Price watch (94): Internal conflict

We could all agree that at the end of it all, price matters. Look at these Jacksons, the standard size JS12 is listing for just $20 more than the Minion. There is already a very niche appeal for the shorter-scaled Minion models & its further pressured by that slight price difference. The standard size JS will definitely be more appealing in the after-market. Both these guitars do not come with bags. The Minion requires a smaller bag, the Minion Series bag to be precise so that's $75 more before you bring it home. The Koda EGB ONE bag can fit the JS12, no issue, it's only $15. You do the Math, it's clear which one is more appealing for those of us with a limited shopping budget.

The American Performer P-bass is $250 more than the Japanese Heritage Series 60s P-bass. The Performer is Fender's most affordable American, while the Heritage is currently Fender Japan's top tier range. We all know how the Japanese make their Fenders - absolute respect for QC. Folks, that marginal difference, which one would you choose?

A Premium Ibanez (Indonesia) lists for more than $2K while the demure but irresistible Genesis (Japan) is about $500 lesser. Tough call, yes?

Disclaimers:

• decision-making is more than just looking at listed prices, other factors come into play (product appeal e.g. limited edition, discontinuity, playability, etc.)
• the figures above are domestic retail prices, many of us tend to veer into the dark side of the after-market more often than not
• buying anything, not just musical instruments, is a personal choice, regardless of the external influential decision-making politics involved

Pics: Fender / Ibanez

 

Glide

The new (2025) Ibanez Glideline Series of instrument cables are touted to be one of the best in the industry when it comes to signal transfer. It's now available at Swee Lee: 10ft ($49) / 20ft ($69).

Pic: Ibanez

 

Criss

Pic: Rock Bio online

I'm re-visiting the 80s because I am fully aware of how rotten music is in the mean time. Just tune in to any contemporary radio stations & listen to those plastic, cut-&-paste tunes... there's hardly any musical instruments involved. 

Anyway, one of the lesser known guitar icons back then was the late Criss Oliva (1963 - 1993). I only managed to listen to Savatage's Streets: A Rock Opera (1991) which is not quite the reference album if you wish to hear what Criss Oliva is all about. You need to go way back to the debut release, Sirens (1983). This is a challenging endeavour because those albums were on cassette tape format. The only way to go is the re-press option (CD) which are rather obscure unless the record label did / is doing a catalogue revival.

To be continued...

Bass as well

The Fender (Japan) models recently featured here with gold hardware - it's available for bass as well.

Ditto the competition stripes. Contrary to convenient assumptions, I'm not anti-bass... 😅

Pics: Fender Japan

CE 22

I'm a closet admirer of bolt-on PRS guitars after the Silver Sky experience. The CE 22 already existed in the annals of PRS' history but only the 24 fretted version remained in production. The revived CE 22 here is simply gorgeous with those silhouette inlays. Like many core models, the price of this one is semi-prohibitive. Since it's a limited edition model, let's see if it gets here at all.

Pic: PRS

SF727

Beneath the boring facade of releasing an acoustic bass & a starter acoustic guitar for the month of May, Ibanez had this SF727 out & it's both good & not good.

Good because it's a deserving addition to the S-Series which, as we all know, is living in the shadows of the RG highlight. 27 frets - yes, it goes beyond 24, Duncan's Nazgul humbucker in the bridge & those reversed shark tooth inlays are just very evil. In a good way, of course.

Not good because it's a Euro only release. Dammit, Ibanez! Why??!!

Pic: Ibanez