New bosses

Wrapping up October with news of 2 new BOSS pedals:

1. AD-2: What do you really hear when you are playing your acoustic guitar? That's right, you hear 2 things 1) The sound of vibrating metal strings 2) That same string sound with natural reverb- this is something we tend to overlook. To me, all those pedals recreating acoustic tones, those so called 'simulation' pedals, they are actually recreating a piezo-type tone, not the tone of a true blue acoustic. BOSS' AD-2 aims to address this oversight by adding a reverb element to that unplugged tone. It's something worth checking out even if you're not a fan.
2. CP-1X: This is something the manufacturer claims their pedal could do- a new compressor unit that doesn't suck tone. I'm definitely a compressor fan but I hear those fine difference between a compressed & non-compressed tones only in clean mode. Pump the drive up & this difference becomes rather marginal. Once again, it's something worth checking out even if you've not been compressing your tones since day one.

Driving to Shinjuku

So it's one MXR pedal for the other. I said goodbye to the GT-OD just a few days ago & bought this version instead. It's still within the same drive voicing parameter but this one has that 'dark' button there to mess with the bottom end & push the top instead. It has that wee bit more strain in the drive that angry people like me would embrace, despite it not being a heavy metal type unit. 

Deepavali 2016

Wishing all Hindu devotees a blessed day with family & friends. It's another family R&R day for the rest of us. 😁

Sonic Stomp reduction

BBE now offers the Sonic Stomp in a mini version as depicted above. Stacked control knobs mean it retains its previous sonic manipulation. MSRP: USD100

Affordable TCs

Some of us think the TC Electronic pedals are above average but sporting near boutique prices; that's the primary put off. This range of new TC Electronic pedals allegedly retain the manufacturer's very polished tones at just a fraction of their core offering prices: USD50. These would make very good festive acquisitions, yes?

Timber!

In the mail today- Timber Tones picks. I'm swallowing some pride & returning to wood. I used to find wooden picks detestable but I guess I was bothered by the size more than anything else. This time, I'm giving the jazz size a go. It's gonna be a busy weekend.

Affinity's hues

Squier fans- here's a look at the new range of colours for the Affinity Series (many more in the range). The manufacturer did the right thing in moving away from the established finishes which mirror the Fender range. With all due respect, Squier is in a position to manifest some individuality in this aspect & they have flexed their muscle, so to speak. 

Offset prices

Prices for the Fender 2016 Mex Offset models are out:

• Duo-Sonic/ Mustang: USD500
• Mustang PJ bass: USD550

These were not meant to be pricey, I personally feel they are listed fairly in view of the tier they are in & the country of manufacture. Keeping fingers crossed for their availability here 😬

Pop(ped) juice

The battery popped in one of my pedals. Nobody was harmed largely due to the fact that the pedal was tank grade & contained the explosion. This battery came default with my Seymour Duncan Killing Floor unit. I was wondering why this happened since:

• it was never connected to any PSU
• no guitar cable was left in tact when the pedal was at rest

I have a fresh 9V battery in my Killing Floor just to make sure it wasn't the pedal killing it (no pun intended). Safety first, everyone. 😛 #justsharing

Selling: MXR GT-OD CSP-021 (SOLD)

For sale: MXR GT-OD CSP-021. This is the custom floor version, cost more than the standard GT-OD (M193). Please note the difference 😁

• MXR: GT-OD CSP-021, box & under-lining included as depicted
• 9/10 condition
• No reservations/ No trades
• Queries: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Strictly self-collect: CCK MRT stn
• Price: $95 (final)

Goodbye American

Good Sunday morning guitar fans, how's everything coming along? Hope everyone's strumming to good health & in a good state of mind approaching the month's end. Sharing a major breaking news here for all you Fender fans- the manufacturer is going to discontinue the American Standard Series instruments. It is unclear if these instruments are receiving a slew of upgrades & thereafter renamed  as a fresh range for 2017 or an introduction of a fresh series of guitars & basses as complete replacements.

