Raya

Swee Lee is having a Hari Raya promo till 14 April. Discounts as above.

Pic: SL  

Re-string Saturday

Had been playing this lately. Something easy on the hand & a lighter overall feel. This may not be your thing because it's a scaled down guitar, very toy-like, for kids they say.

This guitar gives me the perfect opportunity to adapt. I'm also a small-framed individual so it's something I can get used to. In any case, Paul Gilbert isn't small-framed but he plays the miKro RG. Stayed indoors today so gave this a good clean up + re-string. By the way, those strings are a sponsored set.

Good Friday 2024

A drab long weekend today. Indoors, reading, keeping up with gear maintenance. Nothing fantastic. Hope everyone had a good break from work & some deserving rest.

 

Quilted hybrid

The Japanese Hybrid II models now come with quilted maple tops for selected finishes. The 'Hybrid' iteration is not new, they are just getting you into these series with a decorated top. Let's see how much these would go for once they get here.

Pic: Fender Jp

MOMM: Pick from the 90s

The '90s... that time when grunge took over & the affiliation for guitars suffered an internal conflict; minimalism vs extremism. Why did we bother to contemplate at all, if we were true music fans, really. Anyway, I got sucked into grungefest briefly before realizing my true inclinations & the need to return to what makes me tick - metal. The above three albums were on my playlist, so to speak, considering 'playlist' back then was that bunch of cassette tapes or CDs you always brought along in your bag.

Bathory: Octagon (1995)

This is one of those glorious cassette tapes I own back then & it was a legit local copy. The original version cost nearly thrice as much. I have a soft spot for this one as opposed to the cult favourites - Blood, Fire, Death / Hammerheart - as it retains a substantial amount of right hand chugging while treading the extreme metal domain. One of those very addictive HM-2 tones are here for your reverence.

Morbid Angel: Covenant (1993)

Another esteemed favourite in cassette tape form. Its predecessor, Blessed Are the Sick (1991), was a let down for me; the band bloody slowed down. Covenant re-visited the speed aspects of the band's music albeit not entirely. This is also the first album without the late Richard Brunelle so Trey forged the guitar works here alone & he did fine but the solos hinted going south. We could all agree that Brunelle was the better player between them. 

Slayer: Undisputed Attitude (1996)

This album was part of my initial years in the CD domain. Back then, I really had to save good money to purchase CDs. One CD could have easily gotten me 3 cassette tapes so some intense considerations really needed to happen before I parted with money. This album got me thinking hard because it was an EP of punk covers done the Slayer way, there's only one new song on offer; Gemini (which became my personal favourite very quickly). In the midst of all the CD buying, I still needed to buy guitar strings so the struggle was real. 

Pics: Last FM / Amazon 

Gored

 

New from Wylde Audio - the Goregehn. Let's see... this design has the elements of a Mockingbird, Explorer & heck, that extended forearm cutaway reminds me of an Ibanez 540P. Looks like Mr. Wylde really enjoys manifesting his design ideas under this brand name. We know it's not gonna stop, yes?

Pic: WA IG

Snappers

These E-II Snappers are available at Davis GMC (List: $2,050). They are essentially Strats in another guise. If you are a Fender purist, then you might miss out on a decent Japanese craftsmanship with tone that holds its own. 

There's also the rosewood 'board version if maple (& gold hardware) is not your thing. 

Pics: ESP Japan

ULV

Matthias Ia Eklundh, the long time user of Caparison guitars, now has his own brand of instruments. Reading between the lines, it has everything to do with those true temperament frets. He favours these frets & would gladly move over to the side that would listen / meet his needs. The Caparison design, in my opinion is much more appealing than what we see above but nothing beats having instruments that are meeting your ideals. 

Pic: MIAE FB

Yellow Saturday

It's a classic case of not having the funds to go out & enjoy some refreshing sights & smell outdoors. I'm that pathetic these days. If it incurs some spending, transportation fare included, I will re-think. So it was an indoor Saturday with my yellow Dinky. These Jackson strings (Previous intro: CLICK) are alright but I won't be re-visiting them; strictly a price consideration. 

These DiMarzio D'Activators are perhaps my favourite pickups for distortion application. Paired with the Snakestortion, things sound as mean as I want them to be without mushing out.

