To come

We end June with this cryptic reminder, by Ibanez, of something new. From that body outline, it looks interesting & would not be something that is currently offered.

Pic: Ibanez YT

Selling: Ibanez M80MC semi-hard case

Clearing this one, hardly used. In fact, bought it to bring home a guitar & left it at my storage space, empty. So it's an empty case which is better off with someone else who needs one. Semi-hard here refers to the case's exterior which is largely canvas.

The interior is a typical plush lining which is what you get with a hard case. It fits RG/RGD models well for both 6/7-string versions. Ibanez used to offer this for the Premium guitar models & for the record, this is not that hard case, otherwise it says Premium on the cover. It's that time of the month where I need to clear my chemo bills again, short by a tolerable amount, hopefully this would help. Price is final, thanks for understanding.

• Selling: Ibanez M80MC semi-hard case in 9/10 condition
• Fits RG / RGD 6 or 7-string models
• No reservations / trades
• Self-collect: CCK / Yew Tee mrt station
• Queries / confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $95 (final)

PRS RF

It seems that PRS has a quiet demeanour when it comes to  artist collaborations. We had Mayer & Lettieri to account for that (there were others before, mind you) & now Robben Ford. The pictures floating around in cyberspace are currently finished protos, as alluded by Mr. Ford himself. It's a variation of a PRS double cut & attuned to Mr. Ford's specs, nothing too deviant. The most striking difference would be an over-sized headstock as you can see above but it's a subtle departure compared to John Mayer's design.

Let's remind ourselves how a Robben Ford signature looked like when it started with Fender (Esprit model), it's a PRS-style doublecut so no surprises there. Ditto the dual humbucking option & non-whammy bridge.

When he moved on to Baker guitars, the outline stayed in tact for the most part with a hint of an offset design.

For the PRS iteration, it seems that a pair of signature pickups add to the new details. 

I'm not a signature model fan but I look forward to PRS developments. PRS has a very opinionated slant when it comes to a re-interpretation of an established guitar concept. More often than not, it manifested to become something differentiated despite not being too different. The Silver Sky is a testimony of this. I'm looking forward to the official announcement of this Ford-PRS collaboration.

Pics: Gearnews / Gearlist

HX

New amp by the PRS camp - the HX. IT's propelled as the Brit force that parallels what Hendrix played back in the day. It's an interesting interpretation, as you can see & wonder, where is that master volume control? With such amps, chances are you have to attenuate the volume projection as it will go into beast mode even at the lowest volume setting; it's meant to be loud & proud. This amp, being what it is, should serve as the manufacturer's unique offering but the Hendrix reference there might hint at some insecurity when it comes to familiar references, tone-wise. Those single coil tones sure sound sweet. Oh, there's a 100W version too.

Pic: PRS

Yellow Saturday

Someone saw my yellow RG elsewhere & asked if it's the same butchered RG featured here: CLICK 

The answer lies in the picture above. These are two different guitars albeit the same model - RG550 (Genesis Series), which were both played this morning. It's an indoor Saturday for me as I stayed home to oversee some kitchen makeover. Also, my skin had been acting up since yesterday so home is the best place for some rest & healing. Why the sudden urge to play both? Just to hear DiMarzio (top) & Seymour Duncan (bottom) pickups in action. I made less mistakes with the DiMarzio fellow because there was no urge to switch pickups while playing. Also, I tend to play more riffs due to the single pickup offering. With the Duncans, I resorted to the neck pickup for solos (simply love the clarity there) & single coil for cleans. This isn't conclusive but true for most cases - the gear we play influences what we play. 

Pickups in the above guitars:

• TOP: DiMarzio D'Activator X
• BOTTOM: Seymour Duncan Distortion (n/b) + Quarter Pound Staggered (m)

Dark Rays

The dark side beckons & EBMM came a calling. The Dark Ray bass, as seen above in obsidian black, is a collaborative effort between the manufacturer & Darkglass Electronics. This colour will be a mainstay offering.

