29th Nov...

In 10 days Sher-Mayne and I will be having our 4th anniversary. Time really flies, especially when you are very busy. I've been feeling for a while already that time and events have been just passing me by just like that. Suddenly I realize I'm already 27 and its been 6 years since I've left Adelaide. Suddenly its been the same 6 years since I started a romantic relationship with my wife. And suddenly, I am no longer the kid I used to be.

The much suggested advise to personal growth is that time be taken to reflect upon experiences. This provides us with more insight (due to hindsight) into the circumstances that befall us. We realize many things we missed, and we may gain new perspectives and dimensions. This is something I haven't been doing for a while. Being so caught up with everything (dare I say, overwhelmed), I was pretty much going through the motions very much like a machine: event/problem 1, solved. Move on to event/problem number 2. And to be perfectly honest, that is how I've gone through my job so much so I no longer remember why I took it in the first place or why I am still staying.

Hence the decision was made that this year end would be a time of reflection. Reflection upon what has pretty much been the entirety of my professional life which spans getting married, learning how to be a proper husband, and ultimately evolving to become a father. 2 days ago I decided to look through older facebook pictures. Looking back, many friendships have not been maintained. Yesterday I read my very first blogpost. Much to my regret, I read it out loud next to Sher-Mayne. I couldn't help but laugh out in amusement (and embarrassment) at not only the things I wrote, but the person I used to be. Recalling those moments as if they were last week, it really highlighted the large change that I have gone through. No longer single (and flirting around I might add) and less egocentric (I certainly hope so), the 2011 version of me is hopefully more polished and refined, hopefully more wise, and certainly with more wrinkles and white hair. Sher-Mayne noticed more white hair on my head. I attributed it to stress and she nicely told me to my face, "You are old already lah." Ahh, the benefits of having an honest wife.

So here we are at the end of Nov2011. 2012 beckons. If the world does indeed come to an end next year, I hope I don't have too much of regret. But I will certainly be delighted that my prayer came true (rapture before Alyssa needs to marry). But here's to a fruitful month whereby all of us get to reflect upon another year that has zoomed by. Do so to maintain your sanity as I found it really helped maintain mine.

22 Nov...

Time sure has been flying. Already November 2011 is coming to an end. Josh had his Malaysian wedding dinner last Sat. Eric and Reuben's wedding is coming up. Before we know it, Christmas will be gone and welcome 2012.

Guitar nuts will doubtlessly not miss the Bogner Alchemist hidden behind Alyssa but the rest of you will probably be surprised how big she has grown already. Aly just turned 18 months 2 days ago. Sometimes Sher-Mayne and I feel she's growing up a bit too fast.

The Bogner? Its sweet. Really sweet. And warm. And HEAVY! 36 kilos to be exact. Its the 212 combo with the Greenback and G12H speakers. My wife was telling me the other day, "Why did you get it? It thought you wanted something portable?" That is so true. I was in fact looking out for something that was portable so I could easily bring it to church. However, for the price I got it for used, it basically blew all the other alternatives in the price bracket out of the water in terms of tone and features. The only other amps in that range that had 2 channels was the new Bugera V22 or a used Marshall JTM30. Others were the new Night Train (single channel, still need cab), new Tiny Terror (single channel, still need cab), new ZT Lunchbox (no tubes and non 12" speaker), new Laney cub 12 (single channel), and new Ceriatone Prinzetone (single channel, still need cab). So essentially it was a toss between the V22, JTM30, and the Alchemist. Both the V22 and JTM were very appealing due to their great clean tone and ability to get good crunch on the gain channel. But I guess I was hooked by the Alchemist's tonescaping options.

So I made a compromise. I compromised portability to get those extra features and a huge sound with those 212 and aim to minimize this large drawback by taking out the electronics and re-housing them in a head. Carrying them separately (head & 212 cab) is infinitely easier than carrying both in 1 unit, despite the supplied wheels at the bottom. Its been with me for about 6 months already and its been sounding better and better as I learn how to get my type of sounds from it.

About Aly? Well, she loves tweaking my knobs. Just like how she enjoys changing my settings on my pedals, she loves fiddling with the knobs on my amp. Her latest craze is plugging my cables in and out of my Ibanez amp and attempting to use my wah while holding the Bogner for support. I even managed to catch her on video, attempting to unscrew one of my pedal with a screwdriver. Already a guitar tech in the making. Haha. Lets see if I can find that vid and post it here.

Well, its been busy busy busy for me, hence the very low post count. Take care the rest of you and may the end of the year provide you with time to reflect upon another year past.

Justin

A tribute to my wife.

Hello folks, if there are anymore of you still out there. Being a dad is tough work. As they say, its a full time job and so I really feel for my wife who has to juggle both her full time job and being a mom. Hugs.

Its been a long journey for me as far as guitaring is concerned. The first few years were focused on playing and enjoying playing. Nothing much to do with the technicality and the hardware part of it. Those of you who follow my blog will know I only knew how to truly manipulate the 3-band eq after I left my band.

In between I journeyed into discovering who are my favourite guitarists and what kind of tone and style I prefer. This morphed from jazz to funk, to blues and now, to rock. Emphasis was placed on learning licks and attempting to learn Jack Thammarat's "On the way." I even purchased his tab only to eventually realize a lot of his stuff are beyond my skill level.

