Drive to play

I've not been touching the guitar lately. There's no desire to play. I kept in touch with music by listening to it. As it turned out, feel & tone kept me away from it. For the last fortnight or so, it's been the Les Paul. The tune-o-matic bridge had somehow hindered me from playing properly. 'Properly' here refers to the ability to execute fast ideas without glitches. I might be espousing speed & tactile playing somewhat but that's the nature of my being, it's mostly aggressive speeding. Also, those Gibson pickups are appealing on some days only, on other days, I need to hear something else. 

This morning, the Agile took over & it was a much needed alternative. I play better with a bridge type that lets my picking hand feel the body most of the time. It's comfort proximity. I started playing with an Ibanez so that pretty much summed it up; I've been conditioned on that feel all along. The tune-o-matic bridge came much later & it was an exercise in adaptability. So at the close of October, all is not lost. I appreciate having different types of guitars in the house to remediate moments when I feel the cause of playing is all in limbo. Have a good week ahead, folks. Stay safe. We're into to final two months of the year.

Intelligent follower

Another new one at the pedal front - EHX Intelligent Harmony Machine. I would sum it up as a harmonizer with polyphonic content & then some. With one of such pedals in your line up, chances are, you are trying to conjure creativity more than anything else. There are days when we would pivot on creative outputs rather than being at our technical or melodic best because we run into a mental block trying to chase what others are already professing at. So at such times, we move away from that aspect of playing & escape into another realm, really. Watch what this pedal can do despite being small:

PIC: EHX

Leading the rats

This dropped a day ago, the JHS Pack Rat. A many-in-one  RAT-esque distortion unit. A very thoughtful conception since the RAT campers are people who embrace the various interpretations instead of being content with just one. Is this a breakthrough design by JHS? Not really since they did the Bonsai before this, a many-in-one pedal that embraces the Tube Screamer. A lengthy showcase but a good one here:

PIC: Gearnews

J-white

A new one in the J-Line series. Heard of the J-Line series? It's a Made-in-Japan line up current featuring two models; RG & Talman. These were featured here back in October 2020 & this new member is 'new' as it features an Edge-like bridge (until official details are released). In typical Ibanez fashion, this model is named RG6HSHMTR. This is my kind of RG - blank fretboard & it's maple.

It excites fans but as much as that goes, the current models didn't make an appearance here & a year had gone by. Hoping for this new addition to somehow making it here is pleasant daydreaming, at best.

Pics: Amazaon Jp

Jagxico

So the Jagstang returns.  It's a Mexican & it commemorates 30 years of Nirvana's Nevermind. Since its disappearance in the mid-1990s, I couldn't recall a strong demand to clamour its come-back. But here it is, re-born in its full glory & if you want one, be informed that it's a 24" player. 

Pic: Fender

Blackdrive

Maxon's OD-9 received the noir treatment. That's right, it's just a colour change but it will get fans going. Only available in Europe in the mean time. Why? 😔

Bowie wisdom

Great take-aways from the late David Bowie:

1. What you do defines you. We often failed to internalize this, really. What you commit to do is based on your personal philosophy so if you end up doing something well, it helps you define yourself, first & foremost.
2.  The creative self should be free from external expectations. This is the ideal manifestation but in today's context, if you are an employee, chances are, you are fulfilling an external expectation which is limiting your abilities. Creative minds work best under their own terms.
3. Always dabble in the unknown for better results. If you are comfortable doing what you are doing, chances are, you are not doing your best. You need to be struggling a little, pushing limits to test what you are really capable of. You won't know until you try.

S-Foam green

It's one of those days when you checked out what's available elsewhere & you came across a certain version of what you want in the knowledge that it's unlikely to be available here. I prefer this finish, never mind if those are non-Dimarzio pickups. I just dislike gold hardware (SEW761FM) plus a personal indifference to flame tops. Bummer. Seen above: S561.

Sigma GSME

This is definitely value for money - Sigma's GSME. It's alluding to a certain other guitar in the same body design  & scale length. It might feel a little compromised if your are a fan of that other guitar but the tone coming out from this one is definitely appealing. A solid construction & comfortable overall feel for a sub-$400 price tag, quite a no-brainer if you are after quality more than anything else. Available @ Davis GMC. 

Selling: Edwards E-SE-100M [SOLD]

 

OK folks, clearing this one for what I believe to be my final chemo bill. My Edwards E-SE-100M, strat-style guitar. Pickups are default Seymour Duncans SLs.

