X2N?

By now, guitar nerds everywhere are welcoming the re-birth of BC Rich,  which we could all agree, took a little longer than expected. Nevertheless, things are in place as documented by the manufacturer's web page. I'm looking forward to having this Stealth model here from the Legacy Series.

The guitar was spec'd out to feature DiMarzio's X2N in the bridge.

Folks, does this look like an X2N to you?

According to DiMarzio, this is how the X2N looks like. Hmm... I would want to have a good impression of the BC Rich now that they had sorted things out & emerging from the ashes but stuff like this make me wonder if there's any genuine interest in starting afresh on a good stead.

With that, we say goodbye to November. 

PICS: BC Rich/ DiMarzio

CMYES

You knew this was coming, it's a matter of when. 😎

Black Friday @ DGMC: Recommendations

If you are looking for a good grab this year end & wish to take advantage of some bargains, do consider the PRS S2 Singlecut (Sale: $1,690). 

Even the semi-hollow version is worth considering (Sale: $1.950). Two reasons 1) The S2 models are no-frills players, well made & absolutely worthy of the asking price 2) The Singlecuts will be discontinued in 2020, this is your final chance to consider a good one out of the Gibson offerings. Yes, Gibson is still the go-to name but there are worthy contenders out there surpassing what Gibson has to offer in many aspects. The final batch of Singlecuts are equipped with adjustable wrap over bridge so you need not worry about intonation issues. 

Moving away from tradition but still in singlecut territory, the E-II Eclipse is another worthy consideration (Sale: $1,700). Please be reminded that the pickups here are active models so being excessively vintage in terms of tone is not quite it. In my opinion, the Eclipse is the most popular non-Gibson take on the design, it's selling well everywhere, State-side included. Even the aggressive music proponents do not shy away from the more reserved Eclipse outlines; Gary Holt (Slayer), Ted Aguilar (Death Angel) & Teloch (Mayhen), among others. Now you know why PRS is not too keen in keeping up with the numbers & they have other more defining models to fall back on to.

Moving on to the acoustic side of the sale, this Takamine P3NY is one heck of a player (Sale: $1,450). Not many of us look East when it comes to acoustics but Takamine had been the quiet success story this side of Martin & Taylor. The P3NY is a parlor-sized instrument; the scale length remains as standard while the body width had been trimmed to accomodate two things: 1) Less overbearing body size for playing comfort, especially so for the smaller built players among us 2) Less boomy tone much appreciated by the finger pickers & those excelling in arpeggios & single notes as compared to chords. 

Where I'm coming from

I've personally played & tested the models mentioned above  (OK, I bought some...). They will never be an ultimate, end-all reference when it comes to choice. More importantly, you should be doing some reading up & testing prior to purchase. Use personal recommendations (like mine) as a final reference before buying. On my part, I'd be up front with what these instruments have in store for you in terms of objectivity & appeal. As far as price-to-satifaction ratio is concerned, this is the best time to buy as prices are slashed but not for long, of course.

ESP/LTD 2020 (2)

More good stuff from the LTD camp. This has to be one of the best they have to offer in 2020; the M-Series featuring a simple, fixed bridge (Hipshot) & a through-body design. Plus point - this fade finish is just gorgeous. The M is often too tied down by a Floyd-type bridge which is further popularized by a certain Kirk Hammett. It's good to see a simple variant this time round which is an upper tier model.

This is another amazing fade finish & deserving for an upper tier EC model. The pickups for this 2020 manifestation is the Seymour Duncan Pegasus/ Sentient pair - thumbs up! 

Back in black @ DGMC

That's right folks, the best prices in town just got better. Click here for details: I WANT GUITAR!

Epifirst: Old Glory (4)

This is my main beef with the Epiphone Old Glory; that Blues Power label there serves absolutely no purpose in terms of functionality, let alone tone appeal. When Jared Nichols ripped out the hard tail bridge of his LP Custom, he used that label to cover unsightly holes in the body. It is replicated onto the Epiphone version for sentimentality's sake, a reminder of that decision he made back then which liberated his playing technique somewhat. Since this guitar is officially known as the Old Glory, an Old Glory label would have made more sense here. Then again, this is a signature model to begin with, such quirks are dictated by the endorser. Now you know why I dislike signature guitars.

As this is now my guitar, I have decided to remove that redundant label. The screw cavities were dealt with by having black screws in there which thankfully made it look flushed (at least from the  distance). I did away with the plastic knobs as well, these knurled chrome pair complemented the chrome bridge & chrome tuners over at the headstock. 

