RGDrive

This pairing of my RGD320 & the Sound Drive SG612R has given me some very pleasant tones. It's simply a plug & play combination, no pedals or whatsoever in between. The lower tuning of the RGD requires an amp which can help it manifest clarity, especially for the lower bass notes. The SD does this well & so the pair is effective when put together. The Ibanez VK pickups are also to my liking; grainy sounding with drive but lots of non-muddy tones to be heard at higher volume levels.

Worthy quote: Slash

This was what Slash said recently about the guitar used for the recording of his new album:

"I used the Derrig- the same Appetite guitar I've used forever. On this record it was simple; just one guitar. I'll adjust whatever to make it right for the song. So that was it."

'Derrig' here refers to Chris Derrig who copied a Gibson '59 Les Paul which Slashed used for the recording of Appetite for Destruction (GnR)- if you've been following this blog for a while, you know it's mentioned here before (not once).

It's interesting to know what Slash used on grounds of preference, I'm saluting this man for just that. We know Gibson released a signature model based on that copy but Slash thought the Derrig guitar should make the recording because he likes what he hears from it, despite it not being the real thing.

Jackamp

This is an off-shoot of the VOX amPlug, Harley Benton's Jackamp. Different name, same objective. There are actually many affordable derivatives of popular products out there, just that out domestic dealers here do not find it economical to bring them here.

Worthy quote: Herman Li

Some worthy considerations by Mr. Herman Li on guitars:

"I'm not a vintage guitar guy. I'm into the instrument evolving & getting better & better with technology. That's why I've got my signature model- to make a better guitar for me to play."

I did attend Herman's Li clinic when he was here in Singapore some time back, way before Ibanez released his E-gen series. I asked him about the different Ibanez guitars made in various countries: Japan/ Korea/ China/ Indonesia. Mr. Li is not too particular about guitars being made in certain parts of the world. All he wants is well-made guitars regardless of origin so he can focus more on his playing.

JS blue maple

Joe Satriani is one of the participants in the Experience Hendrix tour in the recent 4 March, Santa Barbara CA slot. I'm not much of a Hendrix fan, maybe I just like his Fenders but the Ibanez JS model in this pic is really something of a custom make- maple fretboard, slider pickup selector & a 3-knob control set are some alien features in a JS make. Not to mention the 3 x single coil sized humbuckers in there which look unmistakably DiMarzio from afar.

Hey, dad! (Part 26)

Hey, dad! Thanks for letting me try your new VOX amPlug but I still like your bigger amps, he, he...