Selling:

Good day, folks. This guitar is for sale, price as depicted. It's not mine, just that it had been sent over to me countless times before, for re-stringing & mileage check. It has a nice crispy ring to it (mahogany body + solid spruce top), one of those rare Korean models that's value for money. If interested, do get in touch with Mr. Dzul here: CLICK

Re-string: Takamine D50C

Yes, I still do guitar re-string especially for residents of Choa Chu Kang. The Takamine D50C you see above belongs to Ms Maura who is not a CCK resident but lives in Bukit Panjang, very near to my former workplace. I don't mind making a trip down to a familiar neighbourhood especially for folks who come across my services through a Google look up. In addition to a re-string, a fretboard clean up & re-conditioning was done. Two of the tuners were loose & that's nothing a screw driver could not fix. If you need a re-string but do not wish to head to the stores to get it done, let me know if I could be of help.

Black Friday @ DGMC: Recommendations

If you are looking for a good grab this year end & wish to take advantage of some bargains, do consider the PRS S2 Singlecut (Sale: $1,690). 

Even the semi-hollow version is worth considering (Sale: $1.950). Two reasons 1) The S2 models are no-frills players, well made & absolutely worthy of the asking price 2) The Singlecuts will be discontinued in 2020, this is your final chance to consider a good one out of the Gibson offerings. Yes, Gibson is still the go-to name but there are worthy contenders out there surpassing what Gibson has to offer in many aspects. The final batch of Singlecuts are equipped with adjustable wrap over bridge so you need not worry about intonation issues. 

Moving away from tradition but still in singlecut territory, the E-II Eclipse is another worthy consideration (Sale: $1,700). Please be reminded that the pickups here are active models so being excessively vintage in terms of tone is not quite it. In my opinion, the Eclipse is the most popular non-Gibson take on the design, it's selling well everywhere, State-side included. Even the aggressive music proponents do not shy away from the more reserved Eclipse outlines; Gary Holt (Slayer), Ted Aguilar (Death Angel) & Teloch (Mayhen), among others. Now you know why PRS is not too keen in keeping up with the numbers & they have other more defining models to fall back on to.

Moving on to the acoustic side of the sale, this Takamine P3NY is one heck of a player (Sale: $1,450). Not many of us look East when it comes to acoustics but Takamine had been the quiet success story this side of Martin & Taylor. The P3NY is a parlor-sized instrument; the scale length remains as standard while the body width had been trimmed to accomodate two things: 1) Less overbearing body size for playing comfort, especially so for the smaller built players among us 2) Less boomy tone much appreciated by the finger pickers & those excelling in arpeggios & single notes as compared to chords. 

Where I'm coming from

I've personally played & tested the models mentioned above  (OK, I bought some...). They will never be an ultimate, end-all reference when it comes to choice. More importantly, you should be doing some reading up & testing prior to purchase. Use personal recommendations (like mine) as a final reference before buying. On my part, I'd be up front with what these instruments have in store for you in terms of objectivity & appeal. As far as price-to-satifaction ratio is concerned, this is the best time to buy as prices are slashed but not for long, of course.

Selling: Takamine GY93E (parlour) SOLD

Staying away from acoustic guitars in the mean time... My GY93E- well taken care off.

Rosewood back with a maple wedge.

• Takamine GY93E electric-acoustic, parlour sized guitar (generic bag included)
• Condition: 9/10
• No reservations/ trades
• Confirmation/ queries: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Strictly self-collect @ CCK mrt station
• Price: $300 (final)

Sorry, no testing.

Item SOLD, 24th Sept.

No sugar coating

My Takamine sounded absolutely dead but the strings- no signs of corrosion, still very shiny. That out-of-the-box condition.

A quick re-string with a set of no-nonsense D'Addario really made my day. FYI the previous set in this guitar was a coated set, lots of longevity promises but very little delivery on tone. I believe I can take good care of a set of non-coated string set. On a regular playing basis, I can keep it in kicking good tone for more than a month. No more coated set for my acoustics. All those sweet promises without real delivery- hmph!

Citrus

Aw, man! GAS!! 😓

Re-string Saturday

Managed to re-string my Taka earlier today. Many of us tend to forget the bridge; yes, it benefits from reconditioning as well. 

Nothing beats the feel of a crisp, fresh set of strings. Just inspires me to play.

Subtle protection

I've been strumming more lately so the beloved Takamine gets a removable pickguard. This is a subtle addition to ensure the longevity of my instrument. The things you do for your possessions define you.

The final Sunday of the month. Time flies but I prefer it that way :-)

Thermal top

I seldom mention acoustics here as I'm solid body inclined. Acoustic  guitars are a little struggle for me. Anyway, this year, Takamine has the thermal top models to offer.

As the name implies, the instruments' top material had been temperature treated to get rid of the moisture & relieved it of some weight as such. The manufacturer claims this is akin to what aged instruments have gone through over time; the latent moisture in the wood had dried up & we get that very sweet, balanced tone. 

