S2 ver 2024

Folks, the new (ver 2024) PRS S2 Custom 24 is now available at Swee Lee. New here refers to the fact that the S2 range is now a full American, ie. all parts are made in the USA. The S2's Previous iteration has non-American pickups & electronic components. Of course, there's a price revision in the midst of all this - $2,799 (previously $2,699). 

 

Pic: PRS

Review quickie: Ibanez IC420

The Ibanez Iceman was the iconic model for the manufacturer in the mid '70s. It's a clever embodiment of the Les Paul (no hiding this) in a more unrestrained outline. This 2024, the Iceman returns in its 'standard' incarnation as the IC420.

Likes

• playability
• tone (Super 80 pickups are awesome)
• electronics
• overall feel / handling
• price

 Dislikes

• unslotted bridge string saddles
• no elbow relief

This IC420 is a likeable guitar from the start. The Chinese craftsmanship is above expectations; no visible flaws except for a minor binding lifting mark at the neck heel (bass side) which is unnoticeable lest you scrutinize the craftsmanship excessively. Every functional feature here works fine; from the tuners to the electronics underlining some standard of dedication at the factory. Two things that makes this Iceman stand out in terms of value-for-money: 1) Playability. One of the best finished necks I've come across, suitable for all manner of playing - chords, taps, legatos. 2) Pickups. The Super 80 is ceramic-based but vintage voiced. This is basically a charged up PAF which conforms to your needs regardless of the genre. On that note, some shredders / metal heads out there might not fancy the rounded neck tone (aka Les Paul woman tone) but it's something an EQ / treble boost unit might cure. 

My only beef with the instrument - the bridge saddles are not slotted so if you detune & do not compensate the tension (with thicker gauged strings), intense bends would displace strings. Do not despair, saddle slotting is a user-friendly affair with the proper tools, of course. 

FInal rating: 94%

Ibanez: Iceman IC420 (bag included)

Availability: Swee Lee Co.

Price: $899

Pic: Ibanez

Review quickie: Ibanez AUP10N

The AUP10N is a guitarlele; a guitar trapped in ukulele form. From another perspective it's a ukulele with 6 strings. Unlike the conventional ukulele construction, the AUP body is carved / hollowed out from a block of wood so it's virtually a solid container with a 'lid' ie. the body's top. 

Likes

• construction / fit & finish
• tone
• price

Dislikes

• double hole bridge

From the start, I was intrigued by the body of this instrument; that carved out construction just makes it feel super sturdy. The fact that it's well made - no bumps / ill fitting edges - shows the level of expertise involved. Mind you, this isn't a normal ukulele construction (which is very much a guitar construction), this is another level of craftsmanship manifested into an instrument. The AUP feels exclusive from the get go. Tone-wise, the nylon string - solid sides / back interaction gives off that crispy tone that doesn't reside at the shrill end. The definition here is simply awesome if you thrive playing single notes. Chords sound full without muffling out like some ukuleles do, then again, this isn't one. Those nameless black tuners also did well in terms of functionality but due to the 'extra' two tuners on board, the instrument suffers from a neck dive but it's non-chronic once a strap is employed. The fact that one end of it gets attached to the nut area means a very good balance could be achieved almost immediately. The stereo sound port, in my opinion, has very little effect in limiting volume projection; the AUP10N remains loud & proud during play; would be interesting to have a plug in variation in time to come.

The only feature I detest (strictly personal) is the double hole bridge that necessitates an extra travel, due to its wraparound nature, when re-stringing; is this necessary? Yamaha's guitarlele employs a conventional bridge & is a familiar affair if one owns a classical guitar. 

The demand / need for a guitarlele is a niche interest. Yamaha had been having one in production for a while & it's not about to be discontinued. Implication - there is a demand for such a quirky musical instrument. The AUP is a well-made guitarlele & should appeal to the guitarist at heart who suffers from acoustic guitar lethargy at times. 

Final rating: 92%

Ibanez: AUP10N

Availability: Swee Lee Co.

List: $259

Pic: Ibanez

Bad cats

Bad Cat amps are now available at Swee Lee. If you are into boutique tube cleans & maybe that pushed crunch, do check them out. Yes, expect boutique prices as well. The last impressive clean tones that I came across (this side of Fender) was a Two Rock back at Davis GMC. 

Pic: GC

Review quickie: Ibanez AZ2203N

Ibanez had been generating rightful anxiety in the Strat camp since the inception of the AZ Series. The design departed from the traditional shredder image (RG et al), treading precariously on that oh so familiar Strat curves. This 2023, it's outright aggravation with the AZ2203; a shameless triple single coil take with no intentions of conflict management, it seems.

