Xbox Series X Review

My first Xbox console was the Xbox 360. I was hesitant to buy it because of the problems associated with the previous Xbox consoles. But over time it has proven to be reliable. More reliable than the Xbox One console that I bought years later. The hard drive malfunctioned and I couldn't reliably play, load, or save my games. But, I eventually replaced the hard drive and the console is working again. Before the hard drive failure, I was able to play games on the Xbox One for years without a problem. I could have played the Xbox One a little longer but I decided that it was a good time to upgrade. I upgraded to the Xbox Series X a year after making the repair on my Xbox One. I wanted to be able to play Grand Theft Auto 6 and the other games that I was starting to hear about. I chose this version because of the optical drive and storage capacity. I also chose this version because I prefer owning physical copies of games and being able to play games on discs from previous consoles.

Inside the box

With the Xbox Series X, you will get a high-speed HDMI cable, one controller, a manual, and built-in WIFI.

My experience

I was slightly hesitant to buy the Xbox Series X. It was the most I had ever paid for a console. The Xbox 360 and the Xbox One were more affordable in comparison. Hearing about Grand Theft Auto 6 and other modern games motivated me to buy it despite the high price.

I have owned this console since October of 2022 and I am glad I made the purchase. I haven't had any problems and I feel like my games are loading faster. I am able to play games from my Xbox 360 and Xbox One. I haven't bought any of the modern games yet.

I have connected an external hard drive from my Xbox One to my Xbox Series X. I have transferred all of my digital games to the internal hard drive of this new console. I left the remaining disc-based games on the external hard drive. I am able to save space with this technique.

As mentioned, the console comes with built-in WiFi. But, I am currently using the Ethernet connection. I haven't had any problems in this area.

The game controller won't feel unfamiliar if you have played previous consoles. But, it looks slightly more advanced than previous controllers. It comes with two AA batteries but I switched to rechargeable batteries when they wore out.

Like the Xbox One, it has the capability to access the Xbox-themed Microsoft store. With this new console, I have only explored the store. But with the Xbox One, I have downloaded add-ons, bought digital copies of games, viewed video demos of games, viewed recommended games, loaded gift card codes, downloaded apps, and looked at the list of games that I could download for free. Beyond what I have mentioned, there are other things that can be done in the store. It's worth exploring.

Also like the Xbox One, this console can be set to download games and apps when the console is off. Sometimes it's not possible to sit and wait for games to completely download. It's an easier way to download/transfer games or apps because I don't have to sit and monitor the progress. I can turn the console off and know that whatever I am downloading will be ready the next day. It's a helpful feature when there are multiple downloads and bigger games. I only turn it on when it is needed. I prefer to have my console completely off. With this feature, the console is never fully turned off. I think that having this feature on all the time could have possibly been the cause of my hard drive failure on the Xbox One. One of the bad weather events that I experienced(power surge, etc) may have caused the failure. With this feature turned on the Xbox One would also overheat.  I don't want to take any chances with my Xbox Series X.

Compatible Games

Another thing that made me decide to buy this console was its ability to play games from previous consoles. I was able to transfer and play the majority of the games that I own. I have installed and currently play Forza 6, Pipe by BMX Streets, Fight Night Champion, Street Fighter IV, Walking Dead Season 1, Walking Dead Season 2, Walking Dead A New Frontier, Walking Dead Final Season, Red Dead Redemption 1, Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto V, Madden 17, UFC 3, Mass Effect 2, Monster Energy Supercross, MXGP Pro, MX vs ATV All Out, and WWE 2K16. The only one I wasn't able to transfer was the original State of Decay which was created in 2013. They have since made others but I would have liked to have been able to play this version on the  Xbox Series X.

Storage Options

The Xbox Series X has 1TB of storage space. It's decent but I feel like it should have been more. External hard drives like the one I mentioned earlier can only handle games from previous consoles. Modern games can only be played from the internal hard drive. The older-style external hard drives can't keep up with the pace of modern games.

My external hard drive from my old console

If you don't have an external hard drive from a previous console or if you feel that buying one won't work for your situation, there is another option. The second option is to use an expansion card. Currently, the only brand available is the Seagate expansion card. They come in 512GB($126.66), 1TB($189.00), and 2TB($359.99) formats. With one of these, you should have plenty of storage space to play modern games. It's also an easy install that doesn't require opening the case. The price and the fact that only one card can be used at a time are the only downsides. I haven't heard of any lower-priced options being developed. 

Currently, I am satisfied with the amount of storage space I have. I have a total of 19 games and 14 apps. I have 963.3GB free. Once I start buying more modern games I will consider buying an expansion card. I might do it because I will probably not want to delete any of my older games. I will consider either the 512GB or the 1TB expansion card.

