Assassin 8

Oh man, SOLAR is offering the Assassin features in an 8-string format. The one you see here is the A1.81A (A for active pickup - it's a Fluence Open Core Red). The Assassin concept is fundamentally a black-out guitar featuring a single humbucker, a single control knob & red highlights for the pickup, inlay & truss rod cover - simplet yet very intimidating for those of us who dwell in the metal zone.

Pic: SOLAR

Assassins

A simple affair by SOLAR; single humbucking (active), non-whammy bridge & a single control knob. These specifications mean the Assassin models are appealing to a niche market but there's a strong following for such instruments. As for me, I wish there's a non-Evertune iteration. Loving the black-red theme. 

Pics: SOLAR

23 (2)

When I bought the 23, the last thing on my mind was to re-live some Burzum throwbacks. I'm aware Varg Vickernes played a Peavey PXD 23 III (above).

Pic: whatgear

Unlike Varg's my 23 is the starter pack version featuring a single humbucker. I'm drawn to this guitar for its single pickup feature as opposed to drawing affiliations with the dark lord of metal. I've taken the above pic with my living room lights at its brightest to show you its non-gloss body hence no light reflection to be seen anywhere. Yes, I've sanded down the previous finish & gave it a new satin coat. The perfect brown tone that matched the headstock's original finish was purely coincidental.

23

Another cheap & cheerful, not to mention worth my time & effort, resurrection episode. This is a Peavey Extreme 23, my kind of guitar but that body outline could have been more appealing.

To be continued...

Black Friday @ Swee Lee: Fender Tom Delonge

A little late but saw these guitars on sale at Swee Lee (Black Friday deals). These are the Fender Tom Delonge signature models, both the Starcaster & Strat versions are discounted but for the Strat, it only applies to the yellow version. I have no idea why this is the case. Guitar prices these days are unfriendly. After a good 20% off, the respective guitars are now sporting the discounted prices. These new figures, whether they are friendlier post-discount is really your call. These days, people are more willing to spend this much money on year-end holidays rather than buying a new musical instrument, unlike COVID times. Guitars sporting a single pickup is a niche appeal but now that these are on discounts, it might just be a good time to buy.

Pics: Fender

Special single

When you don't have funds for new gear, you butcher what you own to make it 'new'. 

Jokes aside, I have planned for this to happen for a while really, just lacking the motivation. I get turned off by the sunburst finish so turning it into a single pickup guitar - which is absolutely my thing - makes it more likeable. Just sharing something interesting here - this guitar is an American Special Stratocaster but it is using a Highway 1 neck. The next time you acquire an American Special guitar / bass & discovers a Highway 1 neck in use, be informed that it's a legit instrument. The American Special is basically a Highway 1 with a glossed over body. 

To be continued... 

LTD 2024

Guitardom is currently transfixed by the Ibanez 2024 releases which, as many would agree, contain limited appeal in terms of innovation. If the 2023 occurrences were indicative if what's to come, Ibanez will have stronger releases in Summer. I'm leaving the Ibanez interest behind in the mean time to take a look at what LTD has to offer. My first instalment would be highlighting the fact that LTD has propagated more single pickup guitars. This elegant white model you see above is the EC-01FT. LTD still has the 201 & Black / Arctic Metal models featuring single humbuckers at the helm. So nothing was removed, just additions. Judging by the limited images in the mean time, it looks like the EC-01FT has a less bulky neck heel profile. Unlike the 201, it has no body binding but has a pickguard instead.

There's also a single pickup Snapper this year but it's a baritone (SN-1 HT Baritone).

There are three Deluxe single pickup models this time; one being the PHOENIX 1001 you see above...

... a super Strat type FR equipped M-1001...

... & last but not least, the XJ-1 HT.

I have always believed that a single pickup guitar has a niche appeal & demand for these instruments would be limited. LTD might be suggesting otherwise.

Pics: ESP

Agility

 

This had been my (last) weekend's fix. Basically stayed home to work on ideas & thriving on just a single pickup. Might have forgotten to wipe the strings down because they were stained / black today. A deserving re-string today & onwards to my next adventure.

'78 eruption

Recent launch by the EVH brand; the '78 Eruption (Striped Series). I'm usually not interested in signature models but then again, this isn't one. It's Van Halen's own brand name & it's made to get that repro feel going. Single pickup - the greatest draw for me. Non-locking bridge; another plus. Ugly, big 70s Fender  headstock, to me it's a touch of class. Made in Mexico & retailing for USD1,899... that's gonna be a deal breaker for many of us.

Pic: EVH

Simple melody

No regrets; simple, single coil goodness.

To be continued... 

LTD 2022 - Singles

I'm still looking through the LTD 2022 releases. Nothing 'new' just some interesting iterations. This year, they have entry level, single pickup models. In fact, they have a few, beginning with this EC-201...

... the Explorer-esque EX-201. That's right - reverse headstock ...

... the super shred-friendly M-201HT ...

... & the TE-201 (I still don't fancy that headstock). Each guitar is finished in black from one end to the other & feature 24 frets. These are simple, utilitarian guitar with a no-frills one pickup performance. You either embrace the limitations or move on with other models with more pickups on board. 

