Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas all! I'll be back after the holiday with the much anticipated DGW Contender review and video. Until then, enjoy this!

Update: Slow Down Music Player lick naming trick

In my review of the Slow Down Music Player, which I liked a lot despite a few nagging bugs, I commented on the fact that it's extremely difficult to type in a name for a lick without the default text, "no name," becoming part of the name. Well, I found a workaround for that.

What you do is you save the lick first, which will now be named "no name." Then you can edit the lick by tapping the red arrow on the right side and rename it without the headache of the default text.

I found this out by getting really pissed off at it. I added "The Spirit of Radio" by Rush to the player and I was trying to create a lick from the tricky bridge intro and I couldn't name the damn thing. Every time I tried, "no name" would solidify and I would have to clear it out, which would then cause the default, ghosted "no name" text to reappear, then it would solidify again...you get the picture. So after getting to the point where I wanted to throw my iPod against the wall, I said, "Screw it" and saved it as "no name."

For the hell of it I tapped the arrow to edit the lick and I was able to rename it easily. I think the bug happens because there's nothing saved, so the app keeps trying to insert the default text, but once it's saved, it doesn't. The developer should either take out that default text or fix the issue.

With this bug sufficiently worked around, I have no qualms about buying the full app, which I will after Christmas (I have a feeling I'll be getting an iTunes gift card), but I'm still keeping it at four stars until the bug is officially fixed.

Quick update in another slow week

Things have been quiet here in blogger central for the last few days. I haven't had a meaty post since the Slow Down Music Player review. I wanted to let my faithful reader(s) know that I haven't forgot about you.

So what have I been up to? Well, I've been testing the hell out of the DGW Contender that is now mine. Yes, I bought it. I don't want to give anything away that might be in the forthcoming review, but I couldn't send it back. It already justified its place in my rig yesterday. My wife had a doctor's appointment and I went along, meaning I had about an hour to kill waiting in the car. I had an idea to bring the Contender (I might name him "Shorty") along from the ride, and I'm glad I did. I was able to get a good hour of practice sitting in the back of our Honda CR-V, something I couldn't have done with a bigger guitar. It was a great bonding experience. Nothing is better than when you bond with a musical instrument - it makes it yours, in a more substantial way than when you wrote the check for it.

I'm still waiting on the review until I give it a thorough thrashing, plus I still need to figure out how to make a video for YouTube. It may take me a few weeks to get it all together, but I promise you it will (should) be worth the wait.

I'll also be reviewing the Amplitube iRig I'll be getting for a Christmas present. It'll probably be posted about a week after Christmas to give me a chance to learn it and use it. I'm going to buy the full version of the software so I can have access to all the amp models. I'll also be getting the new Joe Satriani CD, so expect a review of that as well.

That's all for now. Happy guitaring!

Exciting developments

I have some exciting news today. I just received a Durango Guitar Works Contender short scale guitar to review on my blog.

If you remember, the Contender was briefly on the Short List but was removed because I couldn't play one to test it out. I was so impressed with the guitar's premise, though, that I contacted the company and requested to be on the demo list. Lo and behold, a few weeks later, a sunburst Contender shows up on my doorstep. Jimmy from DGW has been great the whole time, and I thank him for the opportunity.

I'm also going to try my hand at a video supplement to the review. I've never done a YouTube video before, but I'm looking forward to trying it out. If it works out well, expect more blog/video reviews in the future.

In the coming weeks, I'm going to use the Contender as my main guitar so I can put it through a complete test. At the end of the test, I'll write the review and film the video. My initial impression is pretty good, though. The guitar is very well made and has solid hardware and pretty good pickups. Plus it's just so cute! It's about 3/4 the size of a regular Strat-style guitar. I'm looking forward to playing it for the next few weeks.

Are you as excited as I am? Probably not, but you should be!

Gear Review: Slow Down Music Player - iPhone/iPod Touch App

In my quest to learn more songs, I've been searching for some kind of software that would allow me to slow down songs without changing pitch. I'm cheap, too, so I was looking for something on the free side. While looking for Windows or Mac applications, I came across this iPhone/iPod Touch app called Slow Down Music Player. The price was right (free), so I installed in on my iPod and imported Joe Satriani's classic "Always With Me, Always With You."

The app's interface is very basic as you can see in the image on the right, meaning it's not very pretty, but it works quite well. The small player buttons are hard to hit sometimes, but on the whole it's pretty intuitive and easy to use. The app allows you to both slow down the tempo and also adjust the pitch, so if you're learning a song that's tuned to Eb, you can raise the pitch by a semitone so you don't have to retune your guitar, which is perfect for guitars like my RG that have a floating tremolo.

The crowning achievement of this app, though, is the ability to create "licks," slices of songs that you can use to loop through tricky parts, or just divide a song into sections to learn a bit at a time. This feature allowed me to break down the Satch song and learn some of the more difficult licks easily. In fact, I learned about two thirds of the song in the span of a few hours, which I wouldn't have been able to do without this software.

This is an essential piece of software for any guitarist, especially a beginner or intermediate like me. The free version is limited to three imported songs - for $2.99 you can upgrade to the full version and that limitation is removed.

It's not without its bugs, though. The most annoying bug is in the lick editor. There is a text box at the top to enter a name for the lick. By default it's filled with the words "no name" that are ghosted out once you select it. But if you don't type the lick name fast enough, the "no name" entry will no longer be ghosted out and your typed characters will start appearing after the "e." So I had to very quickly type in the lick name, which meant no capital letters (the shift key takes too much time) and no concern for spelling or typos. And as you probably know by now, typing quickly on the virtual keyboard isn't exactly easy.

It also doesn't do landscape orientation well. At all. The screen moves but the layout doesn't, so the controls at the bottom get hidden unless you scroll up. When I used it, too, it sometimes skipped, and sometimes stopped playing altogether. The skips are annoying, and that may be because my iPod is almost full, but when it stopped playing (actually just stopped producing sound; the app was still playing the song) I just hit the stop button and restarted it and it was fine.

These minor annoyances don't hinder the usefulness of this app, though. But I'm going to stick with the free version until these bugs are worked out. Once they are, the $2.99 price tag is an absolute bargain. Even in its current state, it deserves a place on all guitarists' iPods. I give it a 4 out of 5 because of the bugs; a bug free Slow Down Music Player would be a no-brainer perfect 5.

Score: ★★★★☆
Summary: A must-have for any guitarist, minor bugs keep it from a perfect score.

Quick Ibanez update

So it's been a few weeks now and the new RG is still in tune. I haven't checked it in a while, so yesterday I plugged in the tuner to check it out, and it was still in perfect tune.

Awesome.

I've been playing a lot and I have about half of "Always With Me, Always With You" learned already. I've been using a new iPod app called Slow Down Music Player which has helped a lot. I'll be doing a comprehensive review on it in the next few days.

I also have an Amplitube iRig coming from Santa, so look out for that review as well.

Until then, keep playing!

John's guitar rig wish list

Now that my guitar situation is under control, it's time to dream about my ideal guitar rig. What I have is great for what I do and what I plan to do - record - but sometimes it's nice to imagine what I'd have if I played with other people in a band setting, whether it's full-on gigging or just garage jamming.

Disclaimer: This is only a "what-if" scenario. It is no way indicative of me wanting to spend money on anything. What I have works great for me now. This list is what I'd get if I had to play a gig tomorrow.

Now that that's out of the way, here's John's dream rig.

Amplifier: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III. Sure, I'd love a 100 watt Marshall stack, but I'm being realistic here. I'm not going to play Madison Square Garden. This is a perfect amp for practice or small gigs. What I love about it is the clean channel. There's no better clean than a Fender clean, and the Hot Rod Deluxe has it in spades. The best thing about a good clean channel is that it takes pedals well, which is important because the distortion on the Fender is very much a bluesy overdrive. To get a good hard rock/metal tone you need to put pedals in front of it. This is why the Hot Rod Deluxe gets the nod in my dream rig - I can get all the metal distortion I need with pedals plus I can get bluesy overdrive with the amp itself. Best of both worlds. Now it's time for the pedals.

Distortion: Boss DS-1 and ST-2 Power Stack. With these two pedals, I can get pretty much any distortion I want. The DS-1 is a classic pedal and should suit most of my needs, but in those times when I need a little more, the Power Stack will do just fine.

Tuner: Boss TU-2. The gold standard of tuners, in my opinion. Nothing else to say here.

Delay: Boss DD-3. Simple, straightforward delay. There are more advanced ones on the market, but this is all I need.

Chorus: Boss CE-2. Seeing a pattern here? Every time I research pedals, Boss is at or near the top, especially a few, the CE-2 chorus being one of them (the DS-1 and DD-3 are the others).

Flanger: Boss BF-2. See above.

