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My Guitars - Present
  Fender Japan 1972 Reissue
Purchased in 1988, Tokyo
1 volume 2 tone, 5 way switch, Dimarzio HS-3 on front and rear
I broke the neck of this guitar after twisting the guitar like Yngwie Malmsteen in the living room of my parents place in Manila, not knowing that you should have those Dimarzio lock straps... It also damaged the beautiful pearl white painted polyester body. I did not have this fix for a long time because I felt so bad. I was based Tokyo then, and I inquired the distributor of Fender guitars in Tokyo (Fender Japan did not have a custom shop nor repair shop then) just to find out that the repair with the genuine FENDER logo would cost more than that of the guitar I smashed! The guitar is in perfect shape now... I scraped the remaining polyester paint and sprayed laquer on it after having the dent fixed. And got a replacement neck from another guitar brand, attached a replacement sticker of Fender (genuine!)... Voila!
This guitar has a bright tone and I use it mostly on songs which requires bright and various tones.
  Fender U.S. 1964
Purchased in 1987, Manila
1 volume 2 tone, 3 way switch, Dimarzio HS-3 on front and rear
I swapped my Yamaha DX27 with a little cash for this baby. I was looking for a genuine Fender vintage Strat during the 80's and this was one of the few I found was genuine with all the proof of a vintage Strat. It tells that it has gone through a lot but I have revived it and sounds very very warm with a very warm tention as well. It's like a short but sexy lady... not beautiful but has all the features of being a BABE! I've replaced 90% of the metal parts to have it in shape to be ready to scream.
I don't use this much on stage but I like using it for its warm tone. Perfect with a loud tube amp.
  Fender Japan ST314
Purchased in 1986, Tokyo
1 volume, 3 way switch, Dimarzio HS-3 on front and rear
This is the oldest electric guitar I own. It's a Fender Japan original medium scale (314mm scale) 22 frets spec. Also known as the MICKEY MOUSE guitar with the trade mark Mickey Mouse sticker on it, this guitar has gone through a lot but never failed me.
This guitar is known to be the main guitar of mine... which is! I usually take it everywhere unless it needs some adjustment and rest.
Fender U.S. Pressision Bass, 1970's
Borrowed in 2000 and returned sometime in 2006.
This beautiful vintage bass guitar was lend to me by a very good friend of mine who's father used to play the (this) bass guitar when he was younger. I had to replace some parts, however, I never got to put strings on it yet, and don't know how it sounds.
  Gibson Les Paul Standard, 1970
Purchased in 1988, Manila
Duncan (don't know the model) in front and Dimarzio Super Distortion on rear on the picture.
I was very lucky to get this great guitar. A really good friend of mine who managed a rehearsal studio in Makati, knowing that I was looking for vintage guitars got a hold of this. I have never been a Les Paul fan, but I decided to get this one once I had a look. I used this guitar in various The Dawn recordings for back-up rhythm tracks.
This later became my main guitar after I changed the pickups to EMG-81 in front and EMG-85 in the rear.
  Tokai Les Paul reborn model (1978?)
Purchased in 1992(?), Manila
Probably Duncan pickups in front and rear
I got this guitar from a friend who was about to leave the country. However, I had to let it go for loosing in a mahjong game. It has been hanged on the wall of a cafe bar called BUMCHUMS located beside the Makati Cinema Square in Makati City ever since.
I borrow it occasionally, and I hope to buy it back again someday if the owner would like to let it go. So far, not.
  Fender Mini-Strat
Purchased in 1987, Tokyo
1 volume, 1 tone, 3 way switch
This is not a geniune Fender, but I replaced the sticker with a genuine repair sticker of Fender so what the heck! I've always wanted to use this guitar in a recording but never had a chance. It really has a lot of personality.
  Yamaha FG-335
Purchased in 1983, Nagasaki, Japan
Lace acoustic pickup
I was into Japanese folk/pop music then, and owning a Yamaha accoustic was like a dream for me. My grandfather bought it for me in Nagasaki during my summer vacation.
I had this guitar customized to play like my Strats and use it for gigs now.
Classic Guitar - brand unknown
Purchased in 1979, Makati City, Philippines
My very first guitar bought at PhP150! I still have it kept in a soft case. Lots of memories... tears and laughter.
My Guitars - Past
Fender U.S. Pressision Bass, 1970's
Borrowed in 2000 and returned sometime in 2006.
This beautiful vintage bass guitar was lend to me by a very good friend of mine who's father used to play the (this) bass guitar when he was younger. I had to replace some parts and got to put on the strings... but I never got to plug it into an amp before I had to return it. So I dont't know how it sounded.
