Let's hear your gig bag

Another Summer NAMM 2010 feature; Ernie Ball collaborated with Marshall to give us this amp bag- no kidding. 

What you see is a Marshall amp tailored to be an extension of the bag so while waiting for your jamming buddies who are perpetually late, you can play to your heart's content at the bus stop or wherever you may be.

Japanese wolf

Van Halen is wise. When he conceived his guitars, the name remains with him so subsequently if he chooses to deal with other guitar manufacturers, the name could be re-used. So that's what's happening in the mean time. Wise.

Anyway, this is just in (Summer NAMM 2010); the latest incarnation of the EVH Wolfgang model is made in Japan. If we pause to ponder- EVH is a Fender brand name & Fender has its establishments in Japan, yes? So indeed, the connections were already in place, it's just a matter of time.

My playlist

Someone once asked me which songs are on my playlist. I told him I don't have any. I have a bunch of tunes travel with me, I would listen to any one of these songs according to the urge. On occasions when the bus travels on the express way, for instance, I prefer listening to instrumentals & avoid any vocal annoyances. In crowded places, only black metal hits would do me good as these tunes pacify & distract me from the need to pulverize sweaty bodies getting in the way of my movements (yes, I'm that impatient). But recently, I concocted a serving of 10 songs as acceptable numbers regardless of the circumstances, which are (in no order of preference):

• Mayhem: Fall of Seraphs (LIVE version from European Legions)
• Endstille: ...of Disorder
• 1349: I Breathe Spears
• Satyricon: Repined Bastard Nation
• Emperor: Sworn
• Richie Kotzen: Dr. Glee
• Greg Howe: Morning View
• Take That: I Found Heaven
• Candy Dulfer: Fred's Joint
• Jeff Loomis: Departure

Wish it was back (Part 4)

Had been playing harmonic minor stuff with my ESP since after lunch, time to take a break... *yawn*

On the subject of ESP guitars, I was thinking it'd be good to have the former version of the Vintage Plus model, back. The current manifestation features the relic/ distressed finish which isn't my cup of tea. Since ESP has the Eclipse selections to entice the Les Paul club, the VP would be fitting to lure the Strat campers.

Foam support

Direct mount pickups (such as the humbuckers in my Ibanez SV5470) are not spring mounted, in lieu of this, foams are used to prop the pickups up. Replacement pickups which would go into these cavities require such foams which aren't sold in any guitar shops, you have to make do with whatever foamy substitutes you can acquire. The material to be considered shouldn't be too soft, otherwise it won't spring the pickups up.

Worthy quote: Anders Bjorler (The Haunted/ At The Gates)

"In the past I experimented a bit with pedals, but it got too much. It was always in the way of making the show somehow. Too many extra things to concentrate on. But I don't think you need much more than to plug a guitar right in & just mess about with what's there, let the fingers do the work. This is my motto on guitar playing I think: If it sounds crap without effects- no effect in the world can help you."

This is not a call for everyone to ditch pedals & plug straight through but a reminder of the working fundamentals. The truest tone you can achieve is not having any pedals to come between your instrument & the amp. If you have to employ pedals, chances are, you prefer hearing your tone that way. You don't mind the compromise, in fact, you embrace it.