SG week

Had been an SG week. I just prefer the playability & tone of the SG over the Les Paul but on some days, I love listening to the deeper distorted tones of the latter. Yes, the SG is plagued by that notorious neck dive but things remain playable if you get the hang of it. Dreaming of a single pickup SG because on most days, I only need one pickup. Someone suggested buying a modified pickguard but that doesn't address the 4-knobs situation. Really, I need only one knob 😅

Wishing everyone a good week ahead.

Watain's impending rest

One of the best & committed black metal outfits will call it a day after the release of their up-coming 8th studio album. This will mark a 33-year commitment to the black arts & these people are indeed some of the best out there. The best here refers to the music as well as the embrace of the genre.

We best remember Watain for the 2019 debacle when the band was reported to the authorities here for the alleged inappropriate anti-religion philosophy that threatened the fabric of society (still thinking why similar interests involving non-black metal contention were let off the hook). Prior to this, Dark Funeral, Mayhem & Marduk performed without incident & these acts are equal in their embrace of black metal, if not excessive in the case of Mayhem (murder, church-burning). Then again the enforcements here are selective to the information they are privy to. Authorities have no latent knowledge of bands' musical backgrounds unless they are being rat out by individuals with specific interests, regardless of what these may be.

Pic: Blabbermouth

Price watch (101) : Yet another Fender rant

I make no apologies for rubbing salt into the wound, especially when it comes to Fender. It seems that Fender has a new range of American models after the release of the Mexican Vintera II, these are called the American Professional Classic. They are now available at Swee Lee, prices are depicted above. Yes, we now have a laughable case of a Mexican listing for more than an American. On that note, I have not handled & evaluated the Vintera IIs personally. Maybe (just maybe) the quality & tone on offer might justify the prices. The current price difference alone is a face-palm moment when we consider how much Fenders go for these days. Are there other alternatives? Of course but some of us feel safe with Fender on the headstock.

Pics: Fender

Canibalismo... flushed

Looks like the SOLAR camp is enticing us with this slightly revised canibalismo finish; it's now sporting  a darkened SOLAR label at the headstock. Ditto the brand logo on the fretboard (12th fret area). This gives a very flushed look, less distracting in fact. Side note, wish the Duncan SOLAR pickups are made available separately. These are awesome pickups for distortion.

Pic: SOLAR

23 / 9.5

How's everyone doing? I'm sure you're better off than me & enjoying life, worry-free (for the most part). I am killing time at home with an unfashionable guitar which is my Peavey 23. That single pickup & the reverse headstock were the main draw to this guitar. That body outline might be a derivative of some elementary school project design which hinted at being adventurous but fell flat on the boring turf. Anyway, this guitar sports a 24.75" scale length. I had a set of 10s in there & things felt stiff, uninspiring, semi-hindered & mistake-inducing. It's been set up to my specs which should work but strangely, it felt wrong.

So the guitar was re-strung with a set of 9.5s & these did wonders in terms of feel. It's like a completely different guitar. Almost. Anyway, I'm reflecting if top wrapping the strings for my Gibsons (24.75") was the reason the 10s felt right in those guitars but not for this one. I love this guitar for its ability to manifest heavy tones. It's a riff machine more so than a tool for solos. 

Price watch (100)

Once again, like a broken record, it's not a good time to be buying Fender guitars. The latest Fenders to debut here are the Vintera II models, prices are depicted above. Fender is asking you to spend in excess of $2K for these. The most affordable American models, the Performer, are listing for $2,249. The B-stocks & those on promos; you can get these for less. Notice how they hyped the V II models to be limited edition / roadworn. These are terms to fall back on to justify the figures. We know these mean very little when it comes to playability & tone. Then they will tell you it's different. 

A reasonable expectation here is the corresponding increase in performance value with regards to increasing price tags. It need not be exponential or even proportional for that matter, just a manifestation of enhancement of sorts but this remain elusive & subjective at best. Then again, why expect such favours when we know added costs are the product of taxation, flailing exchange rates & other extras that force prices up. Is anyone interested in keeping prices down so that legit musicians / players / enthusiasts can afford a Fender? Ironically, back in the day, Leo Fender conceived instruments that were  affordable alternatives to you-know-what. Provisional philosophy doesn't go hand in hand with economics, it seems. Not when the guitar manufacturer exists as a commercial entity first & foremost. Which guitar manufacturer exists with no profit-making in mind, yes?

Pics: Fender