In any case, online stores are clearing stuff in anticipation of more breaking news approaching Winter NAMM 2017. If you are planning to get one online, please hold on to more clearance deals (highly likely) as the festive season creeps in. 

The most anticipated question: Will the local dealers follow suit? It depends. Some dealers are more in touch with reality than others, they will match the demand-supply circumstances while the rest- in view of a more monopolistic position they are in- will totally ignore this development as they are more than happy to keep discontinued, over-priced inventories in their midst. 

The power of 10

A 10-string mammoth by Agile- Septor Elite 1027, darn! While it reeks of musical intimidation, judging by how the lowest/ thickest string had to angle inwards to wrap around the machine head, it would pose tuning issues to the uninitiated. The string gauge for this monster: 009 - 110. Who sells this kind of string set? Hmm... 🤔

These ship for free

I'm giving these two manufacturers a firm support for their belief in not adding on charges for shipping. If you are the type who buys picks online, do check them out. I simply wish others could accord likewise considerations when it comes to shipping.

PRS SE 2017: Looking good

Hear ye, hear ye! For 2017, PRS Guitars had included the signature at the headstock of the SE models. This makes them look closer to the USA counterparts & is a welcomed inclusion.

Also, there will be a new set of pickups for selected SE models: The 85/15. The manufacturer claimed to have refined them to manifest a broader low & high frequency range. 👍🏾

Back to singles

I was at Beez's last Sunday for this make-over. There used to be a pair of humbuckers in there but was inspired to return to single coils.

The new pair taking care of tones: Seymour Duncan's Quarter Pound single coils. Loving the thick, honk coming from these 2, fat cleans in there as well. FYI, this is Schecter's Neo Vintage Veda (VE-TE) model in the style of the Telecaster, ash body & rather heavy.

Like thick? (Done)

Greetings, everyone. I have 2 DAW picks of 4mm thickness to spare if you are interested. Do e-mail me 👌🏽

Thank you for the quick responses- both picks have been snapped up.

Costly hearing aid

If you are looking forward to invest in the Fender ear monitors (like yours truly), I have a feeling the prices will put you off. 🙄

Re-string Sunday

The last time I used Cleartone was 3 months ago. I bought a twin packet, used a set for this guitar here. 3 months later, I'm using the 2nd set on the same guitar. No signs of rusting or even spot rusting detected from the ones in the 2nd pack. 👍🏾

Cuts like a knife

BOSS released the Waza amp not too long ago, something touted to be very utilitarian while churning out boutique-level tones. But that one comes at a (high) price. We now have the BOSS amps, the Katana series. These are units featuring BOSS' own effects integrated into an amplifier. We note that this is the manufacturer's own amplifier affairs as opposed to Roland's CUBE models which contain BOSS' effect modules at the core. The Katana amps are now available at Swee Lee for about a fifth of the WAZA prices and here's a demo for your reference:

Selling: Yamaha FG Jr (SOLD)

Letting go of this Jr-sized acoustic (21.25" scale length), a little under 3 mth old.

• Yamaha: FG-1 (FG Jr) bag included
• Condition: 9/10
• No reservations/ trades
• Self-collect: CCK mrt station
• Queries: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $95 (final)

Mustang's low & behold

This is the final member of Fender's offset range, new for 2016- the Mustang PJ bass. (Mex) Named to announce the pickup combination of this bass, the shorter scale Mustang bass might appeal to guitar dweebs more than the bass wielders. Since I own the Japanese version, there is a tendency for me to move quickly up & down the neck as opposed to observing a rhythm focus. That said, the Mustang bass is every bit a bass & not something that pretends to be one without the proper sonic properties. 

Baritone?

This is a baritone guitar at 25.5" scale length? Whaaaa...? (PRS Tremonti baritone, new for 2016)

Tosin Drive

It keeps getting better for Tosin Abasi, he teamed up with Pro Tone for this OD unit. It's basically a Dead Horse given a selectable EQ preset labelled as FILTER. It's not really a surprise to see this collaboration because we know what the Pro Tone pedals do to high gain guitar tones. This initial release is available on pre-order only & it's already sold out. Gee...

