Goodbye: Musicark

Musicark is closing their doors for good after 7 years in the industry. The instruments featured here are the final few they have in stock.

Do visit their website to secure the guitar online: Musicark clearance

Chapman mark-down @ Musicark

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

Chapman mark downs

Happening now at Musicark 😁

Chapman: ML-3 Modern

The Chapman brand in guitar-dom is, by now, a notable name in mid-price guitars. While observing a strict QC discipline, it adds little to costs. The ML-3 Modern here is a Tele-style model with a reverse headstock & sporting a dual humbucker combo that departs from any traditional voicings of its inspiration reference. Having fused elements of both the traditional & contemporary, what’s in store for players looking for a deserving 6-string in this price bracket?

Quality/ fit/ finish

As this model hailed from the renowned World Music (Korea) factory which is currently handling other mid-priced assignments from respectable names in this industry, this category is a mere reiteration of the fact that production standards have been up there all along. An end-to-end inspection revealed much vigilance in crafting this guitar. We note how well-fitted the hardware are as all surface mounted appointments sit flushed against all surface tops. I’ve seen some skimpy workmanship in this aspect lately but the ML-3 is a safe bet. The finish level (or the lack thereof to be precise) is also impressive as the satin overcoat for both body & neck were evenly applied & proved to be inspirational at play time.

Playability tone

There is no overtly slim or tapered neck profile here to appease the excessively shred-inclined among us. Yes, there’s sufficient playability to bring us there but the overall neck carve is equally inspirational for bluesy bends as well. However, those X-jumbo frets make heavy metal & all things bent on destruction very enjoyable. A thing to note here is the instrument’s very heavy physique (mahogany!), weighing a hefty 4.2kg puts the ML-3 in the same league as the ‘50s Gibson Les Pauls. Those among us with physical frailty- you have been warned.

The manufacturer did well in including high output pickups here & the neck humbucker proved to be a proponent of clarity under high gain settings. The bridge humbucker was equally adept in this light; it could be more appealing in terms of cleans but I doubt anyone of us would want one for this application. It would perform better, in my opinion, if there’s a tad more focus in the lower frequencies. I expected more bass-end propulsion in tandem with the heftiness on offer but it didn’t materialize so get some external EQ implement ready to address the matter (if your amp doesn’t already feature a decent EQ section).

Thumbs up to that Hipshot-type fixed bridge in supplementing a very comfortable palm placement. It also added much ease to palm muting.

Conclusion

No Tele-type tones on board the ML-3 Modern, the coil-split facility would give you adequate single coil enjoyment from time to time, do not expect more. On the contrary, we should welcome the ML-3 Modern in view of what it was tailored to be; a great, drive-friendly instrument with a reasonable asking price. Weight issue aside, the ML-3 Modern is a deserving member in the Chapman line-up that offers a great contemporary voicing without wimping out but faces stiff competition from Ibanez, LTD & Schecter in this division. 

Rating: 80%

Chapman: ML-3 Modern (bag included)

Availability: Musicark

Price: $1,000.00 (list)

Chapman-ed

Em... Review soon. :-)

Stoned

I'm in a 'custom pick' mode in the mean time but I do return to a familiar feel occasionally just to keep things in check. My current picking proficiency is where it's at because I started on a familiar turf so forgetting my roots would be perilous. These days, the stores here don't stock Dunlop Stubbys as much as they used to. The closest substitute are the Clayton Stone pics; familiar size, outline, thickness just that they feature those grooves for a better grip. I'm not saying, in any way, that Claytons are the worthy second fiddle when Dunlop Stubbys are hard to come by- no way. It's just that these Stone picks are not readily available for us to try out (I bought my first one online) & that stores here don't shout out what picks they sell as opposed to guitars & amps. Available @ Musicark, $1.20 each.

Chapman: ML-1

Chapman guitars are the brainchild of Rob Chapman or Chappers as he's more affectionately known in the cyber realm. These guitars are made in the acclaimed premises of Korea's World Music. In the mean time, they are available at Musicark & that's the reason I've played the ML-1 seen here.

Construction/ fit/ finish

Since the Ibanez Prestige days, I've no reasons not to like the workmanship of a World Music instrument. Subsequently, my Brian Moore, PRS SE, Spector, Schecter & now Chapman experience re-inforce this belief. The craftsmanship on show is well above average, so that asking price is, in my opinion, a fair listing. What you will hold in your hands, if you choose to invest in this guitar, is a well-cut instrument. It's well-pieced together as well. Not to mention, a well-finished article (but this version here hardly has a finish- OK you got me). I'm also very happy to see the well-routed pickup cavities in particular. For budget instruments of a similar make, this is where you can see the production skimpiness- nut slots included- but none are seen here. Thumbs up all round.

