Green V

 

I shouldn't be happy seeing this as it's an exclusive release for Zzounds. Simply put, it won't reach our shores. But I'm happy seeing a Flying V that's not black / white / some shades of cherry. It's also a Tribute model, that range that many of us could afford to own. Gibson decided to retain the B-2's two knob feature which I prefer. (Seen above: Gibson Flying V Tribute)

So it's goodbye, September...

PIC: Zzounds

Game on

 

We're still in pedal-dom & here's something refreshing albeit a one-trick pony; EHX's Mainframe bit crusher. I seriously have no idea if the current market is full of players in dire need of gaming-esque blips & beeps. The good thing is, it works for guitar, bass & synth. It's rather obvious which aforementioned  instrument sounds best with this one. On ordinary days it serves as a good fuzz pedal, be informed.

PIC: Delicious Audio

Core tones

 

BOSS is aiming this GT-1000 Core at something obvious, something very similar in looks, something that had been the darling of many contemporary pedalboards. Come to think of it, this is rather fresh from the Pocket GT release & the pertinent message relating to size is rather, you guessed it, obvious. After listening to the promo clip below, they might have tweaked things in the OD department or the ones used in the clip came from elsewhere. I've been avoiding BOSS multi-fx simply due to how synthetic the drive/ distortion sounds like. 

YY is here

 

If you are waiting for this to happen - it's now available at Swee Lee listing for a respectable $1,399 but without a bag. It will be the only version with a maple fretboard as the latest TM730 sports a Katalox fretboard. 

PIC: noisegate

Re-string Saturday

 

Indoor Saturday night. It's raining. I'm just glad that this Schecter KR came my way. It's not as appealing as the C models but it holds its own in terms of playability & tone. This guitar was made a little brighter by the Duncan El Diablo & Distortion pairing which let me dial in more bass at the amp. Brand names like Schecter, Fernandes & Yamaha, among others, offer some quirky models this side of Japan which are worth getting our hands on if they were made available here. It's totally a business thing when it comes to availability; not brought in if it's not selling. 

Selling: Ibanez RG331M (SOLD)

 

Saying goodbye to the RG331M. This is a barely played guitar, intended to be kept as a collection piece, so was kept in a hard case. The way I see it, Ibanez is not big on maple fretboards & we wouldn't see them in many guitars less the RG550. Even so, the latest iteration of the RG550 has a granadillo fretboard.

Parts of the instrument that came into contact with the hard case's interior reacted & became stained as depicted above. Hard case was disposed so it only comes with a bag.

• Ibanez RG331M, bag included
• Stains due to reaction with hard case
• Self-collect @ CCK mrt station
• No reservations / trades
• Queries / confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price is FINAL (non-nego): $420

Guitar SOLD: 5/11/21 🙂

Her own

 

Quite recently, Fender pledged an affiliation towards making more instruments that would appeal to ladies. This HER signature is a recent addition to a pool of aforementioned instruments. That pearloid finish there is the highlight of this guitar. Should there be any specific attribute that caters especially for the ladies then it's arguably obscure. I believe that any ready made production guitar out there is equally for the ladies as it is for the gentlemen. 

Dark phoenix

I'm a little late in noticing this inclusion; LTD's Black Metal series now includes the Phoenix. It features a solitary Fluence Modern humbucker with a black end-to-end finish. I'm usually turned on by all things single pickup but somehow, this doesn't appeal. 

Ibanez's richness

It seems that Richlite had crept into the Ibanez camp as well. Fortunately, it's limited to a veneer top seen here in this RGDR4327 (available at Swee Lee: $3,199). The body's core is mahogany & fretboard is ebony. 

If you don't already know, Richlite is a paper-resin composite. It has proven its worth as a durable, water-proof & fire-resistant alternative to wood. As such, Richlite is readily embraced in the interior decor industry as a premier component for kitchen counter tops. In the mean time, the guitar industry includes Richlite in its instrument construction rather sparingly for an obvious reason; it's not wood & has a different tone manifestation. As such, Martin & Gibson, among others, designated Richlite as an alternative fretboard material as opposed to a major instrument component (body/ soundboard) so as to avoid averse reactions in this aspect. Even if it's proven that Richlite appeals tonally, purists wouldn't want a non-wood element in guitars as it devalues the instruments.

Southern AZ

The south paw version of the Ibanez AZ2402 is now available at Swee Lee but in limited quantity. This version is $100 more than its other siblings, which in my opinion, should not be the case. Don't blame the distributor, it's the acceptable discrimination everywhere. 