Seen here are just 2 of the range on offer, the CP7MO & the cutaway EF450C.

Written

I have these to thank for a song completion earlier today:

• Takamine GY93E: My only acoustic left in the house. Not a big acoustic fan but it helps to open up perspective every now & then. 
• Korg KR Mini: Responsible for keeping time more than anything else. However, the type of rhythm accompanying your guitar moments, helps trigger ideas & arrangements.

Selling: Takamine GX11ME-NS (medium scale). SOLD.

Saying goodbye to my Takamine GX1ME -NS, still in very good condition, about 6mth old. Please note- this is a shorter-scaled guitar (22.5") but it's NOT a travel size instrument. The dimensions are along the lines of Taylor's Big baby/ GS mini or Martin's Dreadnought Jr.

• Selling: Takamine GX11ME-NS (bag included)
• Condition: 9/10
• No trades/ reservations
• Queries/ confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Self-collect: CCK mrt stn
• Price: $199

(Work in) progress!

This Taka-MINI is getting more play time lately. It's probably due to my current unplugged mode, I'm working all my fingers as opposed to just putting more focus on the fretting hand to execute the technicalities. This is indeed a by-product of my listening to acoustic wizards such as Thomas Leeb, Ewan Dobson, Don Ross & Andy McKee among others. My current fav: Pierre Ben Susan. He's not too impossible too emulate but his techniques are sublime. In any case, I'm like only 5% of what those players could do at any given attempt. Pathetic but that's how it is when one is starting out- the struggle is real!

I'm also reviewing my available instruments for this journey so to speak. I currently have 2 Takamines which are more than decent in terms of QC to spur some creativity. Tone-wise, I have the benefit of some bright tones coming from a spruce top & some warmer notes courtesy of mahogany. Are there any in-between tones that should be considered? Hmm...

Plucked

I've just stopped playing for the day. For the night. For the moment. Whatever. I've just rediscovered the joy of nonsense-free guitar tones; the sound of the acoustic guitar. That elation of knowing the goodness of guitar tones coming from the instrument itself, nothing else should get in the way. Then my guitar moment got amplified.

That about killed the purity of it all, yes? Not quite. Acoustic amplification aims to capture the string & wood resonance in its fundamentals but there's an overlooked issue here- you don't get much true acoustic tones from placing pickups under the bridge saddle. It sounds amazing though, but it's contradictory to the fundamental intention. The best acoustic resonance happens, you guessed it, at the sound hole area. This is the reason why acoustic wizards like Andy McKee, Don Ross & Thomas Leeb, among others, make sure there's a form of pickup or microphone at that vicinity. OK, enough acoustic philosophy.

Every now & then, I would feel abysmal when it comes to guitar technicality. After much practice & invention, I thought my abilities are rather formidable but then the acoustic guys will always be on another level. I am of the opinion that playing with a pick breeds singular perspective. Subconsciously, it's the reason why I listen to those acoustic guys; there's minimal reliance on amplification & they are outstanding plucking those strings without a pick in hand. It opens up perspectives & redefines co-ordination. So that's the reason why I have my acoustic moments; to feel totally pathetic about my abilities then try to refresh some perspectives so as to renew my music.

Seen above: 1) Takamine GX11ME 2) Fender Acoustasonic 15

The sound of SG50

You want a piece of history? Here it is- the Takamine SG50 (available at Davis GMC). It's an upper tier Takamine so be wary of the asking price. You know what, there should be more SG50 commemorative goodies, maybe an SG50 Swatch, SG50 New Balance, SG50 Cornetto ice-cream, SG50 Giordano jeans, etc. It's not about materialistic commemoration but rather getting the MNCs out there to acknowledge your history.

The mini gift

This Takamine GX11ME (cheekily labelled as Taka mini in the sound hole) won't be a hit with the crowd for 2 main reasons: 1) It's a 3/4 size guitar 2) It's not a solid top model. I personally don't mind these unglamorous attributes because I prioritize QC, tone & playability above all else. The rest are, to me, bonus considerations (especially for acoustic guitars). I spent quite some time at the store trying it out before parting with cash. For a G-Series Takamine, the QC on show is respectable. The tone is a little bland when it comes to chords but I'm not a chord fan, I'm playing this for its warm & lush single notes, especially when finger picked. It's a winner with me, nothing else is more important. So happy birthday to me!

Then again, today is not my birthday :-)

Takamine: GX18CE

What's your take on smaller bodied acoustic guitars? Are they a serious tone contender, instruments for musicians with an ailing back, kiddy alternatives or simply the manufacturer's attempt to swell their coffers? Whatever they may be to us, they are undeniably functional. Takamine's G-Series Taka-mini instruments are scaled down guitars, manifesting a 3/4 body dimension unlike the  smaller-bodied travel-type models (Think: Martin's Ed Sheeren model).

