Drumsticks: Episode 2

First off, let me start by quoting a certain statement made by Vic Firth.

"Of course, there are a variety of other materials that drumsticks can be made of, but these two types of wood (hickey & maple) are considered best for all around playing. Non-wood products (such as composite fiber or metal), which may offer extra durability, can deliver undue shock to a player's wrists and arms, sometimes resulting in sore muscles or even tendonitis."

Quoted from Vic Firth 2011 Catalog

Question: "Non-wood products can deliver undue shock.......or even tendonitis". Is this statement true?

Unfortunately yes. However, Ahead sticks are well-known for shock absorbing. How is this possible? Well, there are two assumption which Vic Firth is making when it makes this statement: 

1) The drumsticks are made entirely of metal. 

2) It is true, Ceteris Paribus  

All Ahead did was to break this assumption. It makes its drumsticks out of different individual parts and install some Vibration control system.

A pair of Ahead is made up of an aluminium shaft and a replaceable taper cover. This implies that taper of the Ahead drumsticks are removable and changeable. In fact, you are supposed to change this polyurethane taper cover. So when playing with Ahead, you are not hitting the drums with aluminium but plastic instead. Furthermore, since the cover and the shaft are not joined together, it will dampen the shock. 

The aluminium sticks itself has a built-in vibration control system (VRS) as well, breaking Vic Firth's 2nd assumption. This VRS is patented by Ahead.

Note: Ahead Drumsticks are available at Drums Resources.

Drums Resources 

Ph: 91170692 (You will be speaking to Nigel. CALL HIM FIRST before you go)
Lock & Store 37 Keppel Road #01-03 Tanjong Pagar Distripark Singapore 089064

Shrinking M-series

For those who are looking for a multi-effect pedal/stompbox at the same tier as Zoom G2Nu or G2.1Nu, you now have one extra option.

Line 6 M5

It was first introduced at Musikmesse 2011 and it is now available in Singapore at City Music (for Malaysia, it would be CK Music).

Line 6 has decided to introduce a more compact version of their existing M-series (M13 & M9). It is almost as big as its Zoom counterpart or slightly (but negligibly) smaller. However, it is heavier and expensive as well.  However, this Line 6 stompbox are very durable and which is precisely it is called a 'stompbox'. 

Price: S$297.50

Other multi-effects of the same type which you can consider:

-Vox TonelabST

-Boss ME-25

Hamer Echotone

I have a chance to try one of my friend's Hamer Echotone. (as seen below).

It is a semi-hollow. Nothing very prestigious so don't compare it with some Gretsch or Gibson. However, it is still very well built. Echotone provides a very clean tone and I find that it is especially true when played through its neck humbucker. The neck of the guitar is a set-neck. The neck is rather thin as well. However, after a quick research, it is made of maple and not mahogany as I have anticipated. Maple gives a brighter tone, so those who prefer bright sounds will like it. However, I do not have enough time to play it with some distortion. I will make a better review of it after I'd thoroughly tested it out.
It costs $527 at City Music. If you are looking for a good and affordable semi-hollow, here you go. =)

Striking resemblances

I just would like to share something which I've recently got to know.
Take a look at the following pedals,

Digitech Grunge

DOD Grunge (FX69)

OR

Digitech Death Metal

&

DOD Death Metal (FX86)

Any resemblance? Both 'Grunges' have the same relic design, with the same name and even the knobs has similar names. Is it a mere coincidence? Or one of them imitate the other? Copyright infringement? Well, neither.

DOD is under Digitech. Digitech used to produce Death Metal, Grunge and other effects under the name of DOD. It is just recently when it decided to revise these DOD pedals and name them under the Digitech family instead. 

1st drum post: Drumsticks...

What comes into your mind when you hear the word 'drumsticks'? Is it this? (see below)

A usual wooden drumsticks. 
Many thought that only wood is used to make drumsticks. However, there are alternatives to wood. Drumsticks can also be made of the following:

Aluminium

Polyutherane 

(polymer) Carbon fiber

Need an example of a non-wood drumsticks? Take Ahead for example.

It uses 2 'ingredients' of the above to make their sticks (aluminium and polyutherane). However, are you worried about hitting the drums with an aluminium stick? Are you worried about the shock it would send to you hand? (Everyone knows that aluminium is much denser compare to wood.). Well, I will explain more tomorrow.

Note: Ahead Drumsticks are available at Drums Resources.

Drums Resources 

Ph: 91170692 (You will be speaking to Nigel. CALL HIM FIRST before you go)
Lock & Store 37 Keppel Road #01-03 Tanjong Pagar Distripark Singapore 089064

>>to be continued<<

Teak anyone?

