Breaking News !!!

These babies just came in ...

4 Modtones !!!

Dyno drive, Speedbox, Extreme Metal and Buzzboy .... wait there is some more ...

Indiana LP Jr with P90 !!!

I didnt buy all these, I was entrusted to review all of it, not bad eh for a beginner ;)

more on this in the next few weeks ...

Thank you bro Jules De Verne for the trust given to me.

Beginner's review pt17: Blackstar Ht1

the 1 watt 'Monstah' ... the best practice amp in the galaxy

I am sad because this amp is no longer with me. I bought it on behalf of Tarmimi (new guitar buddy) and he collected it last saturday. On the clean tone, not the best I have heard but more than enough for me. My neck pickup sounds nice like when I am using my zoom G2nu, though the second time I tested it, there was crunch but I have may played around with the EQ knobs.

On overdrive mode, I simply love the  fat and warm tone that this amp produced, regardless whether its the american or the british side (ISF). Its very simple to use, no low, mid, high EQ knob which most of the time I do not know how to use. The EQ/ISF knob made a beginner's life much easier. 

There are no FX loop and footswitch pedal, not a major setback since it was designed to be a practice amp. Though it was just 1 watt, but it was too loud for my wife, the volume was just at 10 o'clock. Overall, this HT1 is highly recommended to those who wants a good hi gain tube practice amp

Meanwhile ....

My first unboxing video, entitled From Russia with Love ...

More on this later.

The sound in your head ..

1 watt ... is it evil enough?

the lamp, the goldfish and the blackstar ...

Vox VSF5

blurry picture of a footswitch

Bought this footswitch for Jules, its heavy and come with a big box too. I think vox should sell it together with the VT+ amp series, especially the bigger watts. I also think that each channel should also have its own LED on the footwswitch, so that the guitarist know which channel is on without have to refer to the amp.

What's on my mind ... pt7 ...

Gibson Les Paul Jr ... the cheapest of all the gibbys ....

Only 1 p90

thanks to Wan Stoner who reminded me about Bill Steer ..

Is his lp jr the same as the current production?

Now .. where can I test a LP Jr ..

Bentley Mid Year Sale

I went to Bentley yesterday to have a look on their best offers. I think the best deal was the Charvel San Dimas MIA, 40% off, so it should be around 3200RM, I think, the next best deal was the So Cal MIJ after 40% discount it should be less than 2k, if 'm not mistaken.

the MIA San Dimas look something like the above but with black floyd rose

another good deal at Bentley the MIJ So Cal

thank god the above guitars are not in my list ...

Another 'Good Deal' is the Ibanez Jem Evo relic .... RM 29,999.90 ...

Evo ...

I was told that it was inspected (QC) and signed by Mr. Vai himself, only 100 made and this one is 1/100, 1 piece neck unlike the mass produced Jem 7v, comes with all the dings, scratches and dents, custom hardcase and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Maestro ... I wonder who will buy this Evo.

Beginner's review pt16: Fender MIM 70's Strat

The Strat that from far away look's like YJM signature model

Appealing strat, big headstock, bullet truss rod and has the YJM strat look. I have tested three fenders including this one and the classic 70's is the lightest (weight), noisiest (humming) and the thinnest in terms of the neck and tone. Not to my likings, tone wise. Tested with Ibanez Tube screamer amp and Fender Deluxe amp.

What's on my mind .. pt 6

Metallica baby rompers !!!!

but my wife doesnt approve ... sad :( ...

Beginner's review pt15:Fender US Standard Strat

A Fender US Standard Strat in Candy Cola

I was actually wondering if the US standard strat could produce the same tone as the Blackie. Afraid its not.The differences was noticeable especially the tone from the neck pick up. Creamy but the blackie is creamier. I tested with the Fender Deluxe amp.

Free Softwares !!

For home studio from Native Instruments

I will download this weekend. I love free stuff.

Download the free version

Otoko Music in Seremban

Orvilles

Ibanez and others

Fenders US and Japan .. and others

Gibsons ...

For Bro Ijau ... I checked my hp and found some pics that I took during my visit to Otoko in February

What's on my mind right now ... pt 5

Straps !!! ... I prefer leather .. not more than RM300 is ok for me  ...

would be nice with the SG ....

only if I own a jem ....

only if i own a fender ...

Kirk Hammet has his own label for guitar straps .. would be nice for my future kh2  but its 150usd ... errr no ...

maybe this one would be nice with the KH2 ...

hmm I think i go for this one  .. looks much cooler with the KH2 ..

