How to clean and change the strings of you dreadnought acoustic guitar

D'Addario EZ890 super light 9/45 bronze review and demo

It's been three years already after I bought this Fender DG60CE electro-acoustic guitar and I haven't changed a single string yet. So, I thought it's time to do it. I bought a super light set of D'Addario bronze acoustic strings. It's mainly because I'm so use to light strings and low action electric guitar. Let's see if this will do the trick.

I also ordered online tools as well as guitar maintenance kit. Some of you might have read my previous post on cleaning the guitar fretboard using Jim Dunlop 02 deep conditioner and I've used  improvised improvised fret guard protector out of an old ID/debit card. But now, I have the proper fret guard that I bought online. It's cheap but works fine. Also I bought a string cutter/winder, no brand, cheap gear. It came with the fret guard and brush, etc. I also bought a soundhole plug/cover or nowadays called "screeching halt." Unfortunately, it didn't fit well. I tried to force it because it's made of rubber and it did fit in the end but I decided not to use it because the main purpose why I bought it is to lessen the sound of my dreadnought so I can record or use my guitar in the night but it didn't work as I wanted it to be. Plus it's so hard to put in and remove.

Hope you find this review/demo on how to change strings, clean the fretboard as well as review of products i.e. D'Addario EZ890 bronze super light acoustic strings, imitation of D'Addario Planet Waves string cutter/winder, Jim Dunlop 02 deep conditioner rosewood fretboard, No brand soundhole cover/plug "screeching halt," and other maintenance kit tools and cloths (microfibre).

Feel free to write comments, like, share and subscribe. Thank you!

Mosky DTC 4-in-1 plus Zoom G1xOn combined

4-in-1 Analog plus Multi-effects Processor

I have connected my Zoom G1xOn through Loop effects of Mosky Audio DTC 4-in-1 pedal and I was amazed by the result. It was fun using them both. But I think if I compare and do a battle of the two, I would choose Zoom G1xOn as the winner. Right, that's going to be another topic. For now, let me share to you my experiment and experience with these two pedals.

So, I wanted the Mosky DTC 4-in-1 to be my main pedal and then hooked in the loop effects would be my additional functionality i.e. tuner, reverse effects, reverb, etc. So the first thing that I tried was the tuner and it worked. I was really pleased with it. Then, I tried the reverb, so I can have a clean channel with reverb as well as crunch with reverb and again it worked. However, when I did the bypass mode, I thought it won't affect the tone of the pedal but it did. Maybe because of the loop or maybe because it's a multieffects processor and being digital.

Next was the reverse effects, and as expected it worked the way I want it to be. And the last thing that I enjoyed the most was the looper. I don't have to switch back to home and change effects from clean to crunch to lead because my Mosky 4-in-1 does the trick on that one.

Westquay The Festival of Lights Experience

The Festival of Lights at Westquay

One cold Saturday, we went to Westquay to shop some clothes for my little boy who's growing fast and needed some new clothes from socks to trousers, t-shirts. And then some shorts for his swimming lessons and also for the forthcoming Summer. And we're really looking forward to that one. By the way we shopped at Matalan. Then after we finished shopping, we were hungry so we went inside Westquay at the dining floor and couldn't decided where to buy because there were loads of people at the time, so the easiest choice would be McDonald's. Anyways, my little boy loves Happy Meal because of the toys.

After we finished eating, we went down and shop some more. Actually, it was my lovely wife who went for shopping. My boy and I were just by the corner or sitting by the side of the corridor waiting. My wifey went in Steamer Trading Cookshop whilst were were outside by M&S. Such a shame, the chairs outside were jampack because of the phone charging station. Then, wifey and my boy went inside Smiggle. Now, Im all alone waiting outside. Hehehe. Then, they went inside Cath Kidston but my boy got bored and tired so he went outside and stayed with me.

Fastforward..... we bought water in Superdrug and headed to the Festival of Lights. It was rather cold but worth it. Because, it was really amazing from the sound effects to the projector and the water fountain and all the lights. Kids just loved it. Running around, getting wet because of the fountain but there's no stopping them. Even my little boy was wet because of running around in that fountain. Lots of amazing lights. There were queues but we didn't mind. It was all fun. Head back home, while walking back to the train station in Southampton, the moon looks like having a lunar eclipse. We weren't sure and we couldn't get a decent photo but it was looking weird like in a movie. Then, there were train delays that evening. So we were stuck at the station for nearly an hour. We did manage to reach home. And that was our Festival of Lights experience.

Bestway Perdura Air Chair Review

Gamer Inflatable Chair

Features:
Sturdy pre-tested vinyl
Interlocking quick release valve
Comfortable flocked surface
Sturdy i-beam construction
3 air chambers construction
Cup holder
Heavy-duty repair patch included

Contents: One chair repair patch made in China.

