This is the story of my guitar, which initially I called Blackie and my friend said it's the same name as Eric Clapton's guitar apart from his is a Fender and mine is Lyon by Washburn. But, after a while, I decided to call it LVL (initials of my son, my wife and myself).
I came here in England on December 14, 2008. Early 2009, I met Mike who's got a mini-rehearsal studio in their lounge with drumkit, acoustic guitar and bunch of guitar amps. To cut the story short, we jammed and he asked me to join the band.
We had a gig coming in October 2009, so I had to look for a guitar. I was new in England and don't know where to buy that time. So I tried looking online but I was not so sure if I'll be getting the right guitar as well as how safe the packaging and delivery will be as it's a new thing for me. Then I decided to look for a guitar store near my place and found a couple near Southampton train station. In short, I managed to buy one and tried it myself before buying. Im embarrassed to say this but I did use my ex-girlfriend's credit card. That's why I call her ex-girlfriend because she's now my wife.
The guy there in Beckett's Music Ltd is so accommodating and very nice that he offered me a very good deal. I bought this Lyon by Washburn strat and he put up like a package deal which he included a Stagg 10-watt amp, a gigbag, a strap, guitar lead and an Allen screw. Normally, it's just the guitar but he sort of mix and match it to my budget. Although after a year, I sold the practise amp on ebay because I don't normally use it as I manage to buy from Amazon a guitar effects pedal, Digitech RP55 and Im using earphones when I practise.
The guitar is superb and I can't tell you more about the setup, tone, etc. but it's really cool. I met a guitarist in Portsmouth from a band called Jammer Projekt, who's got ESP guitar which is a Kirk Hammett signature and when he tried my guitar and compared it to his, he was amazed that my guitar is not far from his.
The gigs I've been with my guitar. My first gig was in Nether Wallop and it was called Hamper Ball. It was in October of 2009. Here's a little video to it.
Then, we were invited in Crossfield Hall, Romsey during the Filipino xmas party in December that year. We jammed with the crowd and let them sing with us. It was more of an impromptu gig. Also our bassist could not join us during that time so it was a bassless gig. But, it was fun still.
And then, invited again for the 2010 Filipino xmas party in Crossfield hall, Romsey. This time round, we were more comfortable and the crowd loved it. And we got our bassist with us and we got a new female vocalist.
After this gig, we had lots of things coming and got rather busy in 2011 and only had one gig and it was in Braishfield Village Hall during Filipino Family Day, our gig happened in the evening after one day basketball league and it was an acoustic duo gig during that time. So in early 2012 month of hearts, in February, I decided to have a Valentines gig and this was unplugged so no drums whatsoever only my Lyon by Washburn guitar plugged in to my Digitech RP55 and played in William IV pub in Romsey. It was fun. Crowd dance and jammed with us.
Then, 2013 came. This was the year of gigs for me. I was invited by my Uncle in Norwich to join the band there called Crossedwind. They needed a session guitarist in a gig in Colchester. One of the biggest venue I played in England and it's in Leisure World Colchester. This time it was proper PA system, proper setup. Here's the video of our gig.
This was followed by a gig in Kings Cross, London in Star of Kings pub York Way. The gig was called One Love Abra, a fundraising for the children of Abra to provide access to education and school. It was well supported event by Filipino bands and artists all over UK. Cheers to Oliver Bautista for the video.
one love abra video part 1.iphone from oliver bautista on Vimeo.
Before I forget, I got the privilege to record songs, not only in my own mini home recording studio but in a proper recording studio in Norwich with Crossedwind and it was in Ashwood Recording Studio. We did four songs. I was still using the same gear, my Digitech RP55 customised with an improvised wah pedal, my Lyon by Washburn black strat and then plugged in to a Fender twin amp. We managed to finish four songs during that session.
We did a gig in Norwich Bario Fiesta, an outdoor one. Lovely day, lovely sunshine during the gig. It rained a bit but the show must go on. Here's one video taken during that gig.
Also, I will take this opportunity to mention that we were doing our rehearsal at Earth Studio in Norwich. Here's one clip taken during one of our rehearsals.
Also I did get the chance to play in Sprowston Manor, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club Norwich and it was during my cousin's debut, 18th birthday.
Typhoon hit the Philippines and loads of invite for charity gig. It started in Southampton, a small hall gig in St. Jude's Church, Warren avenue, Southampton followed by a gig in Norwich during their charity gig and then Portsmouth Charity gig as well in Oasis The Venue on both occasions Hampshire Haiyan Appeal and then Bandathon.
I customised it with a decal sticker which I bought from a friend with three letters LVL. Then, the rest of the decal stickers that she gave me, I made a cut out of 3 stars and a sun which can be found on our Philippine flag. Because of the travel and gigs all over England, my little LVL guitar got scratches all over but I made it into a little bit of art. Here's the photo of it and don't forget to buy my song on iTunes, Amazon and CDbaby titled Astral Projection.