Fender Japan 1964 reissue
Purchased in 1987, Tokyo
1 volume 2 tone, 3 way switch, Dimarzio HS-3 on front and rear
I got this guitar from a friend who influenced me to Ritchie Blackmore and Rainbow. He did not continue playing the guitar so I had to get it. It is one of the first models released from Fender Japan which I think was established sometime in 1982. I left this guitar with a trustable friend but later travelled to Germany... and I am not expecting it to come back.
Fender U.S. American Standard
Purchased in 1990, Manila
1 volume, 5 way switch, Dimarzio HS-3 on front and rear
Unfortunately, I sold this guitar to Francis Reyes of The Dawn dirt cheap! It was a really good guitar, but I had to let go of it which I blame the sick Korean lady for it! I made the modifications myself as I did with other guitars but it didn't produce the same raw sound that I've always had or wanted in a Strat. Francis is happy with the guitar and I hope the Strat is happy too. I am seriously considering of buying it back from him in the near future. By the way, Francis didn't like the HS-3's and gave them back to me. He replaced them with Fender Lace Sensor pickups.
Yamaha FG-335
Purchased in 1988, Tokyo, Japan
Yes, I had two of the same Yamaha accoustic models. I got this one from a flat mate dirt cheap. This one was used for the recording of the song "Little Paradise" from the album "Beyond The Bend" of The Dawn in 1989. However, this guitar was destroyed by a sick Korean lady in 1997.
This guitar never got to see the light. Rest in peace.
Gibson 12 string acoustic
Purchased in 1981, Manila, Philippines
A rare Gibson 12 string acoustic... but fake! Obviously made in Pampanga. Although a fake, it had a good tone and the guitar went through several surgery but eventually got destroyed through a fight with a sick Korean lady.
Gibson Folk Guitar
Given to me 1982, Manila, Philippines
This guitar was owned by my senior in the Japanese school, which looked like a jewel to me. I found out later that it was fake, but it taught me the way to play on steel strings. I tried re-painting it but failed 'cause I used a paint which I did not mix well which made the guitar so oily without drying. It remained in the den of my parents' house for a while until it disappeard... which I blamed my Mom then. This was the time I got interested in re-painting and customizing guitars.
Gibson SG
Purchased in 1980
The very first electric guitar I got which was obviously fake... only to find out later. I swaped this guitar to get another guitar... Only if I knew AC/DC then!
Fender Stratocaster
Purchased in 1981
My very first Strat which went through a lot! I only found out that its fake when I got all the parts appart. Until I got to sell it dirt cheap as well, this guitar went through the Eddie Van Halen phase. However, I still believe that this guitar had the best red sunburst of all Strats that I've ever seen.
Strat type electric guitar
Purchased in 1982, Tokyo, Japan
This was my very first decent electric guitar. This guitar was an electric guitar produced by a popular Japanese acoustic guitar maker, which I forgot the company name and brand. It was a pure black guitar with mahogany neck and looked similar to that of a Kramer Barretta. I was into Gary Moore then and therefore, added a mirror pickguard, changed the pickup to Dimarzio Super Distortion. I didn't like the tremolo bridge which was an imitation of FRT-3. This is when I experimented alot on the tremolo bar but eventually, gradually hated the Floyd Rose type tremolo system. Since then, I never got a guitar with a Floyd Rose or a similar tremolo bridge. I sold this to my good American friend, to buy a Fender Strat. I thought of buying it back after years, but was too late, to hear that he traded it in for another guitar in the U.S.
Kawai Rocoon Bass
Purchased in 1987, Tokyo, Japan
This is the bass guitar I used to record my solo album "Incubus". Thin neck, light body with its contour body was just so beautiful but I had to sell it after my recording to make money to purchase some other guitars and equipment. This guitar was last seen with the bassist of the late After Image in 1989.
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For other accessories, I use Dimarzio clip locks for all my Strats. I've been using Schaller Locks for all my other guitars except for the Les Paul's which I use a custom made chain strap with a "O" hook ring to clamp the strap. I prefer Ernie Ball custom gauge .009-.046 strings for my Strats and D'Adario .010-.046 on my Les Paul's but due to the increase in price and lack of stock, I've been trying out the GHS for both guitars lately. I intentionally used Fender thin and medium picks which breaks easily for give-away to fans during and after gigs, but now I use Fender thin for slow songs for it to grab the strings better and Jim Dunlop .88 Tortex (green) picks for the rest. 