Compression: Boss CS-2. See above, again.

Wah: Already have it - my Dunlop Wah/Volume. Great pedal, just never had the right rig for it. I like that it's a combo so I don't need a separate volume pedal. Keeps the board nice and simple.

So there you have it. I don't see me needing anything else. I've learned a few things fiddling around with my DigiTech RP90, mostly what effects I like and what effects I don't like. Whenever I build my own preset, I end up with the same effects every time. I don't need a whammy or tremolo, and unless the amp reverb isn't good enough I don't need one of those, either. I could get any sound I want with what's in this list. If I were a gigging musician, this is what I'd have.

But for now, it's time to get back to the RP to create some more presets.

No more excuses

I used to say I didn't have a guitar that could handle stuff by Satch and Petrucci. Now I have my RG.

I used to say I didn't have a computer I could use to find tabs, watch video lessons, etc. Now I have my Dad's old PC.

I used to say I didn't have time, but that's crap. I can make time.

I have run out of excuses. It's time for me to get serious.

First up - learning one of my favorite songs, "Always With Me, Always With You." The song I never thought I was good enough to play.

Then I'm on to some Dream Theater, probably "Pull Me Under."

I feel a sense that big things will be happening for me in the new year.

Beginner electric guitar buying tips

Now that Christmas is upon us, many parents will be buying their sons or daughters new electric guitars. Since for most kids this will be their first guitar, I decided to make a list of general guidelines to follow when making this purchase. This is something I wish I'd had when I got my first guitar 25 years ago. I'm going to focus on low-end guitars because most parents are wary of spending $300 plus on a guitar with a chance that the kid won't play it after a few weeks.

1. Never buy a guitar you can't pick up and hold. Which means don't buy a guitar online, don't buy a guitar at Wal-Mart or similar store, and avoid starter packs. Stick with guitar stores.

Guitars, especially entry-level guitars, vary from guitar to guitar, sometimes drastically. It's better to pick one up and look at it, even if you can't play it. If you can't play, ask one of the techs to plug it in and play it. Have him or her try out all the switches and knobs. Give it a once-over yourself, too. Look at the hardware and look for major defects in the paint and woods. This is important: Run your thumb and index finger along the sides of the neck. If there are a lot of sharp edges on the frets, pick another one.

Most department store guitars are crap anyway. They usually come in boxes, too, so you can't pick them up and check them out. Besides, most guitar stores sell beginner guitars, and you won't really save much money buying one at Wal-Mart.

Starter packs also come in boxes, and you can't pick the guitars up to examine them. Also, the amplifiers in most starter packs are really bad. You'd do yourself and your kid a favor by getting a better starter amp. Of course, you'll have to get a strap, a cord, a tuner and some picks, but rolling your own starter pack is always a better idea, even though it may cost a few more dollars. Speaking of tuners, the ones in starter packs are also not good. I'll go more into tuners later on.

2. Get a guitar with a solid bridge, if possible. Beginner guitars should never have tremolos (whammy bars for those who don't know guitar speak) but unfortunately a lot of them do. I have a Fender Stratocaster, and the standard tremolo is such a pain to keep in tune that I have it disabled. But if your kid likes Stratocasters, they all come with one. If you get a guitar with a tremolo, have the guys at the guitar store disable it for you. This can be done non-destructively, meaning it can be easily changed back. If you don't know the difference between a tremolo bridge and a hardtail bridge, ask the salesman. More reasons to buy a guitar at a guitar store instead of Wal-Mart.

3. Buy a guitar that fits your kid's size. If your kid is small and has small hands, get a guitar with a shorter scale. The scale is the length of the string from the bridge to the nut. Shorter scales have the frets closer together and are easier to play for those with smaller hands. Unless your kid is really small, though, don't get one of those "micro" guitars. They'll outgrow them faster than you can say "I just threw away 100 bucks." Gibson-style guitars have shorter 24 3/4" scales. In the entry-level market, look for Epiphone brand guitars like the Special II, SG Special and Les Paul 100 (Epiphone is owned by Gibson and are "official" copies) or similar ones like the Ibanez GART50 or the ESP LTD EC50.

If, however, your kid is bigger or they can handle a longer scale, you can get any guitar you want. Fender style guitars have a 25.5" scale. Squier is Fender's budget brand, so if your kid is more of a Fender fan you can find what you want in that brand, or in other brands like Yamaha, Ibanez and ESP.

4. Buy a guitar that fits your kid's musical tastes. There are, in general, two types of guitar pickups - single coil and humbucker. Single coil pickups are thin and have one set of six round magnets under each string. These are common on Fender/Squier guitars like Stratocasters and Telecasters. Humbuckers are essentially two single coil pickups side by side and are standard on Gibson/Epiphone guitars. Single coil pickups are generally better for country, blues, Rolling Stones-style rock or punk. They don't handle high gain (distortion) well and aren't good for heavy rock or metal. In fact, if your kid wants to play country, go get him a nice Squier Telecaster and move on to #6. Humbuckers are generally better for classic rock, hard rock and metal. They can be used for blues, too, but they have more mid-range tones and sound better with some dirt. If your kid likes metal, try to stay away from guitars that only have single coil pickups. If you're confused, though, go by the next tip...

5. Humbuckers are better than single coils. If #4 confused you, remember this. You are better off buying a guitar that has at least one humbucker. Unless your kid is married to the classic Stratocaster three-single-coil look, get one with a humbucker in the bridge position. It will still get you the classic single-coil sounds in the neck and middle but will give a little more power in case he or she gets into heavier music as they get older. Squier makes a few models like this (called HSS for humbucker-single-single), and so does Yamaha with their Pacifica guitars (excellent guitars, by the way).

6. Get a small amp that is simple but has a good variety of tones. A 15-20 watt solid state amplifier is a perfect size for a first amp. You want an amp that has features but is simple to use. Complexity may turn off your kid to playing and then you've really wasted money. Most amps in this range are "modeling" amps, which means they mimic the sound of other, larger amps.

There are a lot of good amps in this range, but to me the Line 6 Spider IV 15 and the Marshall MG15FX 15-watt amps stand out. I have a Line 6, and it's a dead-simple amp to use. Plus, it's extremely easy to customize, which your kid will need to do because the standard programs are a little over-the-top with effects. The Marshall is a great sounding amp and really gives that classic Marshall tone on a budget, and it's also easy to use. In fact, I sometimes wish I would've got the Marshall instead of the Line 6. There are other good beginner amps like the Roland Cube and the Orange Crush, but do yourself a favor and try out the Marshall and Line 6 first before moving to the others. But whatever you buy, make sure it has a headphone jack for silent practice (a parent's best friend) and a CD/MP3 input so your kid can play along with his iPod.

7. Don't just look at Squier and Epiphone guitars. Unless your kid wants that famous Les Paul or Stratocaster name, look at other brands, too. There are some great entry-level guitars from other manufacturers. Ibanez makes excellent low-end guitars in their Gio range, like the aforementioned GART50, and I don't think there's a better entry-level heavy metal guitar than the GRGA32. ESP makes good entry-level guitars in their LTD range, especially the "50" models - the EC50 mentioned above (Les Paul style), the Viper 50 (SG style) and the V-50 (Flying V style). The Yamaha Pacifica is a great Strat-style guitar. Dean's XM guitars (Vendetta, ML and Evo) are inexpensive metal guitars. So don't limit yourself to Strats and Les Pauls.

8. Buy what your kid wants. If your kid likes the looks of a guitar, he or she will want to play it. If there are a few that they like, tell them to pick out the one they think looks the best. Also, have them sit with the guitar. Even if they can't play, they'll get a feel for it. Have them sit with it on both legs (ask the salesman for help if they don't know how to hold a guitar) to make sure it fits them and it feels comfortable for them. But one thing is for sure - if you buy a guitar that you like, not what they like, that's one guarantee that you just wasted your money.

9. Get a chromatic tuner. Basic tuners just allow you to tune to the standard notes on a guitar - EADGB (the top and bottom strings are both E). This is fine for a beginner, but once your kid gets to intermediate level, he or she may want to change tunings. A chromatic tuner will allow them to do that, and they don't cost much more.

10. Stick with standard heavy picks. There are a ton of picks out there in different shapes, sizes and thicknesses. For a beginner, stick with the standard pick shape and get heavy picks. Heavier picks are more precise and don't flex as much, which is better for a beginning guitarist. You can get either the standard cellulose picks like the ones made by Fender or you can get some Dunlop tortex picks which are made of a grippier material that doesn't slip as much.

