Explorer is cool, but Firebird is cooler
I went to buy some strings recently, and the Epiphone Firebird was there hanging on the wall. Yeah, I had to try it out.
Even though I don't like tuners on the bottom of the headstock, I actually really liked how this thing played and sounded.
For the longest time I've thought about getting an Explorer style guitar (it would be the Schecter E-1 if I went for it), but there's just more cool factor to the Firebird.
I really, really like the way a Firebird takes to a sunburst finish because it brings out the center of the body in a real nice way. The gold-and-silver control knobs look great too. I also really like the trapezoid inlay markers on the fretboard.
Then there's the sound of the Firebird. You don't see too many guitars out there with mini humbuckers installed from the factory.
The best way I can describe the mini humbucker sound is that it's close to the sound of a humbucker in a semi-hollow body guitar (even though the Firebird is a solid-body) with "honk" to it. Yeah, I know, that sounds weird, but I can't describe it any other way.
On first listen, you'd think it sounds like an SG, but then you play it more and... no. Sounds different. Then you think it sounds Explorer-ish, but again, no. Firebird really does have its own tonal character.
This is not the first time I've played a Firebird, but when I do now, I think hm.. maybe I should get this instead of an Explorer type in the future.
The price of the Epiphone Firebird is certainly nice. Very affordable. Definitely worth checking out.
Probably the best new cheap semi-hollow guitar, Harley Benton HB-35
This guitar definitely looks the part. When it comes to a ES-335-ish size, sound and feel, I don't think you can do much better than the Harley Benton HB-35.
Yes, this is a real-deal archtop.
Yes, the finish is actual high gloss.
Yes, it has neck-thru construction.
The F-holes are real and not fake, meaning it's an actual semi-hollow.
The price? That's the best part.
It's under $300 new for most places that sell them.
As far as the rest of the construction, the body is maple with a mahogany center block. The neck is Canadian maple and fingerboard radius is 12" (just like a real ES-335).
The only thing I don't know is the pickup specifications. Harley Benton labels them as "vintage-style". I don't know the magnet type as to whether it's ceramic or alnico. And if it is alnico, I don't know if it's alnico 2 or 5 (I would personally prefer alnico 2 just for my playing style).
For as cheap as you can get this for, heck, even when you factor in pickup replacement it's still a bargain.
10 months of Linux
I've officially been using Linux as my daily driver for a little over 10 months. Haven't quite made it to a year yet, but that's getting closer.
The most surprising thing about using Linux daily is how quickly it became normal. I thought it was going to take a really long time to get used to it after being a Windows user for so long. Nope. In less than a month's time I wasn't even thinking about Windows anymore.
However, that doesn't mean I didn't take notes.
On my desktop I keep a text file that's included in my nightly backup. Every single time I learn something new with Linux, I open up that text file and document it. Presently, it's over 1,300 lines long. I documented my installation, any packages I need to install, configuration stuff I need to do, and so on. Everything went in there.
Documenting like this is actually something I carried over back from when I used to use Windows. In the past, I got burned on getting my PC setup exactly the way I wanted, then having something screwy thing happened that required a reinstall of the OS. After reinstall, uh-oh, there was something I had before that I didn't document. Maybe it was a certain app, a browser extension, script, batch file or whatever.. and now I don't have it and either don't know where it is or it's gone. I got burned enough times to where I started documenting and have been doing it ever since.
Contrary to the way most Linux users do things, I didn't bounce over to a different distribution every month. For the entire 10+ months I've been using Kubuntu LTS and nothing else. I told myself that if I'm going to do this, I'm committing to just one distro and staying there to learn everything I can.
Is there really any bad stuff to report? No. I thought by now I'd have a whole bunch of stuff to complain about, but I don't.
My goal from the get-go was to get my computer back to how Windows 7 used to work, and I pretty much have that now. But at the same time I've learned a ton of new-to-me Linux stuff, so what I have is a Windows 7-ish look and feel with all Linux underneath running the whole show.
What I would tell anybody thinking of switching from Windows to Linux is to buy a cheap refurb Dell Latitude with 16GB RAM in it (Linux really likes Dell hardware and can usually detect 100% of it with no problem at all), get Kubuntu LTS and put it on a USB stick and just go for it.
With the Latitude, take out the old drive with the Windows it comes with and install a new 500GB SSD or 1TB SSD (I suggest Samsung EVO), then just install Kubuntu. If you like it, then you can connect a full size monitor, keyboard and mouse to the laptop later and use as a full PC. Done and done. If you don't like it, you can easily switch it back to being a Windows computer just by putting the old drive back in.
That's pretty much as easy as it gets, and it's exactly how I went about it. I do have a spare Windows 10 laptop but almost never use it. For my main computer, it's a Latitude with 16GB RAM and a Samsung EVO 500GB SSD with connected external wired keyboard, monitor and mouse.
