DiMarzio/ IBZ humbucker

If you bought an Ibanez Prestige guitar, chances are, you own this humbucker- it's a DiMarzio/ IBZ pickup.

Skeptics, cynics & the disillusioned alike, often dismiss this pickup as an Eastern knock-off, something made under the DiMarzio label elsewhere, most probably produced by forced labour in the dark, inaccessible caves in the jungle of Borneo but a quick check reveals a 100% American DiMarzio product (as this is a bridge model, you'd note the 'F' marking at the top of the base-plate indicating the pole-pieces spacing for this model). As to which specific model was used, it's actually a specialized unit made for Ibanez by the pickup manufacturer.

Marshall mini stack: Red edition

I was at BEEZ's yesterday, as evident above, he has the red edition of the mini stack for interested parties. There are no tonal differences between this one & the regular black edition. Selling fast, check with Beez if there are any more left. Also, this is a limited edition release as indicated at the rear panel of the amp head.

Upgrade: Guitar vs Amp

Would you buy a spanking new guitar...

...or a new amp, should you have a sizeable amount of cash & would like to 'upgrade'?

• I've talked to some people lately who are facing this dilemma; they could acquire either item but not both. In this case, I'd urge you to consider your situation & assess your needs. You need to look at what you have; how pathetic are your amp & guitar, which is the greater culprit?

• If you think you need a revision in tone, you should invest in a new amp. Simply put, a $50K guitar sounds pathetic through a fundamental practice unit, but a $500 guitar would have you smiling if you plug it into the right amp (my right, isn't your right, do keep this in mind). I believe, before one buys a guitar, if it's within your financial means, get the one that you really like, the one you'd keep on playing regardless of the countless pedal addition or the number of amps you plug it into. This way, future upgrading plans would mean your guitar is the least likely factor of your unhappiness.

• From a personal stance, this is perhaps why the number of amps I own are limited as oppossed to the number of guitars; I'm very happy with what I hear from my Marshall & Sound Drive amps. The different guitars I plug into these amps provide a differentiated enjoyment of the same, likeable, tone. That's how it is thusfar.

SMV: Thunder

3 bass legends in a single release- this is something I won't miss. It's mersmerizing stuff from start to end. It's also one of those albums which would make you feel excessively rotten in view of your pathetic bass skills compared to what's on offer here. Do not be deceived by the aggressive title, this is one of the best easy listening release this side of planet technical bass.

Dwellers of the Twilight: Grey

Do you recognize the above duo? Of course not, if you do, you are seriously ill. You might be under substance abuse too. Anyway, meet Dwellers of the Twilight (members would only want the world to know them as Human #1 & Human #2), the French duo currently peddling black metal with apt assistance from machines & softwares.

Are they detractors from the genre's essence in a desperate attempt to appease the mainstream? If you take time to listen to their maiden release, Grey (above), you'd know it's anything but a sell out. Fans who are put off by the latest DHG avant garde black metal need not worry of a duplicate. The partners here are more than adept in plying the genre's fundamentals, we'd wonder why only the French would dare tread such grounds. Which other French band is currently enjoying notoriety while osmosizing black metal of artistic degree, you ask? Deathspell Omega.

When dad's not looking (Part 3)

While dad's still away at work, I managed to lug around his TT Mayhem pedal- this thing must weigh a tonne! Anyway, I got tired after a while & fell asleep with it by my side. Of course, dad caught me in the act (in my sleep actually) but he said it's ok; it's still in one piece. I doubt it'll break any time soon, i'd say it's a tank in its previous life...