Howling Custom

This was in the mail last Friday. They had a 20% promo so I tried a custom spec version, something a little narrower & shorter than their standard version which I find rather overwhelming in terms of size. The thing with bigger picks is that their size (not their thickness) resist the picking a little too much so it's an awful resort for fast picking. I also opted for a 2.7mm thickness as opposed to my preferred 3mm for hard picks. It's a very comfortable shred-type pick, I've yet to give it a grind/black metal treatment. I would have ordered more but the shipping charges were rather significant. For about the same price, I could have purchased 5 DAW Man picks.

Mustang 2016

Together with the Duo-sonic, the Fender Mustang was the other member of the Offset Series (Mex) released during the Summer NAMM 2016 convention. That's right, no traditional Mustang bridge, just a fixed bridge.

Alternatively, the sibling, Mustang 90, features a pair of P-90 pickups for added fatness. Definitely interested :-)

Good to know

You would notice that majority of the shipping entities charge volumetric weight when it comes to bulky items. This means, if the item is a hollowed out unit (eg: guitar case), the shipping charges would be based on the weight of the item if it was full-volumed. That's daylight robbery.

Borderlinx had taken a bold step in waiving this consideration for smaller items up to the limit stated above. It may not be an extensive victory on the part of buyers but it means cost savings & the fact that you are dealing with honest transactions. 

Sfogli!

Another worthy addition to the Ibanez endorsement roster; Marco Sfogli. Please listen to the James La Brie solo outings to know who he is & what he's capable of.

This guitar is Sfogli's Premium MSM1. Tineo top & Wenge fretboard; these are not the usual Ibanez features but they are there for your consideration. Together with the Air Norton & TZ DiMarzio humbuckers, this guitar should be a good workhorse for some versatility.

EDIT: Fretboard is now panga panga (2018) instead of wenge 👌

Ibanez camp: Tom Ibarra

This is Tom Ibarra, the jazz prodigy, deservingly in the Ibanez camp. The official endorsement happened days ago & I take my hats off to him.  Watch him in action with Marcus Miller:

Bonabird

A limited run Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Firebird-I featuring the Probucker pickup. I'm usually not into an Epi but I do have a soft spot for single pickup guitars. This one seems worth checking out but given its limited production status, it might not make it to some places.

Sonic return

Here it is, the Fender Duo-Sonic (Mex) in its full glory, after being revealed in Summer NAMM 2016, without proper closure.

The HS version for those of us who would be rocking this guitar seriously. I'm definitely interested because of the the instrument's 24" scale length more than anything else. It'd be as feasible as the similarly scaled Jaguar, without the pickups switching hassle.

Fuzzing drive (2)

FYI, the Ibanez OD850 is made in Japan :-)

Ibanez GRUVing

Ibanez & Gruv Gear did a collaboration recently, the outcome of which is shown above. Every Ibanez Iron Label instrument now comes with a complementary GG string dampener. It is unclear if black is the only colour offered as the initial batch of instruments getting this cool accessory is a Japan-only distribution in the mean time. 

I'm hoping it would be extended to the international distribution as well & we know the upcoming Winter NAMM (2017) would have details on the matter. I'm also hoping that there would be a wider range offered under the GG/Ibanez selection & that we can purchase them separately instead of forking out (very much) extra for an Iron Label instrument to get hold of one (pathetic). 

CE24- satin(ized)

A Fall PRS release- the CE24 is given the satin treatment; so here's the CE24 Standard Satin. The CE, due to its bolt-on nature has more twangy top end so it might not turn the PRS purists on.

None to come by

A little bummed because was told that none of the new reverse headstock Ibanez S-Series will make it here. Or someone's plain lazy so the webpage remains disregarded.

In any case, happy October, everyone.