Banking

This was hot news last week, the first unveiling of the Gibson-others collaboration under the authorized partnership programme. . Banker is a small time boutique name run by a luthier who used to be - you guessed it - a banker. Absolutely nothing new here, just a dedicated repro of Gibson's fabled korina-based Flying V/ Explorer. 

As it is, Gibson is only willing to extend their goodwill to boutique craftsmanship. I don't see a near future where an off-the-shelf name would be authorized to perpetuate the Gibson legacy, less Epiphone. In my humble opinion, Fender is doing it right by having an Eastern extension of itself addressing possible market opportunities which may affect its core focus should resources be reallocated to favour that venture. It also has sister brands to embrace contemporary designs without unrooting tradition.

If I were Gibson, since all this collaboration thingy is set into motion, I would at least talk to people like ESP's Navigator a renowned name in this we-can-do-Gobson-better game. We are fortunate enough to personally know what the Navigator name has in store when it comes to QC & overall appeal; nothing less than awesome. By doing so, Gibson would be establishing firmer roots in the East. 

Angry brownie

Had been Kiesel-ing & Epiphone-ing too much lately. Back to something familiar & trusted; the Seymour Duncan humbuckers.

Actually, I brought this out for a re-string - a set of La Bella 10s this time. Things feel a little cramp at the control area, might do away with those skirted knobs. Hmm...

I was very close to replacing those tuners there but decided to keep them in the name of preserving that dark, sinister vibe of this guitar. Also, Gibson seldom equip their instruments with black tuners, they always tread on the safe side, going with 'safe'/ traditional colours. 

Swinging return

This was last week's trending feed; Fender reissued the Swinger. This model here is how the original Swinger looked like, just a single neck pickup & that's how it's reissued.

A more sensible two-pickup option is also available. I'm more attracted to this olympic white finish with a matching pickup cover. 

These are limited runs, if your distributor stocks Fender Japan instruments, chances are, you might see it in store next year. Looks like the world has a fetish for ugly headstocks. This is the second hideous headstock to turn heads (forgive the pun), the first:

Ok, let's not judge the instrument's performance solely by the headstock outlines. Hopefully, these would make it here for nostalgia's sake.

I'm really hoping they do a Bronco re-issue. 😓

Discontinued: PRS S2 Singlecut

It took me a while to realize that the Singlecut will not be offered in the S2 Series for 2020. So if you wish for one next year, you either eat sand & save up for the PRS Core McCarty SC 594 or settle for an SE Starla/ 245 Standard (more selections in the Signature range). The good thing is, PRS had ensured their SE models go one up in terms of QC & features for 2020, befitting of the slight price increase (I see this as inevitable). Players in general tend to lean towards the Gibson side of things when it comes to a singlecut offering. PRS is wise enough to pick this hint up & chose to focus on their more appealing flagship design, the double cuts & it's not surprising. 

If you are still interested in the current S2 take, be informed that Davis GMC still has a few of them in stock including the limited edition semi-hollow version (not listed on PRS' website). 

Type X

Here's we go folks, the new Kiesel model announced early this morning- the Type X. It's another headless model so it's a niche appeal obviously, but the Kiesel camp knows it has a strong following in this market share. 

The Type X is a direct re-interpretation of the V220 which is one of the models listed in the current line up. The Type X scaled the design down in terms of length so the instrument is now less wieldy while still pointy. We also get the possible hint of the V220 not being a prime mover in the Kiesel scheme of sales so this happened & it's a very wise move I must say. Ironically, I was looking at the V220 specs & had some queries sent to Kiesel (some options are not on their custom build spec sheet, they entertain personal queries) but they couldn't get back to me on time. You know they are gonna have a promo clip of sorts for this, so here:

The head of things to come

This was hot news yesterday. Epiphone announced (yet another) Joe Bonamassa Epiphone Les Paul. Let me tell you upfront that I'm not a fan of Joe Bo but I respect him as a talented musician, one of the bright sparks in blues. It's a typical Les Paul with a typical glorious 'burst finish & offered in two versions - this signature inlay model (USD949)...