Playability/ tone

If you are looking for a Strat-alike substitute- not quite. Ditto an Ibanez, shred-type substitute- not quite. The ML-1 joins the LTD & Schecter camps in offering the players out there a personalized super-playable feel. The Strat-ish single coil tones are there alright but not the ones reinforced by an alder body & maple neck coupling. The unmistakable shred-worthy feel is present as well but not that skinny-neck enhancement. We are definitely thankful to the Chapman team for giving us that 'all access' neck heel to couple the very playable neck profile. What we have here is outstanding playability but strictly on Chapman terms. 

Moving on to the Chapman pickups, the Guitarnivore humbucker is there to please distortion mongers. The cleans are alright but wouldn't put the instrument in good stead in terms of transparency. The Extreme Victory single coils offer plenty of snap but lacking that inherent top end roundness. These pickups are not let-downs, by all means they are not. It's just that they are not there to re-create some familiar tones but they are treading on familiar grounds.

Conclusion
On a personal note, I'm glad the Chapmans are finally here. But what do those instruments bring to the table, anything new in particular? Not quite but they join the palette of good-guitar-for-the-money selection. The World Music QC is without doubt, one of the best (in terms of standard production models)  the only talking point (for me) are the tones. What do these instruments strive to be? Strat-alike but not really Strat sounding? Shred-alike but still sporting traditional tones? Whatever they are (or strive to be), they are worth considering. These are the very guitars pro-guitarists will consider short of heading for some custom options. Hmm... do I need one more guitar? :-)

Rating: 75%

Chapman ML-1

• Availability: Musicark
• Bag included
• List: $950

Holdsworth @ Musicark

Many Carvins are in at Musicark, the juicy Alan Holdsworth model was there too. When I dropped by yesterday evening, the store was closed but the lights were left switched on; maybe the sales guy went to the washroom. I waited for 15min but nobody turned up so...

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PS: Musicark will not be closed unless it's really closed. It's a one-man-operation most of the time so please understand the absence :-)

Spector promo @ Musicark

Musicark is having a Spector promo so it's a good time to consider the Arc 6 Pro guitar you see here, going for: $860 $770. Please check out their homepage for further details- click the link on the left column of this page.

Duesenberg: Gold Boost

I have nothing but praise for this little wonder- Duesenberg's Gold Boost. A good clean booster, which has a gain focus, should not affect volume once it's in use. If this is the case, the increase in volume influences the gain/ drive structure you hear over at your amp. The GB does all this without colouring the final output of your amp's driven/ distorted voicing- it preserves the frequency response between your guitar & the amp. If there are any such tamperings, then I didn't hear them, which is a good thing isn't it? But it's a little pricey... please refer to Musicark for the GB's exact retail price.

My thanks to brother Firdaus (aka SicBarney) for the excellent customer service- salute!

Spector-cular Arc6 Pro!

I've acquired myself a Spector ARC6 Pro after being much attracted to Stuart Spector's basses.

As documented on the headstock, the manufacturer's name & brand emblem. The design in whole is devoid of any sharp edges/ protrusions, the headstock included.

The ARC6 Pro is a reflection of its bass siblings, sporting a curved top...

... & rear. In my opinion, this is the signature Spector feature making it less ordinary & very attractive.

6 bolts to secure the neck to the body, a little overkill but these add much to sustain.

A pair of Tesla VR-60s; these give off a mixture of vintage growl but they are not averse to high drive/ distortion settings.

Please visit Musicark @ Parklane shopping mall to check out Spector basses & guitars. Thank you Mr. Lance for all the considerations in acquiring this instrument. Not forgetting brother Firdaus (aka SicBarney) for the stellar customer service. Kudos!

Spector: Arc6 Pro

Spector ARC6 Pro Trem: $890 (list)

Spector ARC6 Pro: $860 (list)

Alrighty! Guitar fans would like to know the Spector ARC6 Pro guitars are now available at Musicark.The (introductory) prices are very attractive for the build & tone on offer. The prices (in the mean time) include a very respectable bag.

Just a Spec

Just gotten home from Musicark.

Actually, I was from Beez's...

The inevitable happened; bought another guitar... more of this later. Need a shower.