MOMM (51)

There's a fair amount of hype for this release just because it's the second effort from the acclaimed Vltimas lineup. Epic by name not by impact.

• Agree. Yes, this album fell short of the standard set by its predecessor, Something Wicked Marches In. Namely, it's due to the lack of that black-thrash vibe set by SWMI. Many songs have that laid back heavy metal vibe where speed is not an obligation. Obvious example: Mephisto Manifesto. The fact that David Vincent sounds like Randy Savage, especially in this album, doesn't help either.
• Disagree. This is not a bad release. It just sets itself apart from its predecessor but the metal pundits out there are certainly not impressed. It seems that bands should not go astray from what they had set out to do from the start unless your band's name is Darkthrone, simply put.

POD Express

If you think LINE6's POD adventure had closed its chapter for good then be informed the POD is still alive & kickin'. Of course, it no longer looks like its former incarnation - that bean shaped unit that had been the popular recording gadget not too long ago - it's now a very effects pedal looking as depicted above. 

 

Ola's perspective on the matter is very much mine; we are both interested if this one can pull off some of the best distorted tones out there with very little tweaking effort. If you are interested in one, it's currently out of stock at Yamaha (List: $285).

Pic: LINE6

S2 ver 2024

Folks, the new (ver 2024) PRS S2 Custom 24 is now available at Swee Lee. New here refers to the fact that the S2 range is now a full American, ie. all parts are made in the USA. The S2's Previous iteration has non-American pickups & electronic components. Of course, there's a price revision in the midst of all this - $2,799 (previously $2,699). 

 

Pic: PRS

SL @ CQ

 Finally, some Friday evening time to drop by the new Swee Lee outlet at Clarke Quay.

The overall vibe is that of an extended Star Vista outlet, those familiar hue & texture of the fittings certainly added to this feel. 

The store is divided into several focus areas. The one you see here is the instrument space, the very first sight that would greet you if you entered by the taxi stand entrance. Moving along, it's the software / hardware space with some dining space. A little further up would bring you to the vinyl listening space & more dining area. Order for F&B is located here. Nothing further beyond this space except the exit door.

Swee Lee had made it clear that this is a music lifestyle store & not an instrument outlet exclusively. For a gear geek like me, I find this place off-putting. I'm surrounded by people who are not into gear exclusively. In fact, I see couples having a meal date there, a job interview conveniently taking place at a strategic corner, vinyl enthusiasts talking loudly with their headphones on & a caucasian guy who plonked himself onto a very comfy seat, getting lost in his laptop computer. I was here for a good 20min & he didn't order any food, stayed put at the same place. I guess he might be an employee of the company. That's my best bet. 

Over at the instrument testing station, things are pretty much noise-free. You test the instruments with headphone amps (I believe those are the Fender Mustang Micro units). Nobody could hear your Smoke on the Water riffs which is a good thing. To me this is a definite no. Sometimes an instrument manifests inherent anomalies which cannot be realized through the headphones. However, there is one testing station near the entrance door which features a real amp & some effects unit but the volume was kept down.

I'm not contesting how a guitar store should be, Swee Lee is free to conceptualize stuff that works for them; lifting their business profile, appealing to a greater group of (potential) customers than merely gear buffs, providing an alternative venue for a quick bite, etc. For a gear-inclined individual like me, the place is excessive & not gear-centric. Coming back here for gear hunting would be very far down my consideration list. If you like this place, good for you. I'm very happy to check stuff out at the Star Vista outlet instead. A belated congrats to Swee Lee for their deserving extension into the other recesses of the island. Presence is everything.

PS: Thanks to store manager, David, for letting me take photos while I was there. I actually have more to share but these 3 are good for now.

EDIT: The headphone amps at the silent testing stations are the BOSS KATANA:Go

Thanks & goodbye: CJ Snare

Sad passing of Firehouse's frontman, CJ Snare, just days ago. He is one of those unique singers whom you could easily identify once he starts singing.

 

There were too much grunge on the radio back in the 90s & Firehouse was one of the rock bands who withstood the test of that decade. I'm not fond of the ballads but Don't Treat Me Bad was one of my favourite songs from the band.

Pic: X

Delonge Star

This had been gear news fodder for a while & it's finally unleashed to guitar-dom. The Tom Delonge Starcaster maintains the single pickup feature but did away with the original Fender Starcaster headstock. In its place, we have the big Strat-type, 70s design which in my opinion is a cool replacement. Colours are kept in the pastel family as opposed to the loud, solid options of the solid body counterparts.

Interestingly, it's made in Indonesia. Does Fender have an Indonesian factory? So this is hinting at the instrument's pedigree. 

Pics: MR / Fender