... & the more production-friendly trapezoid inlay version (USD849). That aside, the highlight is of course the re-designed Epiphone headstock. The manufacturer had been touting a 'revised' take on the matter & they are now unveiling the second version of things to come in the Epi camp when it comes to headstock outlines. The first of which appeared in the Holy Diver Les Paul which was very Casino-esque but this one revisited the '60s Kalamazoo design which has a narrower top edge compared to the current Gibson open book take. Specs are promising but the fretboard is not rosewood for both versions (Indian laurel). OK folks, the Epiphone tease continues & this was a good revelation. 

Epifirst: Old Glory (3)

The Epiphone Old Glory Les Paul is a re-interpretation of the Les Paul Custom. As such, it features a bound headstock. I am of the opinion that the Epiphone Les Paul could have scored major appeal points if they stick to the original Gibson headstock. If the Gibson Flying V & Explorer headstock designs were cascaded unto the Epiphone versions, it should be likewise for the Les Paul. We were made to understand that the company wish for a major differentiation between their USA products & import models & it came by way of this discourse. The Epiphone LP headstock were manifested as the clipped dovewing design as the manufacturer calls it & it looks very, for want of a better word, retarded. However, the bound version of this design makes it more presentable & appealing. I've put them side by side here for comparison. 

Fender siren

If you've been scenting the Fender crumbs lately, you'll be led to these signature series. In a recent announcement, Fender's big shot had confirmed some signature models for female musicians, starting with these two here, for the Japanese all female band, Silent Sirens. I bet you must be wondering who the heck they are. Here's some entertainment fodder to quell that curiosity:

The implications are quite clear, Fender has bold plans ahead, but they are somehow terrified of doing it in their own turf. These two signature models will be handled by Fender Japan exclusively & there is a chance they won't make the numbers West-side. I'm neither a male chauvinist pig nor a Fender hater, I'm just catching some hints thrown into the wind. In any case, I'm definitely for any major brands extending their worthy cause to the female artistes. The only female Fender endorser I can relate to for the longest time is Bonny Raitt. So, there. 

ESP/ LTD 2020

For 2020, the Phoenix will be revived but offered in the LTD higher tier, the Deluxe version. Seen above, the model featuring active Fluence pickups.

You prefer passive pickups instead? Here's a version with Duncans. Really liking the idea of having a Phat Cat in the neck. So it's a fair offering; something for both active & passive fans. Good job, LTD. 👍

Epifirst: Old Glory (2)

OK, quite obviously, between the Holy Diver & the Old Glory, I prefer the latter. This is indeed my first Epiphone after more than 20 years getting involved in all things guitar. It took me a while because I used to have very little faith in Epiphone LPs, not that they are pariah guitars to begin with but among the good ones, they just didn't appeal to me till this came round. There'll be more OG-related entries in the days to come so please bear with me. Onwards! ✊

Epiphone: Old Glory Les Paul

Epiphone had been the budget reflection of Gibson for the longest time. It was contractually assigned to re-interpret Gibson’s elite craftsmanship on a budget. It’s no secret that this production philosophy would include tremendous compromise. The world had learnt to accept these short-comings namely due to the big name backing; it’s an endorsed compromise. Take it or leave it. The guitar under scrutiny this time is Epiphone’s Jared James Nichols signature model, the Old Glory (OG) Les Paul as it’s called. Surely, something that looks this good isn’t a favoured compromise, yes?

Fit, finish, QC

The artist series of instruments in the Epiphone line represents its pinnacle craftsmanship. These are top-of-the-line models befitting the artiste’s endorsement with reputation at stake. So any foul aspects of construction would bog Epiphone deeper into the second fiddle swamp & drag the gullible endorser with it because misery loves company. In this case, ladies & gentlemen, the OG is perhaps one of the rare Epiphone feat that truly promotes its reputation. From one end to the other, this guitar is simply well-made. The fitting Is immaculate, everything sits well in place. All glued appointments showed no shoddiness. Fret wires were hammered in precisely & the nut wasn’t a case of an over-sized unit glued haphazardly into position. They aced this at the factory. Hardware-wise, the Grover tuners & wrap tail bridge were also well installed. Together with the Seymour Duncan P-90 pickup, the factory hands did a good job. 

Please be informed that the OG is not a glossed over unit. The final coat here is a satin treatment which in my opinion is a deserving approach in evoking a subdued but classic look. This might disappoint fans who wish this guitar would reflect light in every opportunity & bling like a diamond but it’s called Old Glory, lest we forget. A name that invokes time-tested greatness with no over-dependence on looks but excelling in performance. This brings us nicely to the next appraisal segment.