I came here in England on December 14, 2008. Early 2009, I met Mike who's got a mini-rehearsal studio in their lounge with drumkit, acoustic guitar and bunch of guitar amps. To cut the story short, we jammed and he asked me to join the band.
We had a gig coming in October 2009, so I had to look for a guitar. I was new in England and don't know where to buy that time. So I tried looking online but I was not so sure if I'll be getting the right guitar as well as how safe the packaging and delivery will be as it's a new thing for me. Then I decided to look for a guitar store near my place and found a couple near Southampton train station. In short, I managed to buy one and tried it myself before buying. Im embarrassed to say this but I did use my ex-girlfriend's credit card. That's why I call her ex-girlfriend because she's now my wife.
The guy there in Beckett's Music Ltd is so accommodating and very nice that he offered me a very good deal. I bought this Lyon by Washburn strat and he put up like a package deal which he included a Stagg 10-watt amp, a gigbag, a strap, guitar lead and an Allen screw. Normally, it's just the guitar but he sort of mix and match it to my budget. Although after a year, I sold the practise amp on ebay because I don't normally use it as I manage to buy from Amazon a guitar effects pedal, Digitech RP55 and Im using earphones when I practise.
The guitar is superb and I can't tell you more about the setup, tone, etc. but it's really cool. I met a guitarist in Portsmouth from a band called Jammer Projekt, who's got ESP guitar which is a Kirk Hammett signature and when he tried my guitar and compared it to his, he was amazed that my guitar is not far from his.
The gigs I've been with my guitar. My first gig was in Nether Wallop and it was called Hamper Ball. It was in October of 2009. Here's a little video to it.
Then, we were invited in Crossfield Hall, Romsey during the Filipino xmas party in December that year. We jammed with the crowd and let them sing with us. It was more of an impromptu gig. Also our bassist could not join us during that time so it was a bassless gig. But, it was fun still.
And then gigs just keep coming. I jammed with Jammer Projekt in Portsmouth during a birthday party. I couldn't remember the hall that we played. We also played in King's Somborne during their Straw Henge which was a mini Woodstock 2010. That was a very nice gig but it was too cold for me. Here's the video taken during our soundcheck.
And then, invited again for the 2010 Filipino xmas party in Crossfield hall, Romsey. This time round, we were more comfortable and the crowd loved it. And we got our bassist with us and we got a new female vocalist.
After this gig, we had lots of things coming and got rather busy in 2011 and only had one gig and it was in Braishfield Village Hall during Filipino Family Day, our gig happened in the evening after one day basketball league and it was an acoustic duo gig during that time. So in early 2012 month of hearts, in February, I decided to have a Valentines gig and this was unplugged so no drums whatsoever only my Lyon by Washburn guitar plugged in to my Digitech RP55 and played in William IV pub in Romsey. It was fun. Crowd dance and jammed with us.
Then, 2013 came. This was the year of gigs for me. I was invited by my Uncle in Norwich to join the band there called Crossedwind. They needed a session guitarist in a gig in Colchester. One of the biggest venue I played in England and it's in Leisure World Colchester. This time it was proper PA system, proper setup. Here's the video of our gig.
This was followed by a gig in Kings Cross, London in Star of Kings pub York Way. The gig was called One Love Abra, a fundraising for the children of Abra to provide access to education and school. It was well supported event by Filipino bands and artists all over UK. Cheers to Oliver Bautista for the video.
one love abra video part 1.iphone from oliver bautista on Vimeo.
Before I forget, I got the privilege to record songs, not only in my own mini home recording studio but in a proper recording studio in Norwich with Crossedwind and it was in Ashwood Recording Studio. We did four songs. I was still using the same gear, my Digitech RP55 customised with an improvised wah pedal, my Lyon by Washburn black strat and then plugged in to a Fender twin amp. We managed to finish four songs during that session.
We did a gig in Norwich Bario Fiesta, an outdoor one. Lovely day, lovely sunshine during the gig. It rained a bit but the show must go on. Here's one video taken during that gig.
Also, I will take this opportunity to mention that we were doing our rehearsal at Earth Studio in Norwich. Here's one clip taken during one of our rehearsals.
Also I did get the chance to play in Sprowston Manor, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club Norwich and it was during my cousin's debut, 18th birthday.
Typhoon hit the Philippines and loads of invite for charity gig. It started in Southampton, a small hall gig in St. Jude's Church, Warren avenue, Southampton followed by a gig in Norwich during their charity gig and then Portsmouth Charity gig as well in Oasis The Venue on both occasions Hampshire Haiyan Appeal and then Bandathon.
I customised it with a decal sticker which I bought from a friend with three letters LVL. Then, the rest of the decal stickers that she gave me, I made a cut out of 3 stars and a sun which can be found on our Philippine flag. Because of the travel and gigs all over England, my little LVL guitar got scratches all over but I made it into a little bit of art. Here's the photo of it and don't forget to buy my song on iTunes, Amazon and CDbaby titled Astral Projection.
Please vote for me at http://www.artistsignal.com/vincentryanborres.
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