Thanks & goodbye: Brian Moore i91

Spending my final few moment with Greenie here before handing it over to its new owner tomorrow: Re-string, fret polish, re-condition fretboard & final wipe down. Those Tesla pickups sound superb in this guitar. Preparing for the upcoming year end & unemployment. 

Green Tuesday

I think my ears are a little weary listening to Duncans & DiMarzios so playing this one today. Pickups are Teslas. Didn't play for too long, just a quick 30min post-dinner. Was a little lethargic but I had this tune ringing in my head & had to let it out. Also, kept to the bridge pickup all the way through. What I like about the Nitro is that it sounds like the Duncan JB; very close. FYI the Brian Moore i91 here is Korean. Serial number suggests it's made by World Music, the same people who handle Schecter, Jackson & other notable brand names.

Air tech

I've not touched this one for a while so it got a re-string last night & some playing time. I got this during one of Yamaha's sale event where I could actually be there early before everything got snapped up. This was the last piece in store & it's dinged at the bass side of the fretboard edge. I like everything about this guitar less the pickup selector switch which is a rotary knob there. You need at least two fingers to turn it & gets very challenging when you are holding a pick at the same time. Also, I've stopped using a battery for this guitar as all it does is power the pickup selector light which I can do without. 

This is a super light guitar due to the layered body construction that houses air, mostly. AIR here refers to Yamaha's patented Alternative Internal Resonance. Supposedly, it lets the body vibrate via metal tubes that are fixed under the bridge. I'm trying to reconcile the fact that body resonance is an awesome acoustic feature against the pickups' inability to pick this up (pun intended). Whatever design engineering is involved here, the RGX A2 has a good semi-acoustic voicing that sounds more solid than the average semi. 

I'm also glad to have TESLA pickups in there instead of the default pickups as these are higher output units, more responsive to distortion. Seriously, I wish Yamaha would adopt this design tech into their Pacifica models.

JaGHS

Spent some time with the Modern Player Jaguar, before & after treatment time. It was a smooth affair at the Cancer Center today so my chemo session ended before 4pm; that's a very rare feat for the nursing team as they usually get overwhelmed by 1pm. That's when everyone's back from lunch & resumes treatment. Anyway, had a GHS set of 10.5s in there. The standard practice for a 24" scale guitar is a set of 11s but this doesn't suit everyone, depending on their handling nature of course. I'm in the light touch camp & the Jaguar here is in standard tuning so the tension is about right for me. I don't like strings that fight back, it induces lethargy & mistakes.

Also, swapped out the default string retainers for the ones you see here. The round surface means strings will not get snagged by sharp edges & snap after repeated travel (during tuning that is). FYI, Fender's Modern Player Series (discontinued) are the only Fender-labelled headstock that are made in China. You might think that it's all about cutting as much corners when it comes to Chinese made instruments & selling them for as much as possible but the MP range of instruments proved otherwise. I've had positive experiences with them - at least the ones I tried in person - & ended up buying them. 😅

The Tesla pickups here are such a blast. They can give full humbucking pickups a run for the money in terms of heavy chugging. I'm just glad I snapped them up while they were still available. These are the VR-P90  to be precise, nothing high output but they have their sweet moments under high gain settings. With that said, I had to lower the bridge P90 quite a bit to prevent wolf tones from chiming in during overdriven moments.

Solar B

 

So they finally did it - a Solar bass. The smart move here is letting the brand name gather a good / strong following before introducing variations to the fold. 

Some stuff: 1) The body is sungkai. The Malays / Indonesians would know it as jati. English - it's teak & something more common in the furniture industry. Teak is a hard, heavy wood & it's no surprise they use it for bass. 2) The pickups are TESLA so if you still think these are second-rated, they are actually good stuff, just not commonly used by the big brand names in guitars & basses. 3) It does not come with a bag. Bummer. Currently, it's only offered in this A (bolt-on) series with a 5-string variation. 

Selling: Ibanez RG460 (SOLD)

Letting this go for a good price, please help spread the word- much appreciated 😎

• Ibanez: RG460
• Soft case included
• Tesla pickups: FH-1 (b)/ TV-S1 (n)/ TV-S2 (m)
• Other mods: Sprague Orange Drop capacitor/ Ernie Ball 5-way selector
• No reservations/ trades, strictly self-collect at CCK mrt station
• Queries/ confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $450 (FINAL, non-nego)

Item SOLD 😎

Green day

This was my final re-string for 2018, the Brian Moore i91 guitar (Korea). It's an 8-year old, still going strong & sounding good.

