer. Dio remained ruthless in his vocal delivery. That's how good he was; no compromise in standards. I am slowly (but surely) acquiring albums that impacted my interest in music. These three here are definitely on the list. 

Paisley: Slight return

Nice Fenders coming from the Japanese end. Paisley motifs often hit the right notes (no pun intended) when it comes to re-living those throwback moments. This is especially true if you grew up in that era, you'd probably identify such Fender guitars as your generation of guitars. I'm loving the 21-fret vibe for both models.

Pics: Fender Japan

Muscle T

Seriously, I don't know what's trending in the Tele Universe these days but DiMarzio has answered a call for more hard-hitting tele tones. The Muscle T models here serve to appease those gain fiends but we wonder if these players would resort to a Tele for such needs. In any case, notice that the bridge PU's pole pieces are staggered. The neck version is rather excessive in the top end with bass frequencies nearly wiped out. The reason for doing so - to enhance the Tele tone in this position which many considered lacking in definition. I can attest to this as I always look forward to beef things up in this department.

Pics: DiMarzio

BER10

This was a late inclusion in the Ibanez September release - Bernth's BER10. As we can see here, it's based on the AZ model which Bernth had been playing for a while. If you've seen promo clips of this guitar, one of the highlights was getting the control knob & selector switch out of the picking hand's way.

If that's the main selling point of the instrument then it's a little stale. Refer to the Rob Balducci custom Ibanez guitar depicted above, you can see that putting stuff out of the way so the picking hand won't be impeded when it's in action was an idea done before but not implemented widely. The reverse shark tooth inlay is also currently on the SFS727 so nothing too refreshing there as well. 

The BER10 is a deserving signature model for Bernth but it's nothing too innovative. Ibanez should accord him a Prestige version, I seriously think he deserves it for all the things that he'd done & preferring the Ibanez brand name above all else. 

Pics: Ibanez / Rob Balducci FB

Saying goodbye to September with a word of thanks to all who contributed to keep me lucid in so many ways. The QR code on the left shoulder had been removed as I've been given a short term employment contract (5 weeks) before another round of uncertainty kicks in; grateful nonetheless. Wishing everyone a good October ahead as we enter the final quarter of the year.

Bello-ed

One of metal's more eminent bassist, Frank Bello, is now in the Spector camp (Above: NC-4). Looks like it's retaining more of his previous ESP affair than moving away from it. In any case, the bass looks good but that headstock will be a hit / miss affair. This is due to Frank's preference for a 4-a side tuner lineup as opposed to Spector's traditional 2x2 version. All in all, Frank Bello deserves attention from any bass company for that matter.

Pic: Spector

8565

This is one of the new lineups this September - RG8565R. It's the RG565 given the J-Custom specs. Till I become a vine inlay & gold hardware fan, I can make do with the Genesis RG565.

Pic: Ibanez 

Shift

A new one by BOSS but not entirely new. We've come across various pitch-shifting pedals by BOSS & they were great, to say the least. I used to have the Pitch Shifter (PS-5) before moving on to the Harmonist (PS-6). All these because I decided to try a friend's PS-2 which he used for delay applications more than pitch shifting. The buy-in here is the absence of latency issues which should be the primary considerations before buying any pitch shifting pedals because these are not cheap. Also, forget about using batteries for these units, the power will last about 15min at best. 

The XS-1 appeals on grounds of simplicity. Just two knobs controlling how much shifted notes are in the mix (BALANCE) & what type of shifting takes place - upwards / downwards displacement (SHIFT). Also, for those of us who are quickly dazed by terminologies, the XS-1 keeps references in the average Joe territory; how much shifting do you want - a semitone / two semitones / three semitones? Unlike key references of the previous iterations. 

Pic: BOSS

Assassins

A simple affair by SOLAR; single humbucking (active), non-whammy bridge & a single control knob. These specifications mean the Assassin models are appealing to a niche market but there's a strong following for such instruments. As for me, I wish there's a non-Evertune iteration. Loving the black-red theme. 

