Squier Bullet Strat HH Electric Guitar Review

Aloha!

It used to be that entry level guitars were miserable and unplayable instruments that were likely to discourage a novice player from practicing. There are still plenty of axes out there like that, but there are also a surprising number of pretty good six-strings that you can buy new for under 200 bucks. The Squier Bullet Strat HH that we are looking at today is in this latter group, and you could sure do a lot worse things with your money.

This Strat was built in Indonesia in 2014, and it is finished in a breathtaking Sparkle Red poly with a nicely contrasting single-ply white pickguard. Obviously it has the traditional Fender shape, and this time the body is carved out of basswood. This is a great tone wood (in my opinion), and it is certainly lightweight and easy to shape. But this wood is also pretty soft, so you have to be careful about dinging it.

There is also the usual Fender-shaped headstock at the end of the maple neck. A nice rosewood fretboard caps this off; it has a 9.5-inch radius with 21 medium jumbo frets sunk into it. The frets are fairly well done and they are level enough. The edges are good enough, with no sharp edges or bevels that are too aggressive. By the way, this is a conventional 25 ½-inch scale guitar, and the nut has the normal 42mm width.

The hardware is fairly standard with a cheap-o tremolo and sealed tuners. Though the machine heads are cheap, they hold well. Then things get a little oddball with the electronics package, as this Strat is a more rock-oriented instrument. Instead of three single coils, it comes with two humbuckers wired through a three-way switch. Seems like a weird combination for a Stratocaster, but it is certainly workable.

Putting all of this together, and you end up with a decent instrument. It certainly looks good, but it also plays well (after a basic set-up) and sounds surprisingly good. It does not sound very much like a Strat as it has a lot more output and fatness, but it is also has a lot less noise than single-coil equipped guitars. It will get the job done, for sure.

As I said earlier, this is an entry level guitar, and it is certainly worth the money. The Squier Bullet Strat HH has a list price of $249 and a street price of $149, but if you look around you can usually find them on sale for around $100. This does not include a case or gig bag, but it is still one of the best deals you will find for a playable starter guitar. Check one out if you get the chance!

Mahalo!

Blues Blast Magazine Album Review: Marlon McClain – TBC

This CD review was originally published in the December 25, 2014 edition of Blues Blast Magazine. Be sure to check out the rest of the magazine at www.bluesblastmagazine.com

Marlon McClain – TBC

Mac Man Music

9 tracks / 37:06

There are a few folks in the music industry that seem to always be busy and plugged into many diverse projects, and Marlon L. McClain is a shining example of this. After cutting his teeth in Portland, Oregon’s favorite funk band of the 1970s’, Pleasure, he had a stint with the Dazz Band before demand for his writing and producing sent him behind the stage. After many successes with artists as diverse as George Clinton, Tower of Power, George Benson, Kenny G and Joan Baez, he is finally back to making his own music for us to enjoy.

Over the past four decades, McClain has only had time to record three solo discs: Changes in 1981, TBD in 2010, and this year’s release, TBC. Marlon wrote all nine songs on this latest self-produced album, and he also took care of the guitars and keyboards. Al Turner laid down the bass lines, Thomas McElroy played the keyboards, and the drum parts were all handled electronically, with programming by McClain, McElroy, Soulpersona, and Ken Sato. Do not get the impression that this is some sort of 1980s beat box album, though – the drums sound real and are spot on throughout.

The tracks are mostly instrumentals with vocals added here and there as needed to accentuate the action, including the opener, “Me & You.” This is a super-funky tune with jazz influences that shows what a masterful guitarist Marlon is, and his playing is as smooth as silk. Guest artist Curtis Salgado brought his harmonica in for this song, and he does a fabulous job of mimicking McClain’s lines, so that at times it sounds like there are two guitars playing.

After listening to the rest of the tracks, it would be difficult to categorize this record into any one genre, as there is a little bit of everything, but if you dig deep enough there a foundation of funk for all of them. The most divergent song from the blues would be “Positivity,” a bouncy dance track with a disco groove and tightly intertwined guitar/vocal lines. You will also find that “Step into the Light:” is quite danceable, though at a slower and sultrier pace.

Blues-rock is represented in the mix, too, with the harder-hitting “Radiation Blues” which has minimal vocals, round bass, tons of high hat, and smoking guitar from McClain. This is a marked contrast from “That Ain’t Right,” which is more of a loose funky jam session, with a cool give and take between Marlon and Turner’s killer bass lines – it is almost like the whole song was built over a bass solo, which is not something you will find on your average blues album.