You have seen various acoustic guitars made of full mahogany, maple, rosewood or a combination of spruce top and mahogany sides and the list goes on. However, have everyone has a guitar (either electric or acoustic) made of teak? Well, I own an acoustic guitar made of teak; it is a customised guitar from Myanmar

What is teak?
A teak is a exotic topical hardwood and is used in production of furnitures, boats and etc. (My country has a lot of them). Teak is often mistaken for mahogany as they have the similar brown colour. However, if you give a thorough study of the wood side by side, you will find that teak has a much dryer look. They also have very different wood grains.

Mahogany

Teak

So you rarely see a teak guitar before? Well, there is a reason behind it. Teak is very high in oil content and that factor makes it hard to glue. Luthiers, not wanting so much of trouble, choose not to use teak as a tonewood.
Teak is also relatively heavy. It also has large pores. This could be the reason why my acoustic guitar sounds very bright apart from it being a grand concert.

The bolded words are the reasons why teak is unpopular as tonewood.
 Don't get me wrong though. Teak is still used as a tonewood, just not as popular. So there are still teak guitars like the Cripe Guitar below.

Grunge - the re-review

I've done a review on this pedal before, but not a thorough one. 

'Grunge' is actually a subgenre of alternative rock, somewhat related to that of hardcore punk and heavy metal. So, by naming a pedal 'Grunge', one can tell what type of distortion it is. (It can be considered a metal distortion.)

General

"Loud" is volume level and "Grunge" represents the gain. For metal distortions, I would prefer it to have the mid tonal control as well. However, as you can see, there is only low and high knobs; implying that the mid frequency is fixed. It has a dual-output. The Amp output is for connecting directly to an amp (of course) while the Mixer output is useful when you wish to do recording. 

This pedal has a sturdy built. The housing of the pedal is fully metal. It also has a relic-style design. For those who prefer relic finish, Grunge might be an eye candy to you.

Sound

It is tested through my 'Vendetta' (my Fernandes). This pedal is just very loud despite level clocked at 9 o'clock position, same goes to my 10W practice amp. In fact, I got 2 complaints from 2 different neighbours while testing this out. 

It is also very distorted. The grunge knob doesn't seem to do much of a difference. Grunge is also too distorted. Even with your grunge at its lowest, the distortion is still there. So if anyone is trying to reduce the gain and use it as some mild distortion, you might want to give up that idea.

However, I still like this pedal. Why? It has a very unique tone. Very crunchy and gritty tone which, in my opinion, gives you an boosted effect on palm-muting. Those who like to have a coarse and crunchy lead tone, it would do a perfect job. I, for one, prefer a much smooth distortion which my Metal End King gives with the amp simulator on. I would rather use Grunge for playing rhythm rather than lead. However, it's all a matter of preferences. 
Hooray to sustain lovers, this pedal gives you a good one. Those who know how to utilise feedbacks will also find it useful.


Overall

★★★★☆ : 
-A good friend for anyone seeking for a fierce distortion
-Sturdy-built
-Dual output: Ideal for recording
-Crunchy tone (unique tone). Those wanting to be unique may consider this
-Good sustain


-Very loud and the gain can't be lowered.
-Lack mid frequency controls. 

More than guitars?

Dear readers,
This blog is a guitar blog. However, I would still like to add in a few posts on drums and other instruments. Some may call this sidetracked but I believe it is not a bad idea to know more about other instruments as well, isn't? Moreover, I believe some of you can play more than one instrument, isn't? =)

Alumitone's Secret

I've wanted to attach a video on my previous post but decided that it would be better to make a new post instead. Many people pay very little attention to Lace Sensor pickup. So I thought it would be nice to share the little knowledge I have for Lace.
The video below will show you the differences between a normal humbucker and a alumitone. You can now picture what I mean by Alumitone being 'coil-less' through this.

Swarovski + pickup?

This is the 2nd post that mention Swarovski. The 1st post was on Orianthi's MJ (click to read more)
The equation this time would be...

+

and you get

Blingbucker (what an awkward name)

These lace sensor pickups are basically Alumitone pickups, Deathbucker to be exact, studded with Swarovski crystal. Don Lace first introduced them to the world at Winter NAMM 2011.

Lace Music's main focus on producing their pickups is to be 'noiseless', which would be a great help for recording. Alumitone is one of such innovations. (This was the  What makes Alumitone pickup unique compared to other pickups is... they are 'coil-less'. Yes, they do not have copper wire wounded around it.  

More pictures of our Bling friends:

Take a look at this Dog-ear style pickup. What is the difference between with the usual P90? 

Lace's P90 is created using the Alumitone technology, rather than the usual pickup technology. So why are there poles in the pickups? Actually the 'poles' on the pickups are Swarovski crystals.

I'm not a bling-inclined person. In fact, I find them excessive. 

SV Guitars is the distributor for Lace Sensor Products.