Synapse ST-2FPA Custom Review

Price paid: £ 550

Purchased from: GAK

Features: This guitar was built in Korea, made with hard maple and a flame maple top with trans-blue paint. It's pretty much the R2-D2 of guitars, it packed with features for such a small guitar. Rather than the traditional Steinberger graphite neck, it has a 3-piece maple neck and a graphite core, with a 24-fret phenolic fingerboard. The pickups are EMG 81/85, and additionally, it has a piezo built into the bridge, controlled by a pot that can go from full magnetic pickups to full piezo. Aside from the master volume and piezo blend control, it has an onboard EQ for treble and bass boost/cut.

When playing standing, it has a strap extension which balances the guitar perfectly, which was originally the reason for removing the headstock on the original L series. While playing sitting, it has a fold-out leg rest, and it also has a carved back so it fits against your body incredibly comfortably. To keep the lead out of the way, it has a recessed jack input, and a recessed Tool holder that has some allen keys, so you don't have to carry a little bag of them around with you.

One of the biggest innovations of this guitar is the built in capo, which, if set at the 2nd fret, the guitar is a Standard 22-fret 25.5" scale guitar. Set at the zero fret, it is a full Baritone guitar, and the capo can be easily rolled up to the 11th fret. A slight flaw with this design is that there are two large grooves running all the way up the 12th fret, however, these are easy to get used to. Another thing which is a bit hard to get used to is that the fret markers on the fretboard are Standard, with the double mark at the 12th fret, but on the side of the neck they are pushed up two frets to show the frets when the capo is on the 2nd fret. It's not a bad idea, but it's a bit frustrating the first few times you play it. // 9
Sound: One of the original complaints with the L series was that the amount of graphite used in it took away from the tone and made it sound sterile, however, the Synapse series uses a substantially larger amount of wood to give it a more conventional tone, I suppose. It still has a fair amount of graphite in the neck to find a good balance of tone. EMGs have become synonymous with metal in recent years, and it gives the guitar a much wider tonal range in comparison with the piezo, which can perfectly emulate Acoustic tones. I find a 50% magnetic/piezo blend using the neck position EMG (the 85) can get a really great clean tone. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: This guitar was set up to be immediately played. The trans-blue paint on the flame maple looks beautiful, and physically this guitar isn't biased towards any one genre. I might lower the action at some point in the future, but it doesn't need any drastic changes. I'm not sure how it comes from the factory as it's been in a shop and handled by the staff, and possibly adjusted. I can't find any flaws with it, though. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I'm sure this guitar will last a long time. There's a video on YouTube of Ned Steinberger lying the guitar down with the ends on two chairs, checking it's in tune, standing on the guitar and bouncing around a little, then getting down and checking it's still in tune. If this video is anything to go by, I'm sure it'll last a good long time and hold up as a live guitar. I've been carrying it around in the soft case that came with it, and because of the small body and lack of headstock, it's incredibly easy to carry around, despite the Baritone scale length. // 10

Impression: I like to play around with a lot of different genres, but ultimately, I'm a metal player. The EMGs are well suited for the style of music I play, and they can be tuned to a higher output (the piezo can, too). If I could change this guitar in any way, I would replace the HardTail bridge with a Trans-Trem, however, the string spacing is different and it would need some serious routing done to it.

As great as this guitar is, if it was stolen or lost I'd save my money and try to find a GM on Ebay, as they're discontinued and is my dream Steinberger. This isn't to say it's not worth replacing, but I don't see the value of getting multiples of the same guitar. // 9
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20 Tips For Better Phrasing

This article is only a tap into topic of phrasing. I will mention some of the options you have, and go deeper into them with other articles.

Take 2 notes – the note from which you begin, and the note on which you end a phrase. Those notes will be your referance points, while you focus on everything that happens between them, in order to enhance your phrasing diversity and vocabulary. In this article, I'm going to point out 20 things you can work on to make your phrasing more interesting and colorfull:

1. Scalar progressions

This is most obvious way to phrase. Play all notes between starting and ending note in scalar form, in descending or ascending order, or even not. It may be whatever

lenght of notes or their order your imagination wants – wholes, halves, eights, sixteenths, tuplets. You can also mix all of those in phrases. You can experiment with legato and with picking.

2. Using rests

Sometimes rests can make a strong statement in a phrase.

3. Thrills

Using short and long thrills can be very colorfull. You can do it with notes of any interval you desire, and be sure to try all of them!

4. Bends

Bending notes is always effective. It can be done in slow and in fast solos. You can bend any note in the phrase you like, and you can bend it up to 2 whole tones, or even more, but be sure to keep the accuracy of pitch.

5. Pedal notes

These ones are found most oftenly in neo-classical phrasing, but it can be used in any genre of music. Work with pedal notes below, above and in the middle of your referance notes.

6. Slides

Sliding from note to note is sometimes way more expressive than just hitting the next note. You can combine sliding with tapping technique, as well, when you do it with your tapping finger. Having spontaneous slides to the note, or from the note can sometimes enforce your that note.

