Digitech + Fernandes

I guess everyone knows what is a Fernandes Nomad is, right? 

It is basically a guitar with a built-in amplifier on it. It is small in size and weighs rather light. In a nutshell, Nomad is a traveller guitars. In Japan, these guitars are known as Zo-series guitars. 

Of course, we don't expect the amp there to sound like a JCM or anything like that. It is after all a 'practice amp' integrated on the guitar. The priority of Nomad is to allow you to practice your guitar while traveling rather than its tone. Some of us may find that unappealing though. 

However, we also know that practice amps may produce tone that is rather appealing when you place a multi-efx unit before it. That is exactly what Fernandes do to their Nomad.

The above is Nomad Deluxe. It is just a Nomad Standard with one extra feature; built-in Digitech signal processor.

The processor is based on RP-100 so if you have tried RP-100 before (quite an old model though), you would know that it is quite a good unit. Oh yes, like the RP-100, there is a drum machine in it. Quite an awesome travel practice guitar.

Opps- =x

Remember about the Fernandes Sustainer? Well, I thought it is not available in Singapore. Apparently, I was wrong. 
The photo below is from Sound Alchemy's Facebook

This S$280 only includes the price for the sustainer.  The installation of the kit WILL NOT BE FREE as it requires routing. The cost will vary on the type of guitar.

Sorry for the wrong information I gave previously. =(

In remembrance of 'hide'

Coming May 2 is hide's (X-Japan) 13th Death anniversary. It is nothing to celebrate about but it serves as a reminder that such excellent musician had once lived. 

In remembrance of hide, Fernandes has revealed a limited-edition guitar, namely JG-hide Model.

This guitar is handmade and a duplicate of the same one hide had used during this 'Psyence a Go Go' solo tour. In the youtube video below, you will see hide featuring this guitar. This guitar is limited to only 200 pieces worldwide and I doubt it can be found in Singapore. Most of the 200 should still be in Japan, I guess. It is selling for  ¥180,000 and this is approximately S$2723.57.

Hide - Rocket Dive

He was with the Spread Beaver here, not X japan.

2011 Fernandes

I have downloaded Fernandes 2011 Catalog since the day it was released. However, I'd failed to give it a thorough look, assuming there isn't any new stuffs that will fascinate me. Well, again I questioned myself, "What is the point of making a new catalog if there isn't anything new?"

Fernandes has introduced the V-hawks for 2011. Here's the picture.

V-Hawk Elite

V-Hawk Deluxe

V-Hawk X

Like any of the Elites, V-Hawk Elite features its renowned Sustainer (click on it to read about it's function). Same goes for its Deluxe: it is loaded with EMG active pickups like any others. X stands for the models equipped with high output passive pickups and comes with an alder body for most of the model. 

As for the shape of V-Hawk, it resembles ESP-Arrow. Of course, 'resembles' doesn't imply that they are 'identical'. The cutaway at the end of the guitar body is the evidence. 

Where to get? (Singapore)

I believe BGW-guitar is the only source of getting it. However, you might wish to try your luck at Yamaha. Afterall, Yamaha is supposedly the main distributor of Fernandes guitars. However, it seems to me that Fernandes is definitely NOT their area of focus.

SNAP~!

Just a small post before I go to Bugis to start mugging (once again).
One of the main reason why my guitar strings snap is usually because I love to bend too much. This is especially true if it the 1st (e) string.

Just my luck. I got slapped by the e-string of my Fernandes. It was loaded with Gallistring previously. http://theguitarmaniac.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-gauge-new-tuning.html

Snapping of the string is nothing interesting. What really intrigues me is where it snaps. Take a look:

'

Apparently, it was at the ball end: the part where is string is tied around the ball part. I thought it was because of rust. After having a quick check, it wasn't. The string is still fresh! Low quality of the strings? I don't think so. All the other strings look perfectly fine. Maybe it is just my luck to get a defected e-string. =(

The Physic!!

I'd never read so much about Fernandes Sustainer before and didn't really know how it works.. until I suddenly thought about it on my way back home from school. So, I did some immediate research. 