Features:

• 4K gaming at up to 120FPS
• Up to 8K high dynamic range   

                 

                       

• Xbox velocity architecture
  
• 1TB Solid State hard drive
• Variable refresh rate
• 4K Blu-ray player
• Play games across four generations of Xbox
• 3 USB-A ports
• 1 HDMI out port
• 1 SSD card expansion slot
• Ethernet port
• Power socket
• Vertical or horizontal Storage
• 11 7/8 height, 5 7/8 width, and 5 7/8 depth

Overall

The Xbox Series X is a good choice. I think that it's better than the Xbox Series S. It has an optical drive and more storage space. It's a game console for those who have enjoyed previous consoles, those that are still enjoying older games, and those who want to play the latest games.

Photos:

Big Bends String Sleeves Review

Since I decided to use the tremolo on my Jackson JS22 I have encountered two problems. The first was that my tremolo was difficult to press down. The second was that my strings were starting to break at the bridge. For the first problem, I purchased Raw Vintage tremolo springs. These springs(even with all five installed) have made my tremolo much easier to press down. But, for the second problem, I still needed a solution. I thought about changing the bridge but I quickly realized that that probably wouldn't solve the problem. So I searched for solutions online. I soon discovered Big Bends String Sleeves.

What are Big Bends String Sleeves?

Big Bends string sleeves are flexible string protectors that are installed at the end of your guitar strings. They have a similar look to the insulation often found on small electrical wires inside electronics. They can be trimmed to fit your bridge and or designed to prevent your strings from breaking at the bridge. They are also designed to fit any string gauge.

What is included in the package?

Included in the package are 7 black string sleeves and installation instructions.

My experience with Big Bends String Sleeves

Installation was easy but slightly tedious. This was due to the fact that I had to have just the right length. I didn't want to risk the possibility of muted strings.

Once I got past the installation I was eager to see how long my strings would last. So I begin to use the tremolo bar as usual and observed over a period of time. After observing from the day of installation to the present moment I have found myself to be satisfied with the results. I have managed to avoid string breaks for a year and six months. I haven't had string breaks at the bridge are anywhere else. At the time of installation, I installed my usual nine-gauge Dean Markley Nickel Steel strings. Before purchasing these sleeves it would take three to four weeks(six weeks if I got lucky) for strings to start breaking at the bridge. 

After Big Bends String Sleeves have been added

Overall

Based on my experience Big Bends String Sleeves are worth purchasing. They have helped my strings last much longer than I expected. I have been surprised by the results and I will continue to purchase these if needed.

D'Addario Eclipse Head Stock Tuner Review

When I bought my latest multi-effects pedal there were things I liked and things I disliked. One of those dislikes was the built-in tuner. It didn't feel modern and I couldn't tune my guitar as fast as I would have liked. I also didn't feel the sense of accuracy that I felt with the built-in tuner on my previous multi-effects pedal. So, I decided to get a separate tuner. At first, I considered getting a typical standard size tuner. But, I later decided that it might be best to get a headstock tuner.

My first thought was to get a Snark tuner like the ones that I would see in YouTube videos. But, I changed my mind when I discovered that it wasn't constructed well. I found that it is one of the best tuners available with good electronics. But, users have often complained about the durability of these tuners. They have complained about pieces breaking off when these tuners were swiveled or moved too many times.

This is what can happen to a Snark Tuner over time.

Having decided that I would skip the Snark tuner I had a better idea of what I wanted. I wanted something that had the electronics of a Snark tuner with the bonus of having better durability. I also wanted something that had the speed and accuracy of my previous multi-effects pedal the Zoom G1.

After searching for a while I selected a tuner that I believed had these characteristics. I selected the D'Addario/Planet Waves Eclipse headstock tuner.

Characteristics

The D'Addario tuner is two inches long and about one inch wide. It comes with a button style CR2032 battery and has a full-color display. It can be calibrated from 430 to 450Hz. It can be swiveled multiple angles and can be mounted on the front or back of the headstock. It also has a feature designed to save battery life. It will turn off automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity. It comes in black, blue, green, purple, red, and yellow.

My Experience with the D'Addario/Planet Waves Tuner

When I bought this tuner I was concerned that the grip area wouldn't be rubberized enough. In photos, it looked like other brands had better guitar protection in the grip area than this tuner. But, my mind was put at ease once it arrived and I opened the package. After inspecting it I could see that it was rubberized enough and that my guitar wouldn't be damaged. It seems that the rubberized area was designed to blend in with the rest of the tuner.