Push-push switch is also factory default. Here's how it works:

• Selling: Edwards E-SE-100M, Strat style guitar (Japan)
• Soft V profile neck
• Seymour Duncan pickups: SSL1 (n/m) / SSL3 (b)
• Mods: Bridge pickup wired to lower tone pot / Orange drop cap
• Low action set up, bridge flushed to body for a fixed, no whammy application
• Generic bag provided
• Self collect: CCK /Yew Tee mrt station
• No reservations / trades / instalment payment plan
• Queries / confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $750 (final)

Guitar SOLD: 21/11/2021

The grey one

This is the TS7 version that I still keep. Not selling this one because the switch is now a little dodgy after years of use - it will be 21 years old this December.  It's my favourite simply because the switch there turns it into a hotter TS version, similar to adding a boost unit to it. TS purists would say what's the point of making it hotter since it was conceived to give a nudging effect to the drive section. I tend to use the HOT mode with humbuckers. With single coils, its standard mode is sufficient to give that sweet voicing, anything more, it will lose that appeal.

Clean supplements (2)

For a good clean tone to happen, I still believe that the amplifier is it. It's the make / break component in making one's tone great. You'd be surprised that an appealing level of clean can be achieved with just the guitar & amp if your amp is worthy. OK, there's some controversy as to what makes a good clean tone when it comes to amps. My first & foremost reference is always a Fender.  When Leo started it all, he was working with cleans. Back in those days, the overdrive would take centerstage much later in guitar / amp developments. Cleans were pretty much it & Fender did it right from the start. Fender amps have that clean chime that's still very difficult to beat. In fact, the good amp names that are not Fender, presented their own iteration of good cleans instead of competing against the Fender standard. In the non-boutique realm, we can agree that Vox & Marshall did well in this aspect. 

As for my personal reference, the Fender name wins it because it goes well with reverb. I have no idea if this was Leo's intention back then but pair up a Fender amp & some dedicated reverb unit, say a Strymon BigSky, & you'd be lost in dreamscape for days. That goes to show how good the Fender clean is even with digital implements.

Loop like a BOSS

Two interesting releases by BOSS late this year, the first of which is this RC-505MKII. For indoor, desktop geeks, this is a high. I believe this is aimed at the production enthusiasts as the features on board include vocal editing as well so it's not tied down to just guitar / bass.

The live junkies will thrive on the RC-600. There's a new feature that allows post-loop editing so that should keep people engaged. The only downside to this is its size; it's virtually the real estate for a pedal board. Smart releases by BOSS for the indoor & outdoor escapists among us. I really need to look into getting a new looping unit maybe before the year ends. Of course, it's down to how much financial recovery is possible after settling chemo bills.

Lazarus

A new signature by Epiphone, the Lazarus Bonamassa Les Paul. I lost count as to how many Epi signatures Bonamassa did under this brand name. If I recall correctly, it went back to the days of the former headstock design.

It was named as such after the Gibson version. Bonamassa bought a '59 which used to be red. He had it stripped & bingo - there's a gorgeous flame underneath & it was properly restored hence the name Lazarus; back from the dead. As you can see above, the Epi version has a flame grade which is nothing like the real thing. You might say that it's unachievable for an Epiphone at this price point but if it's gonna bear the name, some kind of close replica would justify the purchase. The Lazarus is actually an Epiphone '59 with a single pice neck. The neck construction is the only feature that separates it from the product Epi '59. Between these two guitars, there's only a USD50 difference. Anyway, we don't have an Epiphone dealer here (yet / any more), so...

Pics: Epiphone / Reddit

Ravens

Another Gibson-Guitar Center collab; the Raven LP & SG. Not high end by any means, just stuff to mark the occasion - you guessed it - Halloween. The LP is Special-esque, a flat top model. Ditto the SG, both blacked out, hardware included. Definitely won't reach here: 1) GC exclusive 2) No Gibson dealer. Hmph!

Pic: PG

Selling: Ibanez TS7 (SOLD)

 

Greetings, folks. Hope you are doing well this weekend. I am putting this up for sale to help fund chemo bills - last few to clear. Rarely used as I deem this a collector's item. This green version was indeed a limited run, I've been using the standard grey version. 9/10 condition, box included.

