Gitar Akorları

Fast-forward 2 years, more well-read and slightly bolder, I decided to put my non-existent woodworking skills to the test by fitting on a Fishman Presys 301.

While it is a utility guitar, I wasn't prepared to lose it. So I read up extensively and had a dry run before laying my drill bits and blades on it.

Masking taped with the Presys template.

Window to the internal landscape. Scalloped parabolic braces with dust clumps.

Took the chance to lemon-oil the fretboard & #0000 steel-wool the frets.

Crafted new bone saddle with 2mm shaved off the bottom to accommodate the under-saddle piezo pickup.

It works!

Another year past, even more well-read and bolder, I decided to again put my still non-existent woodworking skills to the test by carving out a soundport.

And not just a perfectly circular one which would be much easier. But an aesthetically pleasing angled oval shape like his Maestro custom and private series counterparts.

Again I read up extensively and had a dry run before laying my drill bits and files on it.

Mission accomplished!

Through the arbor.

Applied superglue around the soundhole as finish followed by wet-sanding it from 250 through to 10000 grit.

At one point the surface was so heavily scratched I had doubts whether it'd return to its original state. Thankfully with Novus plastic shine, it did!

Project completed! Not the most elegant of soundholes but I'm pretty satisfied.

After putting on new Elixirs PB, the guitar sounds turbo-charged with the sound port. Tone is grander and more resonant. Love it!

27 Nisan 2019 Cumartesi

铃凯 - 本能

词/曲:铃凯

Key: B

Capo 4 – Play G

Intro: lCmaj7 lD/C lCmaj7 lD/C l

Am/F# Am/C Em13 Em13

这是活着的本能尽量选择快乐

Am7 C/D Em13

当一切没发生

Am/F# Am/C Em13 Em13

谁也不是故意的谁比谁更自责

Am7 C/D G

怎么公平对等

Am7 B7/Eb Em13

谁相信爱谁握住刀的缝纫

C Cm

把手心划开了再谈资格

G D/F#

* 我想要的是你不能给的

Em Em/D C D

即使你知道却贪婪的占有着

G D/F#

即使懂了又换来什么呢？

B7/Eb Em Em/D Em/C#

我们再也不会是我们

Am7 C/D Em/B

爱会刻成掌纹变成我的一部分

Am/F Am/F# Bsus4 B Em Em/D

如果活着的本能是不相信诚恳

Am7 C/D Em13

把防备当支撑

Am/F# Am/C Em Em/D Em/C#

理智分析的活着算不算是适者？

Am7 C/D G

怎么才算平衡？

Am7 B7/Eb Em13

为相信爱还有完整的可能

C Cm

该不该纪念着扯着伤痕

Play * in G#

G D/F#

我想要的是你不能给的

Em Em/D C D

其实你知道却贪婪的占有着

G D/F#

即使懂了又换来什么呢？

B7/Eb Em Em/D Em/C#

爱又算什么

Am7 C/D Cmaj7 D/C Cmaj7 D/C

爱会刻成掌纹变成不痛

梁静茹 - 我好吗

词:黄婷曲:阿超

Key: G

Intro: lG C/G lCm/G G l x2

G Am7/G Bm7

金黄的银杏树再次满开了

Dm7 C

那一年树下的约定已解散了

Cm7 G E E7b9

尽管蓝天仍像青春般清澈

Am7 C/D D

我们不再见了自顾自活着

G Am7 Bm7

再多问候往往与快乐无涉

Dm7 G7 Cmaj7

也只能独自沈溺思念的片刻

Cm7 G E E7b9

泪水淹没岁月何时甘愿去跟遗憾求和

Am7 C/D D

曾经圆满我的碾碎我的都回不去了

C G B7b9 B7/Eb Em

不是心不死还留你一个位置

C G/B

只是呼唤过的名字

Am7 C C/D D

要怎么从回忆的固执彻底消失

G B7 C Cm7

* 你好吗说给空气听徒劳的心情

Bm7 Em Am7 C D

刻骨铭心的爱情只留下无处寄托的感情

G B7 C Cm7 Bm7

我好吗有谁能倾听跟寂寞的梦旅行

E7b9 E/G# Am7 C/D C (F)