There are fairly drastic changes of pace and feel from track to track. For example, “Tokyo Time“ is smooth and jazzy with a laid-back vibe, and then the listener is hit with “GWUWGWUN.” This song has a lot plenty going on, besides a lot of consonants and an unpronounceable title. Marlon’s guitars are up front in this fast-paced tune, but there is also a lot of synthesizer work with simulated flute and trumpet patches, and all of this is playing all over a popping and funky bass line. Both of these instrumentals are catchy and could get stuck in your head for days, which is not a bad thing in this case.

The last song in the set is “You Know,” which is notable for its simple lyrics and complex guitar lines. It is a healthy dose of funky rhythm and blues with more layers of guitar than you can count, and all of them are soaked with distortion and wah pedal galore. After only 37 minutes the album ends, and it definitely leaves the listener wanting more – a few more tracks would have been welcome. We can only hope that Marlon heads back to the studio again soon, as his songs are well written and are a pleasure to listen to.

There is a lot to like about Marlon McClain’s TBC – it has catchy songs that cross genres and hypnotizing grooves that would make it an awesome party soundtrack or even a nice pick-me-up for the morning drive to work to brighten up an otherwise gloomy day. If you like your blues on the jazzier side with a healthy helping of funk, this might be just what you are looking for!

Mahalo!

Candye Kane: November 13, 1965 to May 6, 2016

Rest in peace, my sister. You will be missed.

Sterling by MusicMan Ray34CAFL Bass Review

Aloha!

Today we are looking at a very nice Sterling by MusicMan Ray34CAFL fretless bass guitar. For those of you that are not familiar with the brand, here is a little background of this MusicMan bass copy:

If you have been shopping lately you know that MusicMan instruments are pretty expensive, and are financially out of reach for many beginning musicians. In an effort to provide reasonably priced quality instruments to this crowd, the Ernie Ball Company made a deal with Praxis to sell imported versions of popular MusicMan guitars and basses. They named the brand “Sterling by MusicMan”, which is confusing as there was already a MusicMan Sterling bass on the market. Oh well!

Sterling instruments are very good and are made from nice woods, and are equipped with good quality hardware and electronics. They are made in Indonesia, and are inspected and set-up by Praxis in Orange, California.

The bass we have here today is a copy of the MusicMan Stingray. Thank god it is not a copy of the Sterling, because then it would be a Sterling Sterling, if you will. See what I mean about the brand name being confusing?

This one is a recent production Ray, and it is finished in glossy black over its ash body. The body has the same shape and contours as its MusicMan cousin. The paintwork is first rate and the neck and body fit very well together.

All of the hardware is heavily chromed, and is heavy duty, but lacks the MusicMan logos. The tuners hold well, and the high-mass bridge is bolted to the body, just as it would be on the MusicMan version. The 2-band pre-amp and electronics are very good. There is a genuine MusicMan alnico magnet humbucker and this is a very loud bass with an edgy tone, leaving nothing on the table. The 6-bolt neck is good, and it has the Stingray feel down. Of course this one if fretless, so I cannot play it worth a hill of beans, but it is nice. Sterling has adopted the truss rod wheel too, so adjustments are a snap.

This bass is growly as all get out, and it has a smooth and playable neck and action, making it a true winner. The only reason I sold this bass was that right now I prefer narrow jazz-width necks (plus there is that whole fretless thing), so this was not really working for me.

The Sterling Ray34CAFL basses have a list price of $1143 and a minimum advertised price of $720, which is pretty reasonable for a nice bass. But they do not do very well on the resell market, and this is not a lot less than you will pay for a used American-made Musicman that will hold its value forever. So, the choice is yours…

Mahalo!

Jeff Chaz – Sounds Like the Blues to Me | Album Review

Jeff Chaz – Sounds Like the Blues to Me

JCP Records

www.jeffchazblues.com

12 tracks / 58:00

Though he was born in Louisiana, there is a bit of Memphis soul in Jeff Chaz’s sound, which is not too surprising as that is where he learned blues guitar and honed his unique vocal style. Though he kicked back and forth across the country playing trombone and trumpet he ended up sticking with the guitar, and in the mid 1990s he finally made his way home to the Sportsman’s Paradise, where he tears things on a regular basis with his high-energy live shows.

