Yngwie Malmsteen playing Star Spangled Banner

I happened to chance through this video and I thought it was a pretty cool video and rendition of a national anthem. Stars Spangled Banner has not only been played only by Yngwie Malmsteen but also by many others, such as Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Zack Wylde and etc. I think it's a great and cool way to renew the tune of national anthem by engaging local talents to perform in a big event. It not only reminds us of our national identity but also allow people to catch up on the different types of music styles on the same tune.

Let's talk about nuts

Today, I was playing around with my "Malmsteen" and it occurred to me that in addition to the scalloped fretboard, I also took the liberty to change the nut into a brass one (One that I cut myself). I wanted the guitar to be as close to the YJM Model as close a possible but within budget.

Anyway, the nut change did change the tone, making it significantly brighter compared to the stock plastic nut (Squier). However, what most people do not know is, it doesn't change the tone (At least not in an audiable way) when you fret the notes. Think of it this way. What acts as the nut after you fret the note, is your fingers and the fret. So, logically speaking, shouldn't the tone of the note produced by the nut, when fretting a guitar be replaced by the way the note is fretted and the material of the fret?

The next question will be, why would I want to change the nut of the instrument, if it doesn't affect the tone that much anyway since I will be fretting most of the time. Well, it isn't a necessary change but, I changed it due to the fact that I scalloped the fretboard of the instrument. Due to that, the tone of the guitar is considerably brighten so to speak and to balance out the sound when I am doing my open chords and strings, I changed the nut to a brass one instead.

The same principle applies to nuts of other material. This is exceptionally so if it's being performed on an acoustic guitar, where majority of the players are playing open strings. However, that will be another story or discussion for another day.

My Pick collection

Like every fan-boys, other than guitars, I too indulge in collecting something associated with the guitar players I like. Instead of owning Gazillians amount of picks, I have instead a number of picks that either came to me by themselves (you are reading this right) or I bought them knowing who actually uses them.

So far,these are all I have at the moment. Top 2 belongs to Hizaki from Versailles a Visual Kei band from Japan. One of them is a souvenir from a friend who went to Hong Kong for their concert. Following on is Steve Vai's limited edition Jim Dunlop pick. Honestly, I've never see him used those at all. I got them while I was still in Japan.

Beside Steve's pick is Sugizo's pick. Sugizo is the new guitarist of X Japan and still is the guitar of Luna Sea. Super big bands from Japan. Second roll. first 4 picks are Steve Vai's Signature pick. As I am a super huge fan of his, I have to have these. The one beside Steve Vai's pick is Yngwie Malmsteen's Signature pick. Now that thing is just FAT. No wonder he can pick with such precision. The pick with a Jem DNA picture was a gift from my friend. My friend saw one of these while window shopping randomly and thought that he might as well get it for me since I am that big a fan of Steve Vai.

Last one is Paul Gilbert's pick. An actual one that landed on my feet when he threw it out. Yes, not that fake Ibanez signature pick which he never uses. However, it would seem that Paul has switch to even a thinner pick. The green one from Jim Dunlop. That unfortunately hasn't landed on my feet yet.

Touching up a scallop job

I scalloped a guitar, particularly a Made in China Squier just about 2 years ago. However, the scalloping wasn't even. I've wrote previously that the deepness of the scallop doesn't make a difference. It's merely a cosmetic effect. I am that particular about cosmetic effect actually. I've always wanted to touch up the scallop but was too lazy. Well today is the day that I shall stop being lazy.

First, I tape up the sides as marker on how deep I want the scallop to go. After that, with a normal half round file, I file the sides to build in the deep half rounded sides. This will act as a guide for the deep scallop.

Having done all the sides, it's time to whip out the half round wood rasp and start filing away. Start filing until it hits the deepness of the guides. At this point, it doesn't matter if it looks good or not. There is always sand paper later on.

Once the depth has been filed to, next is to touch up the scallop with sandpaper. Starting with zero grit sandpaper, and start sanding away with hand. Slowly working up til high grit sandpaper. After all that is done.........

An even looking Scallop job. Since it's deep scallop, the inlays have been scalloped away. I need to redo the inlay and seal the neck again. Once again to my favorite hand rubbed oil finish. Till then.

The truths and myths of a scalloped Fingerboard

What is a scalloped fingerboard? It is a fingerboard with it's fretboard, the space in between the frets filed away into a scoop like shape. The next question would be, why will I want that?