Once I examined the tuner and installed the battery I was ready to clip it on to my guitar. Most people will usually clip these types of tuners in the front area of the headstock. I decided that I wanted to make mine less visible and I installed it on the back of my headstock. After that, I adjusted it to get just the right angle.

After adjusting the angle I was ready to test out this tuner. Once I pressed the power button I found that visibility was good. The display and the results were easy to see and I could have even tuned my guitar in the dark if I had to. Nothing seemed to affect visibility. I didn't notice any dimness or glare when I tested this under normal household lighting conditions.

Once I started the tuning process I realized I made a wise decision. One of my goals was to get the speed and accuracy that I had with the tuner on my Zoom G1. With this tuner, I was able to accomplish this goal. It functions just as well and is slightly better than the tuner on my Zoom G1. It has similar electronics to the Snark tuner and I feel confident that I have something with more durability. It's also an easy to understand tuner and it can tune very quickly. It didn't come with instructions like my previous tuners but I didn't feel like it was needed.

Durability

After examining it online, I chose this tuner over the Snark tuner because it seemed like it was made better. So far, this seems to be true. After examining it and seeing it in person I felt confident (as I mentioned earlier) that it will be more durable. The moving parts seem stronger and more secure than the moving parts on the Snark tuner.

Overall

This is a tuner for those who are looking for a color display and simplicity. It's accurate and will allow you to tune quickly. So far, I am glad I bought it. I would even buy it again if I needed to. It is a very valuable tool that is worth adding to your arsenal.

The rubberized area won't cause damage

Low E sharp

Low E flat

Low E in tune

In total darkness.

Low Tension Tremolo Springs

After buying a guitar some guitarists will leave the tremolo arm in the box and never use the tremolo system. But, when I bought my latest guitar I decided to do the opposite. I decided to give my tremolo system a try. I also decided that I would evaluate my tremolo system over time and decide if it was worth using.

Currently, I am still evaluating. But, there was something that I noticed when I begin this process. I noticed that when I saw others use their tremolo systems it always looked effortless. Like there was little to no resistance. I saw this with Floyd Rose and vintage style tremolos. During that time I wondered how this was being accomplished. I tried adjusting the screws on the claw. But, I couldn't seem to get the effortless movement that I saw others achieve. Plus I was limited by how far I could loosen the screws on the claw. I didn't want to risk the screws coming out when I used the tremolo.

So, I had the idea that springs with lower tension might be available. When I begin my search I found that there were generic, black, red, and noiseless tremolo springs available. A few of them hinted at having lower tension in their descriptions but there was no way to be sure. So, I continued to research.

After some time I discovered a set of springs that gave a stronger hint that they might have less tension. I discovered Raw Vintage tremolo springs. After this discovery and researching a little more I decided to take a chance.

My Experience With Raw Vintage Tremolo Springs

Within minutes of getting the springs, I begin the process of installing them. So, I got my screwdriver, opened the back panel, and removed the old springs with my pliers. Then I opened the package containing the new springs.

Once the springs were out of the package I begin installing them. When I begin to install the first spring I noticed something. I notice that I was able to install the spring without my pliers. So, I finished installing the rest in the same way. I decided to install all five springs. I wanted to try five first to see how my tremolo would perform and then I would remove one or two if needed.

After all five springs were installed I got a second indicator that these springs had lower tension. With all springs installed I found that my bridge was raised. Not slightly but enough to where I had to tighten the screws on the claw. I only had three springs installed before these and my bridge rested on the body of the guitar with no gap.

With all the new springs in place and the screws on the claw tightened I begin to test out my tremolo. After pushing down on the tremolo arm I noticed a difference right away. But, I felt that I had to adjust the screws on the claw again. So, I loosened them a little. After making the adjustment I felt satisfied. My tremolo arm was even easier to push down and it felt more responsive and flexible. I also found that I was able to get the sounds that I wanted with a smaller range of motion. With the old springs, I had to push down further to get the same effect.

I wasn't able to quite get the effortless movement that saw others achieve. But, this was by choice. To achieve and even lighter feel I have found that I would have had to do more than just remove a spring. I would have also had to adjust the screws on the claw until my bridge was lifted off the body so that it was in what some call the floating position. Doing these things would have required me to adjust my action. Originally, before I knew my action would be effected I was willing to make any adjustments necessary. But, I felt that my action was just right and I didn't want to adjust it again. But, I am still satisfied. My tremolo arm is much easier to push down and it's more responsive.

New Raw Vintage Springs

Is There And Improvement In Sound Too?

Some have said that these springs improved certain elements of their sound but I haven't noticed a change in my guitar. My Jackson JS22 sounds just as good as it did when I had my original springs installed. It hasn't decreased or increased the quality of sound.