This granite stone alternative however, is limited to 100 world-wide. The interesting feature about these basses are the Alpha / Omega onboard pre-amps. The former caters to distortion while the latter, fuzz. Bonus - you can blend both. Between the two, looks like the grey finish with black appointments is a winner in terms of visual appeal.

Pics: EBMM

Duncanized offset

Today is an I wanna play a thick neck day but not a Gibson. The only non-Gibson guitar with a thick neck that I own is this Offset Telecaster. It will rival any 50s neck Gibson around while keeping that Fender C-profile in tact. The only difference here is a rounder C carve bordering on a U. I dislike carrying this guitar around because it's heavy. Due to its offset body outline, it won't fit into other, better padded bags to offset (no pun intended) the weight. The feeble strap of the default Fender bag dug into my shoulder with every walking pace.

New pickups: Seymour Duncan Vintage P90 (n) & Five-Two (b); a deserving & much needed change for the tone I embrace. I reserved a separate appraisal for these two so just a brief mention here.

La Bella 9s for today. If you are interested, do visit TYMC.

Bridging

Got that midweek itch to play a PRS so out came the S2 Standard.

 Managed to replace the default hard tail bridge with the adjustable version. The only reason for doing this - I have plans to have thicker gauged strings in this guitar & de-tuning. This is to complement the 57/08 humbuckers on board for its sonic potential. These pickups sound great for heavy stuff despite whatever vintage expectations PRS embedded into its profile. Add to that, some great clarity for single note definition. The immediate effect here is that palm muting feels more immediate. Maybe it's a psychological by-product of owning a new contraption coupled with high hopes of it transforming some playing aspects to become 'better'.

This is the final time a set of 9.5s are in this guitar, going forward, strings will get thicker.

Nocturno solar

Very happy to see Darkthrone's Noctuno Culto on Solar guitar's artist roster just days ago. This guy, he is one of those who has next to zero preferences when it comes to recording / performing instruments. The nature of his music actually allows him to get away with an anything-goes application. So it's another formidable name on the list for Solar. 

Pic: Solar Guitars FB

Black iron

It's mid year. Under normal, non-pandemic circumstances, the guitar community will be stirred by some excitement in the form of Summer NAMM. Regardless of its absence, manufacturers are perpetuating the tradition of releasing new gear to the masses at this time of the year but limited to their own domain. Ibanez, it seems, is trying its best to appeal to that elusive cohort who are not as detailed in their gear obsession but showing keen interest nevertheless. The conception of the Iron Label logo (above) in an extreme visual format is its mark on that intention.

It is actually a precursor to the launch of some instruments designed to further extreme music. Seen here is the new XPTB620 in a very black, foreboding presence.

The XPTB720 is the obligatory 7-string version for the rest in the metal domain who wish to dwell deeper in sonic extremity. 

The all black format is not a fresh bid to re-kindle interest, the LTD Black Metal series had been there with some degree of success. Ibanez should re-consider the inclusion of whammy bridges (in this case, the ZRII) for guitars in this offering because if we listen closely to the bands plying this trade, they don't embrace it much. For those who do, they invest in good money to ensure reliable units like the Floyd Rose or even Ibanez's own Edge are in their instruments. 

This brings us to the more sensible offering - the ICTB721; a no frills fixed bridge affair (mono rail) in an equally menacing finish. 

Ibanez re-launching the Xiphos model in this series is a smart move. It had proven to be successful in its heyday & died a natural death due to a lack of commercial propulsion. The Iceman had been there all along & giving it a new lease of life now is also a sensible move. As opposed to the Iceman, I expected the Destroyer to be a formidable member here as its outline is more in tune with the extreme mentality. Ebony fretboard for all models seems to be the best in this case in view of its very dark nature. I'm also happy DiMarzio's D'Activators are the default pickups here, I believe this is DiMarzio's extreme performer together with the X2N. I can vouch for the D'Activator's clarity when it comes to down tuning & large servings of distortion. The trio here are 25.5" scaled instruments & equipping them with 10-52 gauge & detuning a whole step from the factory might not be a wise thing to do. 