Tone, playability

The OG was made to stun. It has a singular objective & is rightfully endowed with a single bridge P-90. The back story of this limitation is that Jared Nichols himself disowned the neck pickup during his pre-OG days. He is pick-free & depends solely on his fingers to craft out endless tone possibilities. As such, the neck pickup would manifest clarity issues & would not be as useful to him. Hyped quirk, you say? Jeff Beck & Mark Knopfler were ahead in this game & they didn’t look back. Jared Nichols shouldn’t too. The tones coming from this guitar in general inclines towards midrange brightness but with a rich serving of warmth; it’s the massive body wood singing plus the fact that it’s a Seymour Duncan at the helm. What I noticed about Duncan P-90s or its other fat-sounding single coil counterpart, the Phat Cat, is that of incredible warmth. I would refrain from singing further praises in this aspect as I am a Seymour Duncan fan to begin with & would be seen as making favoured remarks to the detriment of objectivity. Then again, there’s no hiding obvious quality. I’m also thankful that this guitar features an ebony fretboard. Its super dark hue matches the overall vibe of the guitar. More importantly, it feels very sturdy to the touch supplementing the high chances of this instrument being rough-handled. Ebony is also known to contribute to a more defined top end but hearing that coming from this guitar is subjective.

Despite a cavity-less construction at the neck pickup position, the body had been chambered out at strategic places to enhance physical management. The control cavity was still routed to contain four knobs despite only housing a pair in this case. However, the overall feel here is that of a heavy instrument but an enjoyable physical struggle at that, nothing back breaking. Thanks to this consideration, we get a healthy sustain & nothing less.

The neck profile is that of a fat, 50s Les Paul. If it’s your first & you are from the bolt-on camp, Fender’s offset Telecaster’s neck carve is a very good reference. Nothing too shred-friendly with this kind of neck but playing fast is definitely possible after some getting used to. Just bear with the quick setting in of lethargy. I’m rather critical with neck issues as it’s a make-or-break factor when choosing a guitar (next to tone) & I’m happy to report that this review model has not bothered me in any way. In short – it’s a well-made instrument. Even the restrictive wrap over bridge isn’t one to suppress creativity, heavy music proponents included.

Final say

I was never an Epiphone fan, especially the Les Pauls. The manufacturer is riding on Gibson’s reputation & boutique vibe to propel their end of the bargain. In most cases, the instruments couldn’t live up to expectations, they fell flat & relied on looks to see them through. These days, we notice a more conscious effort by Epiphone to level up quality & performance especially so for their upper end models. Those critics who swing by telling you to spend your cash on an upper tier Epiphone instead of a lower tier Gibson, got it right. I’m not here to school you in on brand supremacy, I’m telling you to be objective & go with the good instrument & leave snobbery aside because the OG is one heck of a good guitar, listing for less than a grand. On a closing note, I’d like to remind you that all this goodness is coming from China. That’s right, that proverbial pirate bay is actually harbouring fine craftsmanship somewhere within its crack & crevices. Those who embrace goodness per se will see quality where it’s due, those who couldn’t see actually chose not to. Quite easily, the guitar of the year for me.

Rating: 90%

Epiphone: Jared James Nichols Old Glory Les Paul

Included: Epiphone Epilite soft case + certificate of authenticity

Availability: Swee Lee Co.

List: SGD999

Kiesel- Black Friday

They've been doing this for the last few years, this year, it's no different. If you wish for something good & not commonly found off the shelves, Kiesel is the way to go. The current guitars in stock listed at their webpage are now further discounted (at least USD300 off) while stocks last. They'll be adding a few models to the list on some days till the promo ends. If you wish to custom order your instrument, some details are discounted & would be reflected in the final bill. Good stuff. 👍

Also: Kiesel announced a price increase for all instruments WEF 2020. If it's a good time to buy, it's now.

Morbid switch

I really thought he did the right thing being with Solar: CLICK. Maybe he prefers this deal instead.

Epifirst

Here it is, after a delayed arrival. 😎

Floyds

This was a recent announcement. Floyd Rose has these two to offer as 'new' units for their product line-up. On the left is the non-fine tuners version but it still locks your strings at the saddles. Guthrie Govan had one of this installed into his then Charvel proto signature model but decided to do away with it. There is currently a Charvel model very similar to the FR version. On the right is the Floyd Rose Special finished in brushed chrome. I was expecting some upgrades specifically the replacement of zinc parts which is the primary reason I dislike the Special. It made the bridge very brittle & prone to breakage when locking. This is the reason why I always advise friends to opt for the FR 1000 instead. I only have FRs in my ESPs & those came stock from the factory. Currently I have no issues with those as ESPs don't equip their models with Specials, they are in the entry level/ lower midrange LTDs.

