INTRODUCTION
I am currently working as a content editor, but in my spare time, I'm running a new podcast called Lion City Rock, which is about the Singapore pop music scene, focussing on the "indie years" (1990s) but also back to the 1960s and up to the present.
I used to play guitar in a few different bands, predominantly with alt-pop band AWOL throughout the 1990s, and then with a covers band called Melt in the late 2000s. These days, I play with The Fast Colors, a "classic rock" covers band, although we primarily cover Singapore bands - from The Quests to The Pinholes. I first picked up the guitar after watching the Beatles performing on TV, sometime when I was 10 years old, and I thought, "that's a good job". Ever since then, I'd wanted to play guitar in a band.
PLAYING STYLE
I don't have a playing style per se. I can't shred, sweep or any of those fancy music words. Personally, I like a clean-ish sweet sound with a slight overdrive. This is probably because I learnt to play by listening to bands from the 1950s and early 1960s, like The Shadows, The Ventures, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, etc.
I also prefer playing parts that help to accentuate the mood of the song rather than elaborate solos. I'm not very good at improvising solos on the spot, and I tend to rehearse my solos more than anything. I don't really have a warm-up routine except to rehearse the solos again and again.
My guitar heroes initially were George Harrison, Hank Marvin, Robby Krieger (of The Doors), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), The Edge (U2) & Peter Buck (REM), and later on, blues players like BB King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan. I am in awe of fingerpicking players like Jerry Reed, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Julian Bream and John Williams, and those who can do emotive and distinct tones like David Gilmour, John Frusciante, Prince ... tell me when to stop.
MAIN INSTRUMENTS
The first guitar I ever bought was a Yamaha APX7 acoustic guitar, but it could be plugged in and sounded like an electric guitar, which was what I really wanted. My dad helped me get an electric guitar, a 1970s-era Ibanez SG copy (aka the "lawsuit model"), with three humbuckers. It was a reject from a school, and looked like it had seen better days, but I loved that beaten look. I paid $50 for it. Even though the pickups and controls were wonky, I used it for nearly every live gig with AWOL since 1991. I still use it today.
My favourite guitar is a red Fender Stratocaster from 1993. I wanted a red one because Hank Marvin used one, and so did Mark Knopfler. Mine is an early 1990s model and I saved up for about a year before I bought it in late 1993. I love the varying tones you can get on the Strat, it really is more versatile than any other guitar, in my opinion. In Melt, we had to play everything from country to disco, this guitar suited every song we did. I have used it for every single gig since I got it, barring three - and acoustic shows, of course.
My other favourite guitars are the Gretsch G5122, and a Jet Glo Rickenbacker 330/12.
The Ricky I'd wanted ever since I saw The Beatles and REM use them. I saw it when I was holidaying in Perth in 1995, and was determined to buy it, even though I didn't have enough money at the time. My friend very kindly offered to trade in her Yamaha DX7 to make up the rest. I'm eternally grateful for that. Because I was broke, I had to walk the 5km back to my friend's house, carrying the guitar+case.
The Gretsch I got in 2010 at Sam Ash in Los Angeles. I'd been hankering after one because Beatles. It's the cheaper Electromatic range and even though it's the older model, I think it sounds better than the later 5422 or 5622 models. It has that great crunky sound that only Gretsch can make.
OTHER EQUIPMENT
When I was in AWOL, my main "rig" was a ME10 multi-effects processor, augmented with a Boss DD3 delay pedal (bought in 1993 when I bought the Strat); an Ibanez TM5 Soundtank Thrash Metal I got from Don Bosco in the 1990s, which I use mostly as a booster; a Boss OD2 Turbo Overdrive also from the 1990s. These days, I only use three stompboxes and depending which one is working on any given day, a Boss CH2 Super Chorus or an Ibanez CF7 Chorus/Flanger.
My primary amp is the Peavey Studio Pro 112, which I bought in 1993, although I've used its smaller cousin, the Rage, for practising at home. The 112 has an in-built overdrive that I love, and I can use the Ibanez footswitch to go from clean to overdrive. I also regularly use a capo and a brass slide. My glass slides all broke.
I favour the DR Tite Fit - 10s for the single coil guitars and 9s for the humbuckers. For acoustic guitars I use D'Addarios.
OTHER LOCAL GUITARISTS/BASSISTS YOU FIND INTERESTING
Reggie Verghese was the first guitar hero of mine because he played like Hank Marvin. Other amazing guitarists from SG I love watching are/were Zul (of Tania), Eza, John Chee and Andrew Lim. Zul was one of the kindest, most generous musicians I've ever met. I'm also in awe of Paul Daniel, Daniel Sassoon and Ray Anthony of Fried Ice (I've never heard anyone here play like he does - he conveys the spirit of Hendrix).
PHOTO ABOVE
From left to right:
Ibanez "lawsuit model" SG copy
Yamaha APX 7
Fender Stratocaster "2nd production model"
Jet Glo Rickenbacker 330/12
Gretsch G5122