Single pickup guitars, well, they are risky business. You either have a local fan-base for them & enjoy good sale or you don't. Judging by these releases, the implication here is that the single pickup models, across the board, are doing well. No point making more of these if they don't bring in the money. I look forward to see these here at Davis GMC but it might take a while. These are affordable models & I sincerely hope the current shipping charges won't drive prices up excessively like they did to the PRS & Edwards guitars.

Pics: ESP Guitars

LTD 2022 - sigs

Hetfield was seen playing this live last year so no surprise it's a production model this year. Camo finishes are cool, regardless of the guitar.

This belongs to DJ Ashba. I don't know him (but I know he exists & his connection to GnR & stuff) & have not heard him play but the fact that it features a single pickup & retains that traditional TE/ST type headstock is a good thing. I prefer this headstock outline compared to the Snapper version.

Goat Whore's Sammy Duet signature - another cool single pickup model, but this one sporting an FR 1000 bridge. I like that chamfering at the 24th fret treble side; besides being objective, it makes the instrument look wicked.

Type A single

Aw, darn! I get all hyped up just by looking at this (A2.6AG). Thank you, Solar Guitars, for recognizing that small segment of players who just need a no-frills, single pickup guitar to get things going. In fact, it's all we need to bring out the best in us. Can we look forward to this one being available here? Of course not. I don't want to get started with the ineptitude of the Solar dealer here. Enough. 

Pic: Solar Guitars

Mega

Spent time with the LP CM yesterday. Gave it a re-string, Ernie Ball's Mega Slinky (10.5 - 48). This is my only Gibson equipped with a thicker than standard string gauge set & tuned down half step (hence the thicker gauge). Despite alluding to some heavy music applications, this one handles Abba & Erasure songs well. 

I'm not an Ernie Ball fan when it comes to strings, in fact, I rank this brand name the lowest in terms or reliability out of the package. EB strings are meant to be used immediately upon purchase, delay this & rust spots will start to appear. I was at Swee Lee last Saturday & purchased this set to try. I may not be a fan but it's not excluded entirely from my considerations. I think I'm being fair here. Thanks to Swee Lee for bringing in oddball / niche gauge sets. You won't find 10.5s easily in other stores. 

Bound Esquire

This is quite the buzz in the mean time; Squier's Esquire. It's a fresh release with not much details to be had. Even the official Squire website has not featured this model (yet).

It's kinda special because it features a double bound body, it's something 'extra' that's not found in the Fender version. The dark wood fretboard (laurel) is the other difference. If these make it here (currently comes in 3 finishes - blue / black / burst), it should be in the $600 +/- bracket. Full model citation: Squier CV 60 Custom

Pics: Thomann

Single V

Darn - Single pickup V-type by Solar Guitars (V2.6AG). Darn - Solar Guitars dealer here has next to zero interest in updating their current line-up despite the recent addition (of older models). 

70th Esq

Current GAS - Fender's 70th Anniversary Esquire & it's a recent release. This particular blonde with the black single ply 'guard is really the works. OK if you are a Tele fan & you got that vintage vibe going in you, it might make sense. Listing for USD1,999, it's definitely an 'affordable' piece of collectible; that's right folks, there are only 2020 pieces out there for grabs. Aw, darn. 

Limitations, focus

Stuck in a rut- sort of. However, this approach usually works; I'll just grab a single pickup guitar & focus on chromatics for like 10min. Beyond that, the mind struggles to break away from monotony & that's when creativity kicks in. Have to be disciplined, though- 10min of induced boredom. 😁

Omega LP

Holiday eve- managed to drop by Beez's to get this done. The former pickup in there was a Bare Knuckle Black Hawk with tremendous amount of output & sizzling distortion but that's not it for me. I prefer something with clarity but not piercing in terms of tone. It shouldn't mud-out at high gain settings as well & Seymour Duncan's Omega is a worthy replacement. Not a Mark Holcomb fan in this respect, I just hear what works for me & disregard the endorser associations.

How uncluttered things are when you have only one pickup to deal with. Thanks to Beez once again for keeping things in check.

Subtracting SUB1

This is my Music Man SUB1 guitar, bought from Davis GMC in 2005. The SUB1 range were the only models they had in store & at that point in time, I was hoping the EBMM instruments would be distributed by Davis GMC thereafter but apparently, things didn't follow up well. It wasn't a boutique MM model that's for sure. Back then, Fender did a Highway 1 & the concept of just finishing the instrument in satin instead of a gloss overcoat to reduce cost, caught on- Gibson did their Faded series at about the same time. Music Man did their SUB1 which was discontinued in 2006.

Just last week, I brought it out of hibernation & the electronics were cranky which no contact cleaner could cure. The main culprit was the corroded input jack. That was when I decided to give it a make over to serve my needs. I sent the original pickguard as a template reference to TYMC & they did a bridge humbucker only version which you see here. Controls were reduced to a solitary volume knob & everything electronics-related was handled by the master himself, Mr. Beez. 

So here it is, my revised MM SUB1 guitar which I think should not have been discontinued. EBMM couldn't keep up with the production costs to maintain the wonderful price so that spelt the end of this series. The Sterling range currently offer a SUB series of instruments which are much confused with this model. I would tell you that the SUB1 is a solid player & worth every cent.