我是阳光下的阴影自己给自己回应

C G B7b9 B7/Eb Em

不是还眷恋还留你一个位置

C G/B

只是再想起的名字

Am7 C/D D

往后谁会继续说完没我的故事 *

G B7 C Cm7

我好吗有谁能倾听有谁会同情

Bm7 Em Am7 C D

独自等雨过天晴等不回当时拥抱的激情

G B7 C Cm7 Bm7

我很好说给昨天听跟今天一言为定

E7b9 E/G# Am7 C/D C G/B E7b9 E/G#

换一张明天的风景自己和自己同行

Am7 C/D G C/G Cm/G G

我好吗你在乎吗

20 Nisan 2019 Cumartesi

China Custom Guitars (KSG) Review

I bought a guitar online.

Without trying it.

Without inspecting it.

With few convincing reviews.

In other words, a blind purchase.

But I was engorged with curiosity.

For over a year, I have been lured by the galore of China-made guitars.

From unknown brands to big brand knock-offs. All boasting high-end features like beveled armrests and adorned with elaborate rosettes, purflings and inlays.

And their price tags are only a fraction of that of their branded counterparts.

So I was piqued: how much guitar is there for the money?

Reviews were mixed; some swear off such guitars while others swoon over quality workmanship and sounds comparable to that of established brands.

After brief exchanges with a seller with a growing reputation (KSG), I decided that there was really only one way to find out.

The guitar arrived 9 days later in a styrofoam case mummified with bright yellow tape.

As I unveiled the guitar, the first thing that struck me was the thick coat of lacquer-like finish that is more common on vintage furniture rather than on guitars.

But beneath that clear coat of finish lies, undisputedly, fine workmanship.

[Top] Attractive silks decorate the solid Sitka Spruce top with pleasing grain patterns.

I traced the tiered abalone/wood purfling along the perimeter of the body. Almost flawless.

Construction was even more immaculate than some high-end and boutique guitars that I have seen.

[Back and Sides] Laminate rosewood with ebony bindings.

Equally pleasing grain patterns on the back!

Ebony beveled armrest!

The exterior of the body was so well made that I could only pick out two tiny flaws in terms of raw finishing.

[Neck] The fretboard seems to come from another realm though. Edges were rough, inlay workmanship was lacking especially under scrutiny.

[Bracing] X brace at standard placing with scalloped tone bars. A couple of residual splints here and there on the braces.

Spotted this interesting setup of three-tiered kerfed linings; possibly as a reinforcement for the installation of the armrest.

Bridge plate was not cleaned up at all.

[Bridge] Ebony bridge with no slots.

I was surprised on pulling out the saddle. So tall! Which also meant that the saddle slot is very deep.

Nut and saddle is made out of bone; swapped out the white plastic pins with bone pins with pearl inlays.

[Playability] Action right of the box was already ideal, neck is straight and saddle was profiled to the fret radius (15").

Hailing from a classical guitar background, I find the 43mm nut a tad too narrow. During fingerstyle playing, my fingers occasionally got in the way of one another.

[Tone] The guitar tone is clean and focused. Personally I like guitars with a lush tone and strong overtones but I do know of people who would prefer dominant fundamentals.

Responsiveness of the guitar was lacking which is not unexpected with the heavy bracing and thick finish.

Guitar tone was also slightly anemic. Quick check with the seller confirmed my guess that it was strung with 11s (Korean strings).

While I'm no fan of Elixirs, I think this guitar may benefit from it. We'll see.

Fitted with Elixir PB 0.012-0.053.

Nope. I think the stock strings sounded better so off they go.

With a ~S$500 price tag, I would rate the guitar at fair or marginally above value. While in this price range, you may be able to unearth better-sounding guitars, but they will never come with the bling-bling features.