PIC: Ibanez

Hell Edge

I have very low tolerance for pickups that give off what I do not wish to hear. The default SA120 humbuckers have this rather pronounced high end, not too prickly but that frequency response that condemns the guitar into perpetual aversion. I have spare DiMarzios here so these went into the SA120 yesterday:

• Neck: Humbucker from Hell
• Bridge: Fusion Edge

The HFH is touted to be a brighter & cleaner (manufacturer's claim) sounding pickup & I hear that in clean mode. It's one of those preferred tones without going the PAF way in warmth & clarity. In driven mode, it fails to deliver the same. Notes are generally woody but to be fair to this one, I've not put it through the lesser drive paces. 

The Fusion Edge was previously default in the SIX6FDFL. I disliked it there as it sounded no better than the shrieky in-house brands. The bottom end response sounded fuzzy with high gain / intense distortion setting & I suspect it might be due to the instrument being light weight. The SA120 is not much heavier than the SIX6 but it made the FE sound a little different. I set my amp to be a little bass-inclined & it proved its worth. As the pickup was conceived to have a pronounced high end frequencies, clarity is no issue.

The boss in your pocket

 

BOSS now has this travel-mate effects processor cum pre-amp for you because they know you can be creative on the go. I'm definitely gonna check it out once it's available here but my experiences with such devices are negative when it comes to overdrive / distortion. The digital interpretation of drive & distortion is simply too buzzy at this price point. The good ones are in the higher end devices - POD/ LINE 6/ Fractal & co. I have no complaints with digital modulations, these sound good. In fact, they sound more refined & appealing than the analog version (subjective, tone chip & capacitor purists would understand), then again, I'm pretty much a straight-to-amp type & wouldn't be too affected by specific tone chasing. Some good stuff done by Mr. Hutchings:

T-revival

The best news this week (OK maybe more so for Ibanez geeks), the Talman returns. Let's take note that it's made in Japan. So far there's no news of a non-Japanese version. For many of us that would signal affordability but hey, these are not Prestige models, they are just made in Japan. We can look forward to a reasonable price tag like the current Genesis RG. Pickups are also not Seymour Duncans like the previous Prestige version; TM J-line they call it. Tuners are non-locking units. So based on these features alone, we know that it would be in a different price range from its predecessors. 

I just hope this would be a meaningful revival. The previous Talman adventure did not quite live up to the hype, the instruments got discontinued in less than three years. Not expecting much, not even hoping for many variations, just want these to be alive & kickin' in the Ibanez catalog. (Seen here: TM730)

 

421

When I started out, the Ibanez 3XX & 4XX models are bare bones entry level models. They were nothing bad but they were definitely fundamental. Today, the economics of production allow for such lower rung models to sport a decorated top. This RG421PB here sports a poplar burl top.

This RG421G on the other hand, has gold hardware. How times have changed. If it's a good time to buy affordable guitars with good looks, then the time is now. 

Red DX

This made its way to my residence last Sunday as well. It's in pristine condition despite being listed as used. It's too clean to be true. Only two tell-tale signs of actual ownership; a very low action out of the box (yes, it came with the box as well) & a scratched pickguard which is visible here but it's still covered by a sheet of plastic film so nothing to be concerned with there. Another unnecessary purchase but this one's worth the consideration; my best after-market experience so far (after all these years). 

Paranormal presence

If you are waiting for these Squier Paranormal instruments to be here then be informed that they are now available at Swee Lee. Two price camps (bag not included):

$499 - Super Sonic / Toronado

$579 - Cyclone II / Cabronita (baritone) / Offset Telecaster / 54 Jazz bass

My take - the Offset Tele would be the hot-selling one. Since its conception, it had seen some iterations along the way, including a Japanese version featuring a P90 neck pickup. Surely, this more affordable spin would get this camp excited, especially those with modding intentions. 

PICs: Guitar & Bass / Guitar

New oldie

I bought this yesterday. It's a used Ibanez SA120 in 9/10 condition. The owner played this the least so it's priced to clear. It's surprisingly well-taken care off with absolutely no dents or scratches. The fretboard was cleaned & re-conditioned. Lastly, a fresh set of strings, Darco 9s in the mean time. So there we go, another guitar adventure, an unnecessary acquisition quite frankly but it's worth every cent. 

New G (3)

The G45 Studio gets a new set of string. The factory default were 12s which is beyond what I can handle. I'm the type who will fumble if some playing conditions are not meeting my needs. Preferred string gauge is certainly one of them. It's a DR Veritas Rare 11s in the mean time, it might go to 10s next time.

The Studio features a walnut fretboard which looked a little dry but after oiling it, it still looks dry namely due to the inherent hue of the wood. As such, the darker streaks within the wood itself is more visible & purists would consider this undesirable in terms of looks. The woodwork camp would describe it as having a rich brown colouration but many non-wood lay people's take on 'rich' is that of darkness. That aside, I hear lots of crispy tones coming from this guitar. It's quite removed from the mahogany warmth or that familiar spruce top edginess. Not surprising as the back & sides are also walnut. 