The driver A in the sustainer will release pulses of magnetic field. As the word 'pulses' suggest, it is not a continuous emission of magnetic field by the driver. Every time a pulse is release, there will be a force due to the magnetic field acting on the string. Then, the driver would stop emitting a field for a while before it emits again. When this repeats, it will cause a vibration of the strings and this would cause the string to 'sustain'. 
So what is so special about this sustainer when there are compressor sustainer pedals around? According to the manufacturer, their sustainer gives a natural sustain which pedals can't give. I agree with it to a certain extent. 


There are 3 modes in the Fernandes Sustainer

01Harmonic Mode: 
Within seconds, the pitch of the ringing note(s) will rise to the 5th natural harmonic.

02Natural Mode: 
The note(s) will continue to ring its natural fundamental tone as long as the string(s) are free to vibrate and the Sustainer System is on.

03Mix Mode: 
Available on select models including our FSK-401 Sustainer Kit, the Mix mode blends the Natural and Harmonic Mode to harmonize indefinitely every ringing note creating a harmonized feedback effect.

UPDATE: Sustainer (FK101) is available at Sound Alchemy for S$280. FK101 is a humbucker-sized sustainer.

Antique Fernandes

Hope this will be helpful to those who owns a Fernandes of a model as old as 2003.

I myself own one. A Fernandes FGZ-400. It is already discontinued in 2003, its last year of production. Many of the model are discontinued in 2003, too.

All old model guitars DO NOT have a serial number on the back of the headstock like many guitars do. This leads many into thinking that these are fake Fernandes and indeed it would be rather difficult to differentiate as well. However, it is normal for these Fernandes guitars, which are mostly discontinued, to not have a serial number. Fernandes had never keep track of all their guitar during that time. It was only in 2007 (or 2008 <I can't remember>) that the company had finally decided to keep track of their production and thus giving their guitars a serial number each.

So, if anyone is buying old Fernandes guitars, please do not think that it is fake. Instead, check all the hardwares, the pickups, its built and the tone to judge instead.

Again.. New Inlays

Once again, I went down to Music Ensemble to get another set of inlays for my Fernandes. I'd mentioned before that I would get the red cross inlays if I ever get a red colour guitar. Well, I finally managed to buy the red one. 

This is how it looks like.

The 24th fret sticker goes onto my neck pickup which managed to fit it perfectly.

New Family member

My Fernandes has finally arrived back from SV Guitars which I'd left it there for a new pickup switch to be installed in it. They get the job done quick and the price is also reasonable. 

Now it's time for cleaning. 

Quite a lot of cleaning is required. It seems that the previous owner has never polish the guitar at all. The hardwares, fretboard and body. White patches can be seen on fretboard and this shows the dryness of the fret. A little of lemon oil will do... hmmm...

So I removed the strings and do a overall cleaning. Then I restring it with my Everly strings I bought some days ago.

This is the overall look. It looks better than I'd expected. I will talk about its playability tomorrow. =)

New stuffs

I'd finally managed to trade a MIJ Fernandes guitar with Nicholas. I saw his post in SVguitar forum. He'd been selling it for 2 years but never managed to sell it. So long that he is willing to sell it for S$350 with all the accessories. I wonder why. Why hadn't he put it up on soft instead?

Well that doesn't matter any longer. I managed to bargain a S$50 off. So it's S$300

 1. ZOOM G2 multi-effect pedal.
Somewhat similar to the G2.1u I got.

2. Planet Waves 25ft Cable
The longest cable among all my other cables with locking jack pins.

3. Zoom Driver 5000
Gives you quite a lot of distortions as you can see from the picture below. Hadn't got a chance to try them yet.

4. Some unknown cable, 10ft long


Nicholas seemed to have keep all the things rather properly. All the manuals are still there, the pedal still intact and the box still in a good condition. (better than my g2.1u box)

But what about my guitar? It's right now at SVguitars. There seems to be some problems with the pickup switch. The neck pickup isn't working after I'd removed the tissue paper Nicholas has used to somehow make the pickup switch usable.