Measurements: 1.02 m x 86 cm x 74 cm (40 x 34 x 29 inches)

Does not come with a pump. Good thing I got my old air pump from our old inflatable bed and it works nicely and perfect fit as well. If you have a pump, it's quite easy and quick. There are three chambers to fill. It's very comfortable to sit on and it's quite a decent size. I was planning to put it in my son's room but I think it was a bit bigger than we anticipated. So, it stays in the lounge for now. The repair patch was the one that my son felt and said "there's a hole" on his review. But actually that was the patch itself when you opened the box. I had hard time looking for that repair patch to be honest. And I think I will probably lose it. Because it's small and I don't know where to put it. Unless I will save the box and keep it there. Im thinking this is an indoor chair but the description on eBay says indoor/outdoor. I think it's safe to use this indoors only.

Well Being vibrating neck massager review

Neck Massager Review

Bought this gadget as a post-Valentine's gift for my wife from Red5. It's a very neat and useful piece of gadget especially for people who works in a care setting, who is almost always tired coming home from work. It's handy and easy to use. You can sit in the lounge, watching your favourite program on the telly and use this. Perfect as well during winter time, because it can be use as a neck warmer. Not that it produces heat or something but because it's worn like a scarf.

It does not come with batteries, so you'll be the one to install batteries. Requires two AA batteries. There's a zip on the side. Unzip and pull the battery compartment and slide to open. Just follow the polarity symbols on how to put the batteries properly then close compartment and put it in properly and zip. Now your unit is ready to use.

In my opinion, I don't think this is a massager, it's more like a vibrating neck cushion that makes you relax. There are two settings, one strong and one light massage/vibration. I like it best when Im lying on it or pressing on it. Because I can feel the vibration more. It is a bi difficult to put on at first maybe because the hole and the control end does not fit properly. Probably because it's new, the hole is not stretched yet. Another thing, I think my son played with it and dropped it and the batteries got dislodged so it stopped working but I simply checked the battery compartment and put back the batteries properly and it's back in business again.

How to clean your guitar fretboard

My first attempt in cleaning my fretboard

Materials needed:

Steel wire wool grade 0
Microfibre cloth
Polishing cloth
New set of strings
Oil-based cleaner/conditioner polish
Fret guard or adhesive to protect the fretboard

This was my first attempt on cleaning and polishing my guitar fretboard. It was made possible because of the help of my friend DelPlaysGuitar. He recommended me what to use and gave me tips on how to do it. Also I've look on Google as well as on YouTube on how to go about it. I did get some ideas like the improvised fretguard made from old credit card or old ID.

Overall, the experience was exciting and scary because being new to it, I don't want to damage my guitar or commit errors that may affect my guitar cosmetically or functionality.

Here are some of the brands I used in this video:
1. Dunlop 02 deep conditioner
2. Clayton ProBuff quality guitar polishing cloth
3. Abelli Studio Pro wipe
4. Grade 0 steel wire wool
5. Fender 250 R

A Quick Look at Mosky DTC 4-in-1 Effects Pedal

Mosky DTC 4-in-1 Effects Pedal

Another cheap pedal with very good functionality. Actually, if Im being honest, this is my ideal pedalboard. Just Delay, Overdrive and Distortion. I would be happy to play my guitar with just these three effects. However, this Mosky DTC got a bonus switch which is the Looper where you can add a chain of pedals and loop it around to add colour or flexibility to your pedalboard through Send/Return jack.

Right having said that, here's my opinion on this pedal. First, it came from China when I ordered it and there was a fear of either it will not be delivered or there will be dents and scratches because it will be shipped long distance. And the waiting was another issue, because the time frame that was given was about a month. But it did arrive, working order and in very good condition. On the photo, it looks bigger but when it arrive it was a bit smaller than I expected. So, if you got massive foot, I won't recommend this pedal because the buttons/switches were close to each other.

I had a quick try of the Delay effects and here's the demo/test run video:

Here's the Overdrive demo/test run and some nice settings to it.

Here's the tone test and demo of the Distortion.

And here's how the Loop Effects works and how to setup it up.

Hope this helps and thank you for taking some time watching and reading my blog. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow my blog for more reviews, hacks and tutorials. Cheers!

How to convert your kids guitar from right-handed to left

Convert Right-Handed Classical Guitar To Left

1. Remove the strings. You can save the strings for later if you don't have new set of strings yet. But if you do, just chuck old strings away.

2. Put strings in reverse order. Top string goes to the bottom and the rest will follow.

3. Your low E string which is your 6th string goes to 1st or your high E.

4. Your A string which is your 5th string goes to 2nd string which is your B.

5. Your D string which is your 4th string goes to 3rd string which is your G.

6. Your G string which is your 3rd string swap places with 4th string which is your D.

7. Your B string which is your 2nd string swap places with your 5th string which is your A.

8. And, obviously, your high E string which is your 1st string swap places with your 6th string which is your low E.


NOTE: Because this is the quickest or the simplest way to convert your guitar, there are other stuff that's important to know like the nut and the bridge. In some cases you will have to turn it around as well to accommodate the string thickness. However, most acoustic and classical guitar are fine apart from the electric guitar which is a bit trickier.

Hope this helps.