7. Changing the 'return note'

I don't know any other term for this note, but it often occured to me that, when I get into certain phrases, I have one or more notes on which I often return. My phrases got lot more interesting when I began to change those 'return notes' into higher or lower, when I actually returned to them.

8. Reaching higher and lower notes

You can make some runs that go into higher notes than your beginning or ending notes, and then get back to your ending note. And of course, you can make runs that go into lower notes than your beginning or ending notes, and then get back to your ending notes. The idea of this tip is not to get stuck only in between the first and last note.

9. Vibrato

One of the strongest tools you have as a guitar player is firm and creative vibrato. Try slow vibrato's, fast ones... Mix vibrato and bends. There is a sea of options in this one. Take one note and play with it for hours, you might get really surprised with what may come out!

10. Repeat

Repeat certain parts of phrases in right rhythm and you might get really effective, dazzling solo.

11. Dual melody

By dual melody, I don't refer to polyphonic melody, meaning, you get only 1 note playing at the time, but you make 2 melody lines.

12. Tapping

Tapping may sound really exotic. You can tap on the same notes you already played, you can tap on the notes next in the scale, you can tap on notes one octave higher, or any other.. There are many options on this.

13. Chords

It is really powerfull to put a few chords on higher notes when you're in the middle of the solo, but this has to be really carefully worked out.

14. Open string notes

If the notes of one or more open strings fit your key, be sure to try using them.

15. Same notes

Try playing same notes on different strings, or same notes on same string. Try playing them in various speeds. Tremolo pick them, slide to them, bend to them, play them with your teeth! ;)

16. Octaves

You can play up to 2 octaves in the same time (if you have enough wide fingering range). Adding octaves to your melodies is really powerfull.

17. Harmonics

You can play artificial, natural or tapped harmonics instead of regular notes. Even try playing several natural harmonics on different strings at the same time. You will get really interesting sound. See where do you have natural harmonics available on your guitar, and how they can fit in your phrase.

18. Prolonging the notes

Try prolonging the note into next measure of your phrase, and then resolve it.

19. Intervals and multiple melody lines

Having more than one guitar playing certain melody line, in different intervals, is really effective. Be sure to try how each interval sounds, and think of where you'd like to hear it.

20. Whammy bar

Whammy bar can be your source of really intense, emotive and innovative phrases. See what you can do with it when transitioning only from one note to other, as well as when 'whammying' whole phrase. There are countless things to do with whammy bar – dive bombs, screams, weird vibratos, artificial chorus.. really anything!

Mix all of those tips. Don't get held on only one of them. Of course, when you learn, you should have all of your focus on only one, but when you actualize the phrase or solo, have all of those options in mind!
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Dashboard Confessional Strips Down For Year-End Outing

Two members of Dashboard Confessional will offer a stripped-down version of the band's sound on the road this fall in support of its just-released new studio album, "After The Ending."

The group's Chris Carrabba and John Lefler will leave their electric guitars at home for the acoustic trek, which kicks off November 30 in West Hollywood, CA. The outing, which concludes December 15 in Orlando, FL, will feature opening support from New Found Glory, who will also go acoustic for the road trip.

"After The Ending," Dashboard Confessional's sixth studio album, hit stores earlier this week. The set, produced by Butch Walker (Weezer, Fall Out Boy), is the band's follow-up to 2007's "The Shade Of Poison Trees," which peaked at No. 18 on The Billboard 200.

Carrabba told Billboard.com in October that he was having trouble deciding whether the album should be a full-band electric project or a stripped-down acoustic affair, so he chose both options; the default version of the album includes electric versions of the material, while a deluxe version includes a second disc with acoustic versions of the same tracks.

"I can even point to one track, and I won't tell you which it is, that was my least favorite track once completed on the full-band version of 'Alter the Ending,' even though other people love it," Carrabba told Billboard. "And the acoustic version has become my favorite song on the record."

The entire album can currently be heard streaming at the band's MySpace page.

Thanks for the report to Livedaily.com.
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My Chemical Romance: 'Our Fourth Album Is Concept Free'

My Chemical Romance have spoken about their as yet-untitled fourth album and have revealed that for the very first time it will be concept free.

Singer Gerard Way said they originally struggled to let go of the idea of a concept album but believes it is all the better for it.

Gerard told Kerrang!: "To be able to let go of your game plan is really hard.

"There were many times where we had to really move on our feet very quickly and say, ‘No, the album’s taking a turn and we need to accept it, because if we fight it we’ll end up with a record that doesn’t make any sense’."

He continued: "Everything is taking so much longer, in a really great way. We’ve never been able to go through the songs like this and get things as great as we possibly can.

"It’s always been like, ‘You’ve got three months to record and two weeks to mix, then you’re back on an airplane to go tour again!’. This time, we afforded ourselves the luxury of exploring every song."

The follow-up to 2006's "The Black Parade" will be released next year.