• Selling: Ibanez TS7 Tube Screamer (Tone-Lok, green edition)
• 9/10 condition, box included
• No reservations / trades
• Self-collect: Yew Tee / CCK mrt station
• Confirmation / query: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $79 (final)

Clean supplements

My bouts with the clean tone continues. Having a good clean tone is actually a bucket list thing & 'good' remains subjective; on some days it's likeable, on other days, appalling. The three pedals you see above are pretty much it for now. Usually, I would omit a drive unit in the line up, just the tuner & chorus. Everything else, the amp will speak for the tone. However, being a light picker & struggling to pick & fret firmly is a constant challenge as I have always relied on high gain to 'amplify' the slightest of touches. Hence the inclusion of the Tube Screamer in the line up. A weak drive is important to me to preserve the clean chime. I wouldn't say this is a final consideration. 

Abraxas

This is the latest PRS SE Santana iteration; the Abraxas 50. It's commemorating 50 of Santa's album of the same name.

Not too different from the SE Santana 2021. 

When Santana settled with PRS to have his signature model made, this was the final design. That headstock there, in my opinion, together with the body outline & control layout, are what make the Santana a Santana. However, being an SE, the philosophy here is to have a crucial difference so that the unique Santana concept in its core manifestation remains exclusive.

This is why they didn't hesitate to call this singlecut design a Santana as well. Within the SE domain, anything goes, as long as the core design elements are not compromised & present a potential drop in value due to an existence of a more affordable alternative which is exact in design. 

 Then again, the initial Santana SE incarnation looked nothing like the core version. 

Pics: Pinterest / PRS

New department

New from the Blackstar camp - Department 10 tube laden pedals. Some of us had been through Blackstar's initial foray of tube pedals, the HT series. Those were quite a hit when they first debuted but they did not really latched onto any pedal geek's long term interest. This is the subsequent tube in a pedal adventure & they went one up by turning it into a speaker / mic emulator as well if you are into DAWs & stuff. The range consists of a boost, overdrive & distortion unit in the mean time. McRocklin here will show you the dynamics of one of them:

Pic: Blackstaramps

TSHW

Today is Tuesday. Today is also pay day. Today is the last day of the Swee Lee (Peninsula) sale. Today I bought a new pedal. Today was a good day.

OS

I think I'm seeing a Schecter acoustic guitar at Davis GMC for the first time. The Orleans Stage model feature a solid spruce top & maple back / sides. It's in the Takamine ball park in terms of playability, tone & price but this one has good clarity. 

Pic: Schecter

The 2017

When it comes to Les Pauls, the Studio is perhaps as semi-pariah as it gets. The guitar heroes in magazines & videos out there are either strapping on a Standard or a Custom. In guitar stores, if we declare a certain budget consideration to the sales person, he most probably would recommend us an Epiphone rather than the Studio. It's fair to say that the Studio is second fiddle for many pros, a back up guitar in most cases. The only reason why I bothered with the Studio is because it meets my needs without costing more than it should. The Studio you see above is a 2017.

Back in 2017, the Studio was given a slim taper neck carve. I own a Classic that sports a slim taper neck carve as well but this 2017 version of 'slim' is a little flat. That's right, it's a D more than a C & the difference is quite apparent. I have not tried other 2017s which is not a Studio so I might be wrong to conclude that the Studio's slim here is actually an anomaly. That aside, coming back to what I mentioned earlier, this guitar meets my needs & that flat neck element there makes me play 'better'. Actually, it reduces mistakes during play. So the body is not as thick as the Standard but it sounds good overall but I'm quite intolerant when it comes to the neck humbucker's extra wooly tone in OD mode (it's a 490R). As such I use it for cleans mostly. 

Is the Studio worth owning? Anything is worth owning if it serves your needs or you like what it has to offer.

Pink treatment

Had this Bacchus BST-2 sent over for a re-string / set up two days ago. It's that wonderful model featuring a roasted maple neck & it's a smooth player indeed, especially after a set-up for a set of 10s. The guitar is light, it might be lighter than an Ibanez S-Series, no kidding but it's a darn resonant instrument.

The strap buttons were corroded & replaced with a set of Dunlops. 

Frets were attended to as well. Showing you the contrast between a cleaned, polished set (right) & those which were not. This guitar is a display unit so being left out of the bag & exposed to the elements & human handling, the lacklustre frets were expected. It's nothing a good polishing fluid could not handle.

Just so you know, it's an F-spaced string spacing. Guitar belongs to my cousin, it's a birthday surprise from close friends.

