March of the reds... again

PRS SE Custom 24

PRS ( Paul Reed Smith) guitars have released a newest addition to the SE (Student Edition) family - the Custom 24!

It features 24 frets, a tremolo bridge and and a wide thin neck! Most importantly, its in crimson red!

However, while they are supposed to be affordable, they usually do not feature locking tuners. I hope this edition has!

And now the dilemma starts its cycle again - Fender JP/PRS SE?

the march continues

The March of the SGs

This week, I just could not ignore this any longer. It had to come up here.

Many of you know that I've been looking for an suitable SG guitar that is not of Gibson territory.

I've seen Edwards, Tokai and am impressed - I'm also a sucker of Japanese guitars.

However, one fine day, while browsing the ESP Japan site (faithfully), I've chanced upon the Navigator Series of guitars.

Navigator SG 450LTD

Utter shock. Speechless.

This thing screams "take care of me!" with same vehemence of Medusa but at the same time the lull of the Syrens.

While the Edwards Model sports Seymour Duncans SH-1 and SH-4 humbuckers, this baby has both Alnico II Pro humbuckers - absolutely vintage.

But this thing costs a cool 345000 YEN. That's SGD 5688, people. As compared to the Edwards which is $1200 at most.

String-ing woes together

Strings

As guitarists, we may have musical differences, but we have a common enemy - rust.

Sure there are many who claim to have produced/manufactured the fabled anti-rust strings but then again If that was really true, no one will buy their products twice.

This morning I tried the Dean Markley Blue Steel Strings

- I've tried it before, but I didn't have a lasting impression of it - It was a quick job (pardon the pun) in and out, brought it to jam and it came back rusty already - no thanks to the wonders of air conditioning.


However this morning was different. I wonder if it the windy/cloudy vibe or what, but these strings feel really good.

They resonate well and long, it was easy to bend and vibrato - feels like I haven't even tighten the pegs.

But - there's always a but - I can' t get a feel to it. I'm using gauge 9 -42 instead of my usual 10-46. Nice to shred, but not nice to get all blues-ey with it.

Resolutions, Procrastination, Absolution

Rig?

This will be my potential rig! I do not know how the order works, so this is just a messed up version a la guitargeek.

If any of you have read my earlier pedal resolution post, please ignore that; I change my mind like a girl changes clothes - sounds familiar?

Out of this entire rig I've only acquired one - that is the Vox Wah. So far, so good..

I've also decided to change amplifier choice - the VOX AC 30 - but that Fat, Vintage Brit sound, the Brian May way! I've also decided on the Fuzz Factory for my fuzzzzyyyy needs.

Another addition is the Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster, just what I need to push my Ibanez strat harder, its time for those vintage single coils to shine!

I've also pretty much made up my mind about the Edwards SG. Don't fail me now!

And the Sitar.. well.. it looks really funky.. the owl cannot overlook that.. Cheers!

Pedal-ing

Needs and Wants - Distortion or Fuzz? Or overdrive?

The search continues..

But this time its the enhance-ment of sound. After a recent jamming bout, I realised that my(okay, Amos's) Ibanez Smashbox distortion was abit too much on the wild side.

It is almost too sizzly for my liking.

Boss DS-1

This Boss Distortion unit is one of the most common and "safe" choice. However upon hearing excerpts of it I also decided it is abit too sizzly for me.

I went on and realised maybe the problem is that I needed an overdrive pedal to boost the distortion in order to add more volume(as in to fatten) to the sound.

Digitech Bad Monkey

Not very popular, but I like what I hear, and its not that pricey. It adds a nice ring to the instrument.

Biyang OD-8

Upon reading the review made by Subversion ( a much revered guru), I might consider giving this obscure unit a try, since I heard that it also habours the same chip as the Ibanez Tubescreamer fame.

Since I was jamming to Muse materials, I know Matt Bellamy uses this inside his guitar. Yes, inside.

Zvex Fuzz Factory
Pretty design aside, it is very versatile. As are most versatile units, this one costs an arm. Maybe a leg as well.

With Chinese New Year around the corner, which is the most value for money? The Fuzz Factory is a want, not a need by the way.

Seeing Red

Gretsch Electromatic Corvette

I bet you guys are kinda sick of seeing red/crimson/cherry guitars here. I guess I kinda have a soft spot for red guitars. It has that very Candy-Land/Sex Appeal/ Vintage feel and look to it that I just cannot resist.

Studies have also shown that men are very responsive toward the colour red(so its not just me). So women were encouraged to wear red lingerie -hints-.

However, its not the red colour that fascinates me. It's the whole chunk of vintage sound that this thing can croon.

I was watching Youtube - this German fellow named Greg - playing his arsenal of vintage gear, and I spotted the Corvette. It was surprising because Gretsches have a distinctive tone to them (because of the TV Jones pickups), and this Corvette had a very 50s vintage tone to it.

