Weeping

Mayhem had just released a single from their upcoming album (Liturgy of Death: Feb 2026): Weep for Nothing. Do take a listen if you're interested: CLICK I really hope, it's not gonna be a Daemon Part II.

Plus discount

I have no idea if players here are still looking up to the Japanese Pacificas for a deserving throwback episode but here it is; the Standard Plus Series (made in Japan) are on sale. Just looking at the price per se, players would be asking themselves why opt for this one instead of an American Fender or even a Japanese Edwards for that matter (the latter for less). The glorious, shred-tastic Pacifica days are well over, yes? But these are good guitars (do take time to try them out) albeit an absence of that 90s Pacifica vibe. 

Pics: Yamaha SG

777

Solar guitars had just released a trio of 7-string guitars. This black one here is perhaps the least vibrant of them all. The sparkle finish is barely visible. That single knob feature is a winner in my books (AB2.7BSG).

Flame top version (AB2.7FPBG). Both guitars feature a pair of in-house Modern Alnico pickups. 

This is the most attractive among the three featuring a sparkling flip-flop finish; you know, the type that switches colour depending on your viewing angle (AB2.7BSG). All three guitars feature a bolt-on neck-body attachment.

Pics: SOLAR

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