11. Entry level guitars are good, but don't forget used guitars. Many people will say to avoid entry level guitars and go for the next level up, but I've played my share of bottom feeders and they aren't bad. There's just a higher chance of finding a bad one, which is why you should always buy a guitar you can touch. However, there are always good values in used guitars. But the first rule is even more important here, because not only could a used guitar have factory defects, it also could have been abused by its previous owner. Stick to guitar shops if you can, but if you decide to get one from the local classifieds, bring it into a guitar shop so they can go over it.

That's it. Remember, to roll your own starter pack, you'll need a guitar, a case (gig bag is fine), a strap, picks, an amp, a cord, and a tuner. If this long post is a little confusing (I do tend to ramble), just remember these basics: shop at a guitar store, don't buy a guitar you can't pick up and hold, get a guitar with at least one humbucker, and buy a guitar your kid will want to play. The salesman can help you with the rest.

I hope this helps anyone who's looking to buy a guitar this Christmas. Done right, you can be buying your child something that will be a part of them for the rest of their lives.

Trem update (random guitar post)

It's been all weekend - the long kind that lasts for four days, thanks to Thanksgiving - and Triumph the RG has stayed in tune the whole time, just a little fine tuning here and there. So I can safely say that the tuning stability issue has been fixed. And, per request, I will have pictures of the knife edges posted soon. Hopefully you can see the Chap Stick.

Speaking of tremolos, I've been noticing that I've been getting some hits from people searching for BladeRunner tremolos. I mentioned in another post that I was considering upgrading my Strat with a BladeRunner tremolo, so apparently that's the page people are getting when they Google "BladeRunner tremolo." So there's no way I'll milk this by repeating the words "BladeRunner tremolo" in my post. I'm just not that way.

However, I'm curious to see how a BladeRunner tremolo would work in the Strat. It would be nice to have the option of a working tremolo on it, especially as it has been detuned to E-flat and is now the blues guitar in my rig (Triumph is now my main axe). Perhaps it will be a project for next year.

Yes, Triumph is now my go-to guitar. I can't seem to put it down. It just plays so well and sounds so good. I was afraid all my other guitars would now feel like crap, but I picked up the Strat for a few minutes and it held up well. I haven't played the Les Paul since bringing Triumph home, so hopefully it holds up, too. Keep your fingers crossed.

I also started learning some Dream Theater. I got a tab for "Under a Glass Moon" online and started picking my way through it. The intro isn't bad except for an uber-fast sweep picking riff that lasts for all of one beat. I suck at sweep picking, so that one beat will take me a little while to master. The solo, on the other hand, will probably take me a year to learn. If I'm lucky. I don't know whether to love or hate John Petrucci.

That's all for today. I'll get on those knife edge pics as soon as I can.

Oh, one more thing - BladeRunner tremolo.

Cautious optimism: Why IbanezRules.com rules

I think I fixed my Ibanez.

I couldn't have done it without IbanezRules.com. Seriously, anyone who has a guitar with any kind of Floyd Rose-style tremolo, not just an Ibanez, needs to visit this site. Despite the 90s-chic design, it's simply the best set of setup instructions I've ever read, especially the "Stretching Strings" section and the "Lockdown and Fine Tuning" section. This site is proof that substance trumps style any day.

Before following the setup instructions, though, I had to take the whole thing apart, strings and all. I found where the set screw fell out - it was the bottom set screw for the trem arm, and really, I have no idea why it's even there. You can't get to it without taking the tremolo out, at least any way I can see. While it was apart, I figured I try something else I found on the 'Net - Chap Stick on the posts. Supposedly it helps the knife edges stay where they belong.

I don't know whether it was the Chap Stick, the excellent instructions or a combination of both, but when I was done, it was stable. I've been playing all morning (pretty much) and I only had to fine tune the G and B strings once. I'm not abusing the tremolo, but I'm not really a big trem user in the first place. I'm just playing it normally, something that was impossible to do yesterday.

So I'm cautiously optimistic that the issue is finally fixed. Which is good, because I absolutely love playing my RG. I've never played a guitar as comfortable or as easy to play. It makes me want to buy a bunch of them just to have spares. I did notice, though, that the knife edges on the Edge III were starting to wear a little bit, which is a concern since it's only a week old, so I don't expect it to last for years and years. At the very least, I think it can last a little while, and when it wears out, I'll replace it with an Original Floyd Rose, which, from what I've read, is a drop-in replacement.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tremolo issues on the new Ibanez

I love my new Ibanez. It's a stunning instrument and a fantastic guitar to play. Something happened recently, though, that's frustrating the hell out of me.

Damn thing won't stay in tune.

It has the Edge III tremolo that I've learned is much-maligned. Apparently, they give many Ibanez players fits and many of those end up replacing them with other tremolos, if they don't end up just getting rid of the guitar. The problem I'm having is that every time I push the bar down and release it, all the strings go flat. Really flat, like a full semi-tone. When I pull up on the bar and release it, all the strings go sharp. Another full semi-tone. If I move the bar around I can find the sweet spot again, but any kind of string bend (which also tilts the tremolo forward as if I were pushing down the bar) puts all the strings flat again. It's become unplayable.

I've tried everything I know to get it back to a playable state, but so far I've been unsuccessful. I found a few online resources (I even joined an Ibanez forum at Jemsite.com) and I'm going to try again, but if that doesn't work I have a serious decision to make.

I can bring it to a tech and see if he can't get it to work, which will cost some money but if it makes the guitar playable again, it would be worth it. I can see about replacing the tremolo with another kind. From what I've read, an Original Floyd Rose is a drop-in replacement, which, again will cost some money but would be an excellent upgrade.

I have one more option that is more time-sensitive: I have 30 days to return the guitar to Guitar Center for an exchange. I really don't want to go through the whole process of finding a guitar (again), although much of the work has been done already. Unfortunately, most of the guitars that ended up at the head of the Short List were Ibanez guitars with the same Edge III tremolo. Maybe I got a bad one, but if they have a bad reputation maybe I should stay away from them.

This problem started happening after a small set screw fell out of the tremolo. I noticed something rattling around near the springs and found a tiny screw (a few millimeters tops) that came from somewhere, but I couldn't find anywhere for it to go. I don't know if it's causing all these issues, but it is entirely possible.

This sucks. I thought by getting a locking tremolo I'd eliminate these issues. I know I need a guitar with a tremolo, but really, this reinforces why I hate them so much! For the record, the Jackson licensed Floyd Rose on my old Charvel never acted like this. That thing would stay in tune for weeks with just a little fine-tuning every once in a while.

And the winner is...

The Ibanez in repose.

...the Ibanez. And in the end, the epic battle wasn't even close.

When I finally got to Guitar Center, I went right for the JP50. It was still there, which was surprising, especially since it they knocked $100 off the price for a Christmas sale (yes, it's not even Thanksgiving yet and we have Christmas guitar sales). So the JP came in with a $100 advantage from the start.

After handing over my Telecaster for an appraisal, I grabbed the JP and tried to find a place to plug it in and try it out. The Christmas sale was obviously working for them, because it was packed. Ideally I would've liked to play it through the same amp I played the Ibanez through, but someone was already there. I sat in front of a bank of Peavey Vypyrs and plugged in. After getting the hang of the built-in tuner, I started tuning it up. It took forever, and it gave me flashbacks to my Strat before I locked down the tremolo. Not good. First minus point for the JP.

Of course, the guy behind me thought he was the only person in the building and was blasting his guitar through what I believe was a Line 6 Pod HD, so I couldn't hear a damn thing. It sounded bad, too - I don't know if it's the player or the Pod, but let's just say I won't be trying one of those things out. Ever. I ended up moving to a line of Vox amps but the only one that was on was an AC4TV tube amp. I plugged in anyway and it sounded OK, but it didn't have the kind of gain a guitar like the JP needs. Still, I cycled through the pickups and it wasn't bad. Not the best pickups, but not shabby either. I still think the ones in the Schecter Omen 6 I played were nicer. Not to mention the ones in the Ibanez I played last week. Another minus point for the JP.

Then, I had the salesman get me the Ibanez so I can compare the two side-by-side. I plugged the JP into a Marshall MG30 (nice amp, by the way) while the salesman grabbed the Ibanez. It sounded OK and played pretty well. Although the bar wasn't in the tremolo, I tried to move it by hand to see if it would knock out of tune, and it did. Another minus point.

The Ibanez finally arrived and I switched guitars. The second I picked it up, I knew it was over. It felt so much better. Then I plugged it in. It sounded so much better. And it was still in tune from when I played it last weekend (I don't think anyone played it because they had it high up on the wall, out of reach). I looked at my wife and said, "This is the one."

The JP50 was a nice guitar, but it couldn't compete with the Ibanez. The RG looked better, felt better, played better and sounded better. Plus, I just didn't trust the non-locking tremolo on the JP. I've been burned by them too many times.

