What if - No tone knobs

I hear this almost everywhere: "No tone knobs? That's bad!". "Why 3-way switch and not 5 ways?".

Actually, I wonder why people want those in the first place. There are some guitarists who will use all the knobs and pickup combinations. I would definitely use the tone knobs especially when I'm playing jazz, blues, etc..., in other words, genres would use overdrive instead of heavy distortions. However, how many of the rest actually touches the tone knobs? Many just leave the tone and volume all maxed out.

I'm writing this after reading some comments on the Jim Root's signature stratocaster and Mick Thompson's Ibanez.

In case you are wondering what shape is Mick's guitar called, Ibanez called them 'Glaive'. It looks like a glaive too.

In general, they are complaining about the lack of tone knobs. That is one thing they have in common; no tone knobs and 3-way switches.

Their reasons for the exclusion of the tone knobs are actually simple:

1. They don't use it - How many metal guitarists do you see fidgeting around with the tone knobs? Well, I myself hardly ever touch the tone knobs whenever I'm playing metal songs. All the tonal adjustments are done on the EQs of the amp or my ME-70. Mick did mentioned this when he talked about his Signature Glaive. So it is as simple as this. Why would you want something you don't touch at all on the guitar?
2. To increase the output - This was something new when I first read about this. Another reason for the exclusion is to maximise the output of the pickups. Wiring the pickups straight to a single volume pot would have preserve more signals than having it pass through all the extra volume knobs. If Jim Root Strat would have tone knobs like a regular strat, it would be two knobs. I am not so much of an electrician but it does make sense to me if I would think logically.

So in conclusion, there are no tone knobs because they are of little use to them. Sometimes, simplicity works the best, no?

Satriani COMBO

Swee Lee's newest bundle.

As stated above. Do note that you will be getting a CORT CGC 70 HARDCASE, not Ibanez.

Temptation?

I went down to Swee Lee Katong to check out what is for sale this time round.
Sadly, they are all the old sales, mainly consist of leftovers of the past 2 sales. However, don't let the word 'leftover' think they are lousy. Some of them are still worthwhile getting.

Remember the Smash Box I was talking about? Well, I saw a couple of them at the sales today. The price was too tempting. S$63 for SM7 (listed price is about $126 and 50% off that price is the promo price)? Definitely tempting. However, I still manage to resist it. I can't be buying stuffs mindlessly and need to gauge my needs and my wants first before buying.

In conclusion, I bought nothing. =P

Smashbox for me?

As I went to SV guitar to grab a few strings, I managed to try Ibanez Smashbox SM7 with an Ibanez S770FM ATF.
A friend of mine asked what is the differences between S570B and S770FM (They differ in price by $80).

S570B WH

S770FM ATF

The 'FM' in S770FM means 'Flamed-maple'. It is made up of a flamed maple top with mahogany body unlike S570B which doesn't feature a flamed-maple. Do take note that S770FM has a neck binding which stretches over to its headstock. This could be the reason for the price difference. Spec-wise, they are the same.

SM7 is a good distortion pedal. However, it is a bit too fierce for the type I'm looking for. I tweaked the drive to 8 o'clock and it is already very distorted, enough to cater metal-type of songs.

It has 'void' function which serves as a built-in noise gate. It also has a 'smooth' and 'sharp' feature. 'Sharp' gives you the crunchy tone while smooth gives you clarity. Sadly, it is not really the one I'm looking for. =(

Limited Premiums

Swee Lee's Newest promotion.

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS in this shipment, Limited Edition RG870Z & RG870QMZ available at Bras Basah Showroom only.

NOTE: ONE PIECE OF EACH COLOUR AVAILABLE.

I suppose there should be 5 pieces only?

Premium series are said to be made at the same tier as Prestige. (Wizard premium neck is claimed to be identical to that of Prestige Wizard)

I have yet to try them out. However, I'm not so into all Ibanez guitars at the moment. My knowledge about them is very limited as well.

BEHRINGER PB-100

Well, look what I've got myself using portion of the Ang Bao I got!!

