The Construct

This is one of those WTF moments. You start browsing people’s Friendster profiles out of sheer boredom (and to satisfy scopophilic tendencies) and lo and behold you see… your guitar in a gig under the spotlights. Just like this one:

No doubt about it, it’s my guitar. I actually just lent it to a friend (the one wielding it in the pic) for maintenance since it’s just lying around gathering dust and whatnot. Told him he could practice with it if he wants. Didn’t imagine it to be in a gig before me.

The nearest to a gig I used it is for a company Christmas party, a couple of years back. Oh well. How pathetic it is when the guitar gets the spotlight over its (real) master.

Photo credit to Szusza via Sushi

Last time I wrote about Boston Engineering guitar effects, I pointed out how people from the PhilMusic forums said that BE effects and other audio materials are just re-badged China products for JB Music.

Here’s an update about the much lauded cheap-o BOSS knock-offs that might as well be BOSS themselves. Our much beloved effects are called Beta Aivin elsewhere and here’s a link to their latest products. Wow, they’ve got a new multi-effects pedal featuring an EQ, delay, and reverb too. Oh, and I haven’t seen their 200 series at JB too.

Though I think Beta Aivin covers only Boston Engineering amps and effects. I know that there are other Boston Engineering audio products out there. As for those, i don’t know which brands JB re-badged for them to sell. I haven’t explored the whole 3G Systems Group website to tell.

So to Salonga Music of Cubao, do us a favor. Please stop telling people that you get them from the US.

Authors Note:This is the second part on my How to buy a second-hand guitar series of articles.

As the second installation of my second-hand guitar buying guide series, I’ll be writing about what things to ask a seller about his/her second-hand guitar that’s on sale.I’d be discussing other things like where to buy, things to examine and look at, and other considerations in future articles.

So you’ve come across a seller. Perhaps on an online ad or at eBay. Or the newspaper’s classified ads. Best of all, you can afford it! But before you come all too excited about making the purchase, it’s better to clarify a few things before proceeding. You’d want to ask the seller a few questions first.

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Authors Note:This is the first part on my How to buy a second-hand guitar series of articles.

I’ve been sort of a guitar guide to newbie friends. I wouldn’t claim to be a guitar expert. I’ve just made and effort to combine my keen purchasing skills with my collective (meandering?) guitar knowledge. I’ve been able to point some guitar newbies to good initial investments without having to spend too much.

I’ve been a budget guitar player myself. My first axe is a second-hand Washburn Lyon which I’ve scored from eBay paired with a 25-watt Yamaha amp. Sure, tone-wise they sure sucked (compared to pricey fancy-branded guitars) but I got the guitar in an unused, practically mint condition for a low price.

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This is in line with my previous post. I love Raon (formerly called such, now it’s G. Puyat St.) and Quaipo for the assortment of cheap stuff you could buy there (Yup, that includes, in the words of the hawker, “Bago, mainit, pamapa-init, ser!” porno DVDs ). I love Raon because of the stretch of pro-audio stores located there. As for any commercial area, there are great ones, there are sucky ones.

Okay, it doesn’t take much to piss me off. But Sanjun music store can really piss anyone off with such attitudes they give to a customer. Here’s the anecdote:

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