The Luxury Explorer: 1982 Ibanez Destroyer II
1982 Ibanez Destroyer II (Made in Japan)
Crafted in January 1982 at the legendary Terada or FujiGen Gakki facility in Japan, this Destroyer II captures the absolute peak era of Golden Age Japanese luthiery. Highly sought after by collectors and vintage enthusiasts, these early ’80s models deliver classic offset attitude, effortless playability, and high-output tone.
Epiphone IGC Amethyst Sparkle: it had to happen…
Bought a beautiful Amethyst Sparkle Epiphone IGC on impulse. It had to happen: fret issues, a wonky truss rod, and a trip straight back to Thomann. Still rate the IGC series, just not this one.
Fender Lead II: The American Guitar with a Japanese Soul
The Fender Lead II is a 25.5” scale guitar that feels like it’s trying to be something else. It’s nimble, effortlessly playable, and features some of the oddest electronic choices of the CBS era. Here is my take on why this USA Fender feels more like a Japanese classic, and why the pickups caught me completely off guard.
The Honest ES-355: Why an Epiphone Isn’t a Gibson (and Why That’s Okay)
THE NO-NONSENSE HOOK (Recommended) Is a 1,300€ Epiphone actually worth it? Or are you just paying a premium for a "deliberately handicapped" version of a Gibson Custom Shop? I dive into the Epiphone IGC ES-355 to see if it stands on its own merits or if you're better off saving for the real thing. No snobbery, just the truth.
Old vs New J Mascis Jazzmaster: What the Hell Changed?
Two Squier JMJM Jazzmasters — one old, one new. Everyone says the old one’s better. Rosewood this, vintage that. But fuck the hype — I played both, and only one of them made the amp wake the fuck up. Here’s the truth, no fluff.