....could have been the most epic metal track of the year

Dude,

Realm of Darkness is one year old....

Stayed that way from day one. Will take another ten years to complete the second verse I think.

Music and notation copyright by Kek Chze Kian 2012

Epic metal album - The Reckoning by Sudev Bangah

Happy New 2014

Dude,

Started off to an extremely unproductive day with surfing guitars whole day. Unproductive work day I mean. Definitely the otherwise for the soul.

Zakk's improvised track over Andy James's backing track was extremely scary...and so is Andy James himself.

I am having Cacophony over through the headphones while drafting this at work. Mind fucked today by extreme lead guitar playing.

Well dude, it is two more days before we say goodbye to 2013 and greet a new 2014.

This has been a crazy year so far. Enough have been said, so I am more than happy to bid 2013 farewell.

Of course, while the year has been rather overwhelming, there were some real good moments too. The birth of my daughter and the addition of a brutal Cort KX5 into the arsenal. Once again, thank you, thank you and thank you. I still have the feeling if I need to have only 2 guitars, that will be both the Corts......That's how good they are.

Looking back, none of the list I set earlier this year was accomplished. Well, the JL, guitar cabinet, new amp, 5 strings sweep, Zoom R8 etc; they didn't happen. What happened was a lot of online shopping... tab books, JP's stuff, and to date I am waiting for all my Neil Peart's books and DVD, a Paul Gilbert DVD, a Randy Rhoads DVD, a Jazz Instructional and Jason Becker Not Dead Yet DVD.

Don't ask me what's with the buying frenzy...I don't know dude.

Maybe it's the fear that I won't be able to be so "flexible" with my money anymore. With the cost of living (definitely) going up come 2014, there is little I can do, except to keep dreaming of getting guitars and gears..

That said, do allow me to (shamelessly) put up, as usual, a dream list for the new year.

1. Schecter Jeff Loomis Signature JL NT
2. ANY Sterling JP guitar
3. LTD Andy James AJ-1 Signature guitar

There, as simple as that for the year. Will be a big bonus if one of it happen. No more funny things like cabinets or amps.....

If all else fail, I will go get Neil Peart's drumsticks.

You may be thinking of a long post from me on this. Nah dude....too much talking and ended with nothing (and this has been going on for the past 2 years....). Not a good feeling. So, hopefully, the silent contemplation will bear fruit. Then again, tele-conference on guitar talk is always welcome.

Dude, hope the new year will bring lots of signature guitar loot to you. Hope you will get the best offers and services when embarking on your mad hunting (the SFG remains of the best buy ever!!!).

Most important of all, may you be blessed with good health through the year (and many many more years to come) and may success be yours in whatever you do. May there be no obstacles, no assholes and no Murphy's Law along your way.

Happy 2014.

Time flies..NAMM is here again.

Merry Christmas

Dude,

It's Christmas Eve today. Hope you are tuning yourself down for the holiday.

This is the time to thank you for the third and final celebration for the KX5 - Christmas. Wish I have got more time in hand to fully utilise it but the day will come.

Been a rather eventful year so far but I guess I still had a good run. Crazy times ahead but I shall be ready.

I thought of posting a Christmas wish list but will save that for the new year. Anyway, I have summarised the wish list to be something like below:

Picture copyrighted by SBInfluence. Dude, wish list - an arsenal full of signature models!!

Oh yeah, I can't say enough thank you(s) for the stuffs you have been bringing me back from the land of crazy guitar bargains....The DVD is a great gift (I will need to find time to pick it up soon!!). But the challenge, dude, crazy....But thanks again dude. I don't know how many people out there have the privilege to receive supplementary Christmas present.....

So dude, heartfelt appreciation and once again, thank you.

Blessed Christmas to you and your family....and to a healthy and happy 2014.

time to attempt EJ's First Nowell again....

Wednesday, 11th December 2013

Actual lettertodev sent today.

Dude,

How's Bali? The last time I was there, I had a blast. The hotel however, was a fucking turn-off. my favourite place is Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Sukawati Market. Tanah Lot is another good one and the Tegalalang Padi field is magnificent.

It's a shame that the Metalicca LTD is sailing the world at the moment. Keep the faith my friend. I am sure all will turn out well and fine.

I am currently doing some housekeeping on my laptop when I found two pictures of you with the Fireman, which led to to try figure out the amount of signature models that you have.
Been kind of the 'in" thing at the moment. I am sold - on the fact that signature model does have some qualities to it that separates it from the rest - after the surprise gift of Cort MJ (man...that was like a year ago. time flies dude...). I hope my next purchase (on my own) will be a signature guitar.

I must say your recent purchase of Synyster Gates model is a real wise move. That is a real expressive and responsive guitar. I trust it is highly playable as well judging from how your fingers flew all over the fretboard. The EVH, gosh, that one is another story.... in a stupid way (our context of "stupid").

I remember some time around this time last year, I made some plans for the coming year, ie 2013, including building guitar cabinet...Well, unfortunately, I have accomplished none. (although it seems like I am a little more proficient in 3-strings sweep, which for 2013, it was supposed to be 5-strings...).

Seems like the strongest agenda is still trying to get that seven string guitar. Conversation with myself says that I don't need one, but for some reasons, I want one. The Jeff Loomis influence is extremely strong, and with JP70's image lurking around, it is not helping much to pacify the lust.
Anyway, I am not sure what I will want to do in 2014, with the baby in the house, things are slightly different. But one of the agreed KPI for next year is to catch Dream Theater in concert. Where about, we just need to work it out.

Other than that, I will be happy whatever comes along the way. Maybe, finally getting that Jeff Loomis or settle for a JP60? Either way I am fine. Without it, I should be fine, considering how elusive it was when it comes to me trying to buy a guitar. if all else fail, there is always the John 5 Tele at RM1300....(just kidding).

This is not meant to be a new year post. I am writing this because I am just in awe with how fast time flies. Ironically, it seems real slow because the BB King guitar felt like a 2012 affair, but it happened earlier this year yes? It has been 10 months since then. The Reckoning happened this year as well or was it end of last year? i get confused some times with time.

You see, with all the events zooming pass this way, I am hoping to live my life a little slower. The kidney stone (not to mention bladder cancer scare) and baby's arrival have kind of slowed me down a little. I am enjoying a slower walk to the office (with my pace, it takes about 10 minutes from my carpark to my office...and when I eventually shift to Sunway, it will take about 20-30 minutes via Sunway Pyramid to my office at The Pinnacle). When we slow down, we see and feel things we don't normally do. It chances the way we look at our daily life, changes the approach and hopefully, it will help us to see the bigger picture.

Applying that to guitar playing, I trust we are able to hear how we can produce varieties of harmonics and tones just by changing our playing dynamics. If we tone down from Jeff Loomis to Gary Moore, then up again from Jeff Beck to Zakk Wylde, we get to feel everything in between. Hopefully, this will make us a better player.

And in your context, an established guitar connoisseur.

Talk to you sonn.

Tele with a chrome pickguard...awesome.