Ibanez: FR420

The Ibanez FR series are not new this year but they were only available here in January 2013. This was definitely on my to-get list, it's a simple guitar, testing the player for his abilities more than a testimony of having locking hardware in an instrument & making the owner feel good. I held back because the FR420 was introduced this year so I was really hoping it's gonna make it to these shores, otherwise, I have to make arrangements for special purchases which I know will not make me happy (extra costs involved- GRRR...). 

But thanks to the forces that be, the FR420 was in stock in the second quarter of 2013 & here it is now. I'm not a sucker for the sunburst finish which was not the reason I held back but the FR420 sports an ash body while the FR320, mahogany. It's not about any superiority issues- no. I just prefer mine to be a little brighter because of the pickups I am gonna put in there. 

One more thing, my friends. The FR320 is also offered in white but this is a regional exclusive finish (meaning: offered in some countries only, it's not offered in the USA) & it's discontinued so if you like it white, grab one while it's still available. Also, the FR420 is not offered in the USA, the FR320 is not offered in Japan. This means, we are one of the fortunate people to have both models in the stores here. Here are some prices (NETT) for your reference:

• FR320 (black): SGD549
• FR320 (white): SGD630
• FR420 (sunburst): SGD639

Thank you, brother FAIZAL (Swee Lee BB), for the assistance, as always :-)

The telecaster of death (no country music allowed)

Death by corrosion- this Switchcraft input jack belongs to my Fender American Standard Telecaster & recently it went dead. It's not about a superior brand name when it comes to parts deterioration; it will happen, it's a matter of time. You just need to know where to get the replacement parts that best fit your needs. So in addition to the dead pots & switches, it's off to Beez's...

Here it is, my sonic Telecaster of death is now back to life (forgive the pun). Considering it's only the second time the parts died & required replacement since 1998, I must say it's well taken care of. Oh by the way, when I bought this guitar back at Swee Lee before the turn of the century, I recall this salesperson who attended to me then said clearly, "Telecasters are for country music only." Screw that, of course. Thanks Beez, for the exceptional workmanship.

Gibson: SGJ

Gibson's SGJs are now available @ Swee Lee as well- $799. Unlike its LP counterpart, the SGJ has 2 more frets. Everything else pertaining to the 'J' LP model applies to the SG as well.

Lite update

If you are interested in the Cube Lite, it's listing for $279 at Swee Lee...

Epiphone: Nighthawk

I played this yesterday; it was there, it was ready so I just had to hear it in action.

The first thing that got to me was its weight- it's light. Coupled with that smaller-than-Les Paul body, it gives good playability. However, do take note that this guitar, despite its Gibson bearings, sports a Strat scale length (25.5"). This has every implication to tone- it sounds snappier, less of that boomy Les Paul growl but that's quite achievable if your amp is up to it. It would also mean that the middle single coil there isn't a pretentious feature; it gives off a pleasant voicing. In fact, the Nighthawk's coil split switch allows you to manifest some Strat-type single coil voicings from both the neck & bridge humbuckers, in combination with that middle pickup. Neat. But in full humbucking mode, the neck's mini humbucker might throw some of us off with that raspier than standard neck tone. But all's good in terms of clarity. Slim tapered D-profile neck on this one so it's a very playable guitar indeed.

The nighthawk is a nice alternative to both a Les Paul & SG design. It's another singlecut guitar out there but it's a valid existence in terms of variation. Recommended for players who aren't too particular about owning a semi-quirky guitar with a touch of class.

Epiphone: Nighthawk

List: $559

Availability: Swee Lee Co (BB branch)

New bosses at Swee Lee

These new BOSS pedals are now available at Swee Lee. If you are interested, it's the time to hear them in action. No prices have been finalized but as of this evening (9 March 2013), the Tera Echo is tagged for $225 (net). I kinda like the DA-2, tell you more soon.

Meeting nobody who is actually somebody

Yesterday, I met this gentleman at Swee Lee. He's a nobody. That's before you know who he is.

He's referred to as 'Richie-san' by the Swee Lee chaps. Mr. Richie is actually one of the directors at Ibanez back in Japan. I appreciate what he is doing; he goes round the world to see how the Ibanez distributors are doing, talk to them, get good feedback from them & accept opinions & suggestions. Even from someone like me.

I managed to talk to Richie-san thanks to an introduction by Mr. Brendon at Swee Lee Bras Basah. It was an enjoyable few minutes because he knew exactly what I was talking about in terms of instrument details. This is the type of person every manufacturer should have (I'm sure there already people like him employed by the big names in guitar) in their boards.