Thanks to this trio of Tesla pickups which will stay put here: Nitro (b)/ VR-1 (m)/ Plasma 3 (b). 

Final Darco pack of 9s went into this one. The Darcos were clearing for less than $5 each during the 2018 year-end sale. If you aren't too fussy with regards to feel & durability, these are very acceptable guitar strings. 

Hope it's been a good 2019 you so far (a little early to say isn't it?). 

Feline weekend

Yesterday's playing time with the Jaguars- Chinese (L) vs Japanese (R).

OK so, I didn't really pit one against the other. I simply love the Chinese for its mahogany + P-90s. This is really a winning combo. Fender should offer more Jaguars with simple electronics but some of us are rooted in tradition despite the need for something manageable controls in terms of electronics. I also like how clear the P-90s are under lots of distortion but the humming is unbearable. Thank good ness for noise gates.

The Japanese started out as a loser. Yes, I like the guitar but not really the tone. If you think all Fenders sound brilliant & represent a flagship of sorts in single coil territory, the Jaguar is best described as an under-achiever. The twang wasn't really convincing plus the bottom end isn't really there. So there you have it, double whammy (no pun intended). All that dissent till the pickup swap. The current single coils in there are a pair of Mojotone Knockouts; higher outputs for some real punch. Took some courage to order them for an unproven performance & a real chance of not hearing any difference but they proved otherwise. Worth every cent as they are not cheap.

Hope you people had a better week than me. But I still play my guitars 😋

Selling: LTD ST-213 (final price) SOLD

Letting go of my LTD ST-213 (ash), summary of specification changes:

• string retainer- switched to the rounded version for a snag-free application
• pickups- TESLA Plasma 1 in all positions
• bridge string saddles- Graphtech Tusq
• tone cap- Orange Drop

The usual applies:

• Self-collect @ CCK mrt station (open to nego on days I'm free)
• No reservations/ trades
• Confirmation/ queries: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $380 (final)

Jag-la

Was at Beez's yesterday to get this pair of Teslas into my Fender MP Jaguar. The default pickups were above-average clean but not that enticing when it comes to overdrive. By the way, Teslas are going for 25% off at SV Guitars this sale season.

Did a capacitor replacement as well- it's a Montreux Retrovibe this time.

Last but not least, a quick re-string with the no-frills D'Addario XL set of 10s. Thank you Davis GMC for keeping prices reasonable! 

I'm very happy with this guitar not that it bears the Fender name, in fact, it means nothing at all. I'm fortunate to have come across a mahogany-P-90 pairing which is more meaningful to me. The bolt-on construction means there's more snap than what a Gibson could have offered in terms of tone, with the same combo. The Modern Player series were deemed a pathetic attempt by purists in selling the Fender name. This camp prefers to own a high end Squier than forking out money for any basement dwelling Fender model. But a deeper reading would reveal the fact that those people who handled the afore-mentioned glorified Squiers were indeed the ones handling the Modern Player series. 

Some (recommended) stuff

You might have seen a similar set up to the one depicted above; guitar- pedal- pocket/ desk top amp. I'm an advocate of simple set ups  especially when focus is the order of the day, not a flashy display of possession. Despite the fundamental line up of gear here, it's actually a display of discrete quality & certainly not a boutique affair:

