Standard 2025

Fender's latest Standard Series are touted to be their most affordable yet; USD599. These are made in Indonesia. What does this tell us about the Fender brand? Despite having a sub-brand, Squier, the manufacturer is some how wary of the fact that the brand name might become frivolous in a certain price bracket. To be more precise / blunt, the so called affordable Fenders have ceased to become anything but affordable. We all know how the Mexican models are listed for $2K +/- after being 'spruced' up in some ways & pushed as revised editions justifying the price hike each & every time.

I am now oblivious to where guitars are made, the country of manufacture is now not an important consideration for me. I look up to the quality on offer, more than anything else. I have never been enticed by the Mexican Fenders since the former Standard Series (yes, the Standard name is not new) left the catalog like 20 years ago. This might be a good time to renew my considerations for a non-American / Japanese Fender. Depicted above is the Mexican Standard in satin finish. I was attracted to one of these, the purple version, & always played it when I dropped by Swee Lee's Bras Basah outlet. 

The Standard Series being in this price bracket mean players are going to forgo the upper end Squiers along the way unless Fender has some revisions to ensure they are not competing against themselves. It would also mean Fender has a new room for a more affordable American range. The current Performer models are definitely not the epitome of affordability. Remember the Highway 1 models? Those were good, bona fide, American Fenders.

Pics: Fender / Fuzzzfaced

Happy birthday, Indonesia

17th August - wishing our neighbour, Indonesia,  a happy Independence Day. 

Enjoy this number by the Indonesian band, Cokelat. (Bendera = flag). I like this version featuring new members Aiyu (vocals) & Axel (drums).

Here's the original version. I believe music is the best platform to conjure patriotic fervour; the reason why every country has a national anthem.  

Flag pic: Factsofindonesia

The same for 2017

For 2017, all the SE models will receive a PRS signature on the headstock less the Indonesian made Standards. 👾 #justsaying 

PRS SE: 245

The first PRS SE model was one that latched onto a formidable name that it was forgivably devoid of a concrete identity- the Santana SE (circa 2001). A decade or so later, the SE tag became an acknowledged nod towards a quality non-American PRS build only because the manufacturer had strict prerequisites when it comes to what should bear the 'PRS' tag regardless of the people handling the production. Fast forward 2014, the manufacturer announced a shift in production venue for the SE makes late in the year; Indonesia (goodbye Korean QC...). This was a big deal because the Korean WM plant bacame a formidable name in representing quality output. Ibanez & PRS helped put Korea on the quality map but both brand names have since departed the vicinity in search of a less costly affair.

Build/ fit/ finish

The PRS SE 245 on appraisal here represents the Indonesian manufacture so all eyes are on quality; a decent, presentable standard is just not PRS enough. The mark has to be higher. This SE 245 passed the initial quality exuberance test; there's a feeling of class there, no doubt about it. There were no anomalies to report in any aspects except for the following minor considerations:

1. Untidy nut finish. The nut was left prickly in many places. I was thinking, there is a simple procedure in getting this done, ie. the factory hands could have simply scraped the leftover bits using basic hardware (eg: blade/ string cutter) but it was omitted. I couldn't help but form a negative impression with regards to working philosophy.
2. Untidy binding terminal. This is perhaps the Achilles Heel of instruments sporting edge binding but we understand that at this price point, the binding is most likely a faux version. Regardless, the one displayed by this SE 245 is a little amateurish. It's no different from the hurried workmanship in some Chinese Charvels I've come across.
3. Action: The instrument in question manifested fret buzz at the upper frets but be assured that it wasn't a product of warping issues. The situation was attended to in the store promptly during the appraisal & a little higher action proved to be the perfect cure; no issues thereafter.

Playability/ tone

The SE 245 isn't a shred machine per se but with a little help from some high gain sources, speed shouldn't be an issue here; just bear with the rather substantial neck profile. On a personal note, I feel this is a deserving neck profile for the instrument, a wide & wide-fat D-carve suitable for many applications. More importantly, the neck matches the overall heavy affair, yes, the instrument is 3.8kg & it isn't too friendly when one plays standing up most of the time but this made the SE 245 a downright winner in terms if sustain & low frequency push. Special mention goes to the tuners for being responsive & holding tuning well despite being in-house models.