For a moment, there was a connection. And I knew that I would have to own this one day. One fine day!

watch - GregGuitars on Youtube

The Jimi Tone

Ears on Jimi

As a kid I've always wrote off Jimi Hendrix as a drug induced loonie. Never heard any of his songs until recently.

I'd have to admit Hendrix was fantastic. Nice to listen to, difficult to emulate. He is the epitome of mojo. His riffs are painfully addictive and refreshing, even till today I hear parallels in playing styles in big names like Slash (ex- Guns & Roses, Velvet Revolver) and many others.

I'd like to talk about his guitar tone. Absolutely sweet! This is just one of his many psychedelic strats. It is very distinctive in terms of tone, I know its because he's playing a right-handed guitar on reverse (He's a lefty, duh.) and the 'inversion' results in this special tone (wikipedia).

However I'd like to know more about his amp and stuff. Does vintage gear really play a part? Can modern instruments really emulate this tone?


Another fantastic tone monster - his custom Gibson SG guitar. Now I also wonder the three humbucking pickups actually contribute to the overall tone, or am I just being too superficial on this aspect for searching for tone?

Band Talk

La'Cryma Christi

This was the only better picture I can get of them without looking funny!

Note: There's five guys, Don't know where's the missing one!

Anyways.. One of the reasons why I bother listening to them is really because of the melodic fill-ins and
uplifting solos. Sometimes they can sound really messy and the singer is a pain to listen to. But I do like one or two songs from them! Enjoy!

Timeless

Joe Pass

I always believed that music of the purest form was that of the post war era, when jazz was really popular. It was no frills, no fancy gadgets, complex equipment, just simple trust and understanding between Man and his Instrument.

I say it is of the purest because it is timeless. It sounds wonderful in the yesteryears and today it still works.

Joe Pass romanticises Jazz with his fluent hands and bald emotion (pardon the pun). His picture itself is a scene of serenity. Listening to his music is like wading in a cool lake by the countryside in autumn, letting the water carry you away...

Growth

While we desperately grope our ways into the mangled thicket of music, let us not forget people who enlighten us along the way.

Only when left alone do we realise that ignorance was not so blissful after all.

Hence, let this post be a tribute to those who had guided us along this roller-coaster ride.

Amos

Yes, this handsome boy is not me. He shall be known simply as Amos, the one who has enlighten me the Ways of the Sound. Had I not met him, I would be still confined in my jack-in-the-box doing mimes.

Deo

has graciously accepted and tolerated teaching me the Way of the Music, whom I hold in high regard for his passion and direction in the Yellow Brick Road to musical Nirvana.

And of course, I can never thank anyone more than whoever who has listened to my rantings and ravings and constant salivation over blots of woods and paint, and still clung with interest and encouragement.

The most beautifuls things are always shied from us, but I am glad it has not from me, as I count my lucky stars.

New year, New goals

Precisely so. I will stop grovelling in financial defeat and focus and what's ahead! So be it if I have to eat lesser handful(s) of chips. I need musical food and I'm ravenous.

Comparisons

The SG guitar. Remember months back where I decided to abandon the SG chase? It's back on now! True, I was disappointed that the Gibson models have fat necks that accomodate more meatier hands, but now I have found alternatives! Presentingggg...

ESP Edwards SG!


Made by rice eaters for their rice eating counterparts! Comparably thinner neck, with Seymour Duncan Pickups!

Below is the Gibson SG, for the brutish. I however, will not discount the Tokai SG as well. It is currently the more accessible of the lot! But I wonder if there is stock of the one below with p90s, in Cherry Red!

Reasons for an SG:

Better upper frets access as compared to strats.

Radical shape

haha that's about it!

Money woes...

I feel very very blue..

In view of the recent discoveries, I thought I'd get a Fender Japan strat second hand. I was not particularly happy with my Ibanez strat playability at the moment.

Am I just being fickle?

Meagre pay of $400 a month isn't going to solve much anyhow. I thought I'd get early pay from Chinese New Year but then again I assumed too much, did research happily only to be disappointed. Really, I should avoid being so masochistic.


Getting something like that could be nice! it has an interesting bridge that I've never seen before!

This one below is too pure that I feel unworthy even laying eyes on it! Brilliant, these Japanese made ones!

Young Talents

Stumbled upon this blog - the Strat-o-Blogster! It happens to feature some really good (blues) work although the main gist of the webbie is to promote Stratocasters. And it really frightens and intimidates me to know that people as young as 8 owns my ass upside down.

This Norwegian kid is very impressive. Although I must say I don't really feel connected to his playing. It's as if it comes out from hundreds of hours of practise rather than from the heart.


Okay, I'm biased. Haha. This kid is cuter, better, and has more mojo! Trust the Japanese seriously. Kid's only 8! He's like the Guiness Record Book youngest ever professional guitarist. And seriously, how many hours could you have put in to achieve that at EIGHT?!? The friggin guitar is bigger than him!