Samick Royale 1
The SMASH series of guitars (by Swing) never fail to impress me in terms of tone & playability. I was at Standard Value recently to purchase some accessories & I couldn't help but give the S1 another test-drive. The instrument in whole is an impressive player, through a deserving amplifier, it sounds incredible. The maple fretboard version has a more defined top end bite which a typical Strat player would love. I own the ash-bodied, rosewood fretboard version which sounds very impressive under lots of drive & I could hear the difference between these models. However, it's rather self-defeating advocating this to the masses because the general mindset is that, if the name on the headstock doesn't mean a thing, it's rubbish.
I usually do not attach my noise gate between the PPE & Cool Cat overdrive because the background noise generated is not annoying... nevertheless, it's getting to me... so today it's there to preserve lucidity.
In a move to protect its intellectual property, Fender has recently attempted to register its Stratocaster & Telecaster body design but failed on account of its inability to indicate source. It's interesting to know that a 5-year litigation cited the following manufacturers contravening the iconic body designs:
Those of you who wish to purchase the SOB, please be informed tat there is a ready bag for it but sold separately: $45.00
Musikmesse '09: Some new LTDs on offer are signature models. The above are signatures for Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz (Okkultist) & Galder (Shadow).
Behemoth's Nergal also gets his 7-string: LTD Hex-7...
The other X-Mini capsule speaker I own is the X-Minimax version which I do not prominently mention here.
It's actually a 2-in-1 unit, the whole can be detached to reveal two halves. I would usually deploy them as depicted above, one of which would be in 'more-bass' mode.
It seems that the BC Riches I own both sport a single humbucker. I get people telling me these are unworthy instruments, very restrictive tone-wise due to the solitary pickup at the helm but I repeatedly tell them everybody's tonal needs are different, some of us do not need excess, we need what gets the job done.
I have always looked up to Morbid Angel's Trey Azagthoth as one of the more formidable players in the death metal scene; he is surely one who doesn't forsake technicality for intensity.
Here's a sure way to remember you pedal settings; it's the Vinnie Moore way (that's his pedal board you see above)- just apply duct tape on the pedals in use, mark it down with a marker. Done. This way, your indicated settings are your default settings, you can tweak all you want without forgetting your initial settings.
I'm attracted to very few distortion pedals mainly because I'm an amp person, I prefer the amp's drive as it interacts immediately with the guitar & remains true to the instrument's inherent responses. Nevertheless, I do get enticed by some pedals time & again & the MXR Fullbore Metal looks very inviting as it deals with my kind of distortion- very intense.
Hey, dad! I think I can be friends with your Beast Jr but he must get his own pacifier, ok?
I have always liked natural body finishes, as such, I find the S2009SC (above) stunning. However, the chances of getting it is very remote as only 10 units were made as this year's exclusive production model. Be informed that the body is made from camphor, the scent of which we are all too familiar with. It's an active ingredient in this product, chances are, your mum might have rubbed some on you:
I procrastinated buying this guitar (aka the Pitchfork of Death, in my books...) at the twilight of 2008; when I returned to Davis GMC to give it a second audition before parting with my hard earned cash, it was gone. But that's not the case this year...
The BC Rich Son of Beast is actually a scaled down Beast, featuring only a single humbucker. It's a limited performer per se but it's not a hindrance to players who are fully aware they are working with an eccentric performer. This is my 4th single pickup guitar. On certain days, I thrive on limitations. This just brings out the creativity & focus in me.
The Beast headstock is visually intriguing but is a hindrance when one works with the 3rd/4th string tuner; the upper protrusions would snag your movements. But that gaping, pincer-like design is really good for placing toys with flapping ears like the one above.
It works on the flip-side as well...
One of the great new features of the revised X-mini speaker is its ability to either attach its previous incarnation to itself (as shown above) or accept another of its kind, to give the user a wonderful stereo experience. As you can see, I've attached my red, first generation version to its contemporary sibling. Sonic bliss!
For those of us who play outdoors for inspiration & require the need for noise exclusion, Samson has this cool noise canceling headphones which ensure you only hear yourself. I can vouch for its effectiveness because when playing at McDonalds during late nights, surrounded by juvenile blabber, they effectively turn into live mimes. Thank goodness.
Was at Davis today to try out some new BC Riches, the above Beast V was one of them. Here's a quickie:BC Rich The Kerry King Beast V
Was at Davis to pick up my reserved (Seymour Duncan) pickups, then proceeded to Funan Centre to check out some computer hardware. Saw a Gateway notebook clearing at a good price; bought it. It was an expensive Sunday outing indeed...
The upgraded feature in the current version of the X-mini speaker is its build-in audio cable. Unlike the previous incarnation, the wire remains attached to the speaker & can be tucked in neatly when not in use.
I'm not a Gibson fan, but some of their quirky offerings do appeal (eg: Les Paul BFG), the latest incarnation of the Raw Power series (see above) sport maple fretboards which appeal to me per se. Some time back, I was contemplating the Zakk Wylde model which featured a maple fretboard/ neck as well but the price tag was prohibitive + it reeks of the endorser's quirks- I'm never a fan of a signature model.
This is something we don't see too often- a whammy bridge in a Gibson guitar (2009 Limited Edition Gibson Tribal Explorer). Let's face it, which 'normal' person would be very enthusistic with such a contraption in a 'Gibson'?
Ok, maybe Neil Schon...
The above guitar is the new Kerry King signature offering (just one example, there are others in its series...), as implied by the name, it's an amalgamation of the manufacturer's (BC Rich) V & Beast models. Some of us might find the protrusion really enticing but I feel it's not visually pleasant... However, if these horns contribute, in any way, to the instrument's playability, I'd be keen to own one. Just have to try one when it gets here, yes?
You might have read my praise for the X-mini capsule speaker back in 2008- how it complemented digital guitar devices; well this year the manufacturer upgraded their ware as depicted above (the right, black unit...).
