My First Guitar Tabs [Tablature] for Hoobastank - This is Gonna Hurt

Tabs wise, this may not be 100% correct/accurate nor would it be the exact way Dan and/or the band plays it. Unfortunately, there still aren't any tabs for this song yet, at this current point of time, so I took quite a while to learn the song by ear, as well as observing how Dan plays in some concert videos. But I believe this is almost the easiest way I can play it and it does sound about 99% correct.

Anyway, this is my first tab, for also my first guitar cover video as above. So I must humbly apologize for any mistakes along the way. I am also not very familiar with the terms of the techniques used,[such as finger sliding and the vibrato arm dips], therefore I may not have tabbed them correctly. Please feel free to leave your comments/corrections and I will try to improve on them as I go. You may refer to my video in the previous post to view how I really played it physically. Sorry for the long amount of text. Thank you and happy playing!




Artist:  Hoobastank
Song: This is Gonna Hurt
Album:   Fight or Flight
Source:  http://seanceabysstrancer.blogspot.sg/
Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db7GwQ4pn0U
Tabbed: Séance [seia:ns] AbyssTrancer
         Tabbed on the 27th Jan 2013

Tuning: Drop C# [C# G# C# F# A# d#]
Q = 89 - 90 BPM

Gtr 1: Played by Dan Estrin [C# G# C# F# A# d#]
A guitar a vibrato arm is recommended but not mandatory.
EFX: Overdrive / Modern Distortion + Boost
Dan uses the Boss OD-20 Drive Zone twin pedal for the majority of his songs, including this. A typical overdrive will usually be fine. I used a Boss OD-3 type overdrive when on humbuckers and a Mesa Boogie type modern distortion when using single coils [as in my video, link above]. Dan also uses a EXR Micro Amp to boost his signals for lead playing, I think. I use a Ibanez TS7 Tubescreamer instead, but any booster should work fine for this.


Intro
d#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--PM--------------------|--0-3-0-0--X-X---X-X-X---X-X-X--|
G#|--0-3-0-0--PM--------------------|--0-3-0-0--X-X---X-X-X---X-X-X--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--PM--------------------|--0-3-0-0--X-X---X-X-X---X-X-X--|

d#|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
A#|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
F#|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--5*-5*-5*-5*-5*-5/15\0-|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
G#|--0-3-0-0--5*-5*-5*-5*-5*-5/15\0-|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
C#|--0-3-0-0--5*-5*-5*-5*-5*-5/15\0-|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
                          |____|
                      [Finger Slide]

d#|--------------------------------------| 
A#|--------------------------------------| Riff X3 
F#|-----------10-\9-\9-\9-9-\8-\8-\8-\8--| [If you do not have a Vibrato arm,
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-----------X--------------| play 10 X4 times and 9 X5 times]
G#|--0-3-0-0--8--\7-\7-\7-7-\6-\6-\6-\6--|      X               X 
C#|--0-3-0-0-----------------------------|      8               7
    |__X3__|   |___X4____|   
             [Dip Vibrato Arm lightly]

d#|-----------------------------------|
A#|-----------------------------------|
F#|-----------------------------------|
C#|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
G#|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
C#|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|


Verse #1
d#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--PM--------------------|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--PM--------------------|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--PM--------------------|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|

d#|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
A#|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
F#|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-X-X-X-X-3///15\\\\0-|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
G#|--0-3-0-0--X-X-X-X-X-3///15\\\\0-|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-X-X-X-X-3///15\\\\0-|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
                      |_________|
                    [Finger Slide]

d#|--------------------------------------| 
A#|--------------------------------------|
F#|-----------10-\9-\9-\9-9-\8-\8-\8-\8--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-----------X--------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--8--\7-\7-\7-7-\6-\6-\6-\6--|
C#|--0-3-0-0-----------------------------|
               |__X3__|   |___X4____|   
      [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]

d#|-------------------------------------------| 
A#|-------------------------------------------|
F#|-----------10-\9-\9-\9-12-\11-\11-\11-\11--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-----------X-------------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--8--\7-\7-\7-10-\9--\9--\9--\9---|
C#|--0-3-0-0----------------------------------|
               |__X3__|    |_____X4_____|   
                [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]

d#|----------------------------------------------| 
A#|----------------------------------------------|
F#|-----------14-\13-\13-\13-12-\11-\11-\11-\11--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X--------------X-------------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--12-\11-\11-\11-10-\9--\9--\9--\9---|
C#|--0-3-0-0-------------------------------------|
               |___X3___|     |_____X4_____|   
                  [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]

d#|-----------------------------------|
A#|-----------------------------------|
F#|-----------------------------------|
C#|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
G#|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|
C#|--10-10-10-10--10/8--8-8---8-8-8-8-|


