Innsbruck, Austria

If you first reader, please read my older post. Before leaving Italy, we did rest in hotel before going to Switzerland. We leave Italy in the morning by bus. We took northen road, instead going straight to  the west. We did that, so we can visit  Innsbruck.

After we cross Italy – Austria border, the view was very nice. We can clearly see Innsbruck city from above. The city is surrounded by alps range, it was so beautiful. We was arrived in the morning while town people have not do any activity yet. So I took some shot when the city still sleepy.

What I did there, just looking around at Innsbruck land mark “the golden roof”, bought some souvenirs, going to swarovski, and of course took some photos :p

Country side along the way to Innsbruck

Still in Italy, Toll road with beautiful scenery

Innsbruck, sounded by alp range

Innsbruck, int the morning

Like dead city in the morning

The Golden Roof area

I did bought some souvenir (I asked my sister to take a picture )

The people there quite nice actually

Window and Door

She is my sister

Swarovski Headquarter Store

Swarovski Gallery, My cousin and our travel mate

After spending time there, we go to Luzern Switzerland. We also take a break at Liechtenstein before. It is a small country that we must cross to get to Switzerland.

Liechtenstein @ Dusk

Toll to Luzern, Switzerland.

It was a long trip, but I really love the scenery along the way.

Okay, thats all folks. Next post will be about Switzerland.

Venezia, Classic and Romantic

After spending time in Rome, our next destination is Venice (natives call it Venezia). Our trip was very tiring, we took 6 hours by coach to porto maghera port and continue using ferry to get to the city.

Rome to venice

The traffic was great, but took a lot of time to get there

The Dock @ venice

When we get there, we spent time just sightseeing the city of venice by gondola and walking. I really recommend you to try gondola, It was very nice experience ride such boat. If you miss it, you’ll be sorry .

Gondola

Couple in gondola

In my opinion, the view in venice was very classic and romantic. Actually there are a lot or even endless good photo spot. The most beautiful scenery will be at sunset till night. BUT, we did not spend a lot of time until midnight here (only 2 hours), because we should leave this place soon or our schedule will be ruined. Okay enough talk, this is what I got..

Okay, next post will be innsbruck. Stay tune

Rome at glance

This is the first of a series of posts of my trip to europe. About three years ago, my family go to europe for vacation. It was very tiring vacation, because we goes from Rome to London which is very far. We travel by bus all the way to London. Okay, first day is Rome. Arrived in Rome by airplane in the morning. Because of the limited time, we are only go to famous place only which are  church of St. Peter, the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain. Italy is famous for its food, but because of time constraints I only had time to finally taste the pizza.

I did not experience night at rome, because our hotel was far from rome. But from a glance, I think rome is quite romantic place for doing any photo works there. It is very classy. Our next visit, will be venice. Stay tune.

Rome Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport

Bus

Fruit store

Rome Cityscape 1

St. Pietro

St. Pietro

Fountain

Colosseum

Colosseum Detail

Tourist inside Colosseum

Rome Cityscape 2

Rome Cityscape 3

The Trevi Fountain

Pizza store

Italian Pizza

Fake Statue

Rome Cityscape 4

Rome Cityscape 5

Ten in One Photo Studio

Last month, my friend Panda rent a photo studio in Jakarta for for us to have fun with . I thought it will gonna be a tiring day. But hey, I really have fun there. Its not an ordinary photo studio, It was fun to “play” there. Why? well, I’m quite shocked that this time, its a ten in one studio. Did I said ten? yes.. ehemm no.. I really forgot, hahaha. But it sure has a lot of scene compared to other photo studio I’ve seen before. Basically, It is a house that modified to become a multi scene photo studio.

Some people might asking me “where is that? what is the studio name?” sorry, I am not gonna promoting the studio anyway. BUT, what I really want to share with you is.. A good multi-scene studio will give you hell lot of inspiring idea and also give you very efficient workflow. So.. when you have an important project, I really recommend such photo studio. Such studio always be more expensive to rent, but in the end you’ll not regret it.

Sorry, I’m forgot to take a picture of our activity and all the scenes in the studio. Because I never thought I would start a photography blog before :p.. It was very crowded, because my friend Panda invited quite a lot of people. I was really have fun there, no tiring day at all.

Here, I have some nice pictures to share with you guys:

This scene actually the change room where models can change cloth and do a make up.  But why not I take some picture here hehehe. I dont use any flash at all here, I just using available light.

This scene with white painted wood for the backgruond

This is outdoor scene., sorry it’s not really an outdoor scene, it was a backyard area. At that time, I cannot use any flash for this scene.  Available lights will do good job too.