Harmonized

This happened yesterday, actually. Had not played this guitar since March so took it out for some metal assault. That's right, despite being not a heavy metal-type guitar & fitted with a set of rather demure Seymour Duncan Psyclone humbuckers, this thing is dope when it comes to heavy stuff. It's all about the set up, really. The Psyclones are deep sounding, they have that good bottom end response despite what they are touted for by the manufacturer. My amp has very intense overdrive on board & it gives my the aggression at the upper drive settings - PRS' MT-15. So coupling these two considerations will give me my metal fix all the time. I didn't buy the Psyclones for metal-type tones to begin with, it's an unexpected bonus. The LP Special, in my opinion, is a no-frills Les Paul, just delivering good tones with incredible sustain. Never under estimate the Lesser Paul, especially the flat top ones.

A set of Harmony strings (10s) for this episode, kindly sponsored by my cousin, Syahid. He said he accumulated so much Lazada points & used them to buy strings before they expire. That's a good thing to do.

Not really new player

Fender launched this quite recently; the Player Plus Strat in a cool gradation fade finish concept.

In the mean time, the Kiesel, LTD, Ibanez & PRS camps, among others, are wondering what the fuss is about. Really. My encounters with Fender throughout the years - they are quite hesitant to break away & manifest daring / bold colours till other brands did so before them. It's like they are waiting to see if it's a safe venture & they don't quite mind being late into the game.

Pics: Kiesel / Ibanez / PRS / ESP

Hail Mary

I usually don't pay too much attention to Xotic guitars because they are into the relic stuff. 

But this XSC-2 in Mary Kaye finish is simply awesome. If you are interested, do check it out at Davis GMC. 

Special finish

Gibson, I believe, is slowly letting the world know what's coming in terms of new offerings (possibly 2022 stuff). An example will be this SG Special offered in heritage cherry. This finish was unavailable previously. A black finish (ebony) is the other new finish available now. Along with this new finish comes the new price; the new SG Special is now USD100 more. In fact majority of the Gibson models are now revised upwards in terms of price. But let's not talk too much about Gibson in the mean time because we know no Gibsons are going to be available here till a new dealer is confirmed. Bummer. 

Pic: Gibson

Sale: Swee Lee Peninsula

This was just announced today - Swee Lee is having a clear out at its Peninsula branch. Stuff are going for 35% off, some go for lesser & the rest are not on sale. Most of these items are B-stock stuff but include out-of-the-box instruments as at Saturday, 2/10/2021. Please don't ask if they can bring in another one of the same model because most are just one-offs / the final unsold unit. 

Please take note of the sale rules, it's mostly appealing to your senses. It's still COVID times so only 2 customers are allowed at any one time in the store. There's a designated queue space outside the store, please observe safe distancing as well. Most importantly, only one Swee Lee staff will be overseeing sale proceedings, his name is Mr. Fahmy. He's the one entertaining your queries, packing your stuff, finalizing payments & managing the sale queue, among others. Please be nice to him.

Moving on to some worthy recommendations, I have two in the mean time. This Ibanez AZES31 is definitely a steal because it's a new release & it's on sale. Meaning, if you wish to acquire something that's next to brand new for good money, this is the most unmolested guitar in store. 

The next worthy consideration is this PRS S2 McCarty Singlecut. Sweet all round tone, great playability. OK, I better not talk too much, I have no money. Bye.

Pics: PRS / Ibanez / Swee Lee FB

Selling: ISP Decimator X

In anticipation of  incoming chemo bills, there are some pedals I need to let go for the sake of funding. The ISP Decimator X here is one of them. It's the typical ISP Decimator noise reduction pedal but in a space-saving format. Used for about 5 times, comparing it to BOSS' NS-2 along the way. Thank you in advance for your support in making my ends meet. You may think it's not much but every dollar goes a long way. When you are sick, you struggle with the recovery rigour. Post-recovery, you struggle with bills.

• ISP Decimator X, noise reduction pedal
• Box & pouch included
• Condition: 9/10
• Self-collect: CCK / Yew Tee MRT station
• No reservations / trades
• Confirmation / query: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $139 (final)

Clouds

Received - my second custom order from Northern Ghost guitar picks. It's just their Cloud model with a hole in the center for better grip. The finishes were a surprise by them, I only specified one to be in a glitter version, colours & whatever else were their end of the artistic manifestation. Made in Canada with lots of dedication.

Heavy does it

If you happened to be browsing Swee Lee's online store on Thursday (30/9), you would have seen this pedal updated at their online store. Do I need another distortion pedal? Heck, no. But I went on to purchase this anyway.

On that same day, after dinner, which was just a 2hr difference from the last time I checked the pedal out, it was already sold out / unavailable. Why did I do a re-visit? To check if the HM-2W costs more than the MT-2W (Metal Zone). There is a $50 difference.

Today, during coffee break, it arrived at the premises. Have yet to plug it in.

Pics: Swee Lee