Chorus
[Slightly Palm Mute all notes on the lowest string for chunkier riff]

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G#|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|------------------------------3-|
C#|--------------------------------|----------------------------3---|
G#|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-----|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|2-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|----3---------------------------|--------------------------------|
G#|--------5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|
C#|--0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|------------------------------3-|
C#|--------------------------------|----------------------------3---|
G#|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-----|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|


Verse #2
d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|2-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|--0-3-0-0--PM-------------------|

d#|---------------------------------|----------------------------------|
A#|---------------------------------|----------------------------------|
F#|---------------------------------|--------------------pb3r2---------|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-X-X-X-X-3///15\\\\3-|----3-pb6r5-------3--------3------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--X-X-X-X-X-3///15\\\\3-|3-5-----------3-5------------3-5--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-X-X-X-X-3///15\\\\3-|----------------------------------|    
                      |_________|  |______________________________|
                   [Finger Silde]  [Kick in boost/t-screamer here]

d#|--------------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------------|
F#|-----------10-\9-\9-\9-9-\8-\8-\8-\8--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-----------X--------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--8--\7-\7-\7-7-\6-\6-\6-\6--|
C#|--0-3-0-0-----------------------------|
               |__X3__|   |___X4____|   
              [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]

d#|-------------------------------------------| 
A#|-------------------------------------------|
F#|-----------10-\9-\9-\9-12-\11-\11-\11-\11--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-----------X-------------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--8--\7-\7-\7-10-\9--\9--\9--\9---|
C#|--0-3-0-0----------------------------------|
               |__X3__|    |_____X4_____|   
                [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]

d#|----------------------------------------------| 
A#|----------------------------------------------|
F#|-----------14-\13-\13-\13-12-\11-\11-\11-12\\3|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X--------------X--------------12\\3|
G#|--0-3-0-0--12-\11-\11-\11-10-\9--\9--\9--12\\3|
C#|--0-3-0-0-------------------------------------|
               |___X3___|     |___X4___|  |___| 
               [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]  [Finger Slide]

d#|----------------------------------|
A#|----------------------------------|
F#|--------------------pb3r2---------|
C#|----3-pb6r5-------3--------3------|
G#|3-5-----------3-5------------3-5--|
C#|----------------------------------|    
   |______________________________|
    [Kick in boost/t-screamer here]


Chorus [yes, the same riff again]
[Slightly Palm Mute all notes on the lowest string for chunkier riff]

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G#|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|------------------------------3-|
C#|--------------------------------|----------------------------3---|
G#|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-----|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|2-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|----3---------------------------|--------------------------------|
G#|--------5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|
C#|--0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|------------------------------3-|
C#|--------------------------------|----------------------------3---|
G#|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----9---5-----5---3p0---3h5-----|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|


Verse #3
d#|--------------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------------|
F#|2----------10-\9-\9-\9-9-\8-\8-\8-\8--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-----------X--------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--8--\7-\7-\7-7-\6-\6-\6-\6--|
C#|--0-3-0-0-----------------------------|
               |__X3__|   |___X4____|   
      [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]

d#|-------------------------------------------| 
A#|-------------------------------------------|
F#|-----------10-\9-\9-\9-12-\11-\11-\11-\11--|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X-----------X-------------------|
G#|--0-3-0-0--8--\7-\7-\7-10-\9--\9--\9--\9---|
C#|--0-3-0-0----------------------------------|
               |__X3__|    |_____X4_____|   
                [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]

d#|----------------------------------------------| 
A#|----------------------------------------------|
F#|-----------14-\13-\13-\13-12-\11-\11-\11-12\\3|
C#|--0-3-0-0--X--------------X--------------12\\3|
G#|--0-3-0-0--12-\11-\11-\11-10-\9--\9--\9--12\\3|
C#|--0-3-0-0-------------------------------------|
               |___X3___|     |___X4___|  |___| 
               [Dip Vibrato Arm slightly]  [Finger Slide]

d#|----------------------------------|
A#|----------------------------------|
F#|----------------------------------|
C#|----------------------------------|
G#|--5p3p0h3p0-----------------------|
C#|-----------h3p0-[let it ring out]-|    