We have seen players such as Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmoore playing playing Fenders with Scalloped fingerboards and thanks to the wide popularity of these musicians, we came to a misguided conception that, if these players play with such a guitar, it must be easier to play with thus making us sound better as players right? Well, I hate to break your bubble but no, that is not the case. Often we buy our gear based on what our idol use thinking that it will make us closer to them in terms of playing (I am a victim of that) or configuring our gear closer to them. Sadly, nothing but hours of practice can do that.

I've read before that Scalloped fingerboards allow us to play faster, clearer tone and etc. Nope, breaking your bubble again, that isn't the case. I've scalloped a Squier just to try out how the scalloped fingerboard actually feels like. However, this is already done with the preconception of knowing that it is for and what it does. So, allow me to debunk the myths of a scalloped fingerboard.

Myth: It allows us to play faster.
Answer: This is above all the most misunderstood myth. It does not allow us to play faster. Think of it this way. Without the wood in between the frets, doesn't it makes it harder to slide around the fingerboard? However, we have the illusion of being able to play faster after getting used to the fingerboard because over time, we developed what I like to call light touch. The way we fret our notes have changed to accommodate the lack of support from the wood and any additional pressure will just make our notes go higher. Now, think of it this way, by fretting our notes lightly, it also means that we have less fatigue and takes way less effort to move around the neck right? So there you go. It's not that it's easier to play faster but it makes us adapted to fretting lightly.

Myth: There is a difference in Deep scallop and half scallop and other different depth of scallop.
Answer: No there isn't. When there isn't wood underneath your fingers, you feel nothing. Now does it matter when that nothing is half a cm or 1 cm? No. Think of it this way, u are floating in a 3m deep pool and 4m deep pool (Assuming you are not these heights), does it makes a difference in the space between your legs and the floor? No, you feel nothing.

Truth: It is harder to play with a scalloped fingerboard.
Answer: Yes, it is harder in a certain sense. However, once you get used to it, it really isn't that much harder. Remember the first time you picked up the guitar trying to learn how to alternate pick or economy pick, it's the same. Once you get it hardwired into your brain, it ain't that much harder. To me, the scalloped fingerboard just allows me to play with a light touch.

Myth: Super Jumbo frets feel like scallop finger boards since the frets are so high.
Answer: No it doesn't. Not at all. You are still touching the wood beneath your fingers. Having bigger taller frets doesn't makes it feel like a scalloped fingerboard. It only makes it feel closer to a scalloped fingerboard.

Truth: Scalloped fingerboards are easy to do string bending with.
Answer: Yes. In fact, a lot easier. The fact of not having any wood below your fingers means that there is no additional friction to stop you from using your full finger strength to push the strings up or down. Try not to break you strings.

Truth: Scalloped fingerboards are a lot easier to do vibrato with.
Answer: Yes. Same concept as bending. When there is no wood beneath your fingers, there is less friction.

Truth: Scalloping your fingerboard will change the tone of your instrument.
Answer: Yes it does. In fact, it makes it brighter. Think of it this way. No more direct contact to the wood. It's the frets, the wood supporting the frets and your fingers. Majority of the contact point is the fret and strings. (Think metal to metal)

Truth: Scalloping your fingerboard will make the guitar neck weaker
Answer: Yes and No. Yes to making the fingerboard weaker but no to making it weak to the point that even if your truss rod is at it's maximum potential, the neck will be warped. I've had my scalloped guitar being scalloped for close to 2 years now and it hasn't warp since the day I set it up.

For my readers who are interested in scalloped fingerboards, I hope I did answer your questions and doubts you have. Additionally, I hope that this debunk any myths of scalloped fingerboards. These is nothing magical about it. It's just something different.

New sound samples for "Malmsteen" and "Frankenstien"

After finally getting a bare basic recording setup, I've finally gotten around in recording some sound samples for some of my guitars. So far I've only managed 2 which are "Malmsteen" and "Frankenstein. Both samples are direct guitar to my Marshall mini-stack, set at full gain with all EQ flat. The samples are Yngwie Malmsteen's Neo Classical lick. Please excuse my sloppy playing and thank you for listening.