Some issues discussed:

1. Ibanez Premium series- Mr Richie was asking how's the reception of the Premium series here in Singapore. I have no exact figures to relate to (because I'm not a Swee Lee employee, obviously). I told him frankly that when it comes to Ibanez, players would like to see a 'package'- good workmanship & impressive electronics/hardware. The Premium series did well in terms of QC but the hardware & electronics are somehow a little 'restrained' to keep costs down. At this price point, players would definitely want a more appealing spec. The other put-off was definitely the 'Made in Indonesia' tag.
2. Lower tier Prestige series- From where he was standing, he picked up an RG1450 & asked how's the reception of this guitar. Is it more desirable than the Premium models since they are all in the same price bracket? This showed how versed he was when it comes to product knowledge, so for someone of his stature, he's definitely one not to mess with. I told him the RG1450 is a compromised model, it's supposed to be a Prestige offering but it's featuring a semi-defunct bridge (Edge Pro) & not everyone is a fan of a satin finish guitar. These he took note of.
3. What's your favourite Ibanez guitar?- Mr. Brandon told Richie-san how many Ibanez instruments I own & this entailed into the naming of my favourite, trustworthy, treasured pick- it's my S540, definitely. He was quick to say that it's an old model but I told him the older S-Series (as well as other series in the same era) were 'honest' offerings; preferred wood (mahogany), impressive electronics (the older Quantum humbuckers in them were American made by DiMarzio) & that superb Edge/Lo-Pro Edge bridges. These are tried & trusted specs, they worked & appealed to many Ibanez fans & we are still upset because these features (not all of them) had to be done away with- seriously, we know it's down to cost. We need to take the cue from Vai & Satriani, 2 of the most respected & long-standing Ibanez users- they still prefer their original Edge bridges so why should we differ?

Mr. Richie-san thanked me for my time but I really hoped he would make his subsequent visit offical; maybe Swee Lee could organize a mini dialogue between the directors & Ibanez fans here which would be fruitful for both camps, I'm sure.

Yesterday was a good day.

The Leeb guitar

This is happening later today @ Swee Lee BB showroom- no entry charges. You would want to be there after watching this clip:

Available: RG721

Here's good news to all you hardcore followers of the RG721...

... it's available at Swee Lee now, price as depicted above. :-) Price check:

• Bentley Music (M'sia): RM2,450 (SGD982)
• Swee Lee Co. (S'pore): SGD980
• Online: USD699 (before shipping charges)

PS: Happy end-of-August, everyone...

Ibanez: RG920M

One other note-worthy Ibanez making its debut at Swee Lee is the RG920M. Maple fretboard- that's right + a couple of DiMarzio IBZ humbuckers. A fancy model? Not really, just a fancy quilted maple top for some eye candy. At test time, prices are not available yet but it should exceed $1K, just by a tad, that'd be my guess.

Variety!

Quit whining- we now have a good range of mid-priced Ibanez models with different body wood to choose from. Above pic: (From top to bottom): RG370 (basswood)/ RG470MHZ (mahogany)/ RG470AHZ (ash). They feature the same hardware & bridge type (EZ-II thumbs-up!) so these pretty much give you a fair comparison across models. Price-wise, they are also in the same bracket. The RG470 models are pending price listing but inferring from the tier they're from & the features on board, they shouldn't exceed $800.

I'm expecting this comment: Basswood so there's more bass in there, right? :-/

Ibanez JCs

It's a good summer over at State-side; Ibanez's J-Custom finally made it there- RG20126...

We have our J-Customs here before but the RG8420 is new at Swee Lee's BB showroom.

It's interesting to see that Ibanez had given them different model references because by the looks of it, they are identical. However, the difference lies under that maple top; the RG20126 sports an alder body while the RG8420 is mahogany. Cult Ibanez fans would be a little annoyed not seeing DiMarzios in these top tier models (both guitars featur Duncan's C5 (B) & Jazz (N). I'd reckon they'd wait for other models to come by.

I've tried the RG8420 a few days ago through a tube amp & it's one heck of a player. No, not because it features my preferred pickup brand but because it's a well-made, good-sounding instrument in its own right. I'm not keen on one though due to that vine inlay as it alludes too much to the JEM; I'm not into elaborate fretboard markings so I'd give this one a miss.

Ibanez: RG2XXV

One of the current highlights (forgive the pun) at Swee Lee's BB showroom is the Ibanez Anniversary RG2XXV. Like the S1XXV before it, it's a novelty commemoration; there's nothing special about this guitar save for the fact that it's been given an anniversary assignment. I'm not being too dismissive of this one, I believe I'm giving fair warning to prospective buyers who would be checking it out in the hope of discovering something new- please approach this one like any other RGs currently out there. Maybe you're discovering neon pink/ yellow & going head over heels over it, well, good for you.

Ibanez did a wise thing by pricing it in the same bracket as the standard RG3XX models, so someone shopping for an RG would be a little swayed by the fact that for the same amount of money, he could own a limited production model instead. Despite my obvious belittling of its reverence, it's indeed a worthy player as far as QC & playability go. In fact, I'm recommending it to those of you who are truly considering a virtuous RG to invest in, I'd say go for it- ignore the loud colours, of course.

Ibanez RG470MHZ

Was out guitar testing yesterday :-) Ibanez's RG470MHZ is now available at Swee Lee (BB) branch (pending price listing). Simply love the gloss-free finish. The guitar per se is a lively, bright-sounding unit, well-made as well.

