Randolf Arriola (embryo) Guitar Gear 101

the Mesa Mark iv is really versatile

just managed to dial in a really nice lead and clean tone.

but a change of guitar will change the sound again radically, i guess it shows the intrinsic sound of the guitar.
 
Hey! Thanks to all who came by Tonequest yesterday and also tanx to all the wonderful ppl who helped make the event a lovely possibility. The turnout was great and you guys stayed till the end some more! A mish mash of Music and Guitar lovers the attendess like the performers from age groups of young and old showed up Yup, Great, great fun it was! :)

Apologies for the obvious lack of chairs for those who stood or sat on the floor ya.

Tanx to Mary Ho for joining us and performing her heartfelt performance on her Les Paul Junior through a Fender Amp and sharing her own personal Tonequest journey with all present. A definite inspiration for all young and old.

Tanx to Wendy Phua who despite having just recovered from a bout of Dengue Fever earlier last week played a very awe inspired performance of her originals on the Tobias BASS through her Boss GT6B into the Hartke Amp Head and Spkr Cab.

Tanx also the John of AWEinOne Picks who came by to hand me some new prototypes of his latest ingenous pick designs to try out. Sweet.

Tanx also to Gibson for the great support and selection of the fine fine guitars including the debut appearance of the latest wonder the "SElf Tuning" Les Paul.

Tanx also to the lovely crew comprising members of band "PEEPSHOW" who worked around and behind us throughout the event.

Tanx to Music for Good all the kind sponsors and also to soft.com.sg and all the supporters.

So do write me to inform about your ideas and suggestions for future Tonequest events. Cheers!
:)
 
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Some Pics taken at Tonequest courtesy of James of soft.com

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Some of the great guitars on display for test run by Gibson

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What a warm and receptive crowd! Loads of supporters.

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The coolest Grandma Mary Ho with songs from her upcoming album.

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Grandma Mary Ho's Groupies cheering on
 
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...and some more

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Wendy Phua on her musical journey.

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Wendy magical taps on the Tobias bass.

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Wendy and Randolf discussing the state of Embryo's recordings

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Randolf explaining how wearing a red T shirt with your hair down contributes to Tone .
 
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...and finally yours truly doing what he likes best... shoe gazing :)

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My Rig for Tonequest.

Guitar in pic is a Yamaha Pacifica 912J from '95 with stock pickups Dimarzio PAF Pro and Dimarzio HS2 x 2. The other Guitar used at the later part of the afternoon was the Godin Multiac Steel Duet (Non Midi) with stock LR Baggs pickups. I also used my old Gibson Goldtop circa '69 with stock pickups in the final segment of demonstrating the rich tonal range of a a full tube amp head with a 4x12 speaker cab and also the versatility of the Hughes & Kettner Triamp MkI. Others guitars I brought for the event included my beloved Lindy Fralin equipped Fender Custom Shop'54 Strat and Telecaster.


Pedals as seen on pic standing as I am looking down from right to left);

1. Boss CS3 Compressor Sustainer (Custom Stealth Mod)
2. Crybaby 535Q Wah (Custom Voice n on/off LED Mod)

(Top Row)
3. Z Vex Fuzz Factory (Custom Chaos Mod)
4. Dynacomp (Custom Build + Mod)
5. Radial Hotshot ABY Switcher (Custom Mod)

(2nd Row)
5. Boss TU2
6. Boss SD1 Super Overdrive (Custom Trinity Mod)
7. Boss BD2 Bluesdriver (Custom Ghost Driver Mod)
8. Boss DS1 Distortion (Custom Switchblade Mod)
9. Boss DD2 Digital Delay (Custom Hi Cut Mod)
10. Boss DD6 Digital Delay (Custom Hi Cut Mod)

(3rd Row)
11. Yamaha Magic Stomp (Custom Switch Mod)
12. Boss DD20 Giga Delay (Custom Vol + Tone Mod)

(Left Group)
13. Boss RC50 (Feedback Mod)
14. Custom Control Switcher for RC50
15. Realtime Controller for RC50

Amps:
1. Carvin X100b 100 watt tube amp head (Custom EQ Voice and Gain Mod)
2. Hughes and Kettner Triamp Mk1 100 watt 6 channels tube amp head (Thanks Julian!)
3. Fender Super 60 tube combo amp
4. Carvin X100 4x12 Speaker Cabinet with Celestion V30s

Note: My system configured for the show was rigged to run 3 way (Super 60/ Amp Head to 4x12/???Amp Simulator into PA).