So the Short List winner is the Ibanez RG4EXQM1. I've never named guitars before (I never really got into that), but I think I will name this one "Triumph." Not only does it commemorate its victory over a slew of contenders, it's also a name of a great motorcycle company.

On another positive note, I didn't get raped in the trade-in, either. I got about what I expected on a sale, which means I was able to walk out of Guitar Center with the Ibanez, a hardshell case, a strap, a new set of Dean Markleys and some picks, and all I had to pay out of pocket was 27 cents. Nice.

Short List - the final battle

Today is the Epic Final Battle. Ibanez RG4EXQM1 vs. Sterling JP50 (if it's still there), with a third-party candidate in the GRGA32T.

It will be a monumental fight to the death!

To make things even more win-tastic, I got a Guitar Center flyer in the mail yesterday that showed the JP50 with an even bigger price cut to $349 (it was already marked down to $449 last weekend) and a mail-in rebate for a free gig bag with the RG4, which doesn't come with a case (the JP50 does).

I'm hoping they'll let me try out the tremolo on the JP50, because that's my only source of trepidation. I've used non-locking tremolos before with disastrous results, but everything I've read about the JP50 says the tuning stability is excellent. I want to see for myself, though, before I buy one. The two Ibanezes (Ibani?) already have double-locking tremolos, so they automatically have an advantage over the JP. Still, I'm anxious to try the JP because of its ergonomics. Maybe the asymmetric neck profile will work better with my DeQuervain's which, if that's the case, will put the JP in the win column.

Exciting stuff! Full report to come...

Correcting an error - selling two Telecasters in one year

Earlier this year, I bought a new Telecaster and sold my old Telecaster to make room. Although I don't regret selling my old Tele, buying the new one has proven to be a regrettable mistake.

Not that the new Tele is a bad guitar. On the contrary, it's a beautiful, rare guitar, which is why, on that fateful January 31, I had to have it.

I explained it to my wife this way: Say you need to buy a car. You can either do research and find out what you really need and choose one with good ratings and reviews that fits you best, or you can choose the shiniest, prettiest one on the lot, needs be damned. That's pretty much what happened with the Telecaster. I was captivated by its beauty and disregarded everything else. The "gotta have it" eclipsed the "need to have it."

I knew almost immediately that I had made a mistake. First and foremost, it hurt me. Something about the neck, whether it's the thickness or the profile, really brings out my DeQuervain's something fierce. I tried everything I know to make it more playable - put on lighter strings, brought down the action as far as I could with the saddles and truss rod - but you can't change a neck profile, at least without changing the whole neck.

It was also very uncomfortable for me to play, even more than my red Tele. I found out that it has the "sharp '52 style body radius," and the sharp edges are just not comfortable.

I then made the mistake (although now I consider it more of a revelation) of playing a beautiful purple Ibanez a few months later and realizing just how much better a guitar like that fit me than my Telecaster did. This revelation was the first step in the undertaking that became the Short List, and now that the list is down to the final three (with a clear leader), it has become apparent that the Telecaster must go to make room for the guitar I should've bought in the first place.

So the Telecaster is now on Craigslist and I'm hoping for a quick sale. If anyone is interested, comment below or use my contact form. Even though it wasn't the right guitar for me, it is a stunning instrument and many people love the way Telecasters feel. Just not me, although I do love the way they look.

On a side note, I noticed that the guy who bought my old red Telecaster is selling it on Craigslist. I'm half tempted to call him and get it back. I must resist the sentimentality and remember why I sold it in the first place!

Think "Ibanez...Ibanez...Ibanez..."

Almost ready to start recording again

It's been a long time since I made my last recording post, but I should soon be experimenting with recording again and posting my results. I had a few recording platform plan possibilities (say that ten times fast) and I finally have a setup I'm creating as we speak.

At first, I was going to get a MacBook and use Garage Band. I have a MacBook Pro, but my wife uses it for school and there will be times I can't use it. I then saw a product from a company called Indamixx, an MSI netbook loaded up with Linux-based recording software. I was going to get one of those, but I noticed that they're going with more of a touchscreen-based system for future versions, which I don't really want.

Also, I finally got my Dad's old computer and saw just how good it was. When my Dad passed away in July and I originally asked if I could have it (being the computer geek of the family, it just made sense) my sisters said that it wasn't a good computer. Of course I still wanted it, but after getting it, I realized how good it was. My Dad didn't buy a lot of stuff - he was a hard-working, blue-collar guy - but when he did finally get something, he didn't skimp. He got the best he could find within reason. Instead of buying a garden-variety Dell or HP, he went to a local computer shop and got one custom built. It may not be a 64-bit powerhouse, but it has good specs and is plenty powerful enough to be used as a recording PC.

It came with Windows XP Professional, but over the weekend I installed Ubuntu 10.10 with dual-boot capabilities. I'm going to install some of the Ubuntu Studio packages (but not the desktop - I like the new Ubuntu interface) and once again try my hand at Open Source recording. I was impressed with Ubuntu Studio when I had it on the Crappy Lappy. I can't wait to try the same tools on a more robust system.

I always have the Mac to use, too, plus I can get Windows-based software if the Open Source tools don't pan out. So be ready for a lot of home recording posts in the very near future.

Maybe a winner?

I took a trip to Fort Collins on Saturday (an expensive one, thanks to the fine folks at the Colorado State Police) and stopped by Guitar Center. I didn't have time to play a lot of guitars, but I saw a lot of them that are (and were) on the Short List and ended up playing one of them.

Here are some observations.

As I suspected, all of the non-Gio Ibanez guitars that I have left on the Short List have identical specs, including woods, pickups and hardware, so any choice among the RGs will be made strictly on looks alone. They had both flavors of RG5EX1s in stock - black and pewter - and although the pewter one was definitely better looking, neither of them floated my proverbial boat. They also had an RG350DX (the white one) and while I liked it better than the RG5EX1, it still wasn't my favorite.

I was surprised to see that they had a Sterling JP50 in stock, especially since their Web site didn't say they had one. Another surprise was how small it looked in person. It always looks huge in photos, but it's really not, especially the neck. Music Man guitars are known for their narrow neck profiles, which players either love or hate. I didn't play it, but I will be back to try it out.

The one I did play, though, was impressive. Amazing, actually. It was the RG4EXQM1 in red (Blackberry Burst, to be more precise). It really was a work of art. The quilted maple top was high quality, the sunburst paint was flawless, and it had added niceties like a bound body, a bound neck, and a chrome logo on the headstock. I had to play it. I ended up going through a Line 6 Spider Valve 112, which was surprisingly awesome (many surprises on this trip). The guitar played and sounded incredible. The 5-way switch and HSH configuration did everything from clean to bluesy overdrive to all out shred with ease. This is the third RG I've played and it was by far the best. Unless the JP50 really blows me away, methinks I found a Short List winner.

On a side note, my first attempt to play the RG4 (as I will call it now) was thwarted by a bad cable, but being the geeky troubleshooter I am, I picked up the first guitar next to me to make sure it was the cable and not the guitar. That guitar turned out to be one of the new Gio RGAs that are on the Short List (a black one) and although I didn't end up playing it, it made a good first impression. It felt solid, the carved top was nice, and the knobs had a quality feel. I especially liked how the knobs were grooved. It made them nice and grippy. I still want to try one out.

So it looks like the Short List is down to three guitars, with one clearly in the lead:

Ibanez RG4EXQM1 (ahead by a few carlengths)
Ibanez GRGA32T
Sterling JP50 (back on the list now that I know I can play one).

One last pruning...

The Dean has to go. I've read too many bad things about their low-end guitars to take the chance. Maybe if I'm bored and it's still in stock at Guitar Center I'll give it a whirl, but otherwise it's no longer a Short List candidate.

I'm keeping the Gio RG on the list because I'm curious to see how good it is, plus it has a different neck profile than the standard RGs so it may make a difference. For those of you who don't know what I mean when I say "Gio RG," Ibanez has an entry-level range they call their Gio range. (To put it in SAT terms, Gio : Ibanez :: Squier : Fender.) The tip-off is that the model numbers start with G - in this case, GRGA32T - and the Ibanez headstock logo has a smaller "Gio" logo along with it. To dive even deeper into Ibanez nomenclature, RG is the series (they have others, like the S series and the ART series), A means it's a carved top, and T means it has a tremolo.

I get the "T = tremolo" thing, but where the hell did they get "A = carved?"

Moving on...

The Short List is now complete. I think there's a good chance I'll end up with an Ibanez. You think so?

Epiphone Les Paul Nightfall ($499, GC)
Ibanez GRGA32T ($299 GC, SM)
Ibanez RG370DX ($399, SM)
Ibanez RG350DX/MYE ($399, SM)
Ibanez RG4EXQM1 ($449, GC)
Ibanez RG5EX1 ($399, GC)
Schecter Damien FR ($449, GC)

More (possibly final) Short List pruning

As all one of my readers knows, I recently pruned the Short List down to just guitars that fit the Satch mold - basically, a heavy metal guitar. Dual humbuckers, locking tremolo, 22 or 24 frets. I then added guitars that also fit the mold that I may have overlooked.