I have to thank my gear for keeping my lucidity in check. The depression domain is a very lonely realm. Distractions are needed to prevent one from doing stupid things that might be harmful. I remain gainfully engaged (no pun intended) with my gear while dealing with monsters. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Fixed Standard

Jackson released new iterations of its American Series guitars, this time, it's a dual humbucking version. Pictured above: SL2MG. Default pickups are EMGs (81/85).

I'm definitely interested in the fixed bridge version despite not being an EMG fan. Those inverted inlays might be a deal breaker...

 Pics: Jackson

Harmonizing

Another adventure out of the comfort zone. Got this for a good price, the former owner is not really a guitar person, more like a sonic experimentalist. So far, I'm using this to somehow make my solos more interesting. To me, it's not really suitable for extended riffs. A proper appraisal to come.

Fort-Fender

Presence is importance. In this day & age, virtual presence can have a real impact for your business. In this instance, Fender collaborated with Fortnite to have their instruments present in the gaming realm. It's not even functional but once again, presence is important. Come to think of it, it's advertisement in another guise. 

Pic: EIllustrated

Price watch (76)

Available at Swee Lee for $1,899. It's listed for more most probably due to its 'upgraded' pickups, which are a pair of Duncan's Black Winter. Folks, the 1221 is equipped with a pair of DiMarzios from the factory. Implying the Duncans as 'upgrades' is frankly, uncalled for.

Yes, the Japanese Squier Silver Series guitars are somewhat valued in the collector's turf. The reputation of these instruments are somewhat positive but there were lemons during the day & these might still be out there. The asking price as stated here is nearly $1K. There are other after-market Fenders out there which could pretty much out perform this Squier despite not being Japanese. If there is perhaps an ardent collector here interested in this instrument for what it is, the $960 deal might just happen. The domestic market here is not made up of serious collectors to begin with. 

Swee Lee: 40% off

Final push - 40% off at Swee Lee's Bras Basah branch before the final goodbye... 

4-in-1

New 4-in-1 models by Keeley. There are actually four of them, the first one, the Nobel Screamer, was released way before these 3. The idea was to combine 2 pedals into a single footprint & have controls letting you choose from whichever pedal you fancy. The Nobel Screamer combined the Nobels ODR-1 wit the Ibanez Tube Screamer, so here are the rest of the fusion combo:

• Blues Disorder: Blues Breaker / OCD
• Angry Orange: DS-1 / Big Muff
• Super Rodent: Rat / SD-1

While the idea is a noble one, JHS did a thing with BOSS resulting in the Angry Driver (2022) so the idea is not entirely unique.

Pic: MI News

10 relief

Not really a big acoustic fan but I will re-visit the guitars that I like. While that happens, I usually will tweak the experience to suit my needs. In this case, it's the string gauge. I can't really play acoustics with anything thicker than 11s. We are aware that most of these instruments are equipped with 12s by default. My skin / fingertips are susceptible to wear & tear since chemo days so I have a set of 'wimpy' strings in my favoured acoustics. It's about addressing needs more than complying to conventional practices. Beginning to like the DRs for acoustics.

CH/DC

The chorus adventure continues. Managed to compare these two side-by-side. I have no PSU in the mean time, had to borrow one from work to power the DC-2w, hope I remember to return it soon 😅 

Anyway, the settings for DC-2w are all presets but darn these are addictive & they sound awesome for solo applications. For the CH-1, I tend to use it for super clean tones & dial down the rate. I am now coming to terms with clean tones namely due to the fact that the chorus unit helps increase sensitivity. As a light picker, this helps tremendously.

Miku...

This Edwards E-Stream Miku Custom is now available at Davis GMC. I'm digging the body outline but that headstock, to me, is a deal breaker. Glad that some one-offs / limited runs / dealer specials are available here every now & then. Affording one is a different story.

Pic: MFC

Review quickie: FZone PT-01

 

The FZone PT-01 is a simple tuner pedal. It's Chinese & available online for a bargain (different online stores offer different price points in view of seasonal discounts, shopper mileage claims, etc.). You won't see one in the stores, definitely. 

