Dude,
I graduated in March 2003 and started working about 3 months after that. No, I did not get a gig with a band. I was a chemist in a sealant and adhesive factory.
Salary wasn’t great but it was rather sufficient for me to go back to the store and get my TS7 Tubescremer and a Dunlop Crybaby and BOSS’s Fuzz FZ-3 and Metal Zone MT-2 a while later.
I shifted to another suburb to be closer to my new workplace. So I got the package up to my new place (just a room actually) and by end 2003, I was ready for another guitar.
I told you about a friend who is a studio musician playing for some local rock artist. He had a beat around guitar in the form of Ibanez SA (this guy’s “real” Ibanez is a Japanese Factory made Prestige, and he hand painted it himself. He used to work for Zoom or Digitech in Singapore and they sent him to Japan
So, this Ibanez SA has a sweet crunch tone and it looked quite good, at least to me. It looks like a “real” electric guitar with the trem bar and strat style body.
Once again, I went to the friendly neighbourhood store, which by then, was still doing a good job as the agent for the sole distributor for Fender and Ibanez.
The cheapest branded guitar on the shelf was the Ibanez SA (they had some Mex Strat). Dude, at that time, they even had one Squier Showmaster, which was more of less as pricey as the SA. That Squier was wicked though, but I was determined to get a “branded” one this round.
So, I got the SA and this time, with a Gator hard case. However, as I was still on my motorbike at that time, I drove to the store using a company car (which had to be returned to the premises at the end of every work day), I had to temporary place the guitar at WL’s place – we were living in separate suburb then. The plan was to sneak the company’s car out on the weekend and take it back home (used to work half day every Saturday)
Being a good friend he was (and still is), he and his girlfriend delivered the axe to me on the very night.
26 sound files were recorded using a Sony digital recorder (again, belong to the office) on 2 nights. First night done with the SA and second with the S-65. I remember I emailed you some of them during our emailing days.
With that, by end 2004, the SA and S-65 accompanied me almost every night.
No new guitars for the next 2-3 years. But that period was crucial in further developing my style.
Enter SB Influence.
Folks, if you ever find yourself sitting beside a stranger in a guitar clinic, never underestimate effect when you start the conversation with “You a big fan?”. It can be life changing!!! If nothing happens, you still have the comfort of a stranger for that few hours.
Dude,
ReplyDeleteEveryday I learn something new about the pains you went through to obtain the guitars you wanted. Still speaks a lot about your passion. Sneaking out a company car and stuff, that's freaking awesome. You are right, the friendly neighborhood store back then was still pretty good, and it was the place I purchased my Ibanez semi-hollow from, which I still feel has a fantastic intonation, but just that the neck is slightly bent and the E and A strings don't sound right fretted. Nothing some work from Uncle can't help.
The SA is a great guitar, and I remember after seeing it and hearing it played by you on Gone Wrong and a metal master on Wasting Time, I was convinced I needed a SA. Up till now I still think of the SA every now and then, I like the colour, the contour and ultimately the tone. I have no idea how the new China ones work, but your Korean one is top quality.
Haha "You a big fan?" is still the best line ever! May 2005 dude....I still remember that, and I had to snap two photos for you cos our "hero" was checking out some chick when posing for a photo with you......
Dude,
ReplyDeleteJust listened to all the sound files you sent. Firstly, I am amazed you kept all of them! and back in the day, your metal licks were more Zakk sounding than they are today to be honest, especially when you infuse blues licks with your metal chops. The wah and pinches are very ala Zakk, and I don't think that is conscious but you seemed to have done more pentatonic licks back in the day.
But as musical progression goes, you tend to sway towards you natural tendency, and I think yours was more hard core blues rock with a jazz infusion. Mine started off in the "blues box" and I kept going over and over on it, then I took that typical blues box pentatonic and expanded it to what Zakk likes to play and I fell naturally into that position.
I too sometimes think I played better back in the day, but unfortunately I don't have many files to help me remember that. I thought back and realised I was able to play whole songs, and note for note solos back then compared to now, where I tend to give up after 5 minutes of staring at the tabs and just improvise through. Maybe I don't have the patience for it anymore, but I do think that I was better back then also.
But hindsight is always 20-20, so I reckon we are more "refined" as we go along our guitar journey, and it has become more effortless definitely. Last time would have to think really hard to play these licks, now it's more natural - I am sure you feel the same way.
Keep sharing dude.