Likes:

• comfortable design
• neck profile
• pickups
• blend control
• quality hardware
• steel frets

Dislikes:

• blend control
• volume control - too near the  bridge pickup
• price

Conclusion

It's a Strat take by a non-Strat-inclined brand name & in my opinion, it's an outstanding manifestation. If you wish to look away from the Fender offerings when it comes to single coil considerations, this is it. Also, the design ergonomics ensure a non-Fender feel while still treading the Fender territory. The Seymour Duncan Fortuna continues to excel in providing the player with both traditional & contemporary tones. Please be reminded that this is an N version of the AZ, meaning - no cavity under the bridge to facilitate a floating set up. Of course, you can still float it by over-pronating the bridge ala SRV. 'Floating' is never a bridge type, it's how you set the bridge up. The absolute plus here is that neck profile, facilitating ease of movement without necessitating a thinner take.

The blend control cuts both ways; it either serves you or annoy you. I am someone who prefers a definite configuration so the blend function duplicating pickups setting in positions 2 & 4 is unnecessary & pointless. Ibanez, hopefully in time to come, should make this an option by turning it into a push-pull switch. Those of us who want a blend function at times, have a choice to activate it. There will be a maple fretboard version in the near future right, Ibanez?

Rating: 90%

Ibanez AZ2203N

• $2,699 (list)
• hard case included
• Available at Swee Lee Co.

Pic: Ibanez International

F-hole in SG

I mentioned this last year (CLICK) & to keep a lookout if Swee Lee would bring these in & they did. It's listing for $1,799 which, in my opinion, is a little steep & it comes with a bag only. However, this is a limited run stuff so it's gonna be a collector's item in time to come. I also like the fact that it has an ash body.

Pic: Gear news

On that note, someone here had brought these in as an independent seller & look at that price. That mark-up is excessive. In Japan, this guitar is listed for about SGD1,695 & factoring in shipping charges if you wish to buy direct from Japan, it would be SGD1.9K at most. I sincerely have no idea why it exceeds SGD2k, seriously, where did that come from? Folks, if there is an official dealer for a certain brand name in your country, it's best to enquire purchase-related stuff with them. If they cannot offer to secure an item for you, looking elsewhere is a good discourse. 

Acoustasonic Player - update

If you have a certain infatuation with the Acoustasonic Fenders, be informed that the Player (Mexican) version is now available at Swee Lee. It is $1,170 less than the American counterpart - that's a huge difference. The price of the Player Acoustasonic can get you a good entry level American or a mid-priced Japanese Fender so it needs a little re-thinking in terms of value-for-money.

Pic: Fender international

Supplementary review: PRS Silver Sky (maple fretboard)

Instead of an independent appraisal, this is a comparative perspective of the PRS Silver Sky. The initial review can be found here: CLICK. It’s the rosewood fretboard version & sports the exact details as the maple version, less the fretboard material, of course. I will treat this as a supplementary opinion based on that slight detail difference & focus on tonal concerns.

 

Tone

The Silver Sky maple fretboard (SSMF) guitar has an immediate difference in the top end. That’s right folks, the guitar has a more intrusive treble response making it brighter in all pickup positions. Brighter in a good & usable way of course. The single note definition here is impressive & that applies to the upper frets as well. For those of us who venture into this neck register, things can dissolve into an unpleasant, stubby & muffled sonic manifestation especially when significant overdrive is in use. Simply put, things would mud-out & there’s not much your amp & other external effects could do to address proceedings. So the maple fretboard did its job by preserving definition albeit the extra brightness. The SSMF would entice more soloists into its camp, the chorders among us would resort to the rosewood version for a warmer take on bundled notes. 

 

The other noteworthy detail here is feel. The maple fretboard has this close-grained texture that causes a little fight-back when it comes to movement. It’s a subtle call but those of us who are not speed-prone & take our time with every fretted note would feel a certain fullness / satisfaction when it comes to touch. You’d notice this sensation when you watch Eric Clapton play; he makes every fretting moment sensational & that’s a whole lot of maple under his fingertips. 

Unlike the rosewood version, the SSMF features outline bird inlays which looks classy with a contemporary appeal. This is definitely an aesthetic plus.

 

Conclusion

The way I see it, both the rosewood & maple versions of the SS are awesome in their respective applications. The commercial hindsight would tell us that PRS is making efforts to appeal to the Strat camp in its entirety, not just the rosewood fans. John Mayer prefers the 60s tone & the rosewood SS delivers that in substantial servings. He also mentioned, in one of his videos, that he’s averse to the top end shrill & the SSMF will crash into that territory if one is less mindful of one’s EQ settings. The review model, unlike the rosewood version that I tried, had no technical  issues; nothing was amiss in terms of playability. No bad frets, no set up anomalies – nothing. After the SSMF experience I must say that it’s not a substitute for its rosewood counterpart but a supplement. You can definitely be a fan of both. 

Rating: 95%

PRS Silver Sky (maple fretboard)

• Availability: Davis GMC / Swee Lee Co.
• Price: $2,999 (bag included)