Sounds Like the Blues to Me is Jeff’s latest disc, and it is a worthy follow-up to his very good Chronicles CD. This collection of a dozen original songs features Chaz on guitars and vocals, Doug Therrien on bass, John Autin on keys, Doug Belote with most of the drums, and a horn section of A.J. Pittman and Ward Smith. All of the songs are fun, and there is any easygoing vibe to the proceedings; it must have been a blast during recording sessions at Radionic Studio in Jefferson, Louisiana!

The set kicks off with the title track, and “Sounds Like the Blues to Me” is an upbeat and funky piece of work thanks to Autin’s organ. The band is tight, with a killer backline provided by Belote and Therrien, and Chaz throws down a couple of nice solos when he is not growling out vocals that smack of infidelity. This is followed-up by “Make Love to You in the Sand” a Crescent City-inspired tune with great storytelling that brings the trumpet and sax into play, and you will hear that Pittman did a marvelous job with the horn arrangements.

After this, things slow down with the jazzy “Hitchhiking in the Rain,” in which Jeff howls and bemoans the fate of a lover who gets left behind in the dust. Allyn Robinson picks up the drumsticks on this one, and Autin switches over the piano, laying down some pretty slick barroom improvisation over Therrien’s bass. Then the band goes straight back into the thick of things with a little bit of horn-infused action and spoken word in “I Am the Blues.”

From there, the party carries on with furious abandon. There are a few tunes that should be called out, though. Jeff gives his voice a break on the instrumental “Mt. Vernon Blues,” and his guitar leads have an almost Hawaiian vibe while Therrien hammers on his bass. And there is a lot of humor to be found in the funkfest, “I’m Goin’ After Moby Dick in a Rowboat.” But above it all is the standout track, “You Look So Good to Me,” a jump blues track where the horns are just right and Chaz’s guitar work is sublime.

Before you know it, this hour-long set comes to a close with “You’re Bound to Get Us Both Hung,” a scorching electric blues song which revisits the cheatin’ theme that the album started with. This is one of the more intense tracks on the album with Jeff screaming the vocals and tearing the fretboard off of his six-string with reckless aplomb. There is nothing like ending on a high note!

Sounds like the Blues to Me is an awesome new release from Jeff Chaz, and it hints at how cool his live show must be. There is a reason he has played with heavy hitters like Albert King, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Cab Calloway, after all. Hopefully he will be in Nola next month when I visit, as I will definitely have to make time to track him down!

Washburn Rover Travel Guitar Review

Hiya!

My go-to tiny travel guitar for many years has been a steel-string Martin Backpacker, but I am always on the lookout for something better, as it not ergonomic and it sounds terrible. So, I was interested to try out the Washburn Rover travel guitar, which is of the same ilk. On the surface of things, there are a few advantages for the Rover over the Backpacker, so let’s see how things add up!

For starters, even though the Rover looks a little bit more like a real guitar, it still looks pretty darned goofy. It is probably the smallest travel guitar I have seen, coming in at a few inches shorter than the Backpacker, through it still maintains a fairly normal 23.75-inch scale length. It is made of real wood, with a solid spruce top, mahogany body and neck, and a bound rosewood fingerboard. Overall it is a prettier instrument, with inlays and binding that are absent on the Martin. It has open gear tuners, and no electronics are available.

The one that I tried out had a satin natural finish, though it is available in fairly awful looking black, transparent red, and transparent blue. It had a few minor finish flaws, and the binding was not perfect. The frets were passable, and though the edges of them were rough, they were not sharp to the touch. It came with a pretty good set-up out of the boxwith its extra-light strings, though I did tweak the truss rod a bit to get rid of some buzz. Intonation was good, though with the tone this thing makes, it is almost a moot point. It was made in China, in case that makes a difference to you (the Martin is built in Mexico).

When it came time to play the Rover, there was no more satisfaction than playing a Backpacker, The ergonomics are terrible, and it has to be played with a strap, even when sitting down. The tone is nasally and not terrible pleasant at all. The worst part about using this instrument is that the Waverly look-alike tuners do not hold well, so it would go out of tune within a few minutes.

The best part about this Washburn is that it comes with a really nice semi-hard case that fits well in airline overhead bins. This is a step-up from the Martin’s soft case, which always makes me worry that someone is going to crush it with his or her carry-on bag. Also included in the package is a strap and an instructional DVD, though any beginner that chooses this as their first guitar will probably quit within the first week.

