GF1

This is a China exclusive model, the Ibanez GF1. It's a signature model for the Chinese artiste Gao Feng / Gao Funk. This easily looks like an AZ2204 but be informed that the GF1 has a compound radius neck & it sports the Gotoh T1702B (brass saddles). That colour scheme there - sunburst / gold hardware is unique for this model.

I'm wondering why Gao Feng gets a Prestige / Japanese model while players like Bernth & Tim Henson do not. 

Pic: Ibanez CN

Check

Every now & then, I would make it a point to play the acoustic guitar because it keeps my playing in check. What aspects of checking am I seeing through? Simple - the fact that the acoustic is not an electric, it compels me to re-visit some playing fundamentals like picking, fretting & muting which are employed differently on the acoustic. 

For instance, I have no intense overdrive to supplement my light picking techniques so every picking effort must not be sloppy in order for things to be normal. Also, the absence of overdrive means I need to play staccato more than legato & my forte is the latter. Playing the acoustic, to me, is a necessary struggle. So, there. Playing the acoustic help my electric ego in check, so to speak.

Chleo...

Ending October with this announcement - the PRS SE Chleo is now available at Davis GMC for $2,288. This figure is easily the monthly income of some people here. In fact, this is approximately how much an untrained teacher earns monthly in this country. So, there.

Pic: MR

Ross the boss

I got this through a swap deal; my octave pedal for this discontinued ROSS distortion. The ROSS brand of pedals were briefly handled by JHS before being discontinued late last year. These were offered at clear-out prices State-side (USD99) but it didn't happen here. Since I'm more of a distortion fan as opposed to wallowing my tone in octave adventures, it was a worthy deal.

In brief: Aria STB-PB/M

Bass on a budget - a rather tricky proposition. More often than not, a very affordable bass manifests too many compromises, it affects playability & tone. Bottom line - why bother. The Aria STB-PB/M is indeed a budget bass ($299) but it's worthy of your considerations.

Likes

• good playability, no fret sprouts
• smooth pots
• responsive tuners
• well-slotted nut

Dislikes

• tone taper could have been better
• heavy

This is one of those no frills bass on a budget, no doubt about it. Hardly any oversight in terms of build, impressive in this price range. If you are a tone connoisseur (wondering why you are looking up basses in this price bracket), chances are, you'll be bothered by the tone control sweep; a marked brightness / bottom end boom is virtually absent here. Some electronics upgrade should do the trick but adding on components which eventually exceed the instrument's price is not a prudent move, yes? Also, be mindful of the substantial neck profile, a complete opposite from a Yamaha Attitude / Ibanez SR. I see this being favoured by home-recording enthusiasts & those in need of an above-average bass to get things done disregarding its lack of flash; it's plain looking indeed but it's not awful. Recommended 👍

Final rating: 85%

Aria: STB-PB/M ($299) - available @ Davis GMC

Dream 2026

Heads up if you're a fan. I'm sure many of us here are looking forward to Portnoy back in action with the band. FYI, 3 February 2026 is a Tuesday, workday night for many of us.

Pic: BMS

Jr for Tele

Still wondering what took so long for Seymour Duncan to make this available. Anyway, this is the JB Jr. for Tele. The Strat version had been available for a while & it's time everybody's Tele get to experience this sonic pleasure. 

I have a soft spot for the JB, it's my first Seymour Duncan humbucker but I got it installed in the neck position 😅 This made way to the bridge a long while later but realized, I needed a TB version because the guitar in question was an Ibanez (featuring a Lo-Pro Edge bridge). Along the way, I tried many other Duncan humbuckers but the JB has that signature midrange thrust that's so suitable for my brand of metal music. 

EDIT: This might not be a completely new product but a revision of the existing model. Awaiting confirmation.

Pic: SD

Black cat

Well, look what just happened; it's a black kitty now. This will retail for more than $600 if it debuts here. Worth your precious money? Up to you, it's your money.

Pic: Fender

Taylor @ SL

Taylors are on 15% off till the stated date. Taylor prices are steep, even for the novelty models like the Baby Taylor. This might be an opportunity for you to enjoy a bit of a discount... before prices are revised in the near future. 

Ibanez: 540PIII

For those of us who waited with bated breath for the Ibanez 540PIII to arrive here, it's finally available at Swee Lee. I won't comment much till I get to try this at the store. That price there - it's $200 more than the last Genesis Ibanez that came in; the RG565R. I have no idea if the subsequent shipment of any Genesis models would adhere to this revised price tag or is this exclusive to the 540PIII. It's a matter of time, anyway.

Pics: Ibanez 

Selling:

Good day, folks. This guitar is for sale, price as depicted. It's not mine, just that it had been sent over to me countless times before, for re-stringing & mileage check. It has a nice crispy ring to it (mahogany body + solid spruce top), one of those rare Korean models that's value for money. If interested, do get in touch with Mr. Dzul here: CLICK

Ace: 1951 - 2025

Contest as you like but Ace Frehley's smoking Les Paul antics defined Kiss. Paul Daniel Frehley left us last week (16 October) & it left a marked void in the shock rock arena. Frehley is not your shred-fest fanatic, neither did he tread his pride through the boomer bend path. He's just Ace Frehley. There were countless post-humous commemorations along the way, one of which was that bitter episode where fans contested his worthiness when he appeared on the cover page of a certain guitar magazine, considering he's not as adept to the instrument as opposed to Al Dimeola, John McLaughlin & Pat Metheny, among others. It was a trivial matter at best. Subsequently, even Kurt Cobain was on countless magazine covers & we all know it's not about his intricacies with the guitar. So long, Ace. You were worth our time.