Customed California Squier "Malmsteen"

Customed California Squier "Malmsteen" is the first guitar that is extensively modded and customized by me. It started out as an ordinary Californian Squier which I've bought while browsing in a second hand guitar store. I wanted a scalloped guitar similar to the one Yngwie Malmsteen uses, to practice my light touch fretting technique. Just so happened that I walked into the shop and found this 21 frets Squier (Made in China) that is cream in color, selling for pretty cheap. I also saw that the neck has some hints of birdseye maple grain and thinking that I should have a go in scalloping, I bought the guitar home.

After bringing it back home, I immediately bought some half round file, wood rasp, some sand paper and armed with guts started scalloping the guitar. Scalloping the guitar wasn't honestly hard, just takes a lot of work to get it there. After scalloping the fretboard, I oiled the fretboard with Tung oil for that smooth finish and proceed to setup the guitar again.

The neck warped at first, which was expected after a full deep scallop but what I never expect was to find the first 5 frets buzzing all over. So, what I realized was that they didn't QC the neck properly and to solve the neck buzz issue, the factory merely bow the neck. I proceed to do fret leveling for the guitar, getting rid of all the buzz.

What Is a Malmsteen guitar, if the nut isn't brass right? So I went ahead and bought myself a Brass Nut and cut it myself. The Brass Nut replacement went well and the open strings was noticeably brighter. I also ordered in a set of Malmsteen pick ups (Dimarzio HS4 x2, HS3) and got them installed into the guitar (Yngwie had to swtich camp over to Seymour Duncan after I build this but nonetheless, I do prefer his tone from his old albums). The Electronic parts were then replaced to Gotoh and as per all my guitars, Orange Drop and Treble Bleed Mod.

Shortly after, I acquired an old made in Mexico Fender Stratocaster Alder body. I immediately did a swap over to the new body, while at the same time changing the bridge to a Wilkinson bridge (big steel block). The only problem with the bridge was since it's alignment was made for US neck, the neck alignment was slightly off. But that didnt post too much of a problem. I've also taken the liberty to change the pickguard to limegreen, something closer to Yngwie's guitar.

The guitar was excellent, good acoustics and all but there was something that was still missing for me. I realized that it was the action of the guitar. I couldn't get it to set to really low action, which was what I prefer. So once again, I filed down the frets, making it compound radius. This ensured that I could set it to ridiculous action without the notes choking all over. This made the guitar very playable and feels nothing like a Squier. The slight mis-alignment of the bridge has also been solved after I replaced the bridge with a custom bridge made by Dragon-fire. It also sports a solid steel block, with the exception of the bridge fitting into Mexican or Asian made Strats. The Headstock has also been sand off and replaced with a Fender decal and for the fun of it, I've signed it "Adrian Malmsteen". Technically, the only thing left from the Squier brand is the neck, but nonetheless, it is undeniably a good guitar with good tone.

This guitar is named "Malmsteen" as originally, I thought it would be funny to have a Yngwie Malmsteen like guitar, in the form of a Squier. My DIY bug got the better of me and I just went on and on modifying it, with each step making it closer to a guitar worth over $1000. This guitar remains one of the guitars that I play extensively up till date.

Customed California Squier "Malmsteen"" Specs neck type: 2pc Maple neck with Skunk stripe fingerboard:Scalloped Maple with dot inlay and Graphtech String Saver String Tree body: Alder fret: Medium Jumbo frets bridge: Custom Vintage Tremolo with Soild Steel Block and Graphtech Classics saddles neck pu: Dimazio HS-4 middle pu: Dimazio HS-4 bridge pu: Dimazio HS-3 Neck Specs Scale: 648mm/25.5" Width at Nut 40.8mm C Shape profile neck Radius: 241mmR

Dimarzio HS-4 (Neck pickup)
Malmsteen neo classical by Adrian Goh

Dimarzio HS-3 (bridge pickup)
Malmsteen Over the hills and far away by Adrian Goh

Dimarzio HS-4 (neck pickup) clean
Girl from Ipanema Malmsteen by Adrian Goh

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Yngwie!

I remembered I was browsing around one of these days, aimlessly on youtube, watching my usual guitarist related video and I chance upon this. So what does Abba and Yngwie Malmsteen have in common? They are both Swedish and popular in their own rights! Yep, there you have it. So Yngwie decided to do a tribute to his fellow countryman's pop band, in the style of his own. I urge you to listen to it. It is actually pretty decently done and I actually enjoyed it a lot.