In closing, I would say Ibanez appealing to the extreme masses is an uphill task. The metal heads out there have already embraced the RG to deliver their bidding & the X-Series being expunged from the catalogs repeatedly is enough proof. The good thing though - Ibanez did not stop trying.

Pics: Ibanez

Gold pieces

 

I'm not a fan of gold hardware; they fade off over time, especially when in constant contact with the hand.

However, some of the instruments out there are equipped with gold appointments for aesthetic appeal. I'm kinda obliged to complement the details they missed out. Will gold pole pieces improve tone? No. 

SG Stealth

The Gibson SG Standard is perhaps a guitar to be left as it is. Any mods & the re-sale value would dip. Because this guitar is mine, it will manifest a form suitable for my needs & aesthetic pleasure regardless of what lies ahead in terms of  value. I do not buy instruments to be shackled by such expectations & the general conjecture of what an SG Standard should be. As you can see from the initial details above, it's now in stealth mode.

The original full face pickguard had been blacked out. It's not a replacement pickguard, it's the original with the side's 3-ply given a paint job; one of the easiest thing to do in this case. Also, the pickups are now Seymour Duncan JB / Jazz pairing. It's the custom floor black cover version. Screws were given the noir touch as well.

One more time - the hard case is supposed to protect the instrument against the elements but it's another disheartening episode of distrust; metal reacting with the interior lining resulting in pitting & corrosion. This hardware made way for a worthy replacement; the Faber ABR-1 style tune-o-matic bridge. If you are interested, Faber parts are available at TYMC.

In line with the stealth theme, reflector knobs & cream toggle switch cap were removed & replaced with black ones. I've grown too accustomed to the knobs' function & moved away from having them labelled volume & tone. Over time, we should be conditioned to know what these do instead of resorting to visual reliance. 

Finally, the obligatory black truss rod cover & a fresh set of GHS 10.5s to propel doomed thoughts. This guitar is detuned half a step & will not be a reference for nice songs for a long time to come.

Life's Ax

I'm still digging into the Epiphone catalog. IMO if there's a good time to buy an Epiphone, the time is now; before further price hikes & the fact that Epihone has levelled up its offerings. I believe this Alex Lifeson signature model will trigger some interest if it gets here. It's equipped with a Graph Tech Ghost vibrato bridge so you get to whammy & enjoy piezo moments. 

Lest we forget why it's called an Axcess. This is not to be confused with the modern contoured heel version of the LP Modern which still features the blocky joint unlike the Axcess smooth relief version. 

Pics: Epiphone / Guitaristas

Drab army - re-visited

Just a recap of the Epiphone drab olive green line up; the ones you see above are in stock now (Swee Lee). It's confirmed that these are indeed limited run models.

The one that's sold out is this Casino version which looks very attractive in this finish. On that note, please note that Epiphone prices are going up, the latest figures show an increase of at least $30 for most of the new stock instruments. Is your salary increasing as well? Hmm... 😑

Pics: Americamusical / Epiphone

Re-string midweek

Re-string midweek: Ibanez S470. Not mine, belongs to an ex-classmate. I really like 22-fretted S-Series, there's just something about it that makes me feel totally at home playing one. D'Addario NYXL 9s for this one. 

Drab army

These are new at Swee Lee. You won't find them at Epiphone's website (yet), they are not listed on Euro online stores as well. Meaning - limited edition finish (highly likely), following the Gibson version of the latest exclusive Olive Drab Green finish. You might wanna act quickly if you are interested. One thing - no bag provided. We know how painful it is to acquire bags for instruments sporting these outline.

Pic: Swee Lee online store

GSS @ City Music

A little late but worth mentioning - GSS is happening at City Music. I think many of us would have forgotten the GSS was a thing when retail was a little healthier some time ago. People would flock to Orchard Road & places to grab good bargains.  