Overall

If you are looking for low tension tremolo springs Raw Vintage springs would be a good choice. They were never advertised as having lower tension but it's noticeable almost right away. I have no regrets and I am glad I bought them.

Jackson Dinky JS22 Review

After having the ESP EC10 for a while I decided that it was time to try something new. The first guitar I ever bought was strat style guitar and I wanted to try this style again.

Since I really liked the ESP brand I thought about getting the ESP M10. But, I decided that it was best to look at all my options. I looked at a variety of electric guitars including some with Floyd Rose tremolos. I came close to choosing the ESP M50 with a Floyd Rose tremolo. But I heard negative things about this type of tremolo system. So, I continued to look at a variety of guitars.

After completing my research I decided to get the Jackson Dinky JS22. At the time that I made the purchase, there were four colors available. The JS22 was available in satin black, metallic blue, metallic red, and snow white. I chose the satin black model.

Inside The Box

The Jackson Dinky JS22 includes an owner's manual, three allen wrenches, and a tremolo arm.

My Experience

I ordered the Jackson JS22 from Amazon but it came from Sam Ash. It was packaged well and it didn't have any flaws. It was in perfect condition.

Once it was out of the box I begin to test out my new guitar. First, I played it clean and then distorted using only the amp. I later added my multi-effects pedal and tried out a variety of effects.

After fully testing it out I discovered one thing. I discovered that I was disappointed in the JS22. The volume was weak, the strings didn't sound good, and I was disappointed with the overall sound. At this point the only thing I liked was the feel of the guitar.

But, because of the one characteristic that I liked, I was determined to make the guitar sound better. So, I went with the simplest solution first. I changed the factory strings. I chose Dean Markley nickel steel strings. It's my favorite brand and it's what I have been using with the ESP EC10.

After changing the strings I noticed an improvement. But, I still felt that things could be better. So, I decided to try the second simplest solution. I raised the height of the pickups. This is something that I learned about by reading the manual that I got with my ESP EC10.

Once I raised the height of the pickups I found that the volume was much better. But, I still wasn't 100% satisfied with the sound of the guitar. But, since I didn't know anything else to try I decided to look for more solutions.

After researching for a while I found an extra solution. I found that the screws (pole pieces) on the pickups could be adjusted. So, I raised the screws on the pickups. I decided to raise them to a height identical to the height of the screws on my ESP EC10. I decided to make them identical because I really like the sound of the pickups on the ESP EC10.

After adjusting the screws on the pickups I found that I was satisfied with the overall sound of the JS22. Before making these adjustments I thought that purchasing the Jackson JS22 was a big mistake. I no longer feel this way. It sounds clear when played on the clean setting and I like the way it sounds distorted. While researching for solutions I thought about changing the pickups. But, I no longer have a strong desire to do so.

Currently, I feel that the Jackson JS22 sounds even better than it did after completing the adjustments. But, this may be done to the pickups breaking in.

I raised the screws(pole pieces) as high as possible

Action On The Jackson

The ESP EC10 was my second guitar. Compared to my first guitar the action on the ESP EC10 was a whole lot better. I was able to get the action low without any problems. I was satisfied with the action on the ESP EC10.

With the Jackson JS22 things were different but better. With the JS22 I was surprised that the action was lower than the action on my ESP EC10. I was also surprised that I was able to get it even lower than it was when I first took it out of the box. I like low action and I was glad that I was able to achieve this with the Jackson JS22.

The Strings

Before making my final decision to purchase the JS22 I was hesitant to buy this guitar. The JS22 comes with 9 gauge strings and this was something that I wanted to stay away from. My first guitar had 9 gauge strings and I had to deal with frequent string breaks. After experiencing this I made sure that my next guitar had 10 gauge strings. This was something that I was able to accomplish with the ESP EC10. With the ESP EC10, I was able to go for months without any type of string problem. With my first guitar, I was dealing with string breaks at an annoying pace.

But, with the JS22 I was able to get the same results that I achieved with the ESP EC10. I removed the factory strings (as I mentioned earlier) and installed new strings on September 1, 2016. Since then I haven't had any string breaks. I have also never felt like any of my strings were going to break. It seems that the 9 gauge Dean Markley nickel steel strings or just as strong as their 10 gauge strings. I now feel satisfied and at ease with using 9 gauge strings.

Overall, I could have easily purchased another guitar or just switched to my preferred string gauge once I got this guitar. But, the Jackson JS22 caught my attention and it was easier to just give the 9 gauge strings a try. There are adjustments that have to be made when you switch from one string gauge to another.