Tone-wise, the manufacturer had gone for inherent attributes as opposed to pleasing specific campers. The default humbuckers aren't high output affairs so a good degree of vintage warmth could be had from the neck pickup. In fact, the neck pickup is a good reference for all things 'nice' (cleans especially). If there's any post-purchase considerations, you might be bent on replacing the bridge humbucker (not that it's a dud to begin with) to fulfill a more specific distortion attack, especially for those with prog inclinations & a very calculated opinion of what a preferred distortion-oriented humbucker should be.

Conclusion

You'd read some derogatory comments in cyberspace pertaining to the mere switch from Korean to Indonesian manufacturing when it comes to the PRS SE. These trolls equate the country of manufacture with quality & that's one of the most uneducated thing to do when it comes to standard appraisals. What we should acknowledge is reputation- yes, some countries have a more established reputation when it comes to QC but that is a general affair. To sum up: When 4 out of 5 doctors from Country A are sub-standard practitioners, we often overlook that 1 that stands out from the rest. 

Price-wise, this generation of Indonesian SEs would prove to be a headache when it comes to value for money. It retails for nearly 50% off its Korean counterparts & without showing a proportionate deterioration in quality. In fact, I would be implying disrespect to the PRS name should I allude to quality issues just because the SEs now hail from Indonesia. If you are in the market for a budget instrument with substantial QC attached to one, may I suggest you look at the PRS SEs first.

Overall rating: 80%

PRS SE 245

Product availability: Davis GMC

Price: $495 (bag included)

Thanks to Ram, Chris & Janet for the assistance.

PRS SE 245: Indonesian goodness

Actually, this PRS SE 245 was the final purchase for 2014. Production shifted to Indonesia, I was very well aware of that. The instrument was well-made less some tolerable oversight (not to be discussed in ts entry).

The default pickups made way for these Seymour Duncans: Custom (B)/ Jazz (N). They were fine inclusions, really (especially that neck humbucker) but I have to quell my thirst for overdrive sensation; it had always been this way. 

I have handled many Korean PRS SEs, I find this Indonesian to be on par but some fine details were overlooked. Nevertheless, they were non-detrimental to reputation. This batch of SEs prove to be the most affordable (you can purchase one for less than $500) without presenting too many deficiencies. On a personal note, I give them my thumbs up.

SE Indonesia

You've seen this headstock before, nothing new; it's a PRS SE model.

What you might not know is that the 2015 SEs are now made in Indonesia. PRS has released these models to selected countries less the USA (they will get them in 2015). The clueless people will start dismissing these SEs in view of its 'demotion'. Well, it happened when Asian production shifted from Japan to Korea, then China took over, now Indonesia seems to be the choice. So with every demotion, people will dismiss the products even before a personal encounter; just because they are manufactured in a less favourable country, they are doomed to fail. 

On a separate note, we have the Ibanez Premium models to put it on record that serious craftsmanship defies geographical boundaries. I hope to give this generation of PRS SEs a fair appraisal come 2015. Stay tuned.

Swing: S2 Stage

Another wonderful guitar- affordable & worth every cent of the asking price. When I tried this one a few days ago, I was thinking Swing was pulling a fast one on us by offering another S2 with a fierce flame top. After hearing it in action, I'd say that it reminded me of how 'special' guitars with direct-mount pickups are. You'd argue that it's a marginal variation, this one's without a pickguard unlike the rest of its S2 siblings but that little difference mattered to tone. It also made me select the middle pickup more than my usual playing routine. Remember, selected Swing models are now more affordable due to Indonesian production; the S2 Stage is one of them. List: $260 @ SV Guitars.

Origin scrutiny

I am often asked this question: Are guitars made in Korea/ China/ Indonesia good? This happens because we look up to American made guitars as the benchmark in quality (& tone), we dismiss the rest of the instruments as compromised in this light. Along the way, Japanese craftsmanship & QC had proven to be on par with the Americans, in fact, it surpassed the western standards on many occasions, all proven, of course, not just hearsay. In search of the more affordable treasures out there, we look towards (South) Korea, China & recently, Indonesia, in the assessment of all things quality related.

Korean Epiphones were the primary QC reference once due to the popularity & availability of the guitars. Many guitar rookies would embrace these instruments which were still not quite up to the mark in terms of consistency & fine details. This was until the PRS SE series debuted, they were virtually the stamp of approval, an embrace of Korean output, so to speak. More importantly, it was a bold statement to look east; it's about the standard of manufacture per se, not about the country's production reputation.

