Namz Crypt

MM-048: We’ve Got Tonight ~ Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton

Namz — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:08:15 +0000

I’m a little bit under the weather now. It’s clearing up though, hence a slow ballad from the 80′s for MM this week. Have a great week and Happy MM guys!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

MM-047: Amenonakano Futari – Mayumi Itsuwa

Namz — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:09:25 +0000

Today is the second year that my dearest mother passed on. I am featuring one of her favorite songs for MM this week. My mother spoke some Japanese and this was one of the songs that she used to sing to.

My Dad’s daily ritual, he starts his day by visiting her..

Al-Fatihah. Infinite happiness, peace and all the blessings of of the universe are my perpetual prayers for you Mama. The same thoughts goes out to everyone who reads this Have a great week and Happy MM guys!

MM-046: Missing You ~ John Waite

Namz — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:05:48 +0000

Here’s one of the evergreens that sounds fresh every time I hear it. John Waite is a really talented artist. Some say it’s the best “revenge” song. I don’t see why, I would say the dude is head over heels over some girl, period.

Anyway check out the awesome line up of musicians. Recognize anybody? Performed with Ringo Starr and his All Star Band. Good to see Sheila E. still on drums. Sing it guys! Have a good one and happy MM all

One Man’s Junk, Another Man’s Treasure

Namz — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:54:44 +0000

I rarely watch tv. And when I do it’s mostly the learning channel. You know Natgeo, History etc. There’s this show on History called “American Pickers” about this two guys that goes around buying almost everything and anything usually used or discarded items that they could re-sell for a profit.

It’s actually an ancient occupation that is still thriving strong and History Chanel has brought it out to the limelight. Down here we call them “The Karong Guni Man”. “Karong Guni” literally means the traditional “gunny sack” that they used to carry around to store whatever picks they had, hence the name. They may not be as organized but the job scope is more less the same.

What gets my attention about the show is not really about the job that they do but the people that they meet. Okay, they do find interesting stuffs but it just boggles the mind at the stuff some people collect. It’s even more mind boggling to see the humongous property that they store their “stuffs” in, be it in a BIG peace of open land or a BIG store house of some sort.

I just can’t help it but to wonder… gee these guys must be rich to afford such big places for storage. I can understand a hobby or a passion for collecting certain stuffs whatever it may be but collecting almost anything and everything? What on earth is one to do with all those anything and everything? I can understand if it is somehow related to one’s job professionally. But to just collect because…just because who knows? Anyway, in the show one of the collectors that they met did actually say that he wished if possible to have a really BIG casket so that he may take everything away with him when he passes on.

Okay, isn’t that an irony as we all know that is impossible. Maybe it’s because we measure success by the amount of stuffs that we aquire. And somehow we easily forget about our own mortality. I don’t know, I just don’t roll that way. Anyway, the show does remind me of a friend who collects old stuffs that he uses mostly as home deco and props for his work. He is a photographer so it goes with the job. And today I saw quite a cool looking old metal chest full of garbage that someone threw away. I immediately thought of that friend as if I’m not mistaken I saw one at his home lol! I sent him a text message with the picture below and told him of how it reminded me of him. He has yet to reply my text to him. Maybe he’s pissed off lol!

Really la bro, reminded me of you…

MM-045: Something In Your Mouth ~ Nikelback

Namz — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:02:34 +0000

Everyone knows that exercising is good for us. And a study recently showed that some women reach orgasm during exercise! Now isn’t that lovely Orgasm or not, I’m sure many of us listen to something while we work out. Listening to music while working out is not something new. Many of us would have our own personal song playlist that may suit our work out routine.

Here’s a song that I feel compliments a good intense work out. A great song but no official video, so this will do rather than a stagnant image :p. Try it, three minutes and forty seconds later, you’re done for the day! Happy MM guys!

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Hamer EchoTone XT Series 2011

Namz — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:40:56 +0000

I am posting this as a reply to Ralph who posted a question in my previous post. Well Ralph bro, as the title of this post suggest it is a Hamer Echotone XT Series 2011. This guitar belongs to a friend who bought it recently and has trusted me for safe keeping as he is in the midst of moving. I’ll be the caretaker of this beauty until he settles down in his new place. So in the meantime, here she is.

Like all short scale guitars (24 3/4), this one plays nicely. Specification and details are over at Hamerguitars.com. Personally, I don’t own any hollow bodies nor a short scale guitar. All my electric guitars are solid bodies and standard 25 scale. I would love to have one. I just love the comfortable smaller stretches when playing it but find the cons are a little annoying. Les Paul sounds great but are just too damn heavy and not to mention cost a BOMB! Jazz styled guitar like this Echotone although has a big hollow body, it isn’t as heavy as LP’s. It sounds nice and warm but not muddy. However the cons are I find my arms tire easily because of the angle that your arms rest on that big wide body. It’s seriously like J Lo’s ass man.