Shady

I've been tracking this deal for a while now. Nothing too appealing but noted a duplicate; same everything less the seller. I engaged one of the sellers (assuming they are different entities but the same contact number was provided) to solicit more info.

The guitar in question is a Mexican Fender Mustang, the fixed bridge version. A close scrutiny revealed rusty string saddles which was contrary to the listing details of it being new & unused / unplayed. So the account for this was that the picture used is not the actual guitar, it's a convenient reference of the actual thing. Also, the seller claimed to be in a position of selling quantities, she (assuming it's a female with reference to the i/d image used. For all we know, it could be a talking rabbit at the other end) would dispatch a sealed version upon order confirmation. She said she's running an online store & invited me to check out other listings there.

And so this happened - no guitars were listed. There were mostly electronics with prices too good to be true. Probed further, she said the team took down listings of items not in stock & would have more stuff there the following day (mind you, this was 2 days ago). I invite you to check this out personally: CLICK

To be fair to the entities involved, if you have dealt with the buyers mentioned here or the store in question, please share some info to help sift the truths from the lies (for want of more cordial terms). On that note folks, please be wary of such circumstances. I've emailed the store & waiting for a reply. Take care everyone, have a scam-free weekend.

The need to disclose

I dealt on behalf of someone yesterday. I don't usually do this but for certain individuals, it's an exception out of goodwill. The person was interested in this guitar, it's a Gibson LP Tribute in honeyburst finish. 

So I braved the downpour during lunch time yesterday to finalize this deal. I requested a final inspection before agreeing to pay because the owner did not fully disclose the condition of this instrument which to me is crucial. The agreed price is based on the condition of the item. If it falls below a certain standard then the buying individual has the right to reject or re-negotiate the terms which is usually the asking price. Example -  A offered to sell B a pencil. When they met to finalize the deal, B realized that A is selling a broken pencil. Since the pencil is a limited edition item, B was still interested to buy but offered A a reduced price in view of the item's condition. A agreed since he did not fully disclose the pencil's condition to B & that the new revised price reflected the true value of the pencil under B's evaluation. B highlighted another similar pencil in the market which is of identical make but not broken, going for lesser than A's initial offering. Both parties closed the deal & they lived happily ever after.

When the guitar in question was inspected, it revealed some worn areas (revealing bare wood) behind the headstock & body's rear edges. These details were not disclosed in the seller's ad for sale. I talked to him to reconsider his asking price in view of this discovery; that's how much respect I accorded to him instead of dictating my own price which might be well below the seller's liking. In lay person's term, it might be low-balling him. 

He tried to school me in on the guitar being 'limited edition' & 'discontinued' making it rare. The worn out areas were at the rear of the instrument anyway & beyond visual scrutiny. These don't affect the tone, that's more important according to him. I told him the Tribute models are not discontinued, they are still in production under Gibson's Modern collection. Satin finishes are more prone to wear at certain parts of the body which is normal (parts rubbed against the strap / player's body / bag / etc) but the extent of the wear will affect the instrument's value. I told him the crux of the matter was disclosure; if he had done this in the ad, I would have given the instrument a pass as it's not worth the $900 asking price. So he revised it to $880 & I politely walked away.

So folks, if you are selling stuff, make efforts to disclose details. If you do not wish to do so openly, provide avenues for private discussions. These must take place before any payment agreement to prevent the technicalities of contract law from manifesting complications & dispute. We do not know one another to begin with so why end off in animosity, yes? 

OSG

I've been meaning to update this earlier but some other stuff just got in the way. The Solar A2.6 are now available in three new colours; orange, silver & green. Together with the current yellow version these should offer plenty of considerations if you wanna get the visual attention while shredding those notes. Of course, do not rely on the Solar distributor here to bring these in any time soon, please purchase online, I urge you. 

PIC: Solar Guitars

Ibanez AE295 - available now

Folks, the new Ibanez AE295 mentioned just last Sunday is now in stock at Swee Lee. That was fast. This is a new summer release but it's already here for your consideration ($699 bag not included). I'm leaving this view here for you to actually see how elegant it is. Those round knobs there screams Taylor but I'm sure it's not an exclusive detail.

10.5s

Just a heads up - the D'Addario version of the 10.5 set is now available at Swee Lee but it's not stocked in any of the outlets, you need to purchase them online. If you are playing the Fender offsets (Jaguar/ Mustang/ Duo Sonic) which sport a shorter scale length (24"), check this gauge set out.

New G (2)

So the new guitar is a Gibson G45 Studio acoustic. I'm not big on acoustics but this is a bucket list item & it's worth the wait. Yes, waited a year & a month to finally have it here. The G-Series acoustics were released during Summer NAMM 2019. The shipping got delayed & I was told to be patient for 6 months which dragged to a year but it's finally here. 