I think fell like Gothic to me. So it is quite suit for metal band album cover job hehehe.

This is an edge less white room. It sure suit for high key portrait works.

My friends have a lot fun here.

This is all white room too, but the scene was decorated like house not an edgeless scene like before. I think It gonna suit for Korean fashion style boutique photo catalog.

Well, that it is.  I really don’t have enough time to use all the scene there. Finally, I really want to thank to Panda to invited me and all my friends for becoming model for this photoshot.

Thanks for reading.

VOX AC15C1 vintage style guitar amp, Personal Review

Introduction

For more than 50 years VOX AC30 is one of the most famous amplifier ever. Countless guitarist was using this amp for recording and gig including The Beatles, the edge (from U2), Jimmy Page (from led zeppelin), you name it.. AC30 is really famous because their top boost channel. It can produce sweet chimey clean to british crunch. To explain it, just listening to U2 songs. VOX actually make their famous AC30 model based on AC15 that first introduced at 1958 by JMI music. AC30 is a combo tube amplifier output rated is at 30 watt. So basically AC30 is a double powered AC15. More power wattage has more advantages for large auditorium, while lower wattage is great for small auditorium.

Better than before

Okay, enough about historic talk coz you may search about the legendary VOX AC30 article around the web. Recently in 2010, VOX announced their revised model for their AC15 called AC15C1. C means Custom, while 1 means it come with one speaker. The new model replace the old model named AC15CC1 wich means AC15 custom classic with one speakers. From now on, let call the old one cc1 and the new one c1 okay? The new model has a lot advantages compared to the old model.

1. CC1 does not have a tone cut circuit for power section while C1 have. The tone circuit works like tone knob on guitar.Crank it all the way, then it will cut highs a lot. Roll it back, you get more highs. It was a standard feature for AC30 not AC15, and this is very nice feature for C1 model. Many people complain about ice picky high sound from CC1 model, and it was cured in the new model and also with addition tone cut circuit it can be very versatile.
2. CC1 use a modern style power and standby switch, while C1 use a classic style switch. For me, I like vintage style switch more than modern style.

3. The reverb and tremolo also very good feature. Many people complain about CC1 weird reverb, now the C1 reverb totally usable.

4. C1 model also came with two channel. Top boost and normal while CC1 has only one top boost channel. By additional channel in the new model, it can add more versatility to the sound. The both channel are not foot switchable without A/B/Y box. With A/B/Y box, you can foot switch between channel and even combine the channel. Some people really love the channel combination.

5. The new model also come with celestion green back speaker with semi-closed back cabinet, while the CC1 come with custom VOX warfdale speaker with open back cabinet. This is also very welcome future.

Technical spesifications and construction

Amplifier:

Pre amp tube: 2x 12AX7 (top boost chanel), 1x 12AX7 (normal chanel)
Power amp tube: 2x EL84

All the tubes are Chinese made tube. And it replaceable if you want using better tube one day.

Cabinet:
Speaker: Celestion G12M GreenBack, 25watt @ 16 ohm

Well constructed MDF cabinet with gold piping around the body. Speaker grill covered with diamond patern cloth for vintage look.

Overall Construction:
It relatively small, but weigh about 22kg / 45lbs. Cannot be categorized as a light weight amp, but this is way lighter than AC30. This amp is made in china, but I think it IS reliable amp. We’ll gonna see what happen next ten years hehehe.

My thoughts

I played guitar about 10 years, and this is my 3rd amp. Before that I am a marshall fanboy, and I already try marshall amps including solid state, valvestate series, and JCM2000 DSL. Well I gonna say, this amp (AC15) very kick ass. The clean are very clean (and chimey ofcourse) and the overdrive are very smooth and not muddy. Compared to marshall, for me this amp is more verstile. Well sometimes, I really miss marshall crunch tone. I am a big fan of amp dynamic response, and this amp is will give you a very dynamic response. It’s really sensitive with your playing style, volume knob, and tone knob. This amp also really love overdrive pedals. My impression about the tone is: the highs not ear piercing, mid are organic, and low very clear. Master volume does have a huge impact to overall sound quality, but it will a be wise if you turn master volume down to low level when you use it late nite home practice before your neighbor will kill you.  I give 9/10 soundwise.

Oh, last thing I almost forgot to say. This amp does not have fx loop, so my delay and chorus pedal  will sound weird if I cranked the pre-amp volume. That is the only problem I had.

Okay thats my personal review. Hope you enjoy it.