1. LTD ST-213 I refer to my LTD instruments as 'LTD' & not ESP LTD because it's not an ESP to begin with. No doubt, the LTD label is a sub company of the ESP name, I do not wish to ride on the safety of a higher brand name & let the reference be; it is as it should be referred to, not something else. With that said, I am totally happy with the Series 200 LTD instruments & it's unfortunate that the manufacturer had decided to do away with these models early this year. Unfortunate because the ST-213 is a quality instrument from head to toe, much overlooked by people who are too busy chasing after a Fender-backed alternative when hunting for instruments in this price bracket.
2. Tesla Plasma 1 Tesla is one of Korea's pride & joy in terms of quality manufacturing. Despite the different ingredients used for pickup concoction unlike its American counterparts, this brand name still deliver the goods. Totally happy with these pickups in this guitar.
3. Graphtech Tusq I'm totally happy with Graphtech products as well, the Tusq range included. They are affordable. They are reliable. They are fuss-free. The reason why I have them here- to replace the default set of vintage-type saddles with protruding screws that kept jabbing my hand. While at it, why not invest in something with a little extra in terms of delivery? So, there.
4. Amphenol plugs Beez introduced me to this brand of cable plugs when he was still operating at Roxy Square. I remember bringing him a crackling cable for a re-solder job. The soldering came off at the plug end simply because the default rubber/ plastic plugs were not meant to last. He mentioned the Amphenol brand as a personal recommendation & I gave it a try. They lasted till today. Eight years & counting.
5. CMATmods I first bought a CMATmods pedal from SV Guitars at its Marsiling branch. I don't look up to boutique brand names because they are costly. Not all boutique pedals out there are pleasant sounding in terms of tones, the cost to satisfaction ratio is bordering on the ridiculous. The availability of affordable alternatives just proves the fact that boutique brand names are selling you subjectivity more than anything else. However, the CMATmods people know what they are doing & they don't promise you something they can't deliver. I own three CMATmods pedals in the mean time, the Brownie here is one of them.
6. Blackstar I must say the Blackstar brand had gained positive momentum over the years not just based on reputation per se but on delivery. I will give my backing to their non-digital amps any time & these amps are worthy drive-wise as well as cleans. The FLY 3 desk top amp here is in my opinion, a break through; something this small yet pleasant sounding for a quick grab-&-play application. Highly recommended.

LTD singles

Good Friday morning! It's another weekend ahead of us. You might have seen this guitar of mine previously loaded with Seymour Duncan pickups: CLICK

Just yesterday, I got it de-Duncanized not that I gave up on Seymour Duncan pickups, but I'm returning it to its former glory featuring a trio of non-stacked humbucking pickups. There were no plans to have its default pickups do the job, I went with Tesla this time round, a trio of Plasma 1s in all positions. 

Why bother? I'm still in the single coil itch in the mean time. My John Page & Edwards were the most played guitars recently & their single coils in there had proven its worth; there is still life in planet overdrive even if you don't employ humbuckers in your instruments. With Teslas in this LTD, it means that I have a line up of single coil equipped instruments featuring different brand names for variety's sake. 

The Teslas are smooth in the neck & middle positions so if you are looking for a brash, SRV-type twang, they are not quite available. However, the fundamental single coil twang is still in tact; more top end definition without the lower frequencies getting in the way. The bridge Plasma 1 is the twangiest of them all & it might be a little too sharp-sounding for some of us but I like it this way. 

This episode proved two things: 1. You don't need a Fender guitar for good single coil tones- you need good single coils. Many of us ignored the pickups consideration entirely, we were blinded by the brand name priority on many occasions. 2. Good overdrive tones come with clear objectives & singular perspectives will usually end up with more confusion than accomplishments. Ask yourselves what you wish to achieve before splurging good money on upgrades. Chances are, you only need to spend on the crucial consideration & not re-vamp your entire rig. Also, leave conventions behind & go with your gut feelings. 

Thank you once again to Master Beez for the quick & dandy electronics job as always. FYI, this LTD ST-213 had been discontinued WEF 2016. What a waste.

Selling: Tesla VR Extreme (set)

Selling as a set only, Tesla's VR Extreme. The bridge model is an F-spaced version. Screws & springs included.

• Selling: TESLA VR Extreme set (high output)
• Condition: 8.5/10 (springs + screws included)
• Self-collect: CCK mrt station
• No reservations/ trades
• Queries/ confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $75 (final)

Fender: MP Jazzmaster HH... pickups

Most of the time, I'm at odds with what the manufacturer offers in the guitar in terms of pickups. It's namely due to the fact that I'm inclined towards what I like to hear rather than what the manufacturer suggests. The default humbuckers in my Jazzmaster HH were replaced with a pair of Tesla Plasma X-1. The default pickups fared rather well when it comes to clean & crunchy tones but at saturated drive settings, they made the instrument sound below par. The X-1 gives off a spiked midrange tone in the bridge while the neck counterpart bags lots of clarity for solos- my kinda duo. The ones you see here are covered, you can purchase these covers at TYMC for under $5 (for a pair).

Selling: Douglas (by Agile) Grendel 725

I have a 7-string coming in so this one's up for grabs :-) It's about 2 months old, bag included.