The situation today- UNO! Guitars like the UNO selections (among other brand names out there) serve as a reminder that there is genuine quality from Korea, it's not entirely about a big game player like PRS to have their wares manufactured in this country, we do not need such references as quality approval, we should pay tribute to fine labour.

Chinese products are atrocious- this is perhaps the most unschooled opinion when it comes to Chinese guitars. We might have issues with our Made-in-China hair dryers, rice-cookers & VCD players; it's all understood- hurried production by low-cost labours using compromised components. However, they are not the people handling guitar production & an acute compromise in wood used serves to taint the manufacturer's reputation more than anything else. Proof of Chinese quality? The Ibanez Artcore series are still made in China (I own 3 of them...) & this is about a decade's worth in Chinese trust. 

Before Ibanez's Premium series were made available, there were other Made-in-Indonesia guitars in the stores. I've handled & heard them in action & in my opinion, they manifest above-average quality, definitely good value for money purchases. However, people remain skeptical, again, the country's reputation was pegged against the production standards. The Ibanez Premium models (basses included) represent a true mark of quality which was plain for all to see but as it is, the human mind is such that the average individual fails to embrace quality without being too sentimental with the brand name & country of manufacturer.

There we have it, more than enough proof that quality is quite a stand-alone criteria for assessment. In any case, a true embrace of quality lies with the belief of the individual; there can be much education about quality but the individual belief will be the final determinant. So are guitars made in Korea/ China/ Indonesia any good? The real question would be- are you ready to embrace quality? It's about you, really.

Swing: SS1 (Part 3)

This is the Swing SS-1 headstock's flipside view, all neat & tidy. The 'Made in Indonesia' stamp & serial number clear for all to see.

This strap button will go. Yes, it's functional but slip-prone, especially for worn out strap slits.

This is a great consideration by Swing; a lining for the bolt plate. This way, the metal won't fuse with the finish so the chances of you peeling off the paint upon its removal are slim.

Mike (SV Guitars) had not set up any of the new Indo Swings when I was there to check them out, he did a quick one for me & it was perfect. Be assured that the guitars concerned (in store) are all set up now & ready to rock.

Swing: SS1 (Part 1)

This is Swing's SS1, a very affordable model available at SV Guitars for a measly $190. It's one of the newbies from Indonesia which  underscores affordability, quality & tone. A guitar like this is important to me, not because it adds to quantity in my possession but it speaks volumes about being relatively unknown yet exceeding expectations. Many of us are constantly looking for a worthy buy in terms of every dollar spent relative to product satisfaction- this is the deserving candidate. A splendid consideration for those of us looking for a dependable back-up as well, especially at this time of the year, with that windfall of yours, he, he... A great X-mas gift? You bet.

I very nearly didn't buy this model, in fact, I was attracted to another one of its siblings but the neck profile just won me over. It's not the typical rounded-C of a Strat, it's shallower in depth hence giving off a psuedo flat feel which is perfect for speed. The default pickups are budget in-house units which I was very well aware of when trying it at the store. But that interaction with distortion was there & I prioritize this chemistry above sparkling cleans- I spend only about 10% of my playing time doing cleans, I'm simply not that kind of resident, I tread the drive turf, everything else is a byproduct of boredom.

To be continued...

SWINGing good prices

I'm just home from SV Guitars because Mike alerted me to the availability of the Indonesian Swing guitars. So what's the big deal? The big deal is that prices are revised (downwards) for many of the models, take the MG-505 you see above, the Korean version goes for $550 but the Indonesian model lists for $390. I was there to affirm the QC & tone of this instrument (& many others...) but couldn't detect the compromises, in fact, the manufacturer promised none to begin with. So if you are looking for value-for-money acquisitions, do include the Indo SWINGers on your list. Please refer to SVG's official price reference at their home page (click the link of this page's left column to get you there).

OK, I bought something...

Ibanez: RGD320, mine!

The latest addition in the house: Ibanez RGD320

I have this guitar for quite some time now, was in no hurry to update. Testing & playing it was priority.

Looks rather normal but the RGD320 sports a 26.5" scale length. The objective here is for the guitar to hold detuned strings well. It's equipped with a set of .010 D'Addarios as default & employs a DGCFAD tuning (high-low).

I'm totally happy with the neck of this guitar. It isn't the typical Ibanez skinny but the Wizard II profile, feels rather sumptuous with the thicker strings & longer scale length.