Likes

• Accuracy
• Responsiveness
• Size
• Features
• Price

Dislikes

• Re-boot mode with every initial use
• Availability

Some of us are really particular when it comes to a tuner pedal. At one end of the spectrum, some players insist on pinpoint accuracy & strobe technology. At the opposite end, some are content with getting no frills tuning done. The PT-01 has gists of both. It's darn user friendly & delivers tuning accuracy for both the working musician (stage use) & bedroom rockers alike. My only beef with this pedal is that it needs to boot up with every initial use. This is detrimental if you are after quick tuning on stage & you have forgotten to boot it up while your drummer is already clicking down for the next song. Also, this pedal should be made readily available at the stores, it's something good that everyone should try & it's downright affordable.

Pic: thesegoto11

Final rating: 92%

FZone: FP-01 pedal tuner

Availability: Online stores

Price: $30 +/-

Ramadan 2024

Another sombre Ramadan for me but grateful I am able to see this through. Focusing on the Ramadan task at hand rather than worry about things which are not within my control. Wishing all friends & blog readers a blessed Ramadan.

The other 30%

Swee Lee updated this today - in addition to the sale happening at its Bras Basah branch, there are also 30% discounts for selected instruments.

Majority of the guitars on this list are Fenders, these Squiers are discounted as well. They sure look familiar don't they? For the Nth time - Squier's 40th Anniversary was back in 2022. These instruments are still around today in the store & subjected to repeated discounts... well, it implies something, yes?

 Pics: SL webstore

Chorus-ing

It's that time in (my) life where one steps back & re-visit a detestable discourse only to realize it's actually a missing ingredient to attaining self-actualization. I hate acoustic guitars. OK to be fair, majority of them. Classical guitars rank below this aversion. Those slippery nylon strings are impeding my playing potential more than anything else. Then came this idea to pair the squeaky clean classical guitar tones with the chorus pedal to perhaps give a semblance of hope in embracing this other aspect of guitar playing & hey, presto! Things are actually more likeable now. 

The BOSS CH-1 is, in my opinion, the standard to beat for chorus tones. It's a no frills take on how chorus should sound like. Come to think of it, is there such a benchmark to begin with? But that aside, the CH-1 is simply... good. Some appraisals soon.

Gretsch-lele

Gretsch has a guitar-lele in its line up as well - the G9126 (List: $349). It's facing stiff competition from Ibanez (EWP12EWB: $329). The latter has a cut-away feature so it has more guitar vibes, especially with metal strings on board. We must not ignore Yamaha's GL 1 as well (List: $175) which is almost half the price. I am still struggling to play one of these, can't come to terms with the fact that it has to be handled like a ukulele; placing it on the lap is not how you deal with it. I simply can't hug & play this thing for sure. Coming from the guitar end of things, that not the job of my right hand.

Pic: Gretsch

Grohl-piphone

I am both happy & unhappy that this happened.

• Happy: Dave Grohl is indeed a prominent name in guitar-driven music today & this more 'attainable' version is a deserving appointment. I even like that non-reverse Firebird headstock here. 
• Unhappy: It's another costly-phone in the lineup, one that rides on the endorser's reputation like Dave Mustaine, Adam Jones & Joe Bonamassa, among others. It shouldn't be this way; Epiphone is supposed to champion affordability. Hmph.

Pic: Epiphone

70th Antigua

Fender is releasing a slew of 70th Anniversary Strats, this is the only one that got my attention. I have always liked the Antigua finish & this one is a fixed bridge model so it's totally my thing. The price, however, is a deal breaker: USD1,499 (Mexican, Vintera II Series).

Pic: Fender

In synth

I had given up my EHX 9-Series pedals, you know, the ones that emulate organ, synth, etc. I'm sticking to this one for similar applications. Got this used. It's an OK pedal if you are not too explicit with your emulation requirements. Not battery friendly, though. 

Swift accounts

By now, this part of the world is in full knowledge that the Taylor Swift performances here had been significantly subsidized by the Singapore government. This was done so that the artist would perform here exclusively. I don't listen to Taylor Swift but this episode involving the government is disturbing.

