The Mistula Disciples: Mang Dading and Lumanog Guitars
April 16th, 2005
ATTENTION: This is the blog of a Mistula virtual band member. We are not representatives nor relatives of the Lumanogs. While the band has done business with the Lumanog store in San Antonio, we are unaware of your family conflict so it is best that you spare us from irrelevant comments. Thank you.
Every great musician deserves a great custom guitar. And so the Mistula custom guitars came to be. They were crafted by no less than the renowned Filipino guitar maker, Lumanog, who, fortunately, lives a few minutes away from Joey’s ancestral home.
It was a journey of rediscovery.
Joey’s older relatives speak of the Lumanogs as if they were family, yet she has never met any of them. She knows of their guitars — she owns one and never bothered to play it — but she has never been to their guitar store, or the secret factory they have in their backyard. It was Rey, the musician who lives several hours away, who finally introduced Joey to the famous guitar makers in her neighborhood.
The Lumanog guitars, now sold all over the Philippines, were first made in a small shop in their own backyard. It was also here where we found ourselves, this time discussing miniature guitars, with the great Lumanog craftsman, Mang Dading, over the native cakes he generously served.
Mang Dading took the job with surprising zeal. At his age, he has a young heart, and did not find us strange for offering him such an unusual job. He insisted that the little guitars should have perfectly-scaled frets and be able to play music, but Joey, dreading the sound of miniature wah-wahs deep in the night, decided against the latter. (It won’t be easy finding an amplifier at Manx’s size, anyways.)
We may not be great musicians yet, but thanks to Mang Dading, we have great custom guitars.
Entry Filed under: Disciples
FIRST TO COMMENT! Now… what to say… =P
y,cant you day something? i can help you out.
Lumanogs’ are musicians by heart.
Does Anyone Know Where To Buy A Lumanog Guitar In The United States
Those hanging wrapped guitars look like food…
Wow, what pretty photos.
Now, I’ve been to the house of a violin maker, and the house of a piano maker, so these don’t look so foreign to me…
At the house I’m in now, there are many guitars and similar instruments on the walls, including one of which there are very, very few models in the world… So I doubt anybody knows how to play it. I should take pictures…
Eron has a little acoustic guitar he got as a gift, but it’s in desperate need of tuning it can’t get.
Eron: Pretty… But if they don’t play, then where does the music come from?
Hush.
(Eron: That man has the image of years and years of experience. I can see it, even though we don’t know him.)
Aww look…all men love Manx. ^^
i loved this series…keep going!
The hanging guitars remind me of a meat factory, hanging there! LOL! That’s so neat how they started out and are now the best in the Philippines! Mang Dading is truly an artist at his craft!
Moon: Hey there! You were saying …? : P
Eron: But you can hear the music, right? Then it doesn’t matter where it comes from.
Judy: What would Manx be without his men? ; P
Jhoann: Mang Dading also serves merienda every time we drop by! He’s TEH BEST!
Joey, who are you, could you please enlighten me who your relations as far as the Lumanog clan is concern? We might be related if you have Lumanog blood line and I will tell you who is actually the legendary guitar maker in the Philippines. I am the youngest sibling of the Lumanog living in UK. Please get in touch with me and lets get to know each other.
Hahaha I love how the guitars look like ham!
Yeah, and the amp’s not gonna be the only problem if they’re really made to play — where are you gonna find SD-sized pick-ups?
Is that a Flying V in that picture? Who owns that one? The kid?
Yapi: SD-sized pick-ups are easier to find than SD-sized effects!
Ceras: I own the Flying V, brother. You know I don’t believe in monogamy.
(^_^)
the hanging guitars does indeed look like meat hanging … hee-he…
he is so talented !.. beautiful..beautiful!!!!!
Did he enjoy doing SD sized guitars? will he continue to create more of them in different styles,etc?… and sell online !(?)
or was it a one time thing only ?……
great pictures Joey ~~
I liked seeing the photo taken from the car too ~~~~
Would you like a custom-made SD-sized guitar, Mia? If you do, we can ask Mang Dading to make one for you! I don’t think he’s the type to sell online. But he did have fun making Mistula’s and probably won’t mind making some more!
