Monday, June 2, 2008

Metal pick


I have this habit of changing picks constantly while playing. The thickness & material of the pick make me to play differenty. It's a chemistry of picking style & the aformentioned factors; it gets to the point where I can't play a certain music genre because I'm using the 'wrong' pick...
The metal pick is particularly helpful in accentuating some clarity from the lower fequencies; there may be a sales pitch by saying so but hearing is believing. Nevertheless, the metal pick makes that clunking contact noise which many players can do without.

The unplugged evening


This evening's noodlings was on my Ibanez AF105, I was still facing the TV. Knowing there's gonna be hum if I amplify the guitar, I dediced to go unplugged.
Playing unplugged really keeps one's techniques in check; any sloppy fretting/ picking & it sounds bad, especially if one shreds.
So while Sponge Bob & I traded licks, we witnessed the Singapore soccer team being trounced by Uzbekistan 7-3...

Line6: JM4

Line6 has joined the looping industry with its JM4. This is something different from other looping devices because it provides on-board effects as well & promises a much simpler user control. Anticipations... anticipations...

Practice set-up notes

This was my practice set-up last night; was watching TV while playing but I got too close to the set so the humming was excessive. I used to sit quite a distance away from the TV, at the dining table, if I feel like watching TV while noodling on the guitar but as everyone was asleep last night, I sat on Mama Bear & got too comfy.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Dava: Grip Tip pick

To me, the type of pick I hold, greatly determines my playing capacity; it's about how comfortable I am with it, it's also about how the pick is able to adapt to my playing eccentrities.

Pictured above is one of the many Dava picks available, this one in particular is the Grip Tip version; a plastic unit with synthetic rubber overcoat. The groove (lines) are there to promote grip, the circular motiffs as well as the 'DAVA' brand name are rubberless surfaces to promote grip as well.

So what's in it for you considering it's just another piece of expandable plastic, yes? If you look at the above pic showing the side profile, the item had been scooped in the middle portion to enhance different feel. You are essentially holding a pick which gives you a soft/ med/ hard attack depending on the portion you apply pressure most. Sounds like a workable selling point but that's what you get in use.

Verdict:

  • the grip factor is assured, the grooves & plastic/ rubber surfaces work in tendem to keep the item in place, in fact, it hardly moved/ slipped while I was holding it
  • the item in whole, would appeal to players who prefer thin picks. If you dislike the Dunlop Stubby monstrosity (no offence, it's my current fav), this one has enough classy appeal

PS: Thank you Davis Guitar for the complementary unit.

Yamaha: New Gambale guitar

We've all seen the superb Ibanez FGM model...
Then came the Gambale Yamaha AES...

The latest Frank Gambale model will be based on Yamaha's SG model. Seen above, Mr. Gambale himself with the proto. Apparently, this new signature was scheduled to debut in this year's 2008 Winter NAMM event but things got delayed somewhat & the new guitar will be unveiled in 2009's Winter NAMM.