The later part - especially after I went into effects building - has been a delve into the murky world of electronics and how things work. This seriously spurred my reading as I'm a guy who craves info. Countless hours were spent on forums reading about how different circuits function, how they interact with the amp, as well as "what on earth was a tube amp." All this has led to an over emphasis on effects, tone sculpting, and collecting various pedals based on different circuit designs and genre.

Along the way, the player in me got lost. The 15 year-old kid who happily strummed away on the acoustic with little regard for mids, warmth, sustain... that guy slowly took a back seat. I haven't enjoyed playing for a while and my dear wife knew this all along but did not know how to articulate it. I normally ask my wife for feedback especially after playing my latest creations (supposed to take me to tonal bliss) and of late, she'll just say "you sound okay lah." Some times even "same old." Few nights ago she tells me something to this effect: Its not the gear that makes the player. Its the player that plays the gear. If you are a good player, you'll sound good regardless what you play. And she was right. I had to hold my hand up and admit I was sucked in to the rat race of guitar gear where you are constantly looking out for that next piece of equip that will make you better.

And so I finally decided to let it all go. I deleted all my links and bookmarks to all those forums, blogs, and anything related to guitar gear. I surmised that I will make do with what I have, looking to get an acceptable and musical tone out of it instead of looking for something else to buy or build. It was easier than I imagined though. Its interestingly refreshing and dare I say, liberating.

So here's to my next phase of my journey into guitar playing and I thank God for giving me a sharp wife who's not only able to tell me "Eh, your tone got improvement today ah" but also able to call me out on the deeper underlying issues. Thank you honey, I love you.

Powerful or powerless?

To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength,not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:25-31, New Living Translation

TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafter Carpenter Shop
Nazareth

FROM: Jordan Management Consultants
Jerusalem

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team" concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.

We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings. They registered a high score on the manic depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new Venture.

Sincerely yours, Jordan Management Consultants

from Greg Ogden, "Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time."
COPYRIGHT 2004 Catholic New Times, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Being a working adult is certainly not easy. We are called to put our childish ways aside, take up responsibility, and essentially grow up. Which is all fine and well. But to really shine, you need to be professional, accomplished, and efficient. These are traits looked highly upon by everyone. And they are traits I aspire to acquire. I push myself. Tell myself it is my responsibility. And I did acquire them to certain extents. However, the by products of acquiring these traits gave me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction with myself. I felt good about myself, having somewhat achieved the traits I desired, through will and hardships. Somewhat powerful I would say. And it has made me quite proud.

I've heard the story about the 12 disciples before as a teenager but heard it again not too long ago at Revival Center. Hearing it as an adult with more of a taste of life, I was able to appreciate much of the jokes, especially about the 11. Seriously, you read accounts of them in the bible and you really have to wonder what Jesus saw in them. Then you come to Judas Iscariot. With the benefit of hindsight, we know he didn't have a happy end. But rewind back to when the past was the present, I am certain the 11 would have been quite envious of him, as he was quite capable. Motivated, ambitious, resourceful, responsible. The model professional and employee. But have these skills made us too powerful to rely on God for help?

I read Isaiah 40 and 41 last night when my world came crumbling down. God would give power to the weak and strength to the powerless. At that moment, it was very clear that I had no power over my life. I did not "have it all together." But isn't that what the world demands from us? To "have it all together." Maybe my accomplishments have mislead me into a false sense of security, control, and ultimately comfort. Maybe I had become too powerful to receive God's help. I guess what I am trying to say is, it is okay to be all those things. It is good in fact. I believe God smiles when He see's us being productive, performing to the best of our abilities, using the body He designed to its fullest. I believe it brings Him glory and is a form of worship. But do not forget where that ability came from. Like me, you will end up stripped and laid bare, displayed for who you truly are: nothing. For our God will not share His glory with another. And all will see and know what the hand of God has done.

PAYJ Shredder - This is not a teaser

At long last! I recently delivered the result of many hours worth of labour. Josh came down and I took him to Music Master to give his new pedal a go. You should pay them a visit. Those guys will let you test any gear without pressure and kudos to Dennis for being such good store attendants. Looking back to when I first agreed to make this, it was found in an e-mail date March 2010. 10 months ago? You can't be serious? Well, what to do?

Anyway, we ran the pedal through a Laney (100 watter?) into a 4X12 cab and it was a blast. Dirt channel was everything I hoped it would be but the real revelation was the Boost channel. Sort of transparent but with some real dirt, warmth, and the dynamics... Well, I'm making one for myself so that should say it all. Thanks TJ for taking the splendid pictures. Thanks Music Master for being such good blokes. And lastly, thanks Josh for having faith in me (of course, the DD20 is really swell).

Payj Shredder Teaser 2

Updates on Payj Shredder. I somehow managed to make a spelling error previously. Its supposed to read "Shredder", not "Schredder." Sigh.

Before


After.

Shock experience: the explanation

Something I came across that probably explained my shocking (literally) experience a few posts back. Dangerous stuff man.

Payj Schredder Teaser