• Selling: Douglas (by Agile) Grendel 725 (7-string, 25.5" scale length)
• Condition: 9/10
• Pickups: TESLA Plasma 7-1 in both positions
• Push-pull coil split (tone knob)
• Capacitor: Sprague Orange Drop
• No reservations/ No trades
• Queries/ confirmation: dark1349@hotmail.com
• Self-collect: CCK mrt station/ Sengkang mrt station (after 8.00PM)
• Price: $399 (final)

Selling: TESLA Plasma 3 humbucker set (SOLD)

Selling: Tesla PLASMA 3 humbuckers (F-Spaced/ Trembucker spacing for bridge model):

• TESLA Plasma 3 humbuckers (no screws/ springs)
• Condition: 8.5/10 (rust-free)
• Self-collect: CCK mrt station or Sengkang MRT station after 8.00PM
• No reservations/ No trades
• Queries/ confirmation: dark1349@hotmail.com
• Price: $39 each or $70 both (final)

Selling: Tesla Plasma 1 (middle)

Selling: Tesla single coil for middle position (as indicated on pickup's base plate). Staggered pole pieces for vintage goodness :-)

• Selling: Tesla Plasma 1 single coil pickup for middle position (staggered pole-pieces)
• Condition: 8/10 (pole-pieces are rust-free). NOTE: pickup cover is a replacement unit hence no 'TESLA' sticker there
• No reservations/ no trades
• Self-collect: CCK mrt station
• Queries/ conformation: dark1349@hotmail.com
• Price: $30 (final)

Douglas: Grendel (2)

Did the ritual to my Douglas Grendel today. A push-pull coil split switch...

Orange drop capacitor. This pic also shows you the interior appearance of the control cavity; a well-finished affair, I should say.

A pair of Tesla Plasma 7-1 humbuckers. I hear good stuff from this pair in my Schecter Omen 7 & they did well here- more definition, less mush from the 7th (B) string.

After much playing & physical scrutiny, I am giving my Grendel a quick appraisal:

The Douglas Grendel is a cheap guitar, there's no hiding that. But there's also no hiding that it was well made; from one end to the other, it's top notch. It's not a 'wanna be' guitar, it didn't draw inspiration from any particular brand name model out there so you won't feel played out by some false expectations. 

I need to remind potential buyers out there that the neck profile here is the fat & wide type, coupled with a rather flat radius (13.7"), it could be quite a challenge to some of us who are too accustomed to a 6-string. Compounding this experience would be the fact that the manufacturer employed a 'uniform neck profile', meaning- the thickness at the first fret, traveling up to the 12th, only experiences a 0.5mm difference. Please keep this in mind.

Electronics-wise, the Grendel is equipped with budget features so the pickups there are the typical 'get-by' grade, nothing fantastic. In fact, some of us might find it excessively bland across frequencies. One of the pots was extra stiff & I did away with it yesterday.

All in all, the Grendel is arguably a worthy 7-string to own. I wouldn't quite recommend this to players who are starting out with an extra string in their guitar, due to the neck profile. However, if you find skinny necks detestable, this would be a good pick. It's value for money, no doubt about that, it just need a little getting used to.

Schecter: Omen 7... TESLA-rised

Ah... my Schecter Omen 7 is back to life. Recent ailments:

• Dead pot
• 3-way pickup selector- unreliable contact

Sent it to Beez for parts replacement. The selector issue was no surprise, other Schecter owners related to me how theirs couldn't maintain a good contact despite have them sprayed (with contact spray) countless times. My advice to you- get it replaced, it doesn't cost much.

While I was at it, I managed to swap the pickups with a pair of TESLA Plasma 7s- yeah! I love how these sound in this guitar; lots of distortion clarity + a little surprise in the cleans :-)

Tesla: P-90 humbucker

If you think I'm trying to pull a fast one on you by saying those pickups in my Yamaha RGX-A2 are Tesla humbuckers but they actually aren't- here's a closer look at the Tesla label on the pickup cover. These are actually prototypes, not in standard production yet but Mike (SV Guitars) were given a complementary set so I have to (strongly) convince him to sell them to me because I need them. He he... This is the reason why you can't see them at the official Tesla homepage.

DiMarzio has the DLX series pickups for the job but I'm not too keen on them (I've heard them in action in one of my LPs before like more than a decade ago, that was before my cat died) because I know they won't appeal to me in terms of tone; I prefer Tesla's crunch in drive settings. I just wanna give these Tesla a try & they get my thumbs up.