Bridge #1                                                       _
d#|--------------------------------|3---3-3-3---3-6---6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|  |
A#|--------------------------------|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|  |
F#|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|  |
C#|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|5---5-5-5---5-5---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|  |
G#|1---1-1-1---1-1---1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|5---5-5-5---5-5---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|  |
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
  |- X2
d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
F#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
G#|----5---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----5---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|  |
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------| _|

d#|--------------------------------|----6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
A#|--------------------------------|---3-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
F#|3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|--3--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-5---~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
G#|1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|5----~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|7------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|-7-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|------7------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
G#|5--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|------------5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
  _
d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
A#|11~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|--------------------------------|  |
F#|--------------------------------|12*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|  |
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
G#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
  |- X2
d#|-----------------------------------------------------------------|  |
A#|-----------------------------------------------------------------|  |
F#|-----------------------------------------------------------------|  |
C#|12*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|  |
G#|-----------------------------------------------------------------|  |
C#|-----------------------------------------------------------------| _|
   |_______________________________________________________________|
    [*on the second time, Vibrato Arm action or Dive Bomb optional]


Bridge #2
d#|--------------------------------|3---3-3-3---3-6---6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|
A#|--------------------------------|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
F#|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
C#|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|5---5-5-5---5-5---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
G#|1---1-1-1---1-1---1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|5---5-5-5---5-5---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G#|----5---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----5---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|


d#|--------------------------------|3---3-3-3---3-6---6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|
A#|--------------------------------|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
F#|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
C#|3---3-3-3---3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|5---5-5-5---5-5---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
G#|1---1-1-1---1-1---1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|5---5-5-5---5-5---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
F#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C#|--------------------------------|----------2h3---3h5---5h7-7pb8r7|
G#|----5---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----3h5-------------------------|
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0-----0-----0-----0-----------|
  _
d#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
A#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
F#|--------------------pb3r2--------|----------------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|  |
C#|----3-pb6r5-------3--------3-----|7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-----------------|  |
G#|3-5-----------3-5------------3-5-|--------------------------------|  |
C#|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|  |
   |_________________________________________________________________|  |
     [Kick in boost/t-screamer here]                                 |- X2
  |
d#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|   |
A#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|   |
F#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|   |
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|   |
G#|----5---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|----5---5-----5---3p0---3h5-5-5-|   |
C#|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------|0-0---0---0-0--------h3---------| __|


Outro
d#|--------------------------------|----6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
A#|--------------------------------|---3-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
F#|3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|--3--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-5---~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
G#|1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|5----~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

d#|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|-7-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
G#|5--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C#|-----------------------------------------------------------------|


And you're done!


Song Flow
-------------
Intro
Verse #1
Chorus
Verse #2
Chorus
Verse #3
Bridge #1
Bridge #2
Outro


Tablature Legend
----------------
 h  - hammer-on
 p - pull-off
 b - bend
 pb - pre-bend
 r - bend release
 /\ - slide into and/or out
 * - natural harmonic
 ph - pinch/ artificial harmonic
 ~ - vibrato
 PM - palm muting
\n/ - Vibrato arm dip; n = amount to dip
 x - on rhythm slash represents muted slash

Hoobastank - This is Gonna Hurt [Guitar Cover]

Hey there! I have recently did a cover of this new song from Hoobastank's newest album in 2012, Fight or Flight. Unfortunately, there still aren't any tabs for this song yet at that moment, so I took quite a while to learn the song by ear. Meanwhile, I have completed preparing the guitar tabs too and I will post them in the separate post after this. Anyway, this song is played in Drop C# tuning [C# G# C# F# A# d#], just like Drop D but half a step down.

By the way, this is my first video and I must humbly apologize that I had a few bloopers along the way and quite a bad tempo issue, but I will practice more and be less nervous. Comments welcome, but vulgarities, swear and other inappropriate words are not encouraged. Thanks anyway and enjoy!

Guitar: Squier Black & Chrome Stratocaster®
Guitar Hardware: Boss ME-25
Audio Software: NCH WavePad Sound Editor
Video Software: NCH VideoPad Video Editor
Video Camera: Camera Phone [Samsung Galaxy S2]
Music: Hoobastank - This is Gonna Hurt [All rights remains to Hoobastank and Open E Entertainment (EMI). No copyright infringement intended]

New Weapon: Squier Black & Chrome Stratocaster

Originally posted: 23 Oct 2010
Discrepancy due to failure to export/import blog

The Squier Black & Chrome Stratocaster! My latest weapon to join my arsenal. Actually, its been last Saturday when I got this, but was soooo busy I haven't got time to post anything. Tied up with work, then the haze came and I fell sick for 2 days, terrible migraine plus nasusea. I know I should have taken photos after removing the plastic protection on the chrome pickguard, but I was too lazy.

It took me a few solid hours to do a full setup to my preference. Adjusting the Tremolo spring tension to match the spring tension to prevent detuning took me the longest. The neck curavture was totally fine, so I left the truss rod alone. The most important thing was to adjust the string height and pickup height, lastly, intonating the guitar, it's now ready to rock!

