Infantry IN-019 watch review
I bought one of these. And sent it back.
It is said in horology circles that every man needs at least one dive watch. Yes, needs. And being 2015 was the year I truly got into watches, why not try out a cheap dive watch in 2016, that being the Infantry IN-019? Well, that was a mistake.
While every so often you can come across a gem when buying cheap, this is not one of those times.
Now before getting into the review of the IN-019, I will say this first: The only, repeat, only inexpensive dive watch under $100 worth buying is the Casio MDV106. That is a true diver's timepiece. And by "true," I mean you can actually dive with it. After the Casio, the next step up is a Seiko SKX007 series, and any one of those starts at $175, with better models in the $200+ range.
The Infantry IN-019 is under $20. I had mine less than a day before I decided to return it, and I'll tell you why.
First, the specifications were wrong. It's stated the watch is 55g in weight with nylon strap. Wrong. It's 65g. I weighed it myself.
Second, the date magnifier window was misaligned.
Third, the crown had sharp edges that dug into my wrist.
1, 2, 3 strikes, you're out.
I do like the idea of a diver's watch even though I don't dive, but the IN-019 just wasn't up to the job.
What can a diver watch be used for?
Easy answer, and the reason I wanted to try one in the first place: Use as a timer.
On all my digital watches (I have 3,) the countdown timer feature is present. I won't wear a digital that doesn't have a timer function on it.
The original purpose of the rotating bezel on a diver watch is to time how long you've been in the water so you know when to surface before the air from your tanks runs out. Before jumping in the watch with your dive gear on, you rotate the bezel's arrow marker (as in the zero marker) to the minute hand's current position, then jump in. As the minute hand moves away from the arrow marker, that tells you how many minutes have elapsed.
Also, the bezel is purposely designed to only rotate one way so when underwater you don't accidentally add more time to the timer.
I don't dive, but I do like a watch with a timer feature on it. While true I could use an analog with chronograph, I like the rotating bezel better.
For the time being, I'll stick to my Casio digitals for the timer feature. Eventually, I'll get myself a nice dive watch. And it probably will be a Seiko.
Do you save money buying a guitar direct from the manufacturer?
Not really.
Take the SX (Rondo brand) Strat clone. The price? Cheap. This is a guitar you could buy direct if you wanted to.
Should you buy direct?
Not with mass-produced guitars you don't, and certainly not with guitar accessories either.
Using Fender as an example, there is basically no difference in price between buying a guitar direct through Fender's web site vs. buying elsewhere. In fact, if you purposely bought a Fender through another seller, you will find the return policy far more agreeable.
Where guitar accessories are concerned, I've never seen direct-purchase sell for less compared to Amazon or eBay.
Is there any instance of where buying a guitar direct saves money?
Yes.
When specifically buying from smaller guitar builders, buying direct is the best choice. And when I say "smaller", I'm referring to guys who build guitars in their own shops, usually at their homes. Many of these guys don't do eBay and certainly don't do Amazon either. If they did, they would have to tack on "middleman" fees. When buying direct, those middleman fees are eliminated, thereby saving you money.
With larger guitar builders, the price hardly changes if at all between direct and otherwise. But with the smaller builders, yes the price changes and you ordinarily will save a few bucks with a direct purchase.
Cheap guitar of the week #41 - Ibanez GRG150LTD
1980s "glam" style guitars are continuing to make a comeback.
What's old is new, as evidenced by the styling of the Ibanez GRG150LTD. This is your somewhat-above-basic shredder metal/glam guitar.
It does not have an EDGE system (Ibanez's version of a Floyd-Rose), which I actually consider a good thing. Other than that, this guitar hits all the right marks for a glam guitar. HSH pickup configuration, simple controls, thin neck, 24 frets, "wild" styling.
Due to the lack of a Floyd style vibrato, this guitar will in fact last longer. Why? Because on a cheap guitar, the Floyd vibrato is always the first thing to break. This guitar doesn't have it, hence why the guitar will last longer overall.
Now of course, this guitar is screaming, "LOOK AT ME!" You play this, and you will get noticed. This is totally a glam styled guitar that's meant to grab attention.
The look is obviously not for everyone, and that's pretty much the whole point. A guitar like this is purposely made to look obnoxious, because that's part of what glam style is.
I am suspecting that the glam style will continue to find its way into more models as time goes on. And who better to do it than Ibanez, who was a force to be reckoned with back in the '80s?
Thankfully, there will be one huge difference this time around with glam guitars. They'll be priced cheap.
Best guitar solo t-shirt ever? Yes.
This is a quickie but a goodie.
I'm not a guy who ordinarily likes shirts with anything printed on them, but I do like the Han Guitar Solo t-shirt.
Why do I like this shirt? Because most shirts that have anything to do with the guitar just plain suck.
The Solo shirt is one of the very few that does not suck. I think it's cool, because it is.
Cheap guitar of the week #40 - Agile AL-2500 MN
Agile is the only brand with the balls to produce a guitar like this.
You're only going to have one of two reactions to the Agile AL-2500 MN.
1. "Wow, I want one!"
2. "Damn, that thing is UGLY!"
But you have to give Rondo (Agile is a Rondo brand) credit here, because presently, this is pretty much the only Les Paul copy you can buy new right now with a maple fingerboard on it.
Is the guitar crap?
Not at all. The AL series from Agile is arguably the best Les Paul copy for the money. In fact, I'd dare say you get far more for the money considering how low in price the guitar is.
I'd also have to say this is a guitar that looks better in person rather than in pictures - except for the fact there are gold knobs on it which do not work with the finish at all. Ditch the gold knobs for black to match the headstock and that would work better.
"MN?"
Any time you see an Agile with "MN" in its model name, that literally means "Maple Neck".
Agile is known to release guitars with finish and wood options you never see anywhere else, and the AL-2500 MN is one of them.
Pretty guitar? That's up to you.
Unique guitar? Definitely. In a sea of Les Pauls that all have maple or ebony fingerboards, the AL-2500 MN commands attention even more than a Gibson Les Paul Supreme just from what its fingerboard is made out of.