Well, certain circumstances have changed that may allow me to fulfill the Short List's goal much earlier than anticipated. I want to be careful with this purchase, as I expect it to be the last guitar purchase I make in a long time, most likely the last guitar purchase I make, ever. I don't want to make the same mistake I made when I bought my Telecaster (that mistake may be "corrected" some day). Because of that, and because of the shortened time frame, I'm going to further prune the list to include only those guitars I can actually play. So if it's not in stock at either Guitar Center or Spotlight Music, it's off the list.

Here is the newly pruned list, ready for me to take with me when I'm guitar shopping. I'm adding a "GC" or "SM" to indicate where each guitar is in stock.

The (Really) Short List:

Dean Vendetta 1000 ($299, GC)
Epiphone Les Paul Nightfall ($499, GC)
Ibanez GRGA32T ($299 GC, SM)
Ibanez RG370DX ($399, SM)
Ibanez RG350DX/MYE ($399, SM)
Ibanez RG4EXQM1 ($449, GC)
Ibanez RG5EX1 ($399, GC)
Schecter Damien FR ($449, GC)

As you can see, the list is quite short. There are a few Ibanez RG variants, so that choice will most likely come down to looks as they all probably play and sound the same. I'm a little wary of the Gio RG and the Dean, because they're both a bit cheap, and I want this next guitar to last.

Now I get to do some real guitar shopping!

The Short List is about to get a lot shorter

I've been listening to a lot of Joe Satriani lately (which reminds me - I must get more of his stuff) and I want to try to learn his songs again. I know it'll be difficult, but ultimately it'll make me a better player. Because of this, I came to a realization last night while I was running on the treadmill with "Surfing with the Alien" playing on my iPod - I need to get a Satch guitar.

Maybe not necessarily a Satch signature guitar, but a guitar that's capable of pulling off Satch's music. A guitar with a fast, thin neck, dual humbucking pickups, and a locking tremolo. I would like 24 frets, but since most of Joe's signature guitars have 22, I'd be OK with that.

So that means the Short List needs some pruning. All guitars that don't fit the Satch mold will be jettisoned. I'll also add a few that fit the new criteria that may have been overlooked. So without further ado, let the pruning begin:

Dropped off:

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Schecter Omen 6
Dean Cadillac Select
ESP LTD EC-50
Fender Blacktop Stratocaster (after less than a week, what a shame)
Ibanez ART100
Sterling JP50
Sterling SILO20
Chapman Guitars ML1 (Sorry Chappers!)
Chapman Guitars ML2 (And again!)
DWG Contender

The new list, with updates:

Agile AL-2000 with Floyd Rose ($279)
(NEW) Dean Vendetta 1 with Floyd Rose ($299)
Dean Vendetta 1000 ($299)
(NEW) Epiphone EM-2 Prophesy FX ($399)
Epiphone Les Paul Nightfall ($499)
(NEW) ESP LTD MH-50 ($289)
(NEW) ESP LTD M-100FM ($319)
Ibanez GRGA32T ($299)
Ibanez RG350DX/EX ($399)
(NEW) Ibanez RG4EXQM1 ($449)
Ibanez RG5EX1 ($399)
Ibanez S420 ($499)
(NEW) Jackson JS23R ($329)
(NEW) Laguna LE400Q ($399)
(NEW) Peavey Predator Plus EXP ($239)
Schecter Damien FR ($449)

I'll try to play some of these as soon as I can. I'll also keep on the lookout for good used deals, especially on older Japanese Ibanez Roadstars or a Satch signature JS100. It's nice to finally have a goal in mind for the Short List. I felt that I was all over the place for a while, but now I can concentrate on one style of guitar.

Let the testing begin!

My next amp - yet another list

Time for another list.

This time, I'm looking for a new amp. This list may circumvent the previous (short) list, as a new amp is more important than a new guitar. Since I have a modeling processor - my DigiTech RP90 - I have little use for a modeling amp. My Line 6 Spider III 15 served me well, but it's time to move on to better things and let someone else enjoy the Spider, most likely a beginner or another picked-up-the-guitar-again-after-a-long-break player like me.

I want to get an amp that's small but still powerful that has its own tone and can handle having the RP90 plugged into it. My criteria are as follows:

• All tube - no more solid state for this guy
• 5 watts or less (don't need any more than that)
• Headphone output for silent practice
• EQ/tone controls, even if it's just a single tone knob
• Out-the-door price less than $500, ideally WAY less than $500

Additionally, some features that I would like to have (but won't disqualify an amp if they're missing):

• Power attenuator or master volume to get high gain at low levels
• Dual channel (clean/dirty) with footswitch

There are only a handful of small tube amps on the market, so they'll almost all make it on this list. Where possible, I'll substitute a stack for a combo if the price of the stack is less than $500. Nice thing about a stack is that I can upgrade the speaker cabinet in the future if need be and keep the same head.

Without further ado, the list:

Marshall Class 5 ($399 at Guitar Center) - This amp is currently my favorite based on reviews and videos. Why? Well, it's a Marshall, it's made in England, it looks cool, and did I mention it's a Marshall? Although it has a headphone output, it doesn't have a master volume or attenuator so the only way to get that classic Marshall crunch is to crank it, which would be extremely loud. I don't think the wife and/or the neighbors would appreciate that.

Blackstar HT-5 ($499 at Guitar Center, but I've seen it for $399 elsewhere) - Easily the second favorite, the HT-5 hits all the marks - dual channel with footswitch, headphone jack, master volume - with the only negative being price, although I could get it for $399 if I don't mind getting it shipped to me.

Vox AC4TV ($199 for combo, $349 for stack) - The AC4TV is a great looking little amp in stack form. The combo looks a little wimpy, but fortunately the stack is so inexpensive that the choice is obvious. The amp gets positive marks for the power attenuator but loses big time by not having a headphone jack.

Bugera V5 ($149) - The Bugera is the cheapest of all the small amps on this list and is also the most full featured. It has a power attenuator, separate gain and volume controls, a headphone jack, and even adds digital reverb. The V5 is really small. Usually, small amps look wimpy (like the AC4TV combo) but the Bugera looks pretty cool for something so small. I played one of these before but I didn't know enough about it to give it a proper test. I got a lukewarm impression of it back then, but I'd like to get another chance to test it out.

Blackheart Little Giant ($349 for combo or stack) - With identical prices for the combo and stack, it's a no-brainer that I'd pick the stack version. While it's a nice looking amp (and sounds pretty good based on videos I've seen) it's missing the all-important headphone jack. Still, it's got a pentode/triode attenuator for lower volume gain and the price is right for a proper stack.

There are a few notable amps missing from this list, including the Fender Champ and Epiphone Valve Jr. While both are great amps, they both only have a volume control, so they are missing too many key features to be considered. Also missing is the Bugera V22, the V5's bigger brother. It's a 22-watt amp, which is probably way too much for a bedroom/recording amp, but if I had to look for an amp to use on gigs, it would be at the top of my list. It has all the goodness of the V5 (minus the headphone jack) and adds a dual-channel setup with footswitch and a pentode/triode switch that replaces the attenuator on the V5. The fact that it's only $349 - well within the budget of this list - makes it worthy of a second look.

So where does this leave me? A lot depends on funds. If I don't want to spend a lot of money, the V5 is the winner, hands down. Its combination of features, looks and price are unbeatable in this category. If I don't mind spending a little bit more, it'll come down to a grudge match between the Marshall and the Blackstar. The HT-5 may have more features, but the Class 5's classic looks and made-in-Britain authenticity make this a much closer fight than it appears to be.

Some minute blog changes

I made a few small changes to my blog. Nothing fancy, just some better organization.

Up until now I've tagged everything guitar related as "Guitar." Since this blog is pretty much all about guitars anyway, I decided to split them up into more specific categories. Posts about guitars will still be tagged "Guitar," posts about guitar playing will be tagged "Playing," and posts about gear other than guitars will be tagged "Gear." I went back and re-tagged my old posts so the categories now show up in the right panel.

I added my blog to NetworkedBlogs on Facebook. You can now follow my blog through Facebook by clicking on "Follow This Blog" on the new widget on the right. You can still also follow it through Google Friend Connect, too. Please, follow and share!

I put some ads back on my site. I figured, "What the hell." I kept them to a minimum so as not to clutter up my blog. If you find something interesting, feel free to click through.

Now back to your regularly scheduled boredom.

Fender does it again - another Short List entry

The Blacktop Strat.