Pics: SOLAR

Earth GO

Cort now has a smart acoustic - Eath GO. If you've come across brands like Enya & LAVA, this one is akin to those. Unlike other brand names that utilize non-wood materials for the body, Cort uses a solid spruce top & mahogany sides & back. Please be informed that it's a 3/4 dreadnought with a 22.8" scale length. It's aimed at the travelling / busking individuals who are after a little more sonic edge without pedal references so they are a little lighter on the go. Some chorus & reverb go a long way for small-bodied instruments lacking in depth when it comes to tone.

Pic: Cort

Surf's up

Jackson Surfcasters are in at Swee Lee. The JS Series, the most affordable iteration, list for $399. This is basically a no-frills model with no fancy inlays. The X Series lists for $879 (shark fin inlays). The 7-string version is $50 more.

Pics: Jackson

MOMM (60)

Since I have some spare time till the next employment opportunity happens, I did a Bon Jovi throwback. My favourite album is New Jersey, it's one of the best guitar-laden albums out there, hands down. I checked out BJ's latest, Forever. It was a face-palm moment from start to end; drastic difference between these two. BJ is now belting out sorrowful tunes, reminiscing the times gone by. The guitars accompanying his music is hardly distorted & there are no obligations to manifest high octane rock tunes, it seems. A friend told me not to bother with albums with no Sambora on board. He's right.

Pics: Discogs

Partial?

Not too long ago, Kiesel released the Kyber model. Now they have this headless version. Headless here is subjective. If we look at the picture above, there's a bit of headstock going on. This was done so that the guitar can still be mounted on wall hangars. This consideration was done by Parker guitars once upon a time for the same reason; allowing some materials there so that it could be wall-mounted by the headstock area. This aside, I feel the Kyber is more appealing with a headstock.

Pic: Kiesel

ASRR

Jackson's American Series guitars are gaining good ground. This recent RR model is a good standard reference for an American. Since the Jackson brand name is an American flag-bearer so to speak, it makes sense to have an American model to set the standard. On that note, prices could have been more reasonable. Despite being American, the features / specifications for all American Standard models thusfar, had been ordinary; nothing exotic or exclusive. 

But we know how it is when it comes to a tiered arrangement; if you have import models in a certain price bracket, then the American version, regardless of its incarnation / specifications, need to be pegged higher than the rest. By the way, the non-whammy version of this American Series RR is available but prices are north of USD2.3K. There are definitely more value for money selections out there but some of us weak-willed gear heads here has a certain thing for American guitars. Hmm...

Pics: Jackson 

Price watch (99)

Didn't realize this blue version (SML721) is already available here. This version is $20 more than its previous red-ish version. 

The new S520AH is also in; $50 more than the previous weathered finish version. 

It's plain to see that prices are moving up without substantial changes to the instruments' specifications; exchange rate, shippings costs going up, etc. - we understand. This day & age, we should make efforts to acquire instruments from dealers who have the buyers' interest in mind (slim chance) as opposed to marking prices up to make their ends meet, excessively for some. I'm not implying the dealer for these instruments featured above are as such. It's something to take note of.

Pics: Ibanez

Throbbing solid guitar

ESP has this new model out - the Throbber Solid. New here refers to its iteration of an existing Throbber design which is now solid body as opposed to the previous incarnation which was a chambered body guitar. As we can see here, the design borrowed heavily from the T-style. Whatever it is, glad to see another no-frills, fixed bridge guitar out there.

Pic: ESP

MT-130

This is a good one from LTD; the MT-130. Basically a no-frills HSH guitar made to rock out. The neck profile here is similar to that of a Jackson, definitely not a thin, Ibanez Wizard type. Available at Davis GMC ($450), these are the other colours offered: White /  Neon Green / Gray / Red / Orange.

Pic: ESP

Killjoy midweek

Spent time with this guitar today. It's not a celebrated model but I like playing it when I'm feeling down. FYI it's an Ibanez GS121, partially refinished with the humbuckers swapped out & 3-way selector in place of the default 5-way. Nothing special. OK, so it's tuned to fourths. 