Actually I have always long for a custom LP shaped guitar but they were just too expensive to own one. And I didn’t really like the cheaper copies that I have tried. Well that was before, today there are many LP copies that are sweet and not so outrageously priced. They are more affordable these days. Currently, I have my eyes on this one bro..who knows maybe it too will join the stable soon.

My Guitar Cabinet

Namz — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:34:14 +0000

If you haven’t figured out by now, I am a guitar junkie! And as a guitar junkie I have always wanted a place to just chuck in my guitars and all the stuffs that goes with it. I just have a few more guitars than I have guitar stands. Often when people see my guitars they would suggest that I get those multiple guitar stands.

Those are good. I have single stands but not those that can hold multiple guitars. I can almost hear the repeating suggestive voices ~ “get the freakin MULTIPLE STAND ALREADY!” lol! It’s not that I don’t want to, I sincerely don’t have the heart to have all of my guitars displayed openly. Leaving my guitars out in the open is really not a good habit when there are cats around doing what they do, plus that thing does take up quite a bit of space.

Guitars (actually a lot other stuffs too bags, shoes etc..) when left unattended for a period of time may easily turn into a scratching post and not to mention getting fur in every nook and cranny of the instrument!. It is a blessing if nothing breaks. But what can I say, I love all my cats too . I usually have two guitars out and placed on their individual stand. One electric and the other an acoustic. Behind closed doors of course.

And anyway, it’s just not practical and sometimes can be decremental to store guitars in their hard case for long periods of time. They need to breathe too especially in high humidity places like Malaysia. In extreme cases, humidity can do irreparable damage to the wood, electronics and the rest of the hardware. Rust and certain microscopic life-form will claim your guitar as a habitat. Yes some things can grow without the light.

So when the Mrs. did some spring cleaning a few weeks back, she found out that she could do with a smaller cabinet for herself. And due to the many moves that we had, the cabinet that she has been using wasn’t really in a good shape. It wasn’t stable structurally and it was falling apart. But it wasn’t all that bad, a few screws here and there and some lovin’ time with the handyman side, it should be as good as new, it can yet be salvaged, I told myself followed with a .

All these while, she was using the cabinet to keep her long drapery dresses thingy and it just happened to be the perfect size to convert into a guitar cabinet. After getting a new cabinet for her and a few hours of tool time…Finally I have my very own guitar cabinet! I also have space to store all the little titbits that goes with the passion. A lot less dust and fur on my guitars and surprisingly so far it looks like the strings last longer too. As they say at McDonald’s: I’m Lovin It!

Just an ordinary cabinet converted into a Guitar Cabinet!

Finally a proper place for my babies..

All these years, I kept them in boxes..

The Most Expensive Ibanez Jem

Namz — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Ibanez is no stranger when it comes to musical instruments. They have been in the business since 1935. Like many other fine musical instruments company, their products range from affordable to outrageously expensive.

Nevertheless, they manage to have a stable of virtuoso guitarist that endorse their products. Among the big names are Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and countless others. A good product does that!

I too am a fan. I have two of them myself. They are very comfortable to play straight out of the factory. No major fine-tuning whatsoever needed. Of course the signature series cost a bomb. One particular model that has stood the test of time is the “Jem Series” which is a Steve Vai signature model. It came out in 1987 and is still selling like hot cakes today. I have yet to own one

The original design that has stood the test of time..

Different models of the JEM series

Although most of these signature series comes with a hefty price tag, a company have managed to make it much more expensive than it already is. It is basically a standard Jem but adorned with 2.30 carats pink sapphires set in sterling silver and 44 full-cut 0.50 carats gem diamonds. Now that’s A LOT of blings!!! Anyone feel like pimpin’ their axes out there ?

While it is clearly nothing but pure eye candy, this aesthetic beauty will cost USD$24,000.00! If you happen to be an ostentatious guitarist than this may be worth considering Well me, I’m no “blinger” and I see no purpose nor connection between one and the other. One may look good playing it but it sure ain’t gonna make you Steve Vai! To each it’s own .

Anyway, gracing Music Monday this week will be Steve Vai performing one of his epic hits ~ “For The Love Of God” live on his JEM without any blings on it. Listen to Steve making his guitar sing. Enjoy, have a great week and happy MM all

MM-044: Happy Birthday Baby ~ Ryan Hil

Namz — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:24:38 +0000

This weeks Music Monday goes out to our lovely Music Monday Host LadyJava and Lily Arbee. Both of them are celebrating their birthday this week. The song I chose is from an American singer who does Elvis impersonation ~ Ryan Hill. So you ladies have a great one now Happy Birthday Mommaz!

MM-043: Stand By Me ~ Playing for change

Namz — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:43:45 +0000

Hi peeps! Here’s a beautiful rendition of the classic evergreen performed by street performers around the world in an effort to create awareness on global and humanity issues called “Playing For Change“. If music can bring people together, it really shows that we can co-exist.

Image from http://www.foundshit.com/love-shadow-shapes/

Happy MM everyone