I've always been a Fender guy. Maybe that's why I've owned three of them (two of which I still have). The company has really done a good job of making quality, affordable guitars with the Fender name - quite the opposite of Gibson, who have really gone downhill, at least in my opinion.

But that's another post. This one is about the latest from Fender that is also the latest on the Short List - the Fender Blacktop Stratocaster.

I have a profound weakness for Strats. If I could, I'd probably have about 50 of them. They are, as I've written in other posts, my guitars. My signature guitar would be a Strat - hence the Johncaster. The Blacktop Strat is probably the nicest Stratocaster I've seen in a while. I especially love it in black with a rosewood fretboard. That's the one that's made it onto the Short List. What amazes me even more is that it's the least expensive Fender-branded Stratocaster on the market, cheaper than even the run-of-the-mill Standard Stratocaster.

And run-of-the-mill, the Blacktop Strat is not. Two powerful AlNiCo humbuckers, a coil-splitting five-way switch, tone controls for each pickup, and 22 frets make the Blacktop not your ordinary Strat. The only thing that's missing a better tremolo system - it's got the typical Mexican vintage tremolo that's on my Strat, and will probably have to be upgraded or blocked off. Still, it ticks off enough boxes - not to mention the all-important "gotta-have-it" box - to easily make it onto the Short List.

I have to give Fender credit for the entire Blacktop line. The Blacktop Tele looks almost exactly the same as my Tele HH, the Blacktop Jaguar is Short List-worthy (and will be re-visited in the near future), and the Blacktop Jazzmaster is a unique take on the classic Jazzmaster. The fact that they're all affordable just makes them even more remarkable.

Here's an updated Short List:

Guitars I've played:

Epiphone Les Paul Studio ($349)
Schecter Omen 6 ($299)

Guitars I haven't played:

Dean Cadillac Select ($479)
Dean Vendetta 1000 ($275)
Epiphone Les Paul Nightfall ($499)
ESP LTD EC-50 ($249)
(NEW) Fender Blacktop Stratocaster ($450)
Ibanez ART100 ($299)
Ibanez GRGA32T ($299)
Ibanez RG350DX ($400)
Ibanez RG5EX1 ($400)
Ibanez S420 ($499)
Schecter Damien FR ($450)
Sterling JP50 ($499)
Sterling SILO20 ($399)

Guitars I can't play:

Agile AL-2000 with Floyd Rose ($279)
Chapman Guitars ML1 ($490)
Chapman Guitars ML2 ($525)
DWG Contender ($299)

The Strat debacle, saving lost (guitar) souls and other random musings

The Johncaster

When I built my signature Stratocaster - a.k.a. the Johncaster - I did it as purely a theoretical exercise, a "what if" scenario. Of course, it turned out so well that I couldn't help but give serious thought to making the theory a reality. I just don't know whether or not I want to modify my Strat.

The reason for this is my ever-wavering stance on the tone of my nearly-stock Strat. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I don't. Lately, again, I've been loving it. I think it goes back to what I wrote about mood guitars - if I'm in the mood for a certain tone, I better have the guitar that will give me that tone. Since I tend to be in a Strat mood pretty regularly, does it really make sense to completely change it? Not really.

Plus there are other factors. Like, for instance, my Johncaster concept is tuned decidedly for metal, but the guitar itself isn't really a metal guitar. It has a fairly standard 9.5" radius, a relatively thick (by metal guitar standards) C-profile neck and only 21 frets. Metal guitars, in contrast, typically have flatter fretboards (a 12" or 15" radius is common), thin necks and 24 frets. It's like putting a Ferrari V12 in a pickup truck. It'll sound like a Ferrari, but it sure won't drive like one.

It's pretty clear to me that my Strat will stay a Strat for the duration of its existence with me. I would still like to get one of those BladeRunner tremolos and possibly some better (but still Strat-like) pickups, but it'll always be a Strat.

So now the focus turns back to the short list, or at least the concept behind the short list. It's no question that I have a soft spot for things that may have been cast off that need a home. It's the reason why two of my dogs are rescue dogs - one from a small dog rescue and another from the local shelter. It's also why I'm drawn to places like pawn shops and used guitar Web stores like Daddy's Junky Music.

There are so many guitars - great guitars - that are out there just waiting for a new home. I remember last year I found a pretty rare 1983 Ibanez Roadstar II on Music Go Round's Web site that was at their Aurora, CO store. It was an RS335, a model so rare it never even appeared in any of their catalogs. The RS335 model was released in the second half of 1983, missing the catalog for that year, and discontinued that December, thus not appearing in the 1984 catalog. Anyway, Music Go Round obviously didn't know what they had, because they were selling it for a very low price ($179, if memory serves). I remember I wanted to go look at it so bad, but for one reason or another I never got around to it and it ended up being sold. It looked just like the guitar in the ad above but it was white and had a locking nut, another rarity. I've seen other RS335s for sale since and they've all been more expensive than the white one at Music Go Round and none of them have had a locking nut.

To get to the point (finally), as nice as a new guitar would be, it would be even better to have something older that is more unique, more rare - a guitar that was abandoned by its owner and needs a new home. (Feel that? That's me tugging on your heart strings.) I really like the old Japanese-made Ibanez guitars like the Roadstar II series and the Pro Line series. It definitely convolutes the whole short list thing. Just looking at that picture of the RS335 as I'm writing this post makes me want to find another one. I don't get that same feeling with a new guitar.

In other random news, I'm pretty sure I'm going to sell my Line 6 amp. Now that I have my DigiTech RP90, all I use the Line 6 for is a glorified speaker. The amp is a modeling amp and the pedal is a modeling pedal, so why do I need both? What I really need is a nice amp that I can run the RP90 through that also has a tone of its own. I'm thinking of the Bugera V5 again despite my lukewarm initial impression. I like that it's a small tube amp and I know more about it now so I'd be able to better test it out given the chance. I also like that it's dirt cheap, especially for a tube amp. I could easily sell my Line 6 to someone just starting out (it's perfect for that) and put the money toward a new amp. For the time being I could just use the headphone jack in the RP90 until I get enough to buy a V5 (or whatever amp I end up choosing - there are a few inexpensive 5-watt tube combos out there). The Line 6 served me well and was a great choice for me when I was starting over again on guitar, but now I've outgrown it.

So that's it, pretty much. Kind of a rambling post but, you know, I haven't had a post for a few days and I had these thoughts rattling around my brain for a while that had to get out. After a while, all that rattling gives me a headache.

Behold, the Johncaster

I was wrong. I still want to upgrade my Strat. I love playing it, but the pickups are just not that good. It's too nice of a guitar and it means too much to me to have it sit because of inadequate tone-age. But far from taking this as a negative, I view it as an opportunity to mold this guitar into something special and uniquely my own.

I have a vision for this upgrade. I envision a dual humbucker setup, but with a single-coil-sized blade pickup in the neck to compensate for the H-S-S pickup routing. I see two control knobs - a master volume and a master tone - placed where the standard tone controls are on a regular Strat, with a gap where the volume knob traditionally lives to give me more room for my picking hand and a three-way blade switch. I also see a drop-in tremolo replacement that sounds and works better than stock without having to permanently alter the body. And I see all of this with a black-and-white color scheme - a black pickguard with white controls and pickup covers.

To fulfill this vision, I'll have to compile parts from a few different sources. For pickups, I'll get them from Guitar Center. For the custom pickguard I'll need to get the configuration I want, I'll go to Warmoth.com. For the tremolo, I'll go to Super-Vee.com. And last, for the electronics (potentiometers and switches) I'll go to GuitarFetish.com. Here's a list of parts I'll need, with prices:

Pickups

Bridge: DiMarzio Mo'Joe. I've heard so much about these (and heard a lot of sound samples) that I know a Mo'Joe, Joe Satriani's signature pickup, will be the perfect bridge pickup. Of course, I'd get a white F-spaced model. Price: $69.95 from Guitar Center.

Neck: DiMarzio Pro Track. Interesting story about this pickup. I was researching blade humbuckers to see which one would work the best with the Mo'Joe based on specifications like resistance and output. I chose the Pro Track over a few others, only to find out a few days later that Satch's own Ibanez JS2400 comes with a Pro Track pickup in the neck to match the Mo'Joe in the bridge. I guess I was onto something. Price: $64.95 from Guitar Center.

Pickguard

Warmoth.com is a great site for guitar builders and customizers. On this site, you can build whatever pickguard, neck or body you want and see it take shape before your eyes. I did this for my custom pickguard. As you can see in the picture on the right, it's a gloss black Strat pickguard but with an H-S pickup configuration and a missing volume pot hole. As much as I love my Strat, I don't like where the volume knob is located. I don't do volume swells and it just gets in the way. I like my Tele and my Les Paul because the knobs are out of the way. With this configuration, I'll have more room for my picking hand and I'll have a master tone control, which I always wanted on my Strat. Price: $25 from Warmoth.com.