Donor appreciation (cont'd)

• Thank you, Joel Tee, for the timely contributions. This helps cover my transportation for the entire month of September (to & from treatment venues). Yes, I'm this pathetic, bothered by budget restrictions & bills. I am grateful for any amounts coming in my way - thank you all in advance 👍

Earlier today, I was informed by my doctor of a possible heart condition. It's pending full diagnosis & I was scheduled for a scan this coming Friday. As mentioned before, as an out-patient, I am unable to utilize any government-aided funds for tests / scans / consultations. I'm wondering how those other unemployed & sick people out there coping with this predicament. Midweek killjoy in a nutshell. Take care everyone, stay healthy.

Mira 594

When I bought a Mira like a decade ago (yes, it's been that long), I saw it as a more elegant version of the SG. It was an instant hit. This year, PRS brings back due attention to the Mira with this 594 iteration & I'm still attracted to it, especially this non-pickguard look, despite those rather annoying mini split coil switch. If you are interested as well, despite being an S2, prices would probably be north of $2K. Back in the day, mine was not even $1.5K.

Pic: PRS

Undone

This is a new battery. Just installed it into one of my pedals & was wondering why there's no sound coming out of the amp. I noticed the pedal's LED wasn't lit up as well. So a quick check & saw this. There's a reason why B-Stock products are sold for a bargain. Yes, I still use battery for my pedals.

For scouring

From the looks of things, you wouldn't have guessed what these are. Ladies & gentlemen, presenting to you, the Fender kitchen sponges. That's right - sponges. Let me quote you the sales pitch for this:

Fender Amplifier kitchen sponges are designed with serious home cooks and musicians in mind.

Indeed, manufacturers now are slowly tugging at our heartstrings. In the near future, they would be shoving stuff like toilet bowls, hair dryers, talcum powder, etc. down our throats to fire up brand loyalty among other things. 

Donor appreciation (cont'd): Thanks to brother Faizal Nordin for his second contribution this time round which covers my transportation costs to & from the hospital for the next couple of weeks. Really, appreciate it, brother. God bless. Here's wishing everyone a good week ahead - stay healthy 👍🏾

PO 1985

I believe these were released a couple of days ago. Jackson dug deep into their past glory & came out with these re-interpretations of their San Dimas models; the Pro Origins 1985. The FR bridge here is the 1000 model & the pickups are in-house J-90 / J-50 units which, according to them, re-visit the 1980s tone-wise. FYI, the off-white, maple 'board single humbucker version is already indicated as SOLD OUT on the manufacturer's home page. 

Reading between the lines, someone at Fender / Jackson finally realized re-releasing their back catalog is the right thing to do now because a close competitor had been doing so for a few years with positive outcomes. We know which other manufacturer this is, yes?

Pics: Jackson

Shimming adventure continues

Friday, indoors... re-string therapy was inevitable. I enjoy playing this Ibanez S621 but this morning, it felt a wee bit off maybe because I seldom travel up the neck to the upper frets which I did excessively today. 

Yes, the pocket there required shimming & it was done twice. As evident in the pic above, I had to add another layer of shimming material to get the action right. That non-aligned layer placement was intentional so that I know how many layers / how thick the shim is. 

A set of Olympia 9s for today's episode. Things are so much better after this re-set up of sorts. As mentioned previously, sometimes, this is necessary due to different factors. This S621 is an example of my preferred S-Series specs. These days, I don't whammy much so I prefer fixed bridge models. Also, a dual humbucking pickup configuration is my thing but I find a single coil in the neck position more likeable for solos. This S621 had the 5-way selector replaced with a 3-way version.

Wishing everyone a good weekend ahead. 👋

GT Deluxe

Kramer now has this Deluxe GT. A no-frills guitar aimed at similar conceptions by Charvel & Ibanez, among others. One more time, I do not wish to say much about any Kramer developments here because we know how indifferent & detached the Kramer dealer here is. They are doing well with music education which has a wider commercial reach as opposed to an acute focus on guitars. For the record, it's Cristofori Music. 

