Pamparo in Toronto http://odnalor.org/wp Life stories of our family here in Toronto Fri, 18 May 2012 18:23:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/http://odnalor.org/http://odnalor.org/images/odnalor_feedlogo.jpgPamparo in Torontoodnalorhttp://feedburner.google.com Orange What?! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/jQyP9JcKrWI/orange-what.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/05/08/orange-what.html#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 04:21:52 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1518 Well, I just changed the crappy little capacitors on my Les Paul Studio with these “Sprague Orange Drop Cap” and now I think that the tone knob is a lot smoother … talk about placebo effect!

Sprauge Orange Drop Cap .022uf

Also changed the 3-way switch with a “tall” Switchcraft as supposed to the standard size direct-replacement. Well, it barely fits! So, boys & girls, always second-guess what you read on the internet! And lastly, I reverted the wiring on the bridge pickup to the “modern wiring” but left the neck pickup for the “50′s style wiring” … woah, I feel like a real geek ;)

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/05/08/orange-what.html/feed 2 http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/05/08/orange-what.html Updated Pedalboard http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/MvLwwxuryzw/updated-pedalboard.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/05/02/updated-pedalboard.html#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 00:25:13 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1508

Updated Pedalboard

Signal Chain

  • Xotic EP Booster
  • Barber 1/2 Gainer
  • Zendrive
  • Boss TU2
  • Empress ParaEq
  • Empress Tremolo
  • Diamond Memory Lane Jr.

If I am being honest with myself, these 2 are the only things I need …

Barber 1/2 Gainer

Diamond ML Jr

But where is the fun in that! ;)

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/05/02/updated-pedalboard.html/feed 4 http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/05/02/updated-pedalboard.html My Real Cameras http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/Uu9NfpjhI6A/my-real-cameras.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/04/30/my-real-cameras.html#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:30:29 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1488 I like taking photos and I like a good camera. That’s really all there is to say … and I don’t consider point-and-shoot real cameras! haha *** EDIT: just kidding, i’ve had a few P&S and still have/use one :) ***

My very first real camera ... a Nikon FM2-N SLR

My trusty and rugged Nikon D50 DSLR

My latest ... a beautiful Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Full review of GX1 with sample shots coming soon … I’m still having too much fun shooting! ;)

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/04/30/my-real-cameras.html/feed 0 http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/04/30/my-real-cameras.html Of Timeline, Guitars and DIY! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/_ke1Lc-yh0k/of-timeline-guitars-and-diy.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/04/26/of-timeline-guitars-and-diy.html#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:37:13 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1469 So I sold my Strymon Timeline recently. Philip thought that it was surprising while Larry kinda agreed that it was a little overkill for a few presets (he kept his unit, though). Don’t get me wrong, I love the sounds from Timeline and I really wish I could keep it. Unfortunately, the price tag for the 20% of the features I used was the main factor of finally getting rid of it. I’m sure I’ll have another opportunity to get one later on … here’s hoping the used prices drop down significantly soon! :)

Strymon Timeline

Strymon Timeline before parting ways

I’ve also been doing some work on my guitars. I swapped my Tele’s stock bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro. I’ve had this pickup for a while but never had the change to do it. Now I’m basically kicking myself for not doing it right away! There’s a little bit of getting used to not rolling the tone-knob when switching but otherwise, everything is working good! For $30, this was a great upgrade!

SD Alnico II Pro for Telecaster

My Les Paul Studio also got some action. I re-wired it using the “50′s style wiring” where the capacitor is moved from the “input” to the “output” so that the treble is not affected much when rolling the volume knob down. Again, I am kicking myself for not doing this before. Well, I guess I should be thankful as I probably wouldn’t have ventured getting a Tele if I’ve known of this before. Still some work to be done as the internal wiring looks awfully cheap and my 3-way switch is broken. So there you go, everything happens for a reason, at least that’s how I justify my gears! hehe

Les Paul 50's Style Wiring diagram

Lastly, I’ve been trying to work on some DIY projects. And I managed to start with just a very simple unity gain amplifier circuit, aka “Buffer” for those guitarists out there! Here’s the circuit I followed

Unity Gain Amplifier circuit

My ambitious plan is to use an Arduino UNO board to control 2-loops an A/B/Y or a regular looper. The Arduino board will digitally control a CD4053 chip with an option for buffering/boost. I got the idea from this link.

Using CD4053 as a bypass switch

That’s a lot of things to accomplish. The good thing is that these things are keeping me occupied and preventing me from buying more effect pedals! :)

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/04/26/of-timeline-guitars-and-diy.html/feed 9 http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/04/26/of-timeline-guitars-and-diy.html Spring Fling 12 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/N0K8pg9LZ3c/spring-fling-12.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/03/30/spring-fling-12.html#comments Sat, 31 Mar 2012 02:39:17 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1461 I had this melody in my head for a while so i decided to put it down so I won’t ever forget it again! ;)

Spring Fling 12 by rhoydotp

let me know what you think … and please, don’t be polite! hehe

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/03/30/spring-fling-12.html/feed 0 http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/03/30/spring-fling-12.html Boards! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/uLueSYP-GrE/boards.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/02/21/boards.html#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:08:55 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1438 1. Pedalboard

Well, nothing much has changed and I am really trying not to spend any more money on it, at least for this year. I know … famous last words! So far, I’ve been pretty good for the past 3 months. Although I traded away my Lunar Module (DSOTM graphics) for a Traynor 1×12 cab last weekend. I was really holding off on getting a VFE Enterprise Phaser that I saw on Craigslist last week. So we’ll see where this goes! :)

2. Snowboard

After many attempts to do so, or should I say, many attempts not to, I finally tried snowboarding this past weekend. I am still beating myself for not trying much earlier! My 6-year old son also got the chance to try it out. He also seems to enjoy it. It was so much fun and I think it’s going to be a regular thing that we will do as a family.