• This subsidy means public funds were used. I am a tax payer, I certainly did not consent my money being used this way. The counter-perspective, advocated by the ministers & members of the public who are revelling in this exclusivity, is that the returns generated by this agreement are more than the amount forked out. The government refuses to disclose how much returns were potentially on the cards. Together with the subsidized amount, these remain confidential. In fact the government is threatening legal action against any entities leaking these details in the public domain (TODAY online, 4 March 2024). This reeks of desperate insecurity. Also, this benefit - does it return to all tax payers in some ways? If it is for the general good, there are parties who would benefit from this more than others.
• This is a clear exercise in depravation. The haves are preventing the have nots from something, tangible or otherwise. The pro-haves are saying this deal with Miss Swift was done a while ago so those who are crying sour grapes now might have a hidden agenda. This aside, I just feel that we should not be proud of seeing others being deprived of something especially when you are buying out the circumstances. Reminder - we are observing a regional existence, there are others around us. If we are not mindful of our ways, others would react / retaliate to our detriment. Is securing a exclusive entertainment performance really something to be proud of? Of course, some are saying it's not about Taylor Swift but the economic gambit.  

SALE: Swee Lee BB

The Swee Lee sale (Bras Basah branch) is now on. Instruments with an orange sticker on its price tag are on 30% discount. Moving forward:

• Swee Lee can re-consider holding a sale event on a weekday. Many gear enthusiasts are working (yes, we have day jobs to feed out GAS). By the time we get there after work, we are left with scraps...
• Please paste the discount indicator sticker on the same side as the price. The current orange stickers are currently pasted on the flip side of the price tag making it difficult for buyers to know if a certain item is on sale or not. It becomes a little more challenging if these instruments are hung at the upper tier of the display wall.

Pic: SLFB 

Price watch (75)

 

I do not wish to initiate another price watch episode too often because it implies a very disconnected after-market situation in which buy-sell are not underscored by appropriate awareness but this one is rather insulting. The TS7 pedal you see above has a clear gash on the label as indicated.

It is described as an item with minor scratches ... wait, what? The pedal clearly indicates a maifestation of robust use leading to significant dents & chips. If you are unable to fairly describe an item in terms of its wear & tear condition, please do not even go there. Leave it to the potential buyer to see & decide for himself. Take this case for instance, if I contest the condition of this pedal (because to me a gash is not equal to a minor scratch), there is a potential for dispute as the seller might not agree to my assessment of things. 

Alternatively, you can indicate a rating for you pedal, eg.: TS7 in 8/10 condition as opposed to settling with descriptives. Most likely, if the buyer wish to mitigate the rating, he will ask you why you rate it as such. This (to me) is a healthier / less contentious approach. We can agree that buyers & sellers in the after-market do not know one another, it's not worth initiating acquaintances with displeasure.

Hard choice

This is Fender's limited run Vintera '70s hardtail Strat. I love everything about it, less the price: $1,899. They don't make too many hardtail Strats these days so this is something to be treasured. I'm still unable to reconcile certain price points with the country of manufacturer. I do not doubt the quality, it's about costs & prices. Then again, manufacturers will ride on stuff like limited run, to hike prices & we would fall for it. 

Pic: Fender

Costly-phone

Epiphone has once again collaborated with the Gibson Custom Shop to produce these very enticing Firebirds. This single pickup edition is the 1963 Firebird I.

 The 2-pickups + whammy version is the 1963 Firebird V.

Each purchase includes a hardcase. Prices: Firebird I - USD1,299 / Firebird V - USD1,699.

We don't have an Epiphone dealer here so in a way, there are no real interests in these instruments but just because this is the situation, should the players here mirror the business politics in their purchase considerations? That's a firm NO. People would continue to be enticed by new products regardless of domestic availability. There is this thing called online purchase these days so not having a store distributing the instruments you want is not a real hindrance. However, it makes life a little more difficult for us; waiting time, mishandling of items, defects mitigation, etc. 

Is this Epiphone - Gibson thing good? Is guitardom anticipating this collaboration? My take: Good & bad.

• GOOD: Epiphone will strive to meet the Gibson standard which means we don't get a shoddy Epiphone. Also, we get a close interpretation of a Gibson through the Epiphone name which is fair; there's no compulsion for Epiphone to re-interpret / redesign anything to please the masses. The guitar geeks out there has a full understanding that Epiphone is a subsidiary of the Gibson name so they are commissioned to do Gibson things, to put it bluntly. Fine.
• BAD: Darn obvious - it's driving prices up. If the guitar community endorses this, prices would border on the unattainable. It moves away from the Epiphone philosophy; a subsidiary brand name that caters to newbies / budget-minded individuals. If Epiphone does not champion this cause, then we question its existence / relevance. 

Pics: Epiphone