A slice of Candelaria, Quezon in Raymund
Marasigan’s D&D guitars
by rick olivares
If you’re a young kid into music,
you dream of playing in a band, recording albums, and performing. When you’re finally
in a band, one of those things in your constantly mutating bucket list is
getting your own customized and signature instrument.
For Raymund Marasigan, just as
much as everything he’s accomplished with the Eraserheads, Sandwich, Pedicab,
Gaijin, Squid 9, Basement Lung, and the Assembly Generals, having local guitar
company D&D produce an acoustic guitar not only to his specifications but
to also produce one much like his brother Don’s guitar where he wrote all the
E-heads, Sandwich, and Pedicab songs he’s had a hand with… is the coolest
thing.
“I even got rid of my other
guitars because this one is just as good if not better than what I had before.”
“This one” D&D guitar is
called, “The Candelaria”.
“It is my way of paying tribute
to my hometown in Quezon,” affirmed Marasigan. “Growing up there, I discovered
music, learned to play different instruments, and played in my first band. When
I discovered new wave, I asked the older kids – Basement Lung’s Choy Gerra and
Menel Emralino – to teach me how to play those songs on a guitar. It was in
Candelaria where my musical dreams first took flight.”
Added Daren Lim, General Manager
for D&D Guitars, “The concept (for the Candelaria) was born out of making
the Sandwich guitars. Since we already finished designing the electric guitars,
Raymund wanted an acoustic so we made one. The design is basically inspired by
the D&D Django model with a redesigned headstock and no cutaway since he
wanted something basic. The guitar is also littered with writings about his
hometown of Candelaria. It uses a Fishman pre-amp, but there is also no pre-amp
version for those who just want to jam.”
“The main reason why we chose
Raymund and Sandwich is I am a fan too,” added Lim. “I like to work with people
that inspire me. I feel this is crucial to making a product that inspires
people as well.”
“I chose the Django model because
I like its sound,” explained Marasigan. “I asked Daren to use the wood they
used for the Django. That’s good quality there. I didn’t want a cutaway because
all my acoustic guitar heroes like Bob Dylan and Beck do not have a cutaway.
They play traditional guitars and I don’t play a lot of lead guitar. I wanted
no pick guard so I want it scratched as it ages. You know… for that battle-scarred
look. As for the head stock, it is based on the Joan Jett SG guitar that I also
have.”
“As you can see, the guitar that
I used for writing my early songs has a story to tell,” summed up Marasigan.
“And all my songs have stories in them too.”
Just as his brother’s guitar has
all that history, Raymund Marasigan hopes that with the Candelaria, it will
write its own share of hits.
The Candelaria is now available
for sale in D&D stores.