Distortion head

So this was finally revealed after days of teasing- Seymour Duncan's Diamondhead distortion. There's this heavy metal facade touting this to be an intense distortion type. Even the manufacturer did so at their webpage. I'm not here to negate that conviction but it's not a bottom heavy type of intensity, maybe a Dio-esque push at best. It's not something in the Metal Zone ballpark for sure. I'm definitely liking the inclusion of a boost feature there. Something from the Duncan camp:

Kiesel up (edited)

If you intend to purchase a Kiesel any time soon, be informed that the shipment charge is now USD54. It used to be USD35 (in 2017 & 2018). It won't decrease & we understand that. I must say Kiesel has one of the best shipment charges & this comes from my experience with Rondo Music, Musiciansfriend & Jericho Guitars.

EDIT
Folks, the shipment charges for Kiesel instruments have indeed increased. However, the word from the good Kiesel camp is that, the amount varies according to weight. There is indeed no more USD35 shipment rate for any instrument, the minimum is USD54. It would be more for heftier instruments. Eg. Vanquish/ V/ Aries = USD70. Do note, thanks.

TB, yes?

Saw this at the Charvel webpage, waiting for a reply from them.

I've been using SD pickups for a long time, the ones with three holes on the mounting flap are the TB version; there's spacing difference in terms of the pole pieces as opposed to the SH version. Is this important? For bridges with Fender dimensions, the pole pieces align correctly under the strings for the TB. The SH is for guitars sporting non-Fender measurements (eg. Les Paul). 

Holy vs Glory

Greetings, guitar buffs. I've never owned an Epiphone guitar. I used to own an Epiphone amp (head) once but that went to a deserving owner for some token money. I always support people who are starting out & show a keen interest in gear. I'm never about selling stuff for recovery's sake. Moving on, I've been following the developments of two Epiphone LP type guitars lately & had decided to purchase one. The first contender is this Vivian Campbell signature, Holy Diver diver model. It's one kickass guitar featuring my kind of OTT high output DiMarzio pickups (X2N!) & more importantly, a revised headstock outline. I've never clicked with the butchered Gibson open book design & this one looks in place, to say the least. 

Its contender is another signature model, Jared Nichols' Old Glory. This one's another killer guitar featuring a lone Seymour Duncan P-90 in the bridge. This minimalist approach is absolutely my thing but of course, I have to deal with that headstock. You know, that headstock. Both guitars feature very different neck profiles & how do I know this for sure? Both are now in stock at Swee Lee. Head down to the Star Vista showroom to experience them yourselves. 

There are two other models in stock, the Frampton triple humbucking LP & Matt Heafy's 7-string. I'm not talking about them here because they are not on my consideration list but are equally worthy guitars to check out. Why a sudden interest in Epiphone, you ask? It's a bucket list item. 😎

Wishing you folks a good week ahead.

EDIT: Due to some administrative issues, the Old Glory will not be offered for sale until further notice. My apologies to blog readers who made their way to Swee Lee's Star Vista showroom only to discover this withdrawal. I understand that some of you are trying to reach them through their social media accounts for clarifications. 

UPDATE: As at 1200hrs, 15th November 2019 (Friday), the Old Glory is available for sale. Thank you everyone, for your patience.

PICS: Epiphone

Baby 9

ESP collaborated with Baby Metal to give you this 9-string beast. Love the single pickup feature but if you wish to tread this path, be informed that the 9-string sets are not readily available in the market.

The K-J appeal

When Joe Knaggs set off on his guitar adventure after leaving PRS, I know he was onto something good. The instruments in the catalog today speak of superior quality & they look stunning as well. That's the problem there (for me); I'm not into stunning looks. I'm beyond visual appeal. All those flame & quilt tops mean nothing to me. They are a plus point if I'm seen playing in public often but I'm just this angry person manifesting furious guitar playing at home. That's right, domestic boundaries for me. 

Recently, the Kenai-J was launched & that single pickup appeal is a winner in my books. It's most likely a costly affair but the plain appeal is real. OK enough.

Available now: Sfogli's greenie

The Ibanez MSM100 is now in stock at Swee Lee. For those in the DiMarzio camp, this might be a good consideration (considering the AZ line features Seymour Duncans less the signature considerations).