Tremolo

I don't use tremolos often and the Short List is full of Floyd Rose-equipped guitars, but it would be nice if my Strat had at least the option of a working tremolo. The stock one is crap and I have it locked down like a hardtail. I think the Super-Vee tremolo is an amazing piece of engineering, but I still think it's a little too much for what I need. Luckily, the folks at Super-Vee now make a drop-in, non-locking tremolo called the BladeRunner that uses the same technology as the original Super-Vee but in a really easy to install package. I knew as soon as I saw it that one day one of them would make its way into my Strat. Price: $139 from Super-Vee.com.

Electronics

GuitarFetish.com is a great place to go for cheap, quality parts. And I say that as a customer, not as a paid endorser. I bought a prewired pickguard from them for my Hondo and although it's not made with high-end pickups it does the job, and I paid less than 40 bucks for it. For this upgrade, I'm going to need a blade-style three way switch (technically a Telecaster switch, but with a Strat-style tip), two 500K potentiometers, a .022uf tone cap and some new white knobs. I should be able to wire it together myself, especially since I re-wired the current switch on my Strat and the setup I want is a simple three-way switch - no complicated coil splitting or anything fancy like that. In fact, I'm looking forward to the challenge. Price: $20.74 from GuitarFetish.com (see, I told you they sold good, cheap stuff).

So for the total cost of $319.64 (sans shipping), I can turn my standard Stratocaster into something special - the Johncaster. Here is a very amateur, hacked-together illustration of what I envision my Strat will look like. Remember, I'm no graphic artist, so this is really the best you're going to get from me.

Yet another Short List addition, this time a Les Paul

Back when I played the Epiphone Les Paul Studio at Guitar Center that made its way onto the Short List, I noticed another Epiphone Les Paul model I never saw before. It was all black and had EMG pickups and a Floyd Rose. At the time I wasn't looking for a guitar with a locking tremolo, but I kept the image in the back of my mind for future reference.

Since I'm looking at tremolo-equipped shredders again, I decided to look into this mystery Les Paul and figure out if it warrants a place on the Short List. In a word, hell yeah. Wait, that's two words. Anyway, I watched another Rob Chappers video series where he just abuses locking-tremolo-equipped guitars and one of them was an Epiphone, which reminded me of the black Les Paul I saw that day at Guitar Center.

Epiphone sells two versions of this guitar - the Nightfall, which is the one I saw, and the Plustop Pro F/X, which was in the Chappers video. The only difference I can see is the color - the Nightfall is all black (including hardware) whereas the Plustop is a more traditional Les Paul with a sunburst top and chrome hardware. Oh, and there's the price - the Plustop is $200 more for all that woody-chromey goodness. Personally, I don't know if it's worth the extra dough, because the black one looks really cool. But all my guitars are some type of black, so it might be nice to get something different.

I hope they still have the Nightfall Les Paul at Guitar Center because I'd love to play it. On paper, it ticks off a lot of boxes - Les Paul style, dual humbuckers (with coil tap, no less), locking tremolo, thin neck. The only thing it doesn't have is 24 frets, but 22 frets are good for me. It makes it on the Short List, but only in Nightfall guise as it rings in at $499, which blows the budget a little but not enough to be a deal breaker. The $699 Plustop is a little too expensive, even if it does look exactly like the Gibson Les Paul Alex Lifeson used on tour with Rush this year.

Here's the updated list, now in alphabetical order:

Guitars I've played:

Epiphone Les Paul Studio ($349)

Schecter Omen 6 ($299)

Guitars I haven't played:

Dean Cadillac Select ($479)

Dean Vendetta 1000 ($275)

(NEW) Epiphone Les Paul Nightfall ($499)

ESP LTD EC-50 ($249)

Ibanez ART100 ($299)

Ibanez GRGA32T ($299)

Ibanez RG350DX ($400)

Ibanez RG5EX1 ($400)

Ibanez S420 ($499)

Schecter Damien FR ($450)

Sterling JP50 ($499)

Sterling SILO20 ($399)

Guitars I can't play:

Agile AL-2000 with Floyd Rose ($279)

Chapman Guitars ML1 ($490)

Chapman Guitars ML2 ($525)

DWG Contender ($299)

Just when I thought I may have figured it all out...

...here comes another guitar I'd love to have. It's currently the only offering from a company called Durango Guitar Works called the Contender. Corny name, to be sure, but the guitar it's attached to is anything but. What really caught my eye about this guitar is the fact that it's a short-scale guitar, 24" to be exact.

So what's the big deal about that? Well, as I've blogged about in the past, I sometimes have issues with DeQuervain's tenosynovitis and the shorter 24.75" scale of my Les Paul Special often makes it feel better. I also have crooked pinkies that bend inward at the top joint, making some scale and chord stretches difficult, especially on my Fenders with their 25.5" scale. There aren't too many short scale guitars made, especially ones that are intended for hard rock or metal, so until I found the Contender I pretty much gave up on trying to find anything like it. I saw a few videos on YouTube and I think it sounds pretty good, especially since it has Wilkinson humbuckers with AlNiCo magnets.

I wish I could play one of these, or any guitar with a 24" scale. There aren't too many out there - the Fender Jaguar and Squier Duo-Sonic come to mind, but they're hard to find - but if I know what a 24" scale feels like, I may be more inclined to bump it up the Short List. As it stands now, the $299 guitar (a bargain if you ask me) is on the list under the "Guitars I can't play" heading.

Here's another updated list:

Guitars I've played:

Epiphone Les Paul Studio ($349)
Schecter Omen 6 ($299)

Guitars I haven't played:

Dean Cadillac Select ($479)
Sterling SILO20 ($399)
Sterling JP50 ($499)
Ibanez ART100 ($299)
Dean Vendetta 1000 ($275)
Ibanez GRGA32T ($299)
Ibanez RG5EX1 ($400)
Ibanez RG350DX ($400)
Schecter Damien FR ($450)
ESP LTD EC-50 ($249)
Ibanez S420 ($499)

Guitars I can't play:

Chapman Guitars ML2 ($525)
Chapman Guitars ML1 ($490)
Agile AL-2000 with Floyd Rose ($279)
(NEW) DWG Contender ($299)

John's guide to lyric writing

These are some basic guidelines I plan to use when I try to write lyrics.These are also things I look for in a good lyricist.

1. Write about what you know. Most good writers, whether lyricists, fiction writers, or poets, write about personal experiences, or at least use things they know. Ever wonder why almost all of Stephen King's novels take place in Maine? That's where he's from. Use what you know. You could also use experiences of people you know, friends, family members, etc. 

2. Write about things that you're passionate about. Personal experiences only go so far, especially if you've had a rather ordinary life. So pick something you have strong feelings about and write. If you don't care for something, you're not going to write good lyrics about it. Neil Peart of Rush wrote a lot about freedom of personal expression and used a many of Ayn Rand's theories and novels as inspiration. Which leads me to...

3. Read a lot. Get inspiration from what you read. At the very least, reading will improve your vocabulary so you don't use the same words over and over again. Which also leads to...

4. Show, don't tell. This is the MOST IMPORTANT tip I could give. Use metaphor, allegory and even hyperbole in your lyrics. Unless you want to become the next Jon Bon Jovi - the absolute master of trite lyrics - or *shudder* write lyrics for country songs you want to avoid obvious lyrics. Sure, they may work for the great unwashed masses in the good ol' American Say-outh but no one will confuse them with good lyrics. Try to evoke feelings and emotions instead of just describing the scene.

5. When you get inspiration for lyrics, stop what you're doing, grab a pen, and write them down. I've lost too many lyrics this way. As Gord Downie wrote in the song "Music at Work" by The Tragically Hip, "When the sunlight hits the olive oil, don't hesitate."

Some of the best lyrics I've ever heard are from the song "Nautical Disaster" by The Tragically Hip. The song eschews traditional structure and reads like prose. Notice, too, how there's no traditional verse/chorus arrangement. Gord Downie uses historical references to evoke the emotions of the song's protagonist. Any time there are entire Web sites dedicated to figuring out the meanings of someone's lyrics, you know you've found something special.

Here are the lyrics to "Nautical Disaster":

I had this dream where I relished the fray 
and the screaming filled my head all day. 
It was as though I'd been spit here, settled 
in, into the pocket of a lighthouse on some 
rocky socket, off the coast of France, dear.

One afternoon, four thousand men died in
the water here, and five hundred more were
thrashing madly, as parasites might in your 
blood. Now I was in a lifeboat designed for 
ten and ten only, anything that systematic 
would get you hated. It's not a deal nor a 
test nor a love of something fated. The 
selection was quick, the crew was picked in order 
and those left in the water got kicked off our 
pantleg and we headed for home.