So, the Washburn and the Martin are both uncomfortable to play and sound terrible. The Washburn comes with a better case but will not stay in tune. With an Amazon price of $150 for the Rover and $200 for the Martin, I am going to have to go with the Martin on this one, because putting new tuners on the Washburn will eat up any financial advantage. Plus it is not a Martin…

Mahalo!

coWpilot – coWpilot | Album Review

coWpilot – coWpilot

Self Release

www.facebook.com/coWpilot

9 tracks / 30:44

I review a lot of blues CDs, and it was nice to get something a little different to listen to this time, and coWpilot certainly delivered. Their eponymous debut album is a dose of quirky country (among other things) that is nothing like the formulaic pabulum that Nashville songwriters crank out like there is no tomorrow.

coWpilot has survived a long germination, with three members who have known each other for decades since they first met up on the central California coast. The lives and careers of Tee Fitch, Jack Williams, and Chris Barham took different directions, but fate smiled on them and they all eventually ended up in the Lone Star State. About ten years ago they sort of picked up where they left off, found themselves a drummer (Andy Alsup) and another guitarist (Jimmy Buck), and started playing club and corporate gigs again. Hallmarks of their live shows were their curious mashups (such as “Folsom Prison Wizard”), and the welcome conversion of terrible pop tunes to country (“These Boots Are Made For Walkin’”).

Fast forwarding to today, these folks needed a demo CD that they could use to procure more of these precious gigs, so they hit the studio to lay down some quick and dirty tracks. Things got out of hand, and they put together nine original tunes that Tee had written, and spent more time in the studio than they ever thought possible. Jimmy Buck acted as executive producer, and enlisted Bruce Faulconer to do the studio magic at Dallas’ Cake Mix Recording, where much of the album was cut (the remainder of the guitars and vocals were recorded at Hezoree Sound Studios in Kyle, Texas).

As far as their line-up goes, for this project Tee played the guitar and was in charge of the lead vocals, Jack was bassman, Chris played lead guitar and all manner of stringed instruments, Jimmy played the guitar, and Andy was stuck behind the drum kit. Jack, Chris, and Jimmy also added backing vocals. It should also be mentioned that their friend and ace in the hole, Chuck Ward (Bellamy Brothers, and a whole lot more), took care of the keyboard parts. It is good to have friends in high places!

Their half-hour set kicks off with “Texas Raindrops” with a Johnny Cash intro and bass that is slightly fatter than what you would have heard back in the day. Fitch has a pleasant tenor voice, and the catchy chorus features vocal harmonies that are destined to get stuck in your head. Barham throws down a tidy guitar solo with deft finger work, but he does not go overboard. And that is sort of the theme of this album: it is all about the songs so there are no epic solos or musical breaks for the listener to deal with.

This is followed up by one of the standout tracks from coWpilot, “Go Big Train.” Musically, this song is more complex, with layers of acoustics guitars, banjo and pedal steel. Though it starts out as a mid-tempo country ballad with lovely melodies, the chorus is more aggressive and the transitions pique the listener’s interest. This is a fun contrast to the next track, “White Trash Girls,” an up-tempo rhythm and blues love story (sort of) with tasty keyboards provided by Mr. Ward.

“She’s Changed Her Mind Again” features piano from Chuck, and comes off as more of a plaintive modern country tune. This track highlights the backline of Williams and Alsup, who are perfectly in sync yet still squeeze a few tasty fills in here and there. The group also steps into pop-rock on “Happy Going Nowhere,” with vocal harmonies galore and more guitar layers than you can shake a stick at. This is track is also a standout thanks to Fitch’s crooning and his lyrics that are easy to relate to.

Before things end, coWpilot flirts with easy-going California country on “The Opposite of Here,” and country rock with “About Elektra,” which has a gloriously distorted guitar break. Then, before you know it, the set draws to a close with “Until Then,” an example of roadhouse country at its finest, complete with honky-tonk piano and pedal steel.

By the way, there is also a hidden track, but you are not going to hear about it from me. You will have to go find it for yourself…

coWpilot’s debut album is a strong effort, with well-written songs that are professionally played and recorded with care. This kind of Americana music has good legs, and hopefully the guys will make it back into the studio to record their sophomore effort soon. coWpilot will be released on May 7, 2015 and will be available for purchase through the usual digital outlets (iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, CD baby, Amazon, Shazam, etc.), and surely it will be possible to pick up a physical copy at one of their upcoming shows. According to the band, “an extensive tour of Texas is in the works,” so follow them on Facebook to keep up to date on their activities!