3. TGP Board

I decided not to renew my “subscription” to TGP in an effort to discourage me from posting/checking the emporium for “great deals”. Hopefully, this will help me achieve goal #1 as well!

4. Getting on-board

Lastly, I am getting on-board with my wife’s idea that I have to exercise. Surprise, surprise! For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing at least 10 minutes of exercise at home. I’ve also started skipping rope again and doing a few crunches to stave off some of my belly fats … I think I’m liking this getting fit thingy!

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/02/21/boards.html/feed 0 http://odnalor.org/wp/2012/02/21/boards.html Cyber Barber http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/tySqQZzL5tE/cyber-barber.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/28/cyber-barber.html#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:56:03 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1430 Barber Electronics had some great deals today for their B-Stock (blemished stocks) at 50% off. It was so enticing that I ordered myself a Direct Drive … As if I need another drive pedal!

Barber Direct Drive

The pedals were selling like pancakes but not all of them got listed at the same time. I would have gotten a Dirty Bomb instead have I known! Oh well, I guess I’ll try to enjoy this magnificent pedal :)

In case you missed it, here’s the list of pedals that went on sale:

Cyber Monday Sale at Barber Electronics

Anybody else got a good deal today?

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/28/cyber-barber.html/feed 7 http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/28/cyber-barber.html DMC-3 MIDI controller http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/eukbMutJDT4/dmc-3-midi-controller.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/19/dmc-3-midi-controller.html#comments Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:47:58 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1421 I have acquired a Disaster Area Amp’s DMC-3 to control my Strymon Timeline recently. But mine didn’t come with a stock firmware (stock info here)

Custom DMC-3 controlling the Strymon Timeline

Here’s how I have mine …

Press button 1 to send A (activate/deactivate)
Hold button 1 for 1 sec. to perform bank down, scrolls bank at 500ms interval

Press button 2 to send B (activate/deactivate)
Hold button 2 for 1 sec. to perform bank up, scrolls bank at 500ms interval

Press 3 to send CC 93 (remote tap)
LED 3 lights green while waiting for a second tap
LED 3 flashes blue in time with last two taps

— Button Layout —
Button 1 (left)
Button 2 (right)
Button 3 (middle/top)

It’s working great right now and it really makes banking up/down much easier in a live situation. Matt Farrow has been good at supporting and tweaking the custom code for me. If you are in the market for a MIDI controller, consider looking at his products!

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/19/dmc-3-midi-controller.html/feed 0 http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/19/dmc-3-midi-controller.html Blessed Irony http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/e3m1IZOUaiI/blessed-irony.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/09/blessed-irony.html#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:58:47 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1412 I wrote this instrumental song about three months ago as an expression of gratitude for all the blessings I’ve received from God. You may find that it sounds melancholic at first and there is a reason behind that. What I find is that even though we are blessed with so much, we still find a way not to be content nor satisfied with what we got. I don’t know about you but this is true, certainly for me. And whenever I listen to this, it reminds me that I should rejoice and always be glad in knowing that God will provide all my needs!

I hope you enjoy this song and may it also serve as a reminder for you …


Click here if you can’t see the player

]]> http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/09/blessed-irony.html/feed 4 http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/09/blessed-irony.html Quick Update http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odnalor/~3/DcOAa-qSJ30/quick-update.html http://odnalor.org/wp/2011/11/01/quick-update.html#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:08:54 +0000 Rhoy Pamparo http://odnalor.org/wp/?p=1397 Been away from the blog for a while and I thought I’d post an update for my loyal reader! hehe

  • Just came back from a weekend away in Boston with my wife to celebrate our 7th year anniversary. It’s our first time away from the kids. It was fun, although, there were a couple of times when we thought that it could have been fun if they were there. Then we’ll do something that we wouldn’t be able to do if we had the kids with us!

    Checking out the menu at Union Oyster House

  • My wife gave me a Vox Tonelab ST. It sounds great for practicing at home using headphones. I have yet to try it out live through a PA or an amp. It has a 12AX7 tube in it so it’s only natural that I geek out and try to change it right away! And I did :)

    Vox Tonelab ST

  • Got a 1×12 Lopo cab (front-loading/closed-back) for the Maz Jr. and put my old V30 in it. It was a bit boxy so I had to swap the EP-Booster with the Empress Para EQ to tame it a bit for now

    A similar looking Lopo cab

  • An updated pedalboard … for now

    Pedalboard as of October 2011

  • Looking forward to meeting up with my friend next month to watch Eagles/Jets game at Philadelphia. This is slowly becoming a tradition. Every 2 years we will meet up to catch a football game. Thanks to my wife for making it happen as she buys the tickets for us as a birthday gift for me & Dave … I love my awesome wife!

    I want to see more of this!

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