D&D Custom Guitars: Tones of home

This machine kills fascists. So said the sticker on Woody Guthrie’s guitar. Not sure with the part about offing fascists (maybe if you played a Justin Bieber song on a Flying V guitar to Mussolini 30 times in a row, Il Duce would get the damn rope himself and wrap it around his neck), but I sure as hell know that the guitar can be a really desirable machine. Just ask me: a person on the early stages of G.A.S. (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), an el cheapo sufferer of the dreaded affliction to get just one more electric lead or bass guitar for that slapdash studio at home. One to use as a main instrument (in standard tuning), another as a backup (or tuned in open G or drop D). One with a set of single coil pickups (for funk or jingle-jangle pop), another with humbuckers (for misty-mountain, heartbreaking riffing), maybe a third one with active pickups (for interstellar, overdriven jams). Whammy bar, tremolo arm, digital delay, sunburst, compressor, metal zone, reverb, saddle, tube amp, potentiometer  sometimes the jargon (just like in other machine-centric activities) can be dazing and confusing; the collectibles (the Ibanez Giger, the Jaco fretless), downright expensive. My dream guitar is a Gibson Les Paul in heritage cherry sunburst and my dream bass is a Warwick Thumb bass in a natural finish. If I don’t eat for 12 years I could afford one of them. Now, this zombie can’t really play, it’s just a joy having those beauties around.

But for those who are not suffering from G.A.S.; who just want to get together with friends in one room and A) make music and B) in the process change their worlds or C) bring the noize; who heard a song last night that saved their lives and would want to play it again (a cover perhaps, a fiery tribute just like what Tenacious D did); or who just want to play, period  there is a guitar out in the market that’s inexpensive, brilliant-sounding, creatively-designed and (this is the most remarkable thing for most people) is produced by a Filipino company.

D&D Custom Guitars was started by two young entrepreneurs-slash-musicians, Daren Sy Lim and Daniel Crisologo. Their goal was simple: to provide Pinoys with “world-class guitars at affordable prices.”

Here’s the intro.

“It all started when (guitar designer) Christian Callanta and I met in September of 2009 in a coffee shop in Metrowalk,” recalls Daniel Crisologo. “We talked about everyday stuff, but mainly about guitars. We have the same love and passion for the instrument. I showed him several drawings (of guitar designs) that I’ve kept since college. I drew them before (hoping) that in the future I’ll make (my own) guitars.”

D&D co-owner Daren Lim says, “I don’t think there is another local guitar company that produces guitars (such as ours) — with such high quality and at affordable prices.”

Christian then asked Daniel if he was still interested in building his dream instruments. “Game! Let’s do it!” answered Daniel, who currently plays lead guitar for bands such as DRT, Bea Tantoco & The Sauce, among others. “The following week, (Christian) introduced me to Daren Lim (the other ‘D’) and the rest is history.” 

The company recently introduced its acoustic guitar lines (in either nylon or steel strings) that boast slim body and narrow neck, for maximum playability. Each guitar is a combo of mahogany and spruce, and comes with a rosewood fingerboard. Light to the touch and big in sound. In the works are D&D’s electric guitar and bass series (to be followed by amps, picks, the works).  

Daren, who manages a merchandise distribution company and is also a savvy musician (who is part of an industrial rock band), explains, “We started with acoustic guitars because all guitarists start with the acoustic.”

A digression: How do you expect to play Mars Volta or Muse songs with their lurching arpeggios with those misshapen logs with malfunctioning pickups churned out by Brand X? Which reminds me of my first guitar, which my mother bought from a traveling salesman  not even the termites wanted to go near that wooden horror. Stunted my growth as a guitarist to this very day. If I had a D&D back then with its “deep bass, rich mids and clear, balanced highs,” maybe things would be different. 

Daren says that when he started playing the D&D Acoustic himself, he realized how playable and how well made it is. “I don’t think there is another local guitar company that produces guitars (such as ours)  with such high quality and at affordable prices.”  