Pic: UG

Culto winter

This was a sensible move by SOLAR. The Nocturno Culto signature model (GC1.6NC) gets a single pickup treatment (Duncan's Black WInter!) & given a canibalismo finish with a matching headstock. Simple features for an instrument that is arguably conceived for a single mission - manifesting black metal.

Pic: SOLAR

Deepavali 2025

It's Deepavali time again. This means, we are almost at the turn of 2025, the final public holiday for this year. Season's greeting to all Hindu friends & blog readers. Happy long weekend to rest of us.

 

SG week

Had been an SG week. I just prefer the playability & tone of the SG over the Les Paul but on some days, I love listening to the deeper distorted tones of the latter. Yes, the SG is plagued by that notorious neck dive but things remain playable if you get the hang of it. Dreaming of a single pickup SG because on most days, I only need one pickup. Someone suggested buying a modified pickguard but that doesn't address the 4-knobs situation. Really, I need only one knob 😅

Wishing everyone a good week ahead.

Watain's impending rest

One of the best & committed black metal outfits will call it a day after the release of their up-coming 8th studio album. This will mark a 33-year commitment to the black arts & these people are indeed some of the best out there. The best here refers to the music as well as the embrace of the genre.

We best remember Watain for the 2019 debacle when the band was reported to the authorities here for the alleged inappropriate anti-religion philosophy that threatened the fabric of society (still thinking why similar interests involving non-black metal contention were let off the hook). Prior to this, Dark Funeral, Mayhem & Marduk performed without incident & these acts are equal in their embrace of black metal, if not excessive in the case of Mayhem (murder, church-burning). Then again the enforcements here are selective to the information they are privy to. Authorities have no latent knowledge of bands' musical backgrounds unless they are being rat out by individuals with specific interests, regardless of what these may be.

Pic: Blabbermouth

Price watch (101) : Yet another Fender rant

I make no apologies for rubbing salt into the wound, especially when it comes to Fender. It seems that Fender has a new range of American models after the release of the Mexican Vintera II, these are called the American Professional Classic. They are now available at Swee Lee, prices are depicted above. Yes, we now have a laughable case of a Mexican listing for more than an American. On that note, I have not handled & evaluated the Vintera IIs personally. Maybe (just maybe) the quality & tone on offer might justify the prices. The current price difference alone is a face-palm moment when we consider how much Fenders go for these days. Are there other alternatives? Of course but some of us feel safe with Fender on the headstock.

Pics: Fender

Canibalismo... flushed

Looks like the SOLAR camp is enticing us with this slightly revised canibalismo finish; it's now sporting  a darkened SOLAR label at the headstock. Ditto the brand logo on the fretboard (12th fret area). This gives a very flushed look, less distracting in fact. Side note, wish the Duncan SOLAR pickups are made available separately. These are awesome pickups for distortion.

Pic: SOLAR

23 / 9.5

How's everyone doing? I'm sure you're better off than me & enjoying life, worry-free (for the most part). I am killing time at home with an unfashionable guitar which is my Peavey 23. That single pickup & the reverse headstock were the main draw to this guitar. That body outline might be a derivative of some elementary school project design which hinted at being adventurous but fell flat on the boring turf. Anyway, this guitar sports a 24.75" scale length. I had a set of 10s in there & things felt stiff, uninspiring, semi-hindered & mistake-inducing. It's been set up to my specs which should work but strangely, it felt wrong.

So the guitar was re-strung with a set of 9.5s & these did wonders in terms of feel. It's like a completely different guitar. Almost. Anyway, I'm reflecting if top wrapping the strings for my Gibsons (24.75") was the reason the 10s felt right in those guitars but not for this one. I love this guitar for its ability to manifest heavy tones. It's a riff machine more so than a tool for solos. 

Price watch (100)

Once again, like a broken record, it's not a good time to be buying Fender guitars. The latest Fenders to debut here are the Vintera II models, prices are depicted above. Fender is asking you to spend in excess of $2K for these. The most affordable American models, the Performer, are listing for $2,249. The B-stocks & those on promos; you can get these for less. Notice how they hyped the V II models to be limited edition / roadworn. These are terms to fall back on to justify the figures. We know these mean very little when it comes to playability & tone. Then they will tell you it's different. 

A reasonable expectation here is the corresponding increase in performance value with regards to increasing price tags. It need not be exponential or even proportional for that matter, just a manifestation of enhancement of sorts but this remain elusive & subjective at best. Then again, why expect such favours when we know added costs are the product of taxation, flailing exchange rates & other extras that force prices up. Is anyone interested in keeping prices down so that legit musicians / players / enthusiasts can afford a Fender? Ironically, back in the day, Leo Fender conceived instruments that were  affordable alternatives to you-know-what. Provisional philosophy doesn't go hand in hand with economics, it seems. Not when the guitar manufacturer exists as a commercial entity first & foremost. Which guitar manufacturer exists with no profit-making in mind, yes?

Pics: Fender

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