I honestly believe the best way to go Linux is to get a dedicated computer for it instead of converting over your existing one. With a refurb Latitude, you get an entire computer, and don't need to connect anything external unless you want to. All your bases are covered, you don't lose anything and you can just transfer over everything from the old computer to the new one. This is stupidly easy to do these days considering how cheap a 512GB USB stick is.
Everything I do now for my content is done in Kubuntu. Written articles, image editing, video editing, all of it. It all works and works well, which at the end of the day is all that matters.
Is Shawshank a ripoff of Alcatraz?
Comparing these two movies pokes the hornet's nest.
The Shawshank Redemption, considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time by many, was released 1994.
Escape from Alcatraz, while not nearly as well known but still darned good, was released 1979.
Like a lot of people, I saw Shawshank first and Alcatraz later. There are many who say Shawshank rips off Alcatraz big time.
Does it?
I'll describe some differences first.
Shawshank is about the characters and has loads of dialogue, including tons of narration. Alcatraz is more about the story, dialogue is kept to a minimum, and it has no narration whatsoever.
Shawshank is a fictional story. Alcatraz is based on events that actually happened.
The story of Shawshank spans over a long period of time. Alcatraz's story has a much shorter timeline.
And where the similarities are concerned, oh yeah, there are plenty.
Both movies are about a prison break.
Frank Morris (lead character of Alcatraz) hides the tool he uses to tunnel through the wall of his prison cell in a Bible.
Andy Dufresne (lead character of Shawshank) also hides his tool in a Bible.
Morris is requested to go assist in the prison library.
Dufresne also is requested to do the same.
After spending time in "the hole", one of the inmates sends Morris a welcome back message on a piece of paper.
Dufresne also receives a welcome back message on a piece of paper after being assaulted and then a stay in the infirmary.
Litmus, the old, friendly character in Alcatraz has a pet mouse that he feeds in the cafeteria.
Brooks, the old, friendly character in Shawshank has a pet bird he feeds in the cafeteria.
In addition, Litmus asks Morris for food specifically to give to the mouse, and Brooks asks Dufresne for food specifically to give to the bird.
Morris, using a fingernail clipper, discovers the concrete in the wall has weakened over time and tunnels through it to make his escape.
Dufresne, using a small pick axe to carve his name into the wall, discovers the concrete in the wall has weakened over time and tunnels through it to make his escape.
Morris disposed of the concrete wall he took apart by carrying it into the prison yard.
Dufresne disposed of the concrete wall he took apart by carrying it into the prison yard.
And there's more, but...
Are they the same movie?
That is The Big Question.
No.
Shawshank outright lifted A LOT of stuff from Alcatraz. It's really obvious.
However, the two stories are different, and it's the actual titles of the films that really set them apart.
Alcatraz is all about the escape. That word is directly in the title. True, it doesn't start out that way, but ends up being that at the end.
Shawshank is about redemption, and that word is directly in its title. It's redemption on two levels. Getting something out of your time there, and salvation from sin.
Alcatraz is story driven, Shawshank is character driven; that's why Shawshank isn't just a retelling of Alcatraz.
Agree? Disagree? Are you sure? Watch Escape from Alcatraz first, then watch The Shawshank Redemption second back-to-back and decide for yourself.
The best "fast basic 24 fret Strat", Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH HT E
This is for player who wants "all guitar" with no fluff whatsoever.
Something you'll notice about some famous guitar players is that they purposely play instruments that are very stripped down to only the absolute minimum hardware required to get the job done. Why? Two reasons. To eliminate as much as possible that could unnecessarily break, and to avoid distraction.
This brings us to the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH HT E.
Side note to Charvel before continuing: Could you please stop using guitar model names that read like a serial number? Thanks in advance.
Moving on..
I've mentioned the Pro-Mod before as it literally is the 24-fret Stratocaster.
The DK24 HH HT E is of that same generation but in hardtail HH flavor, and in the color speed guitar players like, satin black.
What a lot of guitar players want is "basic but built very well", and that's exactly what the DK24 HH HT E is. You get the best of everything with premium hardware and a very simplified layout.
"Best of everything" means premium Seymour Duncan pickups, 500K EVH Bourns low friction pot, no-load tone control, and 5-position pickup selector. Mo push-push or push-pull is necessary since the single-coil positions that matter are already built into the switch. You also get die-cast locking tuners, graphite-reinforced neck with satin urethane coating, rolled fingerboard edges, 12"-16" compound radius ebony fingerboard, and jumbo frets.
When you look at this and ask, "Where's the output jack?", it's on the back and in the perfect position where your cable is always out of the way seated or standing.
This is the 24-fret Strat that gets rid of all the fluff, keeps everything basic and has all the premium stuff already built in.
Priced lower than you think because it's Charvel branded and not Fender.
My only knock against the guitar is the model name. Not exactly memorable. And if I didn't tell you about it, you probably wouldn't even know it existed.