The D&D Acoustics have slim necks and thin bodies, and are equipped with specially calibrated piezo pickups. How much? Get ready to part with P4,500 for a guitar. Not bad. Not bad at all. 

 “This line is currently endorsed by Barbie Almalbis,” informs Callanta, who designed both acoustic models (while Crisologo developed the electric ones). Inspired by the sound wafting from the instrument, Barbie was able to write a song the same day she got a D&D guitar. She wrote Unraveling, which will be included in her upcoming album. Kitchie Nadal used a D&D Acoustic when she played on the Umagang Kay Ganda early morning show. Callanta says, “(They) fell in love with the guitars because of their playability and tone  both plugged and unplugged.”

Inspired by the sound wafting from the instrument, Barbie Almalbis was able to write a song the same day she got a D&D guitar.

The feedback, pardon the pun, has been very positive: from Barbie’s band-mates to the chorus of customers of guitar stores in Sta. Mesa. “’Yung mga musicians that I meet akala nila agad mahal ’yung guitars namin,” shares Daren, shaking his head.

Callanta explains, “Kasi kahit maliit ’yung body ng guitar, pero ang laki ng tunog.” This is mainly because of the selection of wood, the bracing inside and overall construction. Resonance is key. He oversees the construction of the D&D guitars, even traveling to the factory in China to make sure each instrument is up to par. 

Callanta, who used to be the apprentice of guitar craftsman Rudy Discipulo in the late ’80s, has lived and breathed guitars for 22 years. “Naging disciple ako ni Mang Rudy,” he says with a laugh.

Callanta tells me his crusade is to “make guitars affordable for all Filipinos.”

The man recalls his mother telling him that, as a child, he couldn’t sleep without the radio on. “In college, I discovered guitars. Dati sa sales ako  chemicals. Sinunod ko ’yung gusto ng puso ko.”

And guitars have taken him on the road (to the National Association of Music Merchants [NAMM] convention in the States, to the Original Equipment Manufacturer [OEM] factories in China, etc.), allowing him to meet a lot of people. His work at D&D, Christian says, is his way of giving back to the Filipino music industry. “Para maialay ko sa mga Filipino ’yung experience na natutunan ko sa pagawa ng gitara. (Daren and Daniel told me) sige kung may design ka, pagawa natin.”

Which they did.

Crisologo reveals, “As of now, we are developing two new electric guitars and two basses. All guitars are made from basswood, the best sounding wood for me and astonishingly very light weight kind of wood. Best for people who want to play guitar without incurring any back problems and yet still getting that killer sound. We’ve also incorporated a locking tuner system for the electric guitars to attain better tuning stability and effortless string replacement.”

The song remains the same, yes. But the guitars (now with D&D in the scene) keep getting better.

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The D&D Custom Guitars showroom is at Jen1ne Distributors Inc., second floor, JG Building, C. Raymundo Ave., Rosario, Pasig City. Call Christian Callanta or Ad Layug at 643-9450.

D&D guitars are available in Metro Manila and Luzon at Lazer Music (SM Branches); Benjie’s Music, Sta Mesa; Euphony Music Center, Makati Cinema Square; Salonga Music, Raon, Quiapo; Musar Music Corp., Maharlika Bldg, Lower Session Rd., Baguio City; Mike’s Department Store, Quezon Ave., Vigan, ILocos Sur; Dagupan Jilís Musical, Tapuac District, Dagupan City; in Vizayas at Mindanao at JVS Audio System (Davao, Bacolod, Zamboanga, General Santos, Ilo-ilo, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete); Victoria Plaza, Davao; JS Gaisano, Quirante II Street, Tagum, Davao del Norte; Dreamcircuit, 94 Norey Galindo Bldg., M.Roxas St., Davao City; Better Living Appliance, Echavez Street, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte; Dunamis Music Store, 42 Zamora Street, Iligan City; Gloria Bazar, Washington St., Ozamis City; and Ororama Supercenter, JR Borja St., Cagayan de Oro.

For inquiries about D&D Custom Guitars, e-mail dndgitarista@yahoo.com.