Born To Rock!

My son ...  9 months and 5 days .. I think its an Ibanez Destroyer .. and for the record,mummy bought the romper not daddy-o ..

Correction : Its a jackson Warrior ... tq bro ijau ..

What's on my mind right now ... pt4

Pre Amps ... if I have the extra money .. why not ...

AMT SS-20 .. not sure whether available in Malaysia, the price almost the same as a Blackstar HT5 head amp

Mesa V Twin .. no longer in production, only available on ebay,toneking said that the lead channel almost to the Mark IIc

What's on my mind right now .. pt3

Pedals ... should not be more than RM350 ...

Ordered ...

A Mesa dual rec in a pedal

A Peavey 5150 in a stompbox ... paid ...on the way

A Marshall JCM800 clone .. a tiny one that is ..

Lots of reviews on youtube for the AMTs .. the best review is from a guy called burgerman ..he got it all for free .. I think ...

What's on my mind right now .. pt2

audio interface/recorder .... not too basic ... not too advance ... must be within budget ..

Zoom R8 .. received good reviews on the net .. a standalone unit, comes with a drum pad too

Line 6 KB37 ... perhaps the all in one studio gadgets ..

What's on my mind right now .. pt1

Monitor Speakers ... not too big .. not to small ... and above all ... affordable

Alesis  M1 320 USB

M Audio AV40

Samson MediaOne 4A

Beginner's Review Pt14: HK Tubemeister 18 (Combo)

H&K Tubemeister 18 Head

My guitar buddy Ieqbal told me about this amp, I have seen the review on youtube, looks cool to me especially the blue LED at the knobs and inside the amp. I was told that this amp is not available in Malaysia, however to my surprise Bentley has a combo unit of this amp. I tested the amp with a Blackie, Jim Root Strat and 2 Jackson's with EMGs. The clean was good, the gain is suitable for modern rock, for metalheads maybe need to add a hi gain distortion pedal. It also comes with a built in DI, would be very useful for those who wants to do recording. Cosmetic wise this is the most cutest amp head and  it will look nice in my bedroom. However, it is too pricey for me.

The combo version of the same amp.

Beginner's Review Pt 13: Ibanez Fireman (FRM100)

Captured a pic of a Paul Gilbert wannabe ...

 The Signature Series guitar for Paul 'mr. BIG' Gilbert .... everything is BIG about this guitar ... BIG headstock, BIG neck, BIG fretboard, BIG body and BIG tone ... the guy above is also BIG

Beginner's Review Pt12: Blackie !!

The Famous Blackie, pic taker from Fender website

I think the 'Layla' video that made me gassing for this guitar. Tested it in Bentley. The 'smooth V neck' was noticeable but not too obvious, physically and feel wise. I tested with a Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister 18 and Fender Deluxe amp.

Clean tone was beautiful, especially at 4th and 5th position, I think the 3rd position was also nice. In gain mode though not as fat and punchy as a humbucker, still sounds nice to my ears.

If  i were to get a blackie .. I would go for the one below ...

My dream Fender strat .. the White Blackie ..

Beginner's Review pt 11: Mesa Mini Rectifier

Tested the mesa mini rectifier with the help of a friend. May I present to you Mr. Aizat from Bentley !

We tested the amp with a Musicman Axis. Nice amp, though its a mini mesa but in no way its 'mini' in terms of the price.

Beginner's Review Pt10: ESP M-II

Pic taken from a website that I can't remember

After a brief moment with the Ibanez Jem 7v, I was searching for another guitar that has the same smooth neck. Well, I found the guitar and it was the ESP M-II. Tested it with a Kustom and Rocktron amp, can't remember the model for both amps. The bridge tone with gain was good, as expected from EMG 81. The neck tone with clean and gain were a bit thin, maybe  it would sound nicer with an EMG 85/60 or perhaps a seymour duncan 59 ..

There are few things that I wish was there and not there.

1) A tone knob - I was informed that this guitar was designed for metal guitarist, the general idea was that metal guitarist would always put the tone to the max, hence there is no need for a tone knob. Ok .. I understood .. but then ... come on .. this is a RM8k  guitar .. can't ESP just put a tone knob .. it is just a standard model .. not a signature .. they can do it with eclipse and horizon .. why not this one .. the prices for all three models are the same ...

2)  The toggle switch - somehow it does not look nice with a strat body .. in my opinion

Nevertheless, the ESP M-II is a good guitar.