LM10

This is Luca Montovanelli's new signature, the LM10. He already had the LM1 (Japanese), this iteration is the more affordable take. Also, this version feature an HSS pickup combo, unlike the all single coil LM1. Both models do not feature Ibanez' Alter Switch system & this LM10 is a standard 5-way affair. The LM1 has a blender pot so it manifests more voicings than what the 5-way selector would traditionally offer.

Pic: Ibanez

Price watch (105)

This is something that is currently listed in the after-market. Seller stated it as no mods but 1) The hard tail piece is not an original model. The default piece from the factory feature slots as depicted 2) Pickups look different albeit the blurred details. Ibanez's Seymour Duncan IBZ humbuckers for this Ibanez SZ2020 only featured a single row of slotted pole pieces as depicted.

In due fairness, the seller might not be aware of these changes as s/he is not the initial owner of this instrument. 

The Crown

Was at the hospital recently for a medical review. I'm into my 5th year of post-cancer treatment. The thing with cancer is, the 5th year is a sensitive period where there is a possible relapse for some patients. I hope to get a full discharge this coming October if everything goes well.

Side note - in addition to blood tests, I also have to undergo physical examinations to check if the chemo side effects are affecting me excessively. As it is, I'm experiencing nerve damage, which is nothing new, but it's beginning to affect one of my eyes - this is new. It seems that the nerves there have deteriorated & affecting the ability of my pupil to dilate & react to light intensity. Over time, the excessive amount of light might cause retinal damage & manifest this type of blindness where there's a permanent dark patch in the center of my vision. 

That definitely killed my appetite for lunch. Did a quick escape to think things through over a glass of cold brew. By the way, if you are interested (depicted above), this is called The Crown, available at Whiskdom@OneNorth.

Wishing everyone the best of health.

The locking argument

The default tuners of this guitar got wonky. The pegs & shafts were wobbly. Tuning wasn't stable when the guitar was in use. Decided to spend some money (saving up to buy a new computer, actually) to get locking tuners. Didn't go premium, just a set of decent ones to see things through. This episode is my attempt to understand if locking mechanisms, in this case the ones at the tuners, contribute to tuning stability or the purported belief in these contraptions got misconstrued along the way.

To be continued...

Pre-owned @ Black Crane

There are currently a few pre-owned Edwards models at Black Crane Guitars. These are one-offs, if you are quick, you would get to own ridiculously well-maintained instruments which could have easily passed off as brand new. I dropped by to take a look at these guitars personally, only the E-LP-STD is available ($1,400), the rest - a Navigator & two other Edwards - were sold off. Stay tuned for more enticing pre-owned Edwards in the near future.

Pic: ESP Japan

Dino @ Kiesel

Fear Factory's Dino Cazarez is now in the Kiesel camp. His signature guitars are based on the headless Kyber model. No 6 strings in the mean time, just 7 & 8.

Pic: Kiesel