How I felt after playing a Fender American Professional Stratocaster
I played one of these. These are my thoughts on it.
So I'm at Guitar Center and I ask the sales guy if the new Fender American Professional Jazzmaster was in stock. Nope, not yet. But he did have a Fender American Professional Stratocaster there, so I decided to try that out.
Here's what happened.
The good
Pickups are bright and responsive.
The "V-Mod" pickups are good. They're easy to get along with and I was able to get used to them quickly.
Factory floating bridge was set correctly.
I had heard a rumor that Fender was shipping the Pro Strats with the bridge set floating, and that rumor is true. Fortunately, the bridge did have its float set correctly and didn't waver out-of-tune whatsoever, nor did it cause the guitar to be a buzzy mess.
"Deep C" does feel right for what it is.
This is a slightly chunkier neck in what's called the shoulder area. This means the edges are slightly thicker. No, it's not a '70s U shape, but it's not the Modern C either. Sorta/kinda the middle ground between those two shapes.
Is it comfortable? Yes.
The not-so good
I was utterly bored with this guitar. It had no pizzazz. No wow factor. No magic.
The guitar didn't play bad nor sound bad. It wasn't too heavy nor too light. The only thing wrong is that the action was set a little high. But even if the action was set up the way I prefer, it wouldn't have cured the boredom.
This version of the modern USA Strat Fender makes just does nothing for me.
I thought that maybe since the neck has changed, things would be different compared to the American Standard. But it's only slightly different, as in not different enough to make me want to buy one even if I had the cash for it.
The two words that best describe American Pro Strat are sterile and pedestrian. The guitar is just a dullard.
Yes, I like a simple back-to-basics Strat, but this one just doesn't cut it.
I bought a G-SHOCK
Yep, I bought one...
...but it's not here yet. I'm going to keep which model I bought a secret until it arrives and I've checked it out. It's a timepiece I'll ether love and keep or hate and send back. But no matter which happens, I'll definitely be writing up something about it.
(You can try to guess the model and email me if you think you know which one I bought if you like.)
For now, what I will say about the watch is this:
First, it is the first watch I've ever bought used. The eBay seller reported the watch as a store return in mint condition. I'll be receiving the watch only, meaning no box nor manual. But that's okay because of the second reason.
Second, I bought it for about 35% less than what I would have paid for it new. It was only 29 bucks shipped.
Third, it is not one of the models I mentioned just recently.
Why did I buy it?
While the model I bought doesn't have every feature I would have wanted, it is one of the very few models that I think will fit my wrist correctly at a price I'll probably never see again.
It is rare to see the model I purchased from eBay in used condition. And it's super-rare to see it in used and mint condition.
If this watch is truly in mint condition where everything works like it's supposed to, then it will be the best possible deal I could have hoped for.
Price was the main reason I decided to go for it.
However, there was a second reason:
I need a watch that can handle life
I was doing some stuff outside while wearing my CA-53. This stuff involved cleaning some things off using the garden hose. I accidentally splashed some water on the watch while using the hose. Oops. The watch was fine and didn't break or anything, but the fact I was actually concerned about it bothered me. I had to stop what I was doing, go inside, dry off the watch... and that was annoying.
It was right then and there I knew I needed a watch that could handle whatever life would throw at it. Whether I'm doing yard work outside, washing dishes, using it as a timer when cooking, etc., the watch just has to handle it without complaint. Worrying whether a little splash of water will damage my watch is just stupid, so I legitimately need something with better-than-average utility to it.
This is when I started seriously considering G-SHOCK watches. I examined the models I was reasonably sure would fit my wrist, and when I found a particular model on eBay selling at an unheard of cheap price in like-new condition, I just went for it. I just hope the watch truly is "mint" as the seller described it in the listing.
As stated above, whether the experience is positive or negative once after I receive my G-SHOCK, I'll be sure to talk about it here in a future post.
Guitar of the week #93 - B.C. Rich MK9 Warlock
You have to be a special kind of dude to wield one of these.
B.C. Rich's Warlock model has been around a long time since its introduction in the early 1980s. Ever since I started playing guitar, I've always seen a Warlock or two in a guitar store. Sometimes you'll even see a bass version.