Pic: City Music FB

Mess

This is the reason why I advocate for strap buttons to be lined with felt. Over time, metal & the guitar finish would react & create a mess as seen above.  You might say it's hidden away, nothing to worry about but it shows how much care you accord to your instruments. 

Screws

I bought this Seymour Duncan Jazz (SH2) used. It's in perfect working condition, no issues. The issue here  are the screws. This pickup was removed from another guitar which had this pickup as default, the screws used were factory default as well. Upon purchase, the screws were not passed to me so I resorted to using unused SD screws I have lying around here.

The problem is, the default factory screws were not of the same size as the ones used by SD. The holes in the pickup mounting flaps were bigger. I had to resort to third party screws bought from a hardware store (the black ones you see above) to make it work. The default SD ones (the chrome ones) are smaller. If you wish to purchase after-market SDs, do anticipate this situation, best to ask for the accompanying screws from the seller. If the pickup is a replacement unit purchased from an authorised dealer, this won't be an issue at all. Guitar manufacturers are not obliged to use SD supplied screws at their factory. It makes more sense for them to use whatever screws that save them more especially the ones supplied in bulk. 

Activity

One of those rare days when I wanted to hear some active pickups in action. The EMG 57 / 66 pair  - the only likeable ones for me thus far.  These sound like high output passive units instead of a pair of uncontrollable actives. I simply can't tolerate the active's very hairy response when it comes to distortion; I prefer a passive response. My Charvel Desolation Soloist here needs a re-string as well so it's Darco 9s this time. 

Singles attack

Had been spending time with these two for the last few days or so. Why? Single focus + Seymour Duncan tone. Both guitars sport only one pickup to give maximum attention to playing. Also, I like to hear these pickups in action when aggressive music is the order of the day - JB (blue) / Custom Custom (copper). Coincidentally, these two represent a re-finish adventure that turned out real well. For both guitars, the bodies were originally white. Whatever the distractions, I still return to my preferred Seymour Duncan tone.

T1

This one was released on Monday, the new Solar T1.6AN. A very Tele-esque shape made aggressive by the headstock outline as well as that very sharp cut away. Pickups are the usual Duncan Solar & you get SS frets at this price point (similar price range to the LTD Deluxes). What you don't get is a bag which is a bummer. With reference to the price point one more time, it should be provided. Evertune bridge, folks - love / hate it. If you have any real interest in this guitar, please get one online. The current local distributor for Solar here remains to be pathetic in their interest of new models & making them available. 

Pic: Solar guitars

Selling: EHX Big Muff Deluxe

  

It's that time of the month where I have medical bills to clear. I've been trying not to sell gear to see this through but that's not a wise thing to do considering the circumstances. The Big Muff Deluxe here is my go to fuzz pedal when it comes to saturation & more gain. That noise gate feature is also a plus especially if you are using single coils to play this one. It's seldom used because I'm still not a fuzz fan after all these years. Might be clearing more fuzz pedals in time to come. My price is final, thank you for understanding. I believe I'm offering this at the lowest price compared to other listings in the after-market. 

• Selling: EHX Big Muff Deluxe (9/10 condition, box included)
• Query / confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• No reservations / trades
• Self-collect: Yew Tee / CCK mrt station
• Price: $105 (final)

Low menace

Some days ago, I re-strung the Edwards Potbelly & spent some time hearing the Seymour Duncan '59s (SH-1) in action. These humbuckers  came default in the guitar & I plan to keep them in tact regardless of how they perform, for variety's sake. I have too many high output pickups, sometimes a different pickup type inspires different ideas.

From the manufacturer's website, we see that the SH-1 is a scooped sounding pickup for both the neck & bridge versions. This is what's documented but hearing the pickups in action is a totally different sonic experience. I have a high gain setting with excessive saturation & the SH-1s sound bottom-heavy, very suitable if you chug low notes for heavy music. In the neck position, it sounds clear with single note definition aplenty & sounds awesome for legato type runs. The SH-1 is famous for its clean & crunchy (Zappelin-esque) tones & will continue to be propelled as such. Only those who experience it in person will tell you that it's good for some other applications given the right amp & maybe some pedals to achieve a certain expectation.