I didn't change the strings this time as its totally brand new, and just shipped to Singapore from the manufacturer, or so  I would believe. The strings weren't rusty and they felt good, easy to slide around, so I retained them. After they eventually break, only will I swap them for my favourite Dunlop Kerry King Signature gauge 10-52 strings.

Specifications, if anyone is really interested to know:

Body: Agathis 
Neck: Maple, C-Shape, (Polyurethane Finish) 
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241 mm) 
No. of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo 
Pickups: 3 Alnico Magnet Single-Coil Pickups 
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup) 
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: 
- Position 1. Bridge Pickup 
- Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup 
- Position 3. Middle Pickup 
- Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup 
- Position 5. Neck Pickup 
Bridge: Synchronous Twin-Pivot Tremolo 
Machine Heads: Standard Die-Cast Tuners 
Hardware: Chrome 
Pickguard: 1-Ply Mirror 
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm) 
Width at Nut: 1.650” (42 mm) 
Unique Features: Large ‘60s Style Matching Painted Headstock, Chrome Pickguard, Knurled Chrome Control Knobs, Black Plastic Pickup Covers and Switch Tip, Engraved Neckplate, Dot Position Inlays 
Strings: Fender Super 250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-0250-003

More photos together with my miniature red Stratocaster.

Not forgetting my beloved BC Rich Warlock, with those thick beefy Humbucking pickups.

Lastly, my latest gears in all.

When I purchase more guitar stands, I'll take a full family potrait.

My Dream Custom Stratocaster

Originally posted: 22 Aug 2010
Discrepancy due to failure to export/import blog

The guitar as pictured above is not real and does not exist. I just created it using some basic photo editing tools because they always do not have a guitar according to my personal preference; Reverse black headstock with scale length of 25.5" and 24 frets. And yes, that chrome pickguard! However, its all just imaginary. If only I could have the money to custom make one myself.

I all started when I went to Swee Lee at Bras Basah yesterday, in hope of finding a nice guitar but I was totally disappointed. Not that Swee Lee is lousy, but rather, they didn't have what I really wanted. It is inevitably true that some of Swee Lee's display items are really old. I bet they have been there for years, as the strings and hardware are starting to rust due to negligence. Boo... ... Yeah, I'm indeed quite picky when it comes to my choice of guitars; the shape, the headstock,  the color, and much more but I don't need something high end with even more high end prices. Pricey guitars are only for showoffs and rich kids; It may be a dream sometimes but given enough practice & skill, any regular guitar under a few hundred dollars can still perform decently and any guitar under $1000 can outshine the competition.

As I already own a BC Rich Warlock, which comes with humbucking pick-ups, I really wanted to also own and try the single coil pickups. Tonally, single coil pickups often tend to be lower in output, brighter, and more open sounding than humbuckers. They also have a kind of twang which is quite suitable for blues and country music, but not for heavier rock. The single coil pickup is most commonly associated with traditional Fender Stratocaster designs. However, I do remember that Fender used to have a very special but discontinued range for heavier playing styles and reverse headstock. Anyway, below is an image of an original Fender Classic 50's Stratocaster.

In contrast, Humbuckers tend to be higher in output and have a much darker, thicker and distorted sounds ('higher gain') than single coils. Think of most other guitars like the Gibson Les Paul Standard as below.

But it isn't a hard and fast rule, because many rock players use single coils, and some blues players use humbuckers. It really comes down to personal preference.

Well anyway, I just wanted to try 3 single coils as some of the songs I play actually aren't that metal or heavy then most people think, so I wanted to get a stratocaster. However, Swee Lee's selections of Strat's are limited and old. Actually, the main prerequisite of my criteria is to have a have a black headstock; or rather anything other then natural light maple color. But If I had to choose a color it usually is black. I guess I shall order one from Swee Lee to bring in a Squier Standard Standard Black & Chrome edition. It only has 22 frets and the headstock is regular but at least its black, simlar to the one that Tom Morello from Audioslave plays. But its going to take 3 or even 4 months, but I guess it'll be the perfect Christmas gift for myself then. It'll be a long wait till then...

New Tab for Music and Guitar

After some consideration, I have decided to create this new blog, which is specially for sharing my love of music and my insane passion for guitars [and maybe other instruments in the future too!] Something like a new blog, on an old blog. Technically, it is a different blog, but I linked it together with my old blog and made it look the same [as I lack ideas and I am STILL bad at HTML, CSS codes, XML and all these stuff. I will be moving some of the older music/guitar related posts here, as well as uploading my first guitar video and guitar tabs there. Please do check back here often and continue to show your support and encouragement! Many thanks!