Same

Folks... the pedal on the left is Warwick's RockBoard ST-01, the one on the right, FZone's PT-01. You can buy the Warwick at Swee Lee (List: $39). The FZone is available at Lazada for less (not gonna disclose the price here, you can do that yourself). You are looking at the same pedal, one being an OEM product of the other. Nothing new, Maxon did stuff for Ibanez not too long ago. I own the FZone (made in China), bought it last year during the 11-11 sale (it's not even $30 back then, no kidding) & it's one of the better pedal tuners among many despite its limitations. Appraisal soon.

Pics: Warwick / Lazada

Stu's War(wick)

Four years after his pack with Washburn, Stu Hamm is now in the Warwick camp. This bass is a little special due to that behind-the-bridge depression. That acute break angle means the strings rest harder on the bridge saddles to facilitate Stu's playing style; he's a little hard on the strings especially when there's strumming involved. If you've seen him playing with Satriani/ Vai, you'd have seen that happen. The instrument's lower cutaway was pushed back a tad to the upper frets resulting in a more angular outline.

They know not the stand

Going about town carrying a guitar stand made me an easy security target. It's inevitable since security measures are effective especially at MRT stations & the officers on duty don't see dweebs carrying guitar stands too often- they don't know what the contraption is. I am glad my country prioritizes security 24/7 but I got sick after being asked what I was carrying. The following conversations took place at some of the stops yesterday:

CITY HALL station
Security: Boy, what is that?
Me: I am not a boy, I'm more than 30 years old. Oh, what thing?
Security: This one (pointed to guitar stand)
Me: Oh, spare parts for my broken toilet pipes. Here, you can check.
Securty: Oh, OK. No need to check, just asking. Thank you.

BUKIT GOMBAK station
Security: Excuse me sir, can I check your item?
Me: Sure, be careful it's fragile.
Security: Sorry, any electrical components inside?
Me: Yes, when I pull the leg open here, it's switched on but right now I have no plug or cable to show you.
Security: Thank you, just checking.
Me: No worries.

CHOA CHU KANG station
Security: Excuse me, can we check your item, please? What is this, book-shelf is it?
Me: How'd you guess?
Security: He he... I think I've seen it before. Thanks.
Me: No problem.

For 7

Bought a new guitar stand for 7 guitars; it's a Warwick Rockstand. Nothing too extravagant, sufficient padding to hold my guitars in place. From L - R:

• Gibson: Les Paul BFG
• Schecter: Blackjack ATX C8
• Ibanez: RGD321
• Fender: American Special Stratocaster
• Jackson: DK2T
• Brian Moore: i91
• Aria: XL Standard

ESP: Snakebyte

Still on the new ESP range (2011): The Snakebyte model is the new signature offering for Metallica's James Hetfield but there wasn't quite an attempt to make it visually appealing, yes? The headstock design...

...could give the Warwick Buzzard bass some pecking competition.