We'd be quick to dismiss this guitar as bass-deficient but keep in mind the nature of its manifestation- the dual action locking whammy bridge + gloss-free body are crucial factors in accepting what it is capable of doing. If you are keen on the build & playability but put off by the tone (this happened to me)- the pickups have to go, unless you are a firm believer of the INF pickups.

BOSS pedals: Price revision @ Swee Lee

BOSS pedals- price revision at Swee Lee (BB showroom), majority are in NETT figures.

Swee Lee BB showroom sale: Some stuff to consider

As promised, some recommendations for tomorrow's grab-&-go event @ Swee Lee's BB showroom. There is a super budget corner near the entrance (see above pic- thanks Yadni!) where discontinued & forgotten models are displayed on a mini stage- these guitars/ basses are subject to more than 70% off their list prices. 

A very good bargain would be the above Peavey Predator Plus (but not in the above green finish) going for only $144 (without bag). It's in a superb condition- fresh strings & untarnished hardware, great for back-ups & beginner moments.

Many amps clearing for a good price, namely Epiphone, Laney, Washburn & Randall. The one you see above is less than $100 after discount- good considerations for starters & those who wish to stash extra gear under your office workstations, for instance :-)

I've worked closely with the BB showroom team (this time round- hopefully there's a next time as well) to sieve out the discontinued Ibanez models so look out for a good clearance price tomorrow. List prices are definitely 50% off, NETT prices are subject the usual 10% but the discontinued models- look forward to at least 60% off (expect even more on selected models). If you are in the market for an above-average, fixed bridge Ibanez from the Prestige range, do consider the RGA121 (discontinued- pic above), ignore the sparkle finish & get on with a good guitar.

Ditto the RG1570, a great no-frills Prestige model to work with.

If it's within your means to consider something higher up the tier, the RG3570 (discontinued) should be on your list...

... as well as the 2010 version of the Ibanez Universe (note the Edge Pro bridge instead of the current Lo-Pro Edge).

If you have any queries pertaining to Ibanez guitars, I'll be checking e-mail constantly till midnight or you can post them up in the comments section.

Great clearance at upcoming Swee Lee (BB) sale

The reason why there is no discount amount disclosed in the upcoming Swee Lee Sale poster (BB showroom) is because selected items are going for 70% off list prices. For instance, all Laney are clearing at the aforementioned discount rate (Ditto Epiphone & Washburn amps). If you are looking for a worthy purchase, the LC15 combo you see above is a good consideration, after the discount goodness, it's not even $400... I'd document some recommendations tomorrow after further scouting (most probably a post-8.00PM update), I had a hard time looking round today due to my stiff neck.

Yes, the store will be under renovation thereafter but it won't be an entire closure, work would be done in phases at selected areas of the store. Look forward to a revamped & more inviting store arrangement in time to come.

Good night.

Charvel: San Dimas Style 2 HH

I've chosen Charvel's San Dimas Style 2 HH among the ones offered for clearance at Swee Lee (BB branch), I picked this one especially because I deem it as the best among the crop. I've told myself to steer clear of Floyd Rose bridges but that's not a pressing consideration, even the red finish & Tele style body/ Strat headstock outline did not bother me. All I need to know/ see is that this San Dimas is a top drawer in terms of QC & tone.

The pickups in there are Seymour Duncans; JB (bridge) & '59 (neck); no strangers to me. Their chemistry aren't exclusive though, the guitar's alder body & maple fretboard did the rest for ear candy. I've heard too many guitars sporting a Floyd Rose bridge & Duncan JB pickup sounding thin in the lower frequency but not this guitar. The key contributor is definitely its overall weight- enough to make those pickups sing.

The guitar features a 3-way Les Paul style toggle switch & a solitary volume control, the very 'open' tone is a wonderful encounter for those of us who do not wish to be bothered by mushy distortion.

See those washers & bolts in the package? That's the necessary supplement for the Dunlop StrapLock; yes, it's the default strap hardware for this guitar. Oh, the tuners are Grovers.

If you are looking for something worthy which require very little/ no mods to service your needs, the current range of San Dimas on clearance offer (@ Swee Lee) are highly recommended. The QC is praise-worthy & the tones are definitely above-average.

Charvel clearance @ Swee Lee

Swee Lee BB branch is currently holding a Charvel clearance promo, So-Cal & San Dimas models are available, some prices (final) for your considerations:

• Made in USA: $1,150
• Made in Japan: $1,050

With every purchase:

• Hard case/ bag, depending on the model
• $25 worth of accessories FREE

Some other price references if you are thinking too hard about this offer :-)

• Manufacturer's SRP: USD1,169
• Popular online price (pre-shipping): USD899

Mustang promo @ Swee Lee

Swee Lee (Bras Basah showroom) is having a Fender Mustang amp promo. These are digitally-voiced amps that stay true to the Fender bearings. Well, if you can live with LINE6 amps, these aren't too different (I hear a more enticing clean from these amps). Not for dweebs looking for that immaculate Twin-type tube tone but you can hear the semblance in there. If you are interested, do consider the Mustang III; that's my personal recommendation.