Appraisal soon 👌

Tribute (Part 4)

If you see Beez in action here, it means that my instrument is in good hands.

Nothing much, just a pair of oranges to oversee the tone performance. Also, not the prettiest of sights but when I took over this guitar, the electronics are in good working order. That's nine years of issue-free existence. 

Here it is once more, looking good in picture but actually a little worn & yellow like the pages of an old book. There's actually a deeper reason why I went all out to buy this knowing too well that I don't need another Gibson, let alone another guitar. Still a little dazed as to how well it plays & those P-90s there, they will stay put. 

Related episodes: Tribute (Part 3) / Tribute (Part 2) / Tribute (Part 1)

Ibanez: AE295

In the Ibanez realm, the AE acoustics have long been associated with the top performing entry level instruments. They are known for the cutaways. If you do not wish for this design but still looking at entry level offerings by Ibanez, the Performer (PF) range are the ones to consider. I digress. Coming back to the AE295 above (new this fall), it's definitely not an entry level model with a slightly different electronics feature which some of us would go for owing to the nature of our technicalities.

The pickup in this one is not a piezo type, it's a magnetic model very much like what the electric guitar has to offer. This would definitely favour those among us with a very strong tapping inclinations instead of just strumming & picking. 

I definitely like this new feature which Ibanez calls the scalloped bridge. The slots there mean you can file it down for a low profile set up without the strings coming into contact with the bridge itself unlike the conventional bridge design so that's the potential right there. It's a solid top model featuring a hard wood fretboard (katalox, aka South African ebony) so the expected tonality here would be a quick attack response for individual notes with a good top end definition. So all ye single note enthusiasts & fingerpickers alike, take note.

PICS: Ibanez

New G

Thirteen months later, it arrived. 😑

Mini blue

If you are a fan of that Ibanez PGM Mini currently available in white / military green, then this fall, Ibanez offers the jewel blue version. I'd say this blue + pink colour combo is more attractive than the white version with F-holes in boring black.

Is it too darn difficult to provide a pair of black string retainers so that the hardware in this guitar looks more uniformed?

Baretta

Kramer days are here again (at Swee Lee). Hopefully it will be in full bloom soon as this is the only instrument in the Kramer catalogue. If you wish to re-live a throwback moment of sort then this Baretta (List: $979) will help you get into the vibe. Of course, it's a niche appeal as not everyone embraces a single pickup affair. I'm interested in a Kramer but not the Baretta. For the money, you get an FR 1000 bridge & a Seymour Duncan humbucker which is a good deal. Be informed that the entire instrument is a maple affair so expect bright tones but the FR might upset this formula. You have to get your own bag for this, please be informed. 

Tribute (Part 3)

As the LP Tribute is a used instrument, some parts require replacement due to wear & tear. The ones you see above are:

1. Volume / Tone knobs - (aka top hats/ reflectors) one was chipped, the other cracked. All four were removed.
2. 3-way selector indicator (aka poker chip) - worn out, label faded
3. Strap buttons - one was corroded
4. Volume / Tone indicators (aka thumb bleeders) - Unnecessary
5. Input jack plate - cracked at all corners
6. Truss rod cover - cracked at both ends

I prefer these 'speed' knobs, they are easier to handle & offer a sure grip. You can see the phantom indicators there which could not be cleaned away. The corrosion had left a permanent mark there, nothing harmful.

D'Addario strap buttons & the new poker chip. Those strap buttons - I happen to have spare ones lying around.

Replacement input jack plate - it's a generic replacement. My experience with the Gibson version - material is softer & more susceptible to cracking so it's not worth paying a premium for. Folks, if you tighten the screws, do it lightly for each one. Once all four are in place, tighten each one carefully, none should be over-secured. If you tighten any one corner right at the start & proceed to tighten another, the chances of cracking it is higher. Simple Scientific consideration states that one corner should not be over-pressured while another is being attended to, yes? 

Last but not least, truss rod cover. Same consideration, folks, do not over-tighten one end before attending to the other. 

To be concluded...

Related entries: Tribute (Part 1) / Tribute (Part 2)

Saddle up

A set of new Graph Tech saddles for my Fender Sixty-Six. Are these upgrades?

I don't consider the previous bent steel type saddles a grade lower than these. The previous version sports that vintage design & has a marked depression on the top surface. I find this very uncomfortable especially when peddling bass notes; it pokes into the picking palm. These are minor changes that I won't hesitate to undertake as my instruments should serve my needs. 

Get a grip

Latest contraption by Fender - a pick grip. It's a supplementary rubber grip to enhance, you guessed it, grip or thicken things up. It's made from nitrile (that same mojo in commercial rubber gloves). The way I see it, the major turning point here is feel. It's not gonna win over players who swear by a firm touch, you know, the Stubby campers & the rest. Folks, if these help you solve some picking issues, why not?