Thanks for the report to Gigwise.com.
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Red Hot Chili Peppers Announce Comeback

Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced their comeback concert.

The US funk rockers went on hiatus in 2008 after 25 years together, but have said that they will play the charity concert MusiCares 2010 on January 29, honouring Neil Young for his services to the musicians' charity.

Three members of the group played the same concert earlier this year which was honouring Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, but this will be the first time the whole group has played together since they completed the last leg of their "StadiumArcadium Tour".

In May 2008, Kiedis announced the band was taking a break of "at least a year".

He said: "We're disbanded for the moment. We actually took a very long time to make the 'Stadium Arcadium' record, it took forever. It was really a gruelling, long haul and it followed two other very long hauls, 'Californication' and 'By the Way'."

However the "Under The Bridge" hitmakers returned to the studio last month to record their follow-up album to 2006's "Stadium Arcadium" which, according to drummer Chad Smith, will be released next year.

In September, the band were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - in their first year of eligibility - and will find out if they have been awarded the honour in the new year.

Other artists playing the MusiCares 2010 concert include alt-country band Wilco, jazz singer Norah Jones and veteran singer James Taylor.

Thanks for the report to Contactmusic.com.
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Diamonds In The Rough Review

Released: Sep 16, 2008
Genre: Hard Rock, Metalcore
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Number Of Tracks: 11
Avenged Sevenfold’s latest CD/DVD Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough is likely to reinforce the love-hate relationship the band has with audiences.

Sound: I seem to recall there being quite a split among Ultimate-Guitar users during 2007’s end-of-the-year “best-of” poll, with one particular band causing the greatest division. The group in question was Avenged Sevenfold, and in many ways the quintet’s latest CD/DVD release Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough is a good indication why there is such a rift. Namely I’m referring to the DVD portion, which broadcasts the best and worst of the band. On one hand you get exceptional guitarists and some truly catchy melodies, on the other hand Avenged Sevenfold often has a tendency to convey the “I’m-a-big-rock-star attitude.” Some DVD viewers out there might not even take notice of it, and in the end Avenged Sevenfold does at least know how to put on an engaging show.

The CD portion, Diamonds in the Rough, features quite a few bonus tracks and/or intended B-sides from the self-titled album of 2007. If you purchased the original 10-track version of the Avenged Sevenfold CD, the new release should have quite a bit of unheard material for you. The studio quality is just as strong as any of the singles, with every track emphasizing the amazing technique of guitarists Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates. Highlights in that area include the insanely good scale-oriented solo on “Demons” and the bluesier, Slash-like “Tension.”

The CD includes alternate versions of the hits “Almost Easy” and “Afterlife, ” although the changes aren’t radically dramatic. “Almost Easy” feels very much like the original except for a few tweaks, while “Afterlife” does feature the addition of a string section. Avenged Sevenfold takes a stab at a few covers as well, with Iron Maiden’s “Flash The Blade” and Pantera’s “Walk” making it onto the playlist. While the guitar work is flawless on “Flash The Blade, ” it’s hard to equal the charisma of Bruce Dickinson’s delivery. They fair better with “Walk, ” with vocalist M. Shadows doing a fantastic job of matching the manly grunts of Phil Anselmo and Vengeance providing a fitting homage to Dimebag.

Going back to the DVD, which was filmed at the Long Beach Arena on April 10, 2008, it definitely keeps your attention and not every band can accomplish that. The only slight annoyance – and it might not bother anyone else out there – is the air of cockiness. There are panties thrown onstage at various points in the concert and Shadows knows he has the crowd wrapped around his finger. There are moments when it does seem like he’s emulating Axl Rose (complete with aviator shades), but if he can pull it off, more power to him. And hey, Motley Crue thrived on attitude/sex during their shows, so you can’t be too mad at Avenged Sevenfold for bringing out a few dancing girls during the course of their show. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: It’s very likely that you’ve already heard a good number of the songs performed on the DVD, and if you’re an Avenged Sevenfold devotee, the B-sides/bonus songs might be old news as well. However, if you haven’t had an opportunity to hear any of the newly released material, you shouldn’t be disappointed in terms of the lyrics. “Girl I Know” might be on the sleazier side, but in general you get a good mix of topics, with the songs “Tension” and “Demons” standing out as a few of the strongest offerings. // 8

Impression: In terms of setting out to entertain the masses, the CD/DVD Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough accomplishes the mission. The CD feels very much like another fresh studio release if you haven’t been exposed to the B-sides, while the DVD features a sound mix that is just as strong as if it was also recorded in the studio. The band does deserve credit for adding a little personality into their extras section, too. There are several humorous skits featuring the band members, and they actually evoke some chuckles here and there. If you felt a disconnect with the band onstage, the offstage antics are likely to change your opinion. Out of everything on the DVD, it was most refreshing to see that a successful, panty-receiving band like Avenged Sevenfold still might juts be a bunch of average Joes when they don’t have thousands of screaming girls in front of them. // 8
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