The instrument you see above is the GX18CE featuring a solid spruce top & mahogany back & sides. It also includes the TP4T pre-amp on board for plug in moments. I've never come across a Takamine with shoddy workmanship, this one included. I gave it a thorough visual inspection but it has no adversity to justify it's rather entry-level price tag. 

The GX18CE is one loud guitar in its unplugged nature despite its 3/4 manifestation. If you have reservations in this regard, this is an assurance for you to re-consider. Unlike a travel-size player, a 3/4 instrument offers a more ideal elbow placement. This isn't crucial for strummers but for the fingerstyle dweebs out there, it helps deal with leverage issues. The default action will get those acoustic shredders going but it's not the lowest I've come across (I've played some Yamaha with lower action). Due to it's spruce/mahogany combination, the unplugged tone is leaning towards the bright side but if you wish to employ the GX18CE for your subtle, fingerstyle moments, employing the on board EQ is a ready discourse.

All in all, this GX18CE is a pleasant surprise tone-wise considering it's not a full-sized acoustic. In this light, it offers those of us who struggle with handling issues, a more comfortable take on playability without sacrificing good tones. On a personal note, I'd recommend this to those players who want a big sounding instrument (in terms of volume projection, not depth) but with a more subdued physical outline. With this episode, the future looks good for guitars of this nature because it's in no way a compromise; a 3/4 being does not equal to 3/4 goodness. Especially for Takamine, the standard remains above average.

Rating: 85%

Takamine: GX18CE (3/4 NEX type body dimension)

Availability: Davis GMC

Price: $385

The weekend

The weekend comes & goes. For many of us, work encroaches our weekend for a simple reason- we let it happen. I have a strict work-rest principle: Work stays at work. I'm the type who makes sure rest days remain work-free. Rest days are for my guitars but this Takamine here isn't mine. However, it's a regular visitor to my residence; the EG510. It's given a fresh set of .011s & it's fretboard re-moisturized. I started work yesterday but was drawn to some DVD time so the final bits of work ended this morning.

Then came some ME time & I chose to play through this 1W-er; my Marshall JCM800 anniversary model. There was a strong urge to plug into something bigger but restraint triggered some ideas so it was worth it. All this done before lunch. 

The rest was family time, naturally. My family understands my inclinations so it's only natural that I return the understanding. Nothing fancy, lunch in town which concluded with some ice-cream. Those of us who do not have family commitments (yet) might indulge in excessive guitar time but once family comes into the picture, I urge you to include family as & when they require your presence.

Family time includes spending time with the cat as well. This is my cat, Lisa. I used to own a cat years ago but it passed away the week before I got married. That was a depressing moment in my life; the loss of a family member. Yes, my cat is family because both cats came to me. They were neither bought nor picked up from the streets; they literally came into my life. Lisa was an abandoned cat at my work place. I started noticing her & fed her after seeing how hungry she was every Monday- nobody fed her over the weekend. We decided to trap her one day for a sterilization programme but the vet said, upon inspection, she's already sterilized. I arranged for her to be sent over to my residence after hearing that the work place would be closed down by the end of 2014. It would mean a total uncertainty for Lisa in terms of food. Lisa was already toilet-trained so that surprised us & re-inforced the fact that she's an abandoned pet. So here she is, a family member for life. 

If you respect life, never abandon your pets. They are living creatures like the rest of us & would be subject to trauma once left behind. Only humans are heartless enough to abandon a living entity by choice so that puts us lower than animals but we don't take time to reflect.

Enjoy the final moments of your Sunday. If you feel cheated by now, chances are, you didn't understand what 'weekend' means in the first place. Cheers!

Selling: Takamine EG341C

This isn't mine but it's going for a fair price of $380 (bag not included).Guitar was bought in 2013.

If you are interested, please get back to Mr. Nashrun: 99-621-999-7

Reconciliation: Spruce top (Part 2)

The guitar in question is Takamine's GY93E. It's Chinese & it sings beautifully. I've noticed that Chinese instruments are particularly well made when it comes to the acoustic & semi-solid construction. It's something else when solid body construction in concerned. That, shall not be discussed here.

This is how the guitar looks like from the rear. That light strip of wood there is maple. A stunning look has nothing to do with sounding good & playing well for that matter (especially when it's hidden at the back *duh*).

So this was how it went; my coming to terms with a spruce top. I won't be too keen to embrace another spruce top instrument simply because it's not my thing, I prefer the darker woods for their warmth & individual notes accentuation but this GY93E is an exception. As I'm not a keen acoustic fan either, it's down to that parlour-style body as well; something I can deal with without struggling.

Thanks to Davis GMC for their warm service in this acquisition.

SALE: Takamine @ DGMC

Reminder of this goodness- Takamines are on clearance at Davis GMC. I'm not here to compel you just because of the 'Takamine' tag there but these guitars are worth their prices. Do not go there & expect a boutique range, the D & G-series are largely regional exclusives & not costly to begin with.