My standard in heavy, palm muted chugging will always be Reinkaos (Dissection). I tried replicating this tone with high output pickups but couldn't come close enough until the SH-1 was factored in. For this album in particular, Gibsons were used (Nodtveidt was a huge Gibson fan) & looking at live footages with this tone in action, it's an LP Custom (black) through & through. We know that LP Customs were never equipped with high output pickups so the magic lies in the tamed output in heavy (almost back breaking) guitars. 

Pic: Seymour Duncan

Low rider - re-string

Indoor Sunday once more; my skin is reacting to the chemo meds so better at home than elsewhere. Got time to re-string this beast, the Ibanez RGD2120Z (Z is to denote the inclusion of a ZR bridge). This is perhaps my favourite guitar which is not in standard tuning. With immediate effect, it will sport a set of 10.5s instead of 11s. but tuning stays at a step down (DGCFAD). Today's brand of choice - GHS.

Last Train

 

As teased just days ago, a new number by John Mayer - Last Train. It's touted as a very TOTO-esque composition with lost of 80s vibe to boot. Regardless, it's very laid back & pleasant. Of course, that pink PRS...

Anniversary... out

As you can see, pretty much snapped up as soon as they were available. So what's the point of updating? To show that these made it here after all. 

Stainless LTD

As announced yesterday, with immediate effect, all LTD Deluxe models will feature stainless steel frets. The manufacturer cited this move as a response to the fans' strong suggestion to do so in the wake of other brand names that already have SS frets in their selected tier offering. These are often not higher tier models exclusively (less Fender) as in the case of LTD here, their Deluxe versions being more of a mid-priced offering. 

Pic: ESP blog

Mayer teaser

We still have one more day to know what this is all about. As seen in his IG post, John Mayer has something to say about 1) His new album 2) New guitar. 

As for 1), I'm looking forward to the new album (if it will really happen, might be a new single for all we know) because it's hinting at a more contemporary take instead of a blues-based release. I'm not into his bluesy stuff, prefer his pop tune ala New Light. As for 2), we can actually forget about something really new, this new might just be a fresh range of colours, maybe a pastel family option as hinted by the pink Silver Sky above. That would be interesting. Remember, the SS is currently PRS' top selling model.

Pic: John Mayer IG

Cycling distortion

This was yesterday's setup; my PRS MT15 & the Tioga Road Cycling Distortion by Animals Pedal. I'm not trying to surpass any gain threshold here simply because the MT15 has loads on tap. The pedal's job is to push it through at lower gain settings. When you pair up two devices with gain going at about 50% each, you'd hear some incredible saturation that's missing if you were to employ only one distortion source. The light pickers among us would relish this as the instrument gets more sensitive to touch. The trade off here is of course extraneous noise generated by two gain sources so if you are not careful with your instrument handling, the set up will pick up every little contact & make it audible at the amp end. This is the reason why distortion / high gain freaks employ a noise gate in their set up as well.

If you are interested, Animals Pedal are available at Davis GMC. 

Solid AE

The Ibanez AE came a long way from being a budget cutaway acoustic electric (hence the name) to its latest iteration seen here - AE410 (new for June 2021). It's still the likeable  AE that we know but this version sees a full solid construction; solid sitka spruce top + solid mahogany back / sides. To many of us, Ibanez would be the last name we would go to for a great acoustic reference. The Martin / Taylor / Takamine models we have here in the stores are easy pickings due to their brand name reputation when it comes to this kind of guitar. The odd campers would stray into Ibanez territory to realize how far the manufacturer have come when it comes to acoustics. Anyway, enjoy this cover of Kashmir by acoustic extraordinaire, Marcin Patrzalek with his AE:

Pic: Ibanez