Not quite visible but the RGD320 was made in Indonesia. The serial number is proof it's made in 2009, despite the RGD series being a 2010 release.

...to be continued.

Japanese, Chinese & Indonesian

This 2009, Ibanez fans would see Japanese...
Chinese...
& Indonesian guitars offered in the stores. There would be no more Korean models.

Ibanez RG321MH (Indo)

I was at Standard Value today, Mike has the RG321MH in stock. Somebody decided to buy this guitar & I managed to get a closer look at the instrument while Mike was doing a pre-purchase set up. I had come across this model earlier this year at Swee Lee & was impressed with the overall QC manifested by the Indonesian factory hands. The fact that the subsequent batch of guitars procured by Standard Value maintained the impressive QC standards, implies that the good people over at the Indonesian plant had good supervision in this aspect, consistency is also a key reflection of what the instrument has to offer. I own the pre-2008 Korean make & the following are some comparison notes:

• Fretboard edges are superbly finished. The Korean model did manifest an equally high standard of finishing but it's quite evident that some extra steps had been taken with the Indonesian version as the edges are stain-free as well
• The mahogany used for the body has close-grained pores, compared to the Korean. Is this better per se? It's not quite aparent but a close-pored plank gives off a tighter punch (bottom end) to the discerning ears (please do not stethescope your guitar body to convince yourself). Ditto the fretboard wood, much lesser dry spots seen on the Indo units.
  
• The nut of the Indonesian is also well slotted- the models I've tried (since March '08), which include the RGRs are all good production materials, minimal choking noted.

There's been much fanfare with Korean guitars but as proven here, having instruments made elsewhere does not sacrifice production standards, in fact, it's been one-up with the Chinese & Indonesian Ibanez makes.

Yamaha: BB414 (mine!)

I did try this bass out last month while hunting for a new bass; I need something full-scale not that my shorter scaled Fender Mustang isn't up to it.

The BB414 is made in Indonesia & would trigger dissent among people who deem this country to be a better holiday destination than doing justice to good craftsmanship. In that case, seeing (or inspecting for that matter) is believing. The QC of this one is fantastic to say the least. The other 2 units hanging on display (in the store) are very good in this light but they manifest little anomalies which might be due to the repeated try-outs by customers. I'm also oblivious to colours these days; a black/ red BB414 doesn't make me play better than this white piece.

Tone-wise, the pickups here are Yamaha's own electronics but they sound superb in terms of clarity & impact. They give off 2 contrasting tones for those of us in need of a good slap fundamentals & some great top-end for solos. The slector switch is also a good complement in this aspect as opposed to individual volume knobs for the respective pickups. However, those of us who are into (pickup) tone blending would think otherwise.

All in all, a great bass for the rookie or pros alike, highly recommended (especially so when the festive SALE is still effective, he he...).

Ibanez: 2008 (selected)

I managed to try 3 Ibanez guitars (2008) today from the Indonesian line-up, here are some preliminary comments:ICT700:

• A revised manifestation of the 'aternative' Ibanez, revisions namely in the headstock, pickups & string/ bridge components
• Headstock: very un-Iceman together with the reverse shark tooth fretboard markers but let's read between the lines- this Iceman hails from the same series as the Xiphos so the economics of production dictates a common neck for both models...
• Pickups: DiMarzio D'Activator- strong drive response with that typical DiMarzio cream, definitely a move up in terms of tone
• Bridge: The Iceman now features a through-body stringing & the Gibraltar Custom bridge which is a wise inclusion in terms of sustain. This bridge is currently in my SZ2020 (discont'd) & it was engineered to sit inside a cavity & disperse string resonance more effectively hence the healthy sustain.
  

Rg370DX-RRD

• Another RG in the fold but this one featuring a satin body finish
• Nothing new here just that Rubber Red stain; stare at it for too long & it'll burn your eyes...
  

RG420EG

• Yet another RG... (same ol'... same ol' but we keep falling for them)
• Yet another body highlight but that's not a graphic finish, it's an engraved top (+ satin overcoat). Unless you are keen to feel the indentations, it's novelty
• Also, the body depth is slightly increased here to accomodate all that engraving & the design is such that both volume & tone knobs are submerged into the body so these aren't as grab-friendly as the ones in the regular RG models
• Tone-wise, there are no indications by the manufacturer that the covered V-series humbuckers you see here are hotwired but these are audibly hotter which also entails the bland cleans