Truth be told, most Warlocks are junk. But there's a reason for that. It's because most people who buy a Warlock go for the cheap $250 version. Yeah, it is a true Warlock, but if a cheap and good rocker guitar is what you want, your money is far better spent on a Jackson JS32T Kelly.
However, the Warlock I'm talking about is the good stuff. The MK9 Warlock is the one that truly delivers what made it great back in the '80s. It is not the cheapo model. The MK9 is better in every way.
Starting with appearance, you get the diamond inlays on the fingerboard and that oh-so awesome old school headstock with the big R on it - arguably the coolest looking thing on the guitar because it's a gorgeous piece of abalone.
Better versions of this guitar come loaded with DiMarzio pickups, the PAF and the Super 2 - which is almost $150 worth of hardware alone.
The bridge is what's called a Quadramatic, which is as far I'm aware unique to B.C. Rich. It's a solid performer and that's basically all you need to know. Set it and forget it because it just works.
Where the neck meets the guitar has a heel-less neck joint. This is a neck-thru design that makes for very easy access to the higher frets.
What does the guitar sound like?
This is where things get interesting, as the pickup voicing is actually something I like.
The DiMarzio PAF is not a screamer like, say, the Super Distortion. This is an old-school style pickup with less magnetic pull and much "sweeter" sound to it. Think vintage Gibson Les Paul and you have an idea of what the pickup sounds like.
Where the Super 2 pickup is concerned, that's the "hot" pickup in the MK9 Warlock.
So as far as what you can do with that particular pickup combo, you cover a lot of ground. Classic rock to metal tones and everything in between.
I don't even like the Warlock, but I like the MK9
The MK9 as far as I'm concerned is the best production Warlock that B.C. Rich currently makes. Just about everything that made it great in the '80s is in this guitar.
It's the headstock and '80s styling that sells me on the MK9 Warlock more than anything else. The best B.C. Rich headstock design is on the MK9 and the burst finish with the chunky chrome bridge and cream-colored pickups just totally works.
This style of guitar is the absolute polar opposite of what I prefer to play (if you're new here, the Jazzmaster is my guitar of choice). I don't like 24-fret necks, I don't like humbucker pickups, I don't like the 3x3 tuner configuration, I don't like pointy guitar shapes...
...but I can't deny this guitar just gets everything right for what it is.
If you like the Warlock, the B.C. Rich MK9 Warlock is, at least at the time I write this, the only one worth getting.
Casio G-SHOCK models I actually like
Yes, there are actually a few G-SHOCK models I think are good.
There are a ton of Casio G-SHOCK models out there, and most of them are terrible. And by that I mean they're either too big and/or just look stupid. I'm not saying the quality of a G-SHOCK is bad, because any of them can withstand monster amounts of punishment. It's just the look and bulk I take issue with.
Every now and then, Casio does release a G-SHOCK that both looks good and is of a reasonable size.
Here are a few of my favorites.
This is what is now considered a "retro" design since it patterns after what the first G-SHOCK models looked like. It's one of the lowest priced models, but for many it's the perfect watch.
Looks very similar to the DW5600E but has several more features that includes atomic timekeeping (it automatically synchronizes itself), solar power, 20 bar water resistance and so on. Believe me, there are several good reasons why this particular model is priced higher than then 5600.
One of the most legible displays on a G-SHOCK you'll ever see. Packed with features including an uncommon one: a vibration alarm. While true you can a cheap W735H that features the vibration alarm, it's not a G-SHOCK and built nowhere near as good nor does it boast a feature set as extensive as the GD350 has.
Analog-digi with atomic timekeeping. Very nice. Also solar powered, has neo-brite lume on the hands and markers and has a backlight on top of that and 31 time zones, 5 daily alarms, stopwatch and countdown timer. Oh yeah, this thing is loaded with goodies.
This one is a "Mudman" model, as that is plainly stated on the dial. Despite having a large case it wears small and fits smaller wrists easily. Tons of goodies in this one. Too many to list.
What's my pick?
