GEAR news 2005

[metallibeast]

heheheh you should ask Sweelee to give you a commission for the guitars you review or at the very least ask them to send it to your apartment

-Beast

 

[thor666]

subversion - how did u find the sound of the aerodyne to be? more towards rock and metal?

 

[subversion]

it's definitely suitable for rock but metal wouldn't be a forte of this Aero strat, unless you are prepared to invest in a bridge humbucker for it... 8)

 

[wangdexian]

I just checked out Sweelee's website, and I have to say, they are still charging astronomical prices for MIM Fender Basses... 8)
Especially that 60's Classic bass that I want!!! :roll:

 

[wangdexian]

Oh and Sub, I believe the Aerodynes are under the Deluxe series... 8)

 

[p00n]

I just checked out Sweelee's website, and I have to say, they are still charging astronomical prices

Swee Lee's website reflects grossly overpriced prices.. I have no idea why a company would want to do that since the main idea is to seem to give the lowest possible price to provide a draw for the customers :roll:

 

[mikemann]

Not if you have monopoly over a market. With control you don't loose out to a price war situation. All these are marketing strategy. We can bitch all we want, they get to see our bitching, they just laugh at us.

Big brands also want to protect their master distributor, so they can have a good long term relations and healthy profit margins. That's why you get overly zealous measure to prevent parallel importing.

Same as USA using politics to protect their big industry, like beef exports for instant. It's for the "BIGGER COMMON GOOD OF THE LOCAL CITIZENS".

There are advantages and disadvantages.

Eg. no control in local computer market results in price wars till parts are sold with pittence margin (few dollar markup for hundred dollars product). Good is consumer benifit from cheap products, Bad is funny unreliable products flood the market due to competition drowning the market. In the end, there is a tradeoff, dealers cannot survive, they resort to funny cost cutting measures to stay afloat. Customer end up with products lasting only till the 1yr warranty expire, previously products can easily last 3-5yrs.

 

[bodomchild]

Maybe they hope to appear more friendly or give people a better impression when they give "discounts".

 

[subversion]

Oh and Sub, I believe the Aerodynes are under the Deluxe series... 8)

the current category groups all non-US Fender guitars which aren't Deluxe models, together under the Special Edition banner, which includes the Korean Blackout models, Light Ash models & Showmaster strats. only the Aero bass is in the Deluxe range, i suspect the Aero guitars have been removed to be in the Deluxe category...

 

[wangdexian]

Fender's website has some glitches here and there then... :?

 

[subversion]

Ibanez RG450MH
ok, it seems that in 2004, as an Asian exclusive, the RG450 was available in a mahogany version. the guitar in question didn't surface until today... :roll: maybe the distributors aren't aware that the 'MH' suffix indicates a mahogany make, also, it's only available in dark blue, a very unpopular finish. anyway, dissent aside, if you are still hunting for the discontinued RG450 by any chance, this version is more than worthy to invest in. tried it today- thumbs up... List: $1,250

 

[Lifehouse]

Hehe.. Subversion, think many are waiting for a in-depth review. :smt003

 

[subversion]

that'll come 8) having a hard time getting pic of it...

 

[ItAcHi]

anybody know how much is RG321 cost in swee lee?

 

[subversion]

flip back a few pages & you'll find out + review.. 8)

 

[subversion]

Ibanez SA120

The Ibanez SA120 is new for 2005 but it’s not available everywhere (not offered in USA), I am grateful it made its way here. If you are new to Ibanez, the SA series is a derivative of the S-series but with a flat back. So how’s the new family member doing?

Fine indeed. The SA120 sports a mahagony body, nothing hefty in its overall mass, a sleek SA-profile neck. It’s not super thin like the Super Wizard make, neither is it a rounded, fat incarnation of the SZ profile. It’s an in-between, a ‘D’, a more rounded version at that. Unlike RG models, the SA sports 22 medium sized frets, the test model I played (excessively) had well installed frets to appease shredders & others in general.

The SA120 is dual humbucking, sporting the AH models as defaults. However, you get a 5-way switching with it, in position 2, the neck is on tapped output, position 4 combines the split humbuckers; this switching schematic would give you a clearer picture of the options available.

The audition model has fine appointments, everything is worth the asking price, except the tuners- some were loose & they don’t retain tuning well. It’s nothing you can’t rectify with your screwdriver…

Ah, the proverbial Ibanez default humbuckers are inherently midrange inclined but in this guitar, the midrange sounds clipped- a good thing if you don’t intend to replace pickups immediately. However, the humbuckers lack the low-end response a typical bass notes peddler would enjoy. I tested the guitar initially with neutral EQ & it sounded lacking in the lower frequencies. If you decide to acquire this guitar, make sure your amp gives you more bass/ supplement your low-end with pedals.

Medium frets isn’t the shredder’s cup of tea, but they are adequate. I have no problems accelerating with this guitar, it’s all a matter of adaptation. If you finger full chords often, you’d appreciate bigger frets on the SA120 as the tone on offer here isn’t as full as you’d want it to be, but a chorus pedal would cure that inadequacy. This guitar sounds best overdriven. Clean tones are decent but it’s nothing as immaculate as an all single coil unit would offer.

The SAT30 unidirectional vibrato here is a thoughtful inclusion. Rounded string saddles ensure that you enjoy palm placement comfort all the time. The non-locking feature also ensures that string changing is a breeze. I did not try the vibrato, but having tried them in the SA260, I must say that it’s one of the better vibrato units out there. If you must know, the SAT models were developed to rival the Wilkinson units which IMO set the standard in non-locking vibrato functionality.

Albeit the loose tuners on the test model, the SA120 is a winner for those of us looking for a simple guitar to enjoy playing. Its playability is tops but tone versatility is a compromise. I am saying this in retrospect to the discontinued SA160 which offers an S-S-H pickup combo to give a true single coil tone. The tapped/ split tone from the SA120’s humbuckers would pass as good emulation, it’s nothing fantastic. However, if you wish for that pickup combo, all is not lost, you still have the SA260 to audition. The SA120 is an impressive starter, definitely a steal as it could be had for less than $500. I’d rather you invest in this worthy guitar than opting for the GSA model instead, no offence GSA owners, but this guitar is worth every cent & represents better value for money. The SA120 & RG321 are now my recommendations for starters to the electric guitar realm.

 

[Mr_X]

oh no......i bought a GSA instead. But then again, at least i got this great guitar for my friend. this review certainly made my day. THANK YOU MR SUB.

 

[xklusivly4u]

SA 120

Jus wondering how SA120 would sound like if I throw in EMG 81/85?

 

[subversion]

hey man, glad you read it- that, makes my day too 8)

EMG in the SA120? then it'll sound like Kirk Hammet's ESP/ Zakk Wylde's Les Paul- it's sound like any other guitar with active units. i dislike active units because they do not capture the true essence of the guitar... but i admire their reaction to gain...

 

[guitarnub]

they do, but not as much as passives
85 - very bassy
81 - very bright
60 - its not really between 85 or 81, but its very well balanced(i'll put this on the neck over 85)

btw kirk uses 81/81