The Tremolo

As I mentioned earlier I came close to purchasing a guitar with a Floyd Rose tremolo. But, I didn't like the negative things I read. Negatives things such as complex string changes that will sometimes require adjustments to be made to the whole tremolo system, not being able to change tunings easily, less sustain, all strings going out of tune when one breaks, and more complicated setups. But, despite these negatives, most agree that it's still worth having. Once you get past the setup process these types of tremolos will stay in tune very well. Plus the tremolo bar is capable of being pulled up in addition to being pushed down.

I chose the JS22 to avoid the negatives associated with the Floyd Rose tremolo systems. With the Jackson JS22, I can choose to use the tremolo or remove the arm and have a hardtail bridge. I can also install a more advanced two-point tremolo systems. The Hipshot tremolo and the Stetsbar are just two examples.

At the moment I have decided to use the tremolo system instead of removing the tremolo arm. So far I have loosened the claw to make it easier to press down. But, I rarely use the tremolo on the JS22. I only use it to test out the capabilities of this vintage tremolo system.

When it is used it does go out of tune. It's not always immediately but it does go out of tune. But, there are products that I am considering to help with this problem. One example is a product by Music Nomad called TUNE-IT. This and similar products are said to help keep a guitar in tune when the tremolo bar is being used.

The tremolo system on the Jackson JS22 has three springs. The tremolo arm just pops into place. It can be left loose or tightened. The adjustment screw for the tremolo arm is located slightly below it. The guitar has to be flipped over and the tremolo arm has to be completely pressed down to access it. The smallest allen wrench that is included with the guitar will be needed.

Location of tremolo arm adjustment screw

The Comfort Level Of The Jackson Dinky JS22

I really like the ESP EC10 but this guitar is more comfortable to play while sitting down. I feel that the neck sits at just the right height. It also has a slightly better overall feel and stays in place a little better. But, both are equally as comfortable during the rare times that I play standing up.

Does the Jackson Dinky JS22 stay in tune well?

Without using the tremolo the JS22 is about average when it comes to staying in tune. Sometimes I have to tune every day and sometimes I can go for about two days without tuning.

The Black Satin Finish

In the past, I would have never considered a guitar with a satin or black satin finish. I always looked for guitars with a gloss finish. But, after looking at the Jackson JS22 and other guitars with a black satin finish I changed my mind. I really like the look of this guitar and the others that I saw.

With the ESP EC10, I cleaned my guitar with Dunlop Formula 65 guitar cleaner. It's just one example of the many guitar cleaners for guitars with a gloss finish. With the Jackson JS22, I have to use something different. For the JS22 I have to use the all-purpose guitar detailer from Music Nomad. It's safe for matte and satin finish guitars. Plus, it has the added advantage of being able to be used on gloss finish guitars. I have used it a few times and I am satisfied with it. Overall, I don't have any regrets about purchasing the black satin version of the Jackson JS22.

Sound Samples

Below are sound samples of the Jackson Dinky JS22. I played a few riffs using my amp and multi-effects pedal.

Sound Samples:

Jackson Dinky JS22(Dean Markley Nickle Steel 9 gauge strings, pointless pick .58mm, recorded with Tascam DR-05, Fender Frontman 25R amp, Zoom G1 multi-effects pedal) 1. Clean with spring reverb (Fender Frontman 25R amp only) bridge, bridge and neck, neck. 2. Distortion (Fender Frontman 25R amp only) bridge, bridge, and neck, neck. 3. Extreme Distortion (Fender Frontman 25R amp and Zoom G1 multi-effects pedal) bridge, bridge, and neck, neck.

Features

• Rosewood fingerboard
• Basswood body (arch top)
• 1 piece bolt-on maple neck with graphite reinforcement scarf joint
• White neck binding
• 25.5 scale length
• 12” to 16” compound radius fingerboard
• 24 Jumbo frets
• Plastic string nut ( The Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL nut model PT-6643-00 will fit this guitar)
• 4 Bolt neck plate
• Pearloid sharkfin inlays
• Jackson high output humbucking neck and bridge pickups
• Black master volume and master tone controls
• Black 2 point fulcrum vintage tremolo
• Black Jackson sealed die-cast tuning machines
• Black dome style control knobs
• .009-.042 gauge strings

Overall

In the beginning, I liked the feel of the JS22, but I didn't like the overall sound. Changing the strings, raising the pickups, and adjusting the screws on the pickups made the sound much better. Doing those things made me feel completely satisfied with Jackson Dinky JS22.

Overall, I think that it's a guitar worth getting. It's comfortable to play, has good quality sound, and (like the ESP EC10 and others) parts can be added if you choose.