Behringer PB-100

Its function is well stated on it. It is a preamp booster (aka) clean booster. Got this for a cheap $29 from Subversion! Today was the first time I see him in person. =) He's indeed a very nice and friendly guy as many say. The pedal was as good as new. The pedal was thoroughly cleaned. No shoe prints on the switch shows that this pedal has never been gigged before and hence looks brand new!

Almost immediately after I'd got it from sub, I ran straight back home to try it out. 

Well, I placed the newly acquired PB-100 in the first position, followed by my Ibanez Tubescreamer TS-7. the Zoom G2.1u is just there to act as a tuner. -.- 

The PB-100 do wonders with the TS-7. The boost makes the TS-7 sound 'fatter'. I tweaked my treble at 3 o'clock on the PB-100, bass at 11 o clock and the gain in the middle. 

Many of the Keeley modded overdrives like Keeley modded TS-9 and Keeley SD-1 works in the same way. Instead of having a clean booster outside, they had a integrated boost circuit inside them. (Sub told me this! xD) 

TS-7 goodness

I am quite happy with the performance of my TS-7.. which is probably 1.5 week old. The strange thing is... I hardly ever use it alone.. My main purpose of using TS-7 is to beef up the overdrive and distortion of another effect.

In fact, it does the job rather well, especially with my (anique) G2.1u which I am not intending to upgrade to the new G2.1Nu. I use the TS9 mode as a booster. Hot Mode is too noisy. I usually use it alone instead.

Tubescreamer

I'd been looking for an overdrive pedal I want. After trying dozens of OD petals (MXR, Boss, Modtone, Fulltone) of all price range, I finally decided to buy Ibanez TS7 Tubescreamer. 

Reason: I wanted a thick and yet warm overdrive and it should be able to boost the overdrive of the amplifier. TS7 does the job well. Though it doesn't give a very nice sound when played with my Squier Strat, it gives the exact sound I want with my Fernandes. Well, the quality of the guitar is very different which explains the reason why.


Tone: It has a very smooth and warm sound. There are two modes in TS7, TS9 and HOT modes. Hot mode has a higher output than the TS9 mode. TS9 gives you a milder overdrive, which I ultilised it as an amp booster. 


Features: 3 knobs. (Drive, Tone, Level),  Push Lok retractable knobs. 


In my opinion, Biyang Baby Boom Mad Driver has the tone close to TS7 but not identical. However, Mad Driver has 3 modes instead of 2. I still chose TS7 in the end because in terms of warmth, it is better. 

Suitable Gauge

This is one of the problem that had been discussed in the local forum.

A fella changed his strings to 0.12 gauge. As a result, the whole bridge was lifted up by 2 cm++.

Different gauge will provide with different tones, sustain and etc. Normally a larger gauge will provide a louder volume and sustain. This guy probably string these strings because

1. He doesn't care about gauges so much

2. He wants a louder volume.

What he failed to realise is this: Not all guitars are made for gauges so high. The thicker the strings, the more tension they has and more pull exerted on both the bridge and the neck. Luckily, his bridge was a floating bridge, so it takes much of the pull from the strings than the neck. Has it been a locked bridge, the neck will suffer a enormous damage. Sadly, this dude tried to reinforce his bridge by adding 2 more springs. So where does all the resultant tension acts on? The neck~! He also said he has difficulties tuning (turning the tuners), proving that the stress is on the neck.

Thicker strings are made usually for drop tunings. Usually when a guitar is drop tuned, there is a tension slack on the strings especially on gauges like 0.09 . Thus thicker strings helps to lessen tension slack. So what he fails to understand is the following,

• Large gauges are made for drop tunings.
• He doesn't know how to choose suitable strings

Some of the guitars are made to cut the tension slack as well.

Normal a scale of a guitar is 25.5'', like Ibanez RG (for example). There is also Ibanez RGD but the D makes a difference. D refers to "drop tune" and also it has a large scale (26.5) and has a slightly thicker neck as well. With larger scale, it reduces the tension slack in the strings. These kinda guitar will allow you to drop tune more freely with less slack.

The whole main thing about this post is you must know the suitable strings for your guitar. =)