Then the dream ends when the phone rings,
you doing alright he said it's out there most
days and nights, but only a fool would 
complain. Anyway Susan, if you like, our 
conversation is as faint a sound in my
memory, as those fingernails scratching on my hull.

And here's the Web page that tries to explain all the references.

I hope this helps anyone who's looking to start writing their own lyrics to their songs.

A drool-worthy addition to the short list

I found another guitar worthy of the short list. In fact, it just might be a favorite. The Ibanez S420. Look at it - it's stunning. It's a little over budget at $499, but wow. It has everything I'd want in a tremolo-equipped shredder - 24 frets, dual humbuckers with coil tapping, thin neck, and a good locking tremolo.

In fact, the tremolo itself is worthy of special consideration. It's Ibanez's zero-return tremolo, meaning that it always returns to zero position when used. It also stays in that position if a string breaks, so no more horrendous cacophony after a break (it's happened to me, so I know how bad it sounds).

I must play one of these. Although, I'm afraid that after I play one, I won't be able to put it back. There's a real good chance that the short list will end here. I hope it lives up to the hype I'm giving it.

Mood guitars

Most people, especially non-guitarists, can't understand why anyone who isn't a gigging professional musician would need more than one electric guitar. All guitars are the same, right? They have strings, pickups, knobby things, and are usually made of wood. Why have more than one?

As I sift through the plethora of guitars on the market to find what will be my next (and most likely last) guitar purchase, I too have wondered why I even need another guitar when I already have four. I found the answer last night when I picked up my Strat for the first time since I got back from Vegas: mood.

You need to be in the mood to play a particular guitar. If you're in the mood to play heavy classic rock, you need a guitar to fit that mood. If you're in the mood to play metal, you need a guitar to fit that mood. If you don't have a guitar to fit your mood, you won't play, and you won't get any better. Playing is the key to improving.

A little while ago I pleaded to save my Strat, because I didn't like the way it sounded. Last night, though, I played it for the first time in a while and I absolutely loved the way it sounded. So why would it sound so good last night, but so horrible a few weeks ago? Easy - it was my mood.

A few weeks ago I was in a high gain metal mood. My Telecaster is pretty good for that kind of tone, but my Strat is not. That's also why I shifted my short list shopping to metal guitars and contemplated a pickup overhaul for the Strat and LP Special. I've been playing my LP a lot recently, and its P100s put out a tone somewhere between a humbucker and a single coil and it's a great guitar for a heavy rock tone. That was the mood I was in, and the LP fit it perfectly. Last night, my mood changed slightly. I still wanted a heavy rock tone, but I wanted a little more top end and more shimmering clean tones, which the Strat pulls off expertly - in fact, that kind of tone is synonymous with Stratocasters.

So what does this mean? Well for one thing, my Strat doesn't need saving. I still may someday upgrade the pickups to a more vintage AlNiCo set, but I want it to maintain that signature Strat sound, which it does pretty well already. I'm also not going to touch the LP. It sounds great for what it is. It also reinforces my decision that my short list needs to include guitars that can handle metal, because that's the only kind of mood guitar I'm missing in my collection. The only question is whether to Floyd or not to Floyd.

Any advice?

More short list changes

Another short one today, this time another addition to the short list. The catalyst for this change was a series of two videos I watched on YouTube from Rob Chappers in which he compares a handful of affordable guitars, giving some brief tone examples and general comments. He also gave an overall winner, which has found its way onto the short list.

Spoiler alert: If you want to watch the videos first and learn which one was the winner the right way, click on the link above, watch the videos, and come back. I'll wait.

Good videos, huh? I like his comments on the Ibanez and I think I'll be revisiting the RG series again before this is all said and done. Anyway, the winner of the video competition was the ESP LTD EC-50. I had the EC-100 (basically an EC-50 with a nicer top) on the list before, but I took it off as I thought it wouldn't match up to the Ibanez ART100. After watching the videos and hearing how it sounded, I decided to put it on the list. That, and the fact that the EC-50 has 24 frets while the ART100 only has 22.

On a related note, lately I've been playing my Les Paul Special a lot. I'm starting to really like the shorter 24.75" scale and I may want to get another guitar like that, which makes this latest addition to the short list all the more important. It's also a bargain at $249.

So here's an updated short list:

Guitars I've played:

Epiphone Les Paul Studio ($349)
Schecter Omen 6 ($299)

Guitars I haven't played:

Dean Cadillac Select ($479)
Sterling SILO20 ($399)
Sterling JP50 ($499)
Ibanez ART100 ($299)
Dean Vendetta 1000 ($275)
Ibanez GRGA32T ($299)
Ibanez RG5EX1 ($400)
Ibanez RG350DX ($400)
Schecter Damien FR ($450)
(NEW) ESP LTD EC-50 ($249)

Guitars I can't play:

Chapman Guitars ML2 ($525)
Chapman Guitars ML1 ($490)
Agile AL-2000 with Floyd Rose ($279)

Add one to the short list

Just a quick post today. I wanted to add another guitar to the ever-lengthening short list - an Ibanez JS100 Joe Satriani model (the cheaper one). Yeah, I know they cost $800 new, but the local Music Go Round (OK, the closest one, which is an hour and a half drive away) has two of them for $399.

I love them because not only are they Satch's own guitars, but they're like a new classic guitar. Imagine being able to go to a car dealer now and pick up a brand-new 1984 Corvette and you get the idea (had to stick with an 80s reference on that one). It's basically an old Ibanez Radius with different pickups, so it has an old body style and an old neck profile, and because of that it looks anachronistically cool.

Of course, these being used guitars opens up another colossal can of worms - do I pay $400 for a new Indonesian or Chinese guitar, or do I pay $400 for a used Japanese guitar? For the record, the JS100 is made in Indonesia, but look how much it costs new. I'm already enjoying the fruits of used guitar buying, having bought my Telecaster for almost half of what it cost new.

Too many choices. I know what'll probably happen - I'll have too many choices and end up getting nothing. I don't think I'd mind that outcome too much.

Save my Strat

Ever since I dialed in my Telecaster, it has become my go-to guitar. I love the way it plays, I love the way it looks and, most importantly, I love the way it sounds. I love the dual humbuckers. I love their power, their depth and their texture. Dual-pickup guitars are also easy - two pickups, one three-way switch, no fuss. I wish all my guitars had this setup.

This is all well and good, but what about my Stratocaster? It means that it spends a lot of its time in its case. I love my Strat. It's the best playing guitar I own, including the Tele. It's just that whenever I take it out and plug it in, I don't like the way it sounds. I miss the Telecaster's twin humbucker power. So the Strat goes back in its case and I go back to the Tele.

I don't want this to happen. The Strat has been my main guitar up until the point when I finally got the setup right on the Tele. This is the same conundrum I face in the potential purchase of another guitar - I don't want to not play any of my guitars, and adding another one to the mix will mean another guitar in the rotation. But what if the guitar isn't even in the rotation? I have a similar problem with my Hondo - I like the way it sounds, even with the cheap pickups in the HSS pickguard, but I hate how easily it goes out of tune and I'm out of patience with non-locking tremolos.

So what's a guy to do? I need to save my Strat from being relegated to occasional player status. I have a few options.

I could take the pickguard off my Hondo and put it on the Strat. I thought about this before, but this is the most serious thought I've given it in a while. This is by far the cheapest option. It's essentially free. All I need to do is borrow a soldering iron or, even better, pick up one from Home Depot or similar store (they're cheap), remove both pickguards, and install the Hondo's on the Strat. This does lead to two problems - first, although I like the humbucker in the Hondo, I don't much care for the single coils, and second, the Hondo will go back to being a useless hunk of wood. The Fender's pickguard won't fit without some filing of the neck pocket and I don't have the tools to do that. Another cheap tool - this time a file - is all I'd need, but it's more work and it means the Hondo has almost no saving grace. It will have pickups I don't like and a tremolo I don't like.

I could go back to GuitarFetish.com and buy another cheap prewired pickguard. For the price, they're pretty good. As I said, I like the Hondo's humbucker, and the singles, while not the best, are definitely passable at this price range. Ideally I'd like to get a dual humbucker pickguard, but I'd have to take the guitar to Spotlight Music for installation because the Strat is routed for an HSS setup and I'd need to get the neck pickup rout widened. All of this means more money.

I could spend a little more and get the Carvin HSS pickguard I mentioned in another post. While pricier, it won't require a re-rout and the singles should be much higher quality than the stock Mexican ceramic pickups on the Strat. But it still means money.

So do I go the free route, or wait until I can do one of the other options? I'm getting impatient, so we'll see what happens.