Steve Vai's Story of Light

Finally, the awaited album is finally here in Singapore and I have finally gotten my hands on a copy! After spending one hour listening to it, I concluded that this is one of Steve Vai's best albums. In fact, I feel this is Steve Vai's second best album next to Passion and Warfare! I urge everyone go out there and get a copy of this. It's mainly rhythm influenced but a superb album nonetheless! Well of course, it's Steve Vai!

Steve Vai's Rig run down

I woke up this morning, feeling very drowsy (the effect of how intensive work can do to you) and having the habit of reaching out to my phone and click on the facebook tab (Andriod phone), I saw this video glaring at me, posted by my friend on my wall. For those of you who don't know, I am an avid Vai fan. Yes, read avid.

Anyway, the title reads "Steve Vai rig run down". I was thinking, another one of those? Didn't he do one years ago. Well, I was shock to find the amount of changes he done to his rig. He took out the TC eletronics G system and instead, added in Fractal Audio Axe Fx II. He added a whammy DT to his board as well.

We also get a tour of his room filled with guitars. Do take sometime off to watch this exclusive video by premiere guitar of guitar/gear porn.

Noir, Local Singapore contemporary Jazz Band

There was one Saturday about 3 weeks ago where I was wandering around aimlessly. Well, actually, that seems to be the common occurrence anyway. I went to the Esplanade and there was this fantastic contemporary Jazz band performing. Well, I am not exactly a great Jazz fan but I do appreciate Jazz. They were so fantastic that I keep wanting to buy their CD. Well, today I gave in to temptation and bought the CD. Although, I have to say that the CD is somewhat disappointing, it wasn't as good as they were when live. Well, at least I did a recording with my phone and going to share with all of my readers out there. Copyrights all rights reserves to Noir, who performed this piece on that day. Well, and they made my day!

Noir It might as well be spring.mp3 by Adrian Goh

Singapore Street Fest DJ party

Sorry for the disappearance for the past few weeks/months. My new job has been pretty taxing and have been really busy. As with taking on all forms of new job. Anyway, I was at the Singapore street festival last week, at Vivocity, looking for free entertainment. Tons of cosplayers but I wasn't there for them. I wanted to watch the band performances. Two bands kind of shouted out to me to highlight them. Alright, I admit it's not the bands. It's the guitars.

First off the list, is Haruna Tan and her band. Sorry, I don't remember her band's name. Her vocalist has to introduce her in such a dramatic way that I can only remember her name. Anyway, she is a fantastic guitarist. She has the chops and the fluidity. She plays an ESP guitar.

Anyway, her band is a pretty good one. In fact, one of the better ones in the whole line up. I'll definitely watch them again, given the chance. I've attached a video of them for the convenience of my readers. Look at the way she plays! No pun intended.

The other guitarist that I would like to highlight is this girl from this band (Yes, I don't know the name for both) who uses an (ESP) Edwards Horizon III. Yes, you read it correctly. I want to repeat. (ESP) EDWARDS HORIZON III. That's a really beautiful guitar mind you. Her playing is alright, with the standard metal chugga chugga kind of style. But did I mention she has an AWESOME guitar?

Overall, it was an alright experience. The performances were prettey enjoyable as a whole. I'll wait for next year again, for the next street fest!

Yngwie Malmsteen Far Beyond the Sun Live in Lennigrad

Some people hates him. Some people loves him. I dun hate him but I don't adore him either. However, this is a tune that I can never get boring of. This song also seems to have become the protocol where most technical players will have to know how to play this before they can be considered shredders. Well, enjoy this anyway. This was when Malmsteen actually still has that experimental streak in him.

Guitar Link with TH2

Just gotten my hands on a guitar link recently. As most of my readers might recall, I was using this guitar simulator effect called the TH2. The guitar link is one of the ways to be able to connect to the computer, other than owning some sophisticated mixer or equipment. This tool is totally no frills and serves only one function. It isn't very expensive to boot! If you are on a budget and limited to not being able to have an amp in your room, this is the key answer to that!

Split coil installed

New Job started. Less time on my babies. However, I will never desert them. I finally got around in having a coil split switch installed on my Shishinhime. Went down to Beez and got this specially installed. As usual, Beez did a wonderful job and there probably isn't anyone else i would recommend for hardware installation.

Various Ibanez AANJ Neck and Body Fitting

So, you want to assemble your own Ibanez? You want a real Ibanez you can call your own? Easy! All you need to do is to get an AANJ neck with AANJ heel joint body and put them together. Hey if it fits, it should work right?

Fast forward this after you get the parts and then you realized that, the screw holes for the neck doesn't align with the ones in the body or Vice versa? Why is that so, it's all AANJ! Well, for starters, Ibanez has AANJ necks and body being produced by 4 countries through out these years. Namely Japan, China, Indonesia and Korea.

You can ONLY match a neck with a respective made in the same country body if you do not intend to do further modification. My Frankenstein is a good example. It sports a Korean made neck with a Korean made body. No, the screw holes didn't align at all. I had to fill it up and drill in new holes. Yes, it's troublesome. So the next time you decide to build an Ibanez from parts you assembled all over the world, make sure you get parts that are fitting!

Ibanez and Fender Uniqulo Shirts!

Sorry for the no action lately. Life has been busy once more. However, I haven't given up on guitar yet. Nope, it's my greatest passion. Anyway, check this out! Finally the Fender T-Shirts from Uniqulo is out! To make it more awesome, there is also a collaboration for Ibanez and uniqulo! Yes, these are limited edition, as per all Japanese products! Show how big of a fan you are to these Awesome guitar brand names. Yes, I have gotten mine!

Steel wool?

I was taught that I should use steel wool and lemon oil when cleaning fret boards. I was taught to use steel wool and lemon oil when I want to clean my frets. I didn't know what it is for but now I do. I actually realized what steel wool is. My personal stand on steel wool is this. I will NEVER EVER use steel wool on my guitars. I will also not let anyone who uses steel wool to clean fretboard near my guitars.

This is the main reasoning. Steel wool is actually abrasive. It's like sanding down your fretboard a little with sandpaper and lemon oil when you clean your fretboard with steel wool. Do I want more micro scratches on my fretboard? No, I don't think so.

The question is, what do I use then? To clean fretboards, I prefer the application of lemon oil and a soft toothbrush. SOFT! No point using toothbrush with hard bristles. Those are actually abrasive also.

For fret polishing, I will usually tape up my fretboard with masking tape and polish it with metal polisher. Do note that those are actually abrasive too so, it's better not to let any seep into your fretboard.

So the next time someone tells you that they are going to use steel wool on your fretboard, my advice is, take your guitar and go to someone else.