New trio

Super stoked to know these three Seymour Duncan pickups will be available here soon. Watch this space.

To be continued...

To come

We end June with this cryptic reminder, by Ibanez, of something new. From that body outline, it looks interesting & would not be something that is currently offered.

Pic: Ibanez YT

Hyper

 

This is the latest by Kiesel, the Hyperdrive. Looks like a Jackson Kelly-esque take with a more compact outline but it's actually a reverse concept of one of their own models. I kinda like how such outlines are offered in a smaller, compressed size. If you have handled a full blown BC Rich Warlock / Ironbird / Beast or anything of that nature, you'd appreciate this compression. Basic build starts at USD1,649.

Goodbye, October... 👋

Another

 

To wrap up the month. Whatever. 

New reference

This year, D'Addario has a new coloured ball end reference chart done on their plastic packaging (right). If the one you bought a pack & it's still showing the older version (left), it's a legit pack & not a counterfeit product. 

NGS

Ending the week on a good note - New Guitar Sunday...

Naturally

So this finish debuted in the Solar line up. I wouldn't have thought it'd be included at all seeing how the gaudy & elaborate tops were the thing for this brand name. OK so that's one for the to-check list. On that note, we have yet to receive any news on the next batch of Solar guitars coming in. Won't blame you for considering something else for your early Xmas considerations.

PIC: Solar guitars

New JRs

Martin cut down on their Junior models recently only to introduce new iterations this Summer NAMM. Seen here is the first Junior model to feature a cutaway- 000CJR-10E.

The other new Junior features an auditorium body style- 000JR-10 & this would be on my watch list. I'm looking for something close to the Taylor GS Mini with an all solid body & this is it. Maybe. Till it gets here, no further comments.

Midnight goodness

These are new from Fender but they are Japanese. I can't recall the last time a Japanese Fender got accorded international attention. Traditional Midnight series, these are called. Let's see if they would make a debut here. 

At SL

These brand names are now being officially distributed at Swee Lee & it happened within a spate of less than 3 months. There is an increasing number of effects brand names calling it home there. While we are glad to see more options available, we hope Swee Lee spruces up its lineup of the seasoned brand names like:

• Way Huge- missing some newer models, the Overrated Special would be a good addition
• Fender- the manufacturer added a significant few in January 2018 which garnered critical acclaim but none are available here. Summer NAMM 2018 saw three more joined the range but the only Fender effects unit which is relatively current in store is the Malmsteen OD which won't excite that many here
• TC Electronic- the newer budget models still not seen (Choka trem/ Crescendo auto swell/ Eyemaster distortion/ etc.)

New player

This was supposed to be a Summer NAMM (2018) revelation but was leaked along the way. The official announcement was made yesterday. With immediate effect, the Standard series is now effectively discontinued, replaced by the Player Series here, still made in Mexico like their predecessors. 

Yay or nay? The immediate nay factor would be the revised prices (upwards) so get ready to pay about $200+/- more for a Mexican Fender. From a commercial perspective, this is the definite opportunity to bring prices up by featuring 'revisions' in various models which we will look into in another blog episode. The strategy wasn't new as we noted this occurrence when the American Professional replaced the American Standard Series. The list price for a Mexican Strat/ Tele here is $899 so with the new Player prices kicking in soon, you'd be paying close to $1K for one. So is it time to grab whatever's left of the the current Standard models? Hmm...

The new (Part 1)

It's been more than a week. 👍

Closing account (2017)

Final purchase for the year. I thought it would only reach here in 2018 but it's here already. Unboxing tonight (if in the mood).

SA updates

Another Ibanez update- the revised SA360 is now offered in an ash body + binding.

There's also a mahogany version with a flamed maple top. Nice. 👍

Kiesel: DC

The new Kiesel is a humble DC (DC400H) devoid of flash & strictly functional. The plan was to try a ready made model to see if what the manufacturer has to offer is as appealing (to me) as my other Kiesel (Vader 6). This guitar, upon listing, was rather unpopular; it was spec'd to be very working grade with no particular visual attraction & stayed put till the Veteran's Day price cut took place. I had one other model in mind which 'disappeared' shortly after the Halloween discount went into effect- the price of hesitation. However, I'm kinda glad I went with this one because it proved to be 'different'. The usual custom shop QC is all over this guitar despite being very simple & down to earth. Kiesel is still the standard to beat if you intend to spend good money on some very high standards of production without that over-priced feeling. 

So this adventure very well proved that I could definitely get along with a ready spec'd guitar from Kiesel & not revel too much in their custom spec'd ones as being the superior discourse. I've told myself to never spend hard earned money on any more black guitars but this happened. At the back of my mind I know it's not about the colour, it's about believing what the brand name has to offer in terms of quality, first & foremost. Worth every single cent. This is my second Kiesel & it won't be my last (the next one to be a little different, of course). 

Modern Players Gen 2

These are the new additions to Fender's Modern Player series. If you are new to this range of Fenders, the Modern Players are China-made instruments which are superb in terms of QC per se. I was skeptical initially but after trying one, I was hooked to one of the first generation offerings, the Marauder. Seen here from L-R (all price references are MSRPs):

• Strat HSH: Mahogany body Strat- heck, yeah!! (USD599.99)
• Jazz Bass V satin (USD839.99)
• Jazz Bass satin (USD759.99)
• Jazzmaster HH (USD699.99)
• Mustang (USD699.99)
• Dimension bass (USD699.99)

At least one of the guitars is a sure acquisition for me, highly likely- the HSH mahogany Strat. That Dimension bass is also very attractive albeit a long scale model which I know I would struggle with.

New Marshall...

Got mine :-) It turned out to be the final acquisition for 2012...