Mike's Guitar Corner

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  • Ibanez ST-200 (made in Japan, 1979)

    Ibanez ST-200 (made in Japan, 1979)

    Michael Jensen playing the Ibanez ST-200 (made in Japan, 1979)
    Ibanez ST-200 (made in Japan, 1979)
    I like second hand guitars

    I like to find second hand guitars, that needs some love end attention. Restoring an old beaten up guitar to its former potential is very satisfying, and a great way to get quality instruments at a bargain price.

    A couple of weeks ago I found an Ibanez guitar from their studio line of guitars and basses that came out in the late 70’s. They were some of the Japanese brand’s first self-designed models.

    Restoring an old Ibanez ST-200

    Prior to that they made a name and a business making high quality copies of guitars from American brands like Fender and Gibson. After Ibanez were sued by the American companies they started making their own design in 1978. Guitars from before that era (1970 to 1977) are commonly known as Lawsuit instruments, and are extremely sought after.

    Restoring Ibanez ST-200 (made in Japan, 1979)
    Ibanez Studio Series (ST)

    Anyway, with the Studio series (ST) that was produced from 1978 to 1982 Ibanez took what they’ve learned copying some of the world’s most fabulous guitars – and put that knowledge into brand new original designs. Here is what they wrote in the original adds back in 1978.

    Ibanez ST-200 (made in Japan, 1979)

    “Simplicity of design and quality of operation. That’s the new Studio series from Ibanez. The Studio is clean, functional. From the scorching output of the V-2 microphones, to the smooth playability of the 24-fret, 25½ “scale neck, the Studio is a bargain. The simple, classic body plus Ibanez durability ensures an instrument that will be an enjoyment for years.”

    Ibanez ST-200 (made in Japan, 1979)

    My “new” 42 years old Ibanez ST-200 really lives up to that bold statement. After being cleaned up, adjusted, intonated and stringed up with new strings. It is a killer guitar with a vintage Gibsonish vibe, but a personality all of its own. Just need a replacement of the volume pot and it is ready for gigging or studio work.

    You are probably gonna see more to this guitar on my blog – and even hear it on the upcoming YouTube channel later on.

    Thanks for dropping by :0)

    Michael

    Ready to rock
  • Great guitar tone – your fingers know

    Great guitar tone – your fingers know

    What is the difference between great guitar tone and a pretty ordinary tone?
    What is the difference between great guitar tone and a pretty ordinary tone?

    What is the difference between great guitar tone and a pretty ordinary tone? Well I don’t have the exact answer, but I’ve noticed one thing. My hands know more than my brain on that matter. See… if I plug a great sounding guitar straight into a good amp (using a decent cable) I just play and lose track of time. Much later I find myself wondering if I spend 2 or 10 minutes in the zone where beautiful landscapes, pictures of naked women and flying cows filled my brain. Well I might have spent an hour, but I really didn’t notice.  And my hands wouldn’t let go of the damn thing (the guitar… giggle head).  

    If one of the things in that signal chain (guitar – cable – amp) sucks, things are different. I might try to convince myself, that I still sound OK. But that’s just my silly brain fooling itself.

    My fingers know the truth

    My fingers know the truth. They start using more time tweaking tone controls on the guitar and the amp, than they do just playing guitar. They might even start reaching out for all kinds of stompboxes. And the funny thing is: It won´t change a thing. If you plug a guitar directly into your amp, and your tone sucks – chances are… either your guitar, the pickups, your guitar cable or your amp is a regular piece of shit.

    If your tone sucks, it won’t improve because you put an Ibanez TS-808 overdrive or a Boss Super Chorus in the chain. That will just give you a shitty tone with overdrive and chorus. It’s the old reliable SISO concept: Shit in – shit out. I’m not saying that you don’t need overdrive and chorus. I do. Hell… I need a bunch of effects. But the starting point should be good basic tone.

    Carvin DC-127 Ferrari Red
    Carvin DC-127 Ferrari Red

    I am aware that good guitar tone is not just one sound. You can make killer sounds with a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul and hundreds of other wonderful guitars and just as many amps. Just different colours of delight.

    When you plug a good sounding guitar into a killer amp using a good cable – it doesn’t really matter how you´ve tweaked the guitar’s or the amp’s tone controls. It will sound good anywhere. If you turn down the treble – you´ll still have a have a fat and gorgeous treble-roll-of sound. There is a variety of great sounds.

    Point is, you don’t need expensive measuring equipment to find out whether your tone sucks. You don’t even have to trouble your brain with that question.

    Your fingers know :0)

    Fender Stratocaster
    Fender Stratocaster
  • Here’s to new beginnings!

    Here’s to new beginnings!

    That's me - Michael Jensen I picked up my first guitar at the age of 7 or 8.
    The start

    I picked up my first guitar at the age of 7 or 8. That first encounter with a six string happened when I found out my mother had a guitar stashed away in a closet. I am confident that it was a pretty lousy instrument, but it started a fire that still burns.

    I got my first real electric guitar when I was about 12… I guess. It was a cheap secondhand Höfner copy of a Fender Stratocaster. The real Strat was lightyears away it seemed.

    The first song

    The first song I learned to play on that red guitar was: Seems It Never Rains in Southern California by Albert Hammond. I am not sure I understood the lyrics completely back then. But I got a feeling that life, contrary to popular belief, also could be complicated in sunny California. Several years later Eagles confirmed that suspicion;0)

    The first band

    A few years later I joined my first band. And I have been a singer/songwriter and guitar slinger ever since. The first years I was in high school bands. Practicing for hours and hours with other kids from the small town I grew up in. During the 80’s and 90’s I was a gigging musician, playing in a cover band. Later on I established a power trio, with a drummer and a bass player. Lately I’ve mostly been working with song writing and studio sessions with my friend Mads, who is a drummer and studio technician.

    Different guitars
    And… now

    The current state of the world considered, there aren’t many live jobs at the moment. That is part of the reason, why I want to start a blog and a probably also a YouTube channel on all things guitar. The format is still work in progress, but for starters I am building a corner of the house into a space for home recording, photo shoots – and probably some film making in near future.

    I plan to blog on subjects like guitar tutorials, famous songs, guitar adjustments and maintenance, guitar effects, playing in a band, thoughts on song writing, studio work and… hell… whatever comes to my mind.

    I have lots of ideas for new blogs, films – and collabs with some of my talented musician friends and bandmates.

    But everything has a beginning, and this is just that: The beginning!

    Thanks for hanging on this far :0)

    Michael

    Michael Jensen playing a Guild Guitar