Out of the 5 above, I like the Mudman best. To my eye it has the right blend of round + angled and a feature set I would genuinely get good use out of.
Will I ever buy a G-SHOCK?
At some point in the future I might. I do like that a G-SHOCK can take an incredible amount of abuse easily. It's also one of the few watches you can take in the ocean and simply not worry about whether it can handle it. It can, and easily.
I drank 3 liters of water a day for a week, and here's what happened
There are a few water challenges out there. I took the "drink 3 liters a day challenge", and this is how things went.
Choosing the challenge
The two most known water drinking challenges are drinking 3 liters a day and drinking a gallon a day. And by gallon, I mean a USA measurement gallon, which is 3.79 liters.
I decided to go with the 3 liter challenge for two reasons.
First, drinking a gallon of water a day just seemed ridiculous.
Second, the 3 liter is easier not only because it's less water, but because the standard bottled water size is 500ml, which is 1/2 liter. This means 6 bottles a day is 3 liters. Easy to measure.
Preparation
Drinking water is something I was already doing, but even before I started with the 3 liter challenge, I realized that drinking 6 bottles a day means an entire 24-pack of water would be gone in 4 days.
My preference for bottled water is Aquafina brand, and the lowest cost for a 24-pack here in Tampa Bay Florida is 5 bucks. Yes, that means it's just 21 cents per bottle, but over the course of a month that's 7.5 24-packs of water, or $37.50.
I wasn't about to pay that kind of cash just for bottled water. Screw that.
Bottled water can be had for much cheaper just by getting a generic brand. Or the cost can even be cut further buying gallon jugs.
What I decided to do was buy a 5-cup Brita watcher pitcher. Cheap, small, and the filter lasts about 2 months. Yes, I decided to drink right from the tap in my home. I have well-based water anyway.
The pitcher paid for itself fairly quickly, so it was the right choice.
I had something like 12 bottles left from the 24-pack of Aquafina I had, so I drank all those, then switched to filtered water out of the Brita pitcher. I clean and reuse the Aquafina bottles just to measure 500ml since it's easy.
Yes, there is inconvenience using the pitcher because it is always taking space in the fridge, and it takes time to filter and cool the water. But for water drinking challenges, filtered tap is the most cost effective solution.
Things that happened and things that didn't
Skin elasticity
Supposedly, drinking a lot of water increases skin elasticity which is an anti-aging thing. I didn't notice anything like that. But my color seems a little better. I'm a very fair skinned guy, so to see any color is a plus.
Hair
I wear my hair short, but did notice some more fullness. Not a crazy amount, but it was noticeable.
Energy
I have definitely noticed an energy difference when doing my two daily 15-minute workouts.
Skin healing
If I get a cut or a bug bite, the skin seems to heal a little faster now.
Sleeping
No real difference here. There was one night however where I had to get up twice to urinate.
Going to the toilet
Going more often? Of course. Bothersome? No.
Did my urine color change? Yes. There was only one day where my urine was almost clear. I think it was the second day. After that it turned to a very-light-yellow color, which is normal.
The lack of craving for other drinks
This one surprised me a bit. As I started drinking more water, I felt very little desire to drink anything else. The cranberry juice and vegetable juice in the fridge, both of which I really like, now barely gets touched.
How it makes me feel overall
If I had to choose one word to accurately describe how I feel drinking 3 liters of water a day, it would be satisfaction.
Describing the satisfaction is difficult. It's not a jumping-for-joy feeling nor a feeling of being jubilant or excitement. Rather, it's similar to when I feel a sense of accomplishment. My body feels better for having more water in it, I feel better for putting the best possible liquid in my system, and it all just feels right.
Will I continue doing this?
Honestly, I've not decided yet. I like the feeling drinking 3L of water a day, but may scale it back to 2L.
The most challenging thing about the 3L-a-day challenge is simply remembering to keep drinking water. Once you get in the swing of things, drinking 3L daily is actually easy.
It's not that my system can't handle 3L, as it certainly can when spread over a day. But I don't know if I could ever make it habitual to the point where I drink 3L daily without even thinking about it.
I'll keep drinking 3L daily for now and see where it leads.