Pic: Kramer

Red re-string

In view of the recent limelight of new Japanese Ibanez models, I was aggravated to soak in the hype by taking this out to play - RG550DX. This was part of the Genesis line up which was not warmly received due to its rosewood fretboard variation. The proverbial RG550, regardless of its resurgence timeline, requires a maple fretboard to preserve the legacy & more importantly, the commercial traction.

Something felt wrong; the guitar playability wasn't as addictive as it used to be. A quick diagnosis revealed a slightly bowed neck & an action that required a wee bit of shimming. I used a discarded name card here to provide a non-intrusive elevation.

As such, an action adjust was required. A reminder to those embarking on a similar set-up adventure; there is a locking mechanism inside the stud post which requires attention first before raising / lowering it. That's why you see the smaller allen wrench being used here. When you are done, do lock it back in place. 

 

A set of fresh Dunlop strings. Sometime, a guitar's set up requires a re-visit as some aspects would be affected by temperature, for instance, over time. Some of us find this a put-off, we just wanna play because by the time we finished tinkering, the urge to play would be gone.

FRH20

The FRH20 is an existing model in the catalog. These two are mere finish iterations by the manufacturer. That top there is a flamed maple unit as documented by the specs sheet so there's no telling if it's a solid top. The FRH is the type of instrument with a triggered following; it's only hype as long as the factors driving this fanfare are still kept prevalent by Ibanez. To think that this model nearly didn't happen. 

PS: As at 12 Sept '25, the FRH20 is available at Swee Lee for $749

Pic: Ibanez

Nick's 10th

Didn't realize Nick Johnston's relationship with Schecter is now a decade old. This purple beauty here is a 10th Anniversary Nick Johnston's commemorative model that already available at Davis GMC ($1,899). Nick's initial infatuation with guitars saw him embrace a Fender (a Highway 1 if memory serves me right) & the Strat-esque features are firmly preserved here. Some say they prefer this bridge as opposed to the Fender's. 

Pic: Schecter

420

Didn't realize this was a recent addition to the Ibanez line up; RGR420FM. Despite being in the affordable tier of guitars, this one looks good. There are players out there who would definitely appreciate the gold hardware but it's definitely not my thing. Nothing outstanding here in terms of appointments, even the bridge is an in-house unit that looks very TRS-like. The thing about this type of guitar is (to me) the bridge. It's a make / break consideration, definitely. No point buying something that costs this much only to dislike the bridge (in terms of functionality / reliability) & forking out more money for an upgrade.

Pic: Ibanez 

SOLAR H

Solar guitars did this. It's a big deal because according to Ola, a headless Solar will not happen. In any case, these seem affordable (USD599 / USD699), bolt-on models with in-house pickups. The scale length here conforms to the fanned fret design; 24.75" - 25.5". I'm not a fanned fret fan so this & the slanted pickups are deal-breakers. Slanted pickups here are form-slanted as opposed to placement-slanted. Form-slanted pickups are not readily replaceable; very few (hardly any, in fact) replacement units out there are as such. 

New follower shout-out: Armand Wright. Thanks for following 👍

Pics: Solar

Price matters

This is most probably my final pack of D'Addario strings, unless I have a forgotten pack in some guitar bag pockets somewhere out there. I've been an ardent fan of this brand name since buying them from the Yamaha Store (Plaza Singapura) & back in the day (early 1990s), the manufacturing tech was severely lacking when it comes to durability / string life. D'Addario strings would deteriorate the moment you handle them. By then end of a playing session, let's give it an hour's worth of consideration, you'd see dark spot on various parts of the string length. But back in the day, a pack of D'Addario strings was $5 & it came in those plastic packaging where each string resides in a paper envelope. Fast forward to 2025, a pack of D'Addario strings is $9. There were significant product improvements along the way but in the mean time, I'm not paying $9 for a pack of strings. 

I'm leaving this here for your reference. Strings are non-coated & a set of 9 - 42, available at the local shops here. There are other brands out there, of course, I'm just short-listing those that I've tried.