Violet

So this was the tease a few days back - Lari Basilio has a new signature pedal which is essentially a distortion unit. It's based on the Morning Glory in essence but the EQ section made the difference. The midrange is wired to be pre-amp, while the treble & bass come after. Very interesting.

In the mean time, Violet is offered in purple & black. Can't quite decide? Get both. In the mean time, take a listen:

Pics: JHS

SD Rails @ Davis

The Seymour Duncan rails series are now available at Davis GMC:

• Hot Rodded Rails set (JB / Jazz): $345 ($180 ea)
• Nazgul / Sentient Rails set: $345 ($185 ea)

These are just rails version of existing models so nothing really ground-breaking in terms of expected performances. However, there are slight variations in details. Take the JB for example, the rails version features an Alnico 8 magnet & the EQ is tweaked to boost midrange instead of treble (standard SH-4). Do visit the manufacturer's webpage to discover other variations of the models mentioned above.

Pic: SD

MOMM (53)

I'll be brief with this; it's below expectations. I was expecting a grand return to form but no. The intensity is about the only element that I consider worthy. The music in its entirety is let down by the drums; it reeks of cut & paste, very little human dynamics. Perhaps it's due to the fact that Daemon is the only surviving member here & drums might not be his thing. Have a good week ahead, folks.

The call

It's the call of Cthulhu once again. I refer to this guitar fondly as Cthulhu for obvious reasons. It's currently one of my most played Ibanez. I'm somehow more at home with 22 frets, will always lookout for used 22-fretted S-Series.

Managed to re-string this over the holiday (Deepavali) & I am quickly settling down with the Olympia brand of strings for many guitars. The price factor is an obvious enticement but the fact that the quality on offer is good for the money made me switch over with limited resistance. Guitar in question is an S370, reduced to a pair of humbuckers & excessive stickers to mask up finish flaws.

Taylored

This is my Taylor Academy 12. Not new, bought before COVID set in. The action here is nothing like my electric guitars but it sounds awesome when finger-picked. As such, I do not attempt to lower this any further. I don't need to play any proper songs on this one, just listening to any notes is simply time well spent. 

My employment contract will run out in a fortnight's time so weekends or days off are spent indoors to curb unnecessary spending. Spent yesterday (holiday) re-stringing the Academy 12. The sound of fresh strings on any acoustic guitar, to me, has that up-lifting feeling. Semi-therapeutical on some days. Yes, I keep the gauge on all my acoustics to 10 - 47. I don't benefit from 11s or anything thicker due to my playing style / quirks. 

The Academy Series of acoustic guitars by Taylor are value-for-money instruments, definitely. Of late, this value-for-money consideration is quickly being betrayed by rising prices. The Academy models were all sub-$1K instruments when they debuted around 2018 if memory serves me right. The pre-ampless version you see here was $850. If you wish to purchase one today, the Academy Series are all listing in excess of $1K:

• Academy 10 / 12: $1,099
• Academy 10e / 12e: $1,299

That's how things are today with guitar prices, not just acoustics, mind you. Prices are going up. Blink & you regret not buying stuff. Wishing everyone a good weekend in advance.

Hello, November...

Deepavali '24

Deepavali greetings, dear friends & blog readers. A Thursday holiday would usually entail a strong inertia to return to work the following day. Anyway, it's a good rest day for me, hope it's likewise to you if you are not doing your festive visits. I stayed indoors, managed to re-string a couple of guitars. Happy.

Goodbye, October... 

Pic: Floristique