All the pieces of gear were made by their respective original manufacturers. All personalized mods were done and taken in full responsibilty for by yours truly. :)
 
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...and now for Y2K7 in Santa Cruz!

Thanks to all involved and who came by for last sat's wonderful afternoon of Tonequest.

As promised here's the link to the upcoming Y2K7 International Live Looping Festival in Santa Cruz. It's packing time for me and I hope all will be well for my family and myself. Tanks buds!

http://www.y2kloopfest.com/

poster.jpg
 
I'd like to share with one and all here a gracious email which Pat and I received from a Tonequest attendee sharing with us his experience from the event;

"Hi Pat, The Tonequest workshop you hold was really an eye opener for me and my band. We feel that it has really help us alot in terms of musicianship as well as, believe it or not, as a person. You, and Randolf...despite being the giants in our local music scene, am not only respectable musicians, but also down to earth and humble in your own ways. We really respect what you are doing for the local scene, and we are inspired to develope the scene by believing in our music and continue writing songs. As we are a new band, we know it's not easy for bands like us to break through the music scene, moreover being able to have a workshop like Tonequest available to us. We appreciate you giving opportunity for new acts to perform, giving us platform to start out.

Randolf's sharing his life as a musician, on how he started out was very inspirational to us. It's not easy doing music in Singapore, but the stories told by the musicians performed today has kind of give us hope with our own self and our music.

Thank you Patrick and Randolf for the sharing session/workshop. It's been inspirational. We can't wait to perform and share our music with you guys and our friends on the 30th of November.

Thanks again.
The Atria

P.S Sir Randolf, if you need help to store your stuff, or if you don't have enough space to keep your gadgets, I got loads of space at home. =) Anyway...thanks again.It's been a very helpful and inspirational workshop."

Awww! How Sweet. :)
 
Guitar in pic is a Yamaha Pacifica 912J from '95 with stock pickups Dimarzio PAF Pro and Dimarzio HS2 x 2.

You know, I am giving some really basic guitar lessons to my students, and I'm very surprised that one of them has one of the Pacifica 912J. In pink! Looks wonderfully constructed. I am sooo envious.
 
The Yamaha Pacifica 912J and 921 hold their own special places in my personal guitar armskot as these 2 models were my ricebowl instruments in the 90s.

Rich Lasner previously of Ibanez who designed the JEM, RG, Maxxas, the Wizard Neck and many other cutting edge models later switched boats to design for Yamaha the RGX and later the Pacificas. The Pacifica 912 and 921 are equipped with a very well designed and made locking bridge and nut system with compound radius neck by Warmoth Dimarzio PAF Pro Humbuckers and HS2 Stacked Single Coils. The body profile, neck heel joint and overall weight feel has a sleeker feel variation of the traditional Stratocaster. I like very much! :)
 
Yo Ran, I saw a white steinberger there, didnt I? Wanna share more bout it? Is it available locally?
 
Hi Ripper that was the latest model from Steinberger the Synapse Transcale. It's a Baritone Guitar with a built in movable capo.
 
You know, I am giving some really basic guitar lessons to my students, and I'm very surprised that one of them has one of the Pacifica 912J. In pink! Looks wonderfully constructed. I am sooo envious.

Thor, there's also another important difference you should note about the Pacifica 912J. Mine were from the mid 90's and they're equipped with the "Locking Bridge and Nut" system. The later version of Pacifica 912 were chaged to the more traditional strat style bridge and nut.
 
My Goldtop

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This one's a prize possession that plays and sounds like a dream to me. It really came as a surprise for me as I previously tot about 10 yrs ago that I was mostly a Strat player. Having worked on and played some of the finest pieces from Thomas Leong's then growing Vintage guitar and amp collection I developed a much better insight on how these stock instruments were already perfect in their own way. The only changes I've done to this guitar are the removal of the pickup covers and the conversion of the 2 tone knobs to include the push push switches for coil split and out of phase functions to give my Goldie even more tonal range. I had to perform a minor surgery to convert the pups to 5 output wires. So far so good for quite a while now. :) This pic was taken late into the night by me.
 
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