The Biyang experience

Managed to try Biyang pedals today (Tone Fancier Series):

AD-7 Analog Delay:

• Fundamental 2-mode feature is rather limited but these are the working parameters if you don't fancy excess


• Above-average tonal response, in fact, I'd recommend it together with other affordable no-frills delay out there: Ibanez DE7/ Artec SE-ADL/ Carl Martin Red Repeat

CH-7 Chorus:

• Again, the 2-mode offering isn't for the demanding snob


• Nothing too tingling, it's a mild type chorus with adequate depth to project clarity


• Some of us prefer mild chorus as it doesn't phase/ flange-out at upper intensity settings, especially with overdrive/ distortion

DS-7 Distortion:

• 3 modes: NORMAL- regular fry-type, not intense but more protrusive than the proverbial BOSS DS-1/ BRIGHT- enhancement of upper end frequency the presence of which cannot be comprehensively curbed by the tone control/ WARM- enhancement of lower frequencies akin to what a tamed fuzz unit would churn out without the excessive wooliness


• Impressive tone/ distortion sweep

OD-7 Overdrive

• Surprise: JRC4558 tone chip in use!


• 3 modes: TS- as the name abbreviates; classic tubescreamer-type tone, clean in the lower drive settings + the nasal boost at the upper markings/ BRIGHT- as the name implies, more liberty in the treble end without sounding excessively thin/ WARM- more drive in the mix but still treading in the drive domain, this isn't a distortion unit...


• Looks like Guyatone's OD2+ has a worthy match & this Chinese is $50 lesser than its adversary


• A great tool for amp drive boosting as well- love it!!

You are looking for affordable guitar effects but your piggy isn't one to finance extravagant purchases; the Biyang range of pedals might just meet your needs- heck, it would surpass some expectations. I have a minor gripe with the DS-7/ OD-7; in their BRIGHT modes, there's a bump in volume which might upset those who prefer consistency. There's nothing dodgy in terms of construction, these pedals are make/ break units depending on the tone on offer. Nothing rancid to report as far as tone is concerned.

This one made it home with me:

Ibanez: 2008 (selected)

I managed to try 3 Ibanez guitars (2008) today from the Indonesian line-up, here are some preliminary comments:ICT700:

• A revised manifestation of the 'aternative' Ibanez, revisions namely in the headstock, pickups & string/ bridge components
• Headstock: very un-Iceman together with the reverse shark tooth fretboard markers but let's read between the lines- this Iceman hails from the same series as the Xiphos so the economics of production dictates a common neck for both models...
• Pickups: DiMarzio D'Activator- strong drive response with that typical DiMarzio cream, definitely a move up in terms of tone
• Bridge: The Iceman now features a through-body stringing & the Gibraltar Custom bridge which is a wise inclusion in terms of sustain. This bridge is currently in my SZ2020 (discont'd) & it was engineered to sit inside a cavity & disperse string resonance more effectively hence the healthy sustain.
  

Rg370DX-RRD

• Another RG in the fold but this one featuring a satin body finish
• Nothing new here just that Rubber Red stain; stare at it for too long & it'll burn your eyes...
  

RG420EG

• Yet another RG... (same ol'... same ol' but we keep falling for them)
• Yet another body highlight but that's not a graphic finish, it's an engraved top (+ satin overcoat). Unless you are keen to feel the indentations, it's novelty
• Also, the body depth is slightly increased here to accomodate all that engraving & the design is such that both volume & tone knobs are submerged into the body so these aren't as grab-friendly as the ones in the regular RG models
• Tone-wise, there are no indications by the manufacturer that the covered V-series humbuckers you see here are hotwired but these are audibly hotter which also entails the bland cleans

Seymour Duncan: Twin Tube Mayhem

Seymour Duncan's Twin Tube Mayhem has finally arrived at my premises, I was too pooped to plug it in & hear its thunder; the guitars I am going to try it with, need a re-string anyway so I'd only hear it in action this weekend...

The pedal per se is rugged in make but it's one heavy pedal; the heaviest I've own. It would be as massive as some guitars- no joke.

That headstock...

This 2008, Dean officially releases the Vinnie Moore (formerly with Ernie Ball) signature guitar shown here (top). The guitar looks the works but that headstock outline looks too familiar- just take a look at the BC Rich Gunslinger model below it...

Maintenance assistants

These are the implements I employ when guitars are due for user maintenance:

1. Planet Waves Headstand: That tripod object you see above, is a neck supporter, useful for guitars with angled headstock when I lay it down for re-stringing.
2. Wire cutter: I feel that whatever string cutter there are in the market are simply too flimsy for effective results. The standard wire cutter here snips excess string length very easily.
3. Vaseline: To lubricate the nut slots. Graphite works equally well but it stains light coloured headstock/ fretboard hence my preference for jelly.
4. Tremlok: This contraption is a wedge for Floyd-type, dual action, whammy bridges. It's inserted under the bridge end to prevent it from collapsing into the cavity during string removal. Bought it way back in 1991 together with my first guitar, have not seen it in the market for years, might be discontinued altogether.

Elmo doesn't help with anything...

Ibanez: RG321

This is my most unglamourous Ibanez RG- no locking vibrato bridge, no locking nut, boring black finish... Along the way, I realized how excessive implements added very little to better playing. True, a whammy bar would trigger some of the most out-of-this-world tune which inspires us to play on but it's a matter of incorporation; how often do we manifest this measure in our playing style?


As always, I'm not a fan of Ibanez in-house pickups (even their DiMarzio affiliated models) so they made way for this pair here:

• Neck- Duncan Distortion
• Bridge- Duncan Custom

The distortion neck was chosen to accentuate solo notes, this pickup is also inherently louder than the Custom so when I flick it on during play, it gives a 'boosted' output which is what i would have wanted to begin with.

I have absolutely no issues with the RG321, it's one of the better stripped-down Ibanez out there for those of us who wish for minimum hassle & maximum play (not to mention the affordable price tag). The mahogany body has lots of useful midrange but the satin finish makes it ding-prone. To those of you who would weep should your guitar dent, steer clear of this one (or any other satin finished guitar for that matter).