WOW!! That is some hot stuff. That is one good connection to have. Need to find more artisans who can make neat small things, I do.
does lumanog manufacture/sell 12 string guitars?
does any lumanog store sell 12 string guitars?
please email me for any reply.
i just bought a Lumanog banjo which has a pick-up in it(
not sure of value or origionation if anyone knows the awnser?
Grabe talaga ang pinagdaanan ng paggawa ng guitar, astig, hindi na ako magtataka na magiging malago ang business and madami ang bibili ng guitar from you.astig, dugo’t pawis…ako meron na akong guitar from lumanog and it sounds really great.
Hello,
Great job in finding the original philippine guitar brand. Could you tell me the exact address of the factory. I would like to make a pilgrimage there on my next visit to the Philippines. Thank you.
Nathaniel Savella Ramirez
there are small amps..the size of cigarette boxes..
[...] Oy, Lugosi. It’s a custom by Lumanog. [...]
WOW!!!! swerte! that’s so cool! i like the crucifix shaped g-tar…cutug? cutung? ….i forgot. bassists and drummers RAWK! XD
WOW Joey!! you did a lot of effort looking for Mang Dading to work with you for those guitars..Amazing, Mang Dading is pretty skillful!! Pilipinos are trully talented,aren’t we?? you’re da best Joey!
Lumanogs are musicians by heart.
I agree with you 100% I’m a Lumanog too and I can’t imagine life without music. I’m so proud to have Lumanog for my surname.
I think we can compare our very own lumanog to martin,takamine, gibson, gretch tama ba spelling etc in terms of quality .but the difference is of course price.more power to the lumanog maker in the philippines
how come there are no pictures?!
Patience, my friend. Your connection may be slow. Please wait for the pictures to load. They are vividly hi-res and worth waiting for. Thank you.
I have just bought an old Lumanog 14 string guitar……Anybody know anything about them??
Thanks
I just got one too….what’s the tuning?? Can’t find ANY info on this giant mandolin looking guitar………
i love the guitars.., i got one and it plays good.., the best.., even it is 3 yars already
Lumanog guitar simply one of the best local guitar maker in the philippines. they can be found in the province of pampanga. i started to learn guitar when i bought a classic lumanog accoustic guitar in 1993.
Hey, can i know where to buy a lumanog guitar in lapu-lapu?? tell me wheres the shop, cause i want to buy one. Just email me the address of the shop, thanks alot. email dudyni123@yahoo.com
just bought a second hand yamaha fg12a (japan)… im thinking if the lumanog guys can customize it…. put 2 pick ups (1 at bridge… 1 at neck… my choice of brand of pick-ups)… 3 knobs (2 tones for each pickups and 1 volume) and a 2 way switch… the idea is like the Martin D-18E (a rare guitar… the one that kurt cobain used in nirvana mtv unplugged show)…. since its rare and i cant afford to own one… so i thought “customize”… anybody interested about this project/fantasy… let me know here >>> noise_addikt@yahoo.com
my wife said if i buy 1 more guitar she will leave me.
well, im sure im gonna miss her.
I agree with Larae 100% I am a Lumanog myself and I can’t imagine life without music. I am so proud to have Lumanog for my surname.
when i heard a classical guitar one time in a mass, i said..napakaganda naman ng tunog, then i approached the guitarist and asked, ANo po ang tatak ng gitara niyo..and showed me the name.. Lumanog.. i said i’ll buy one for me but im gonna make sure it’s a REAL lumanog.. saan po ako makakbili ng lumanog guitar? Where in pampanga (if ever i have to go there to buy a REAL lumanog.
hey, nice article and story on Lumanog acoustic guitars made in Pampanga Philippines - you might also want to check out my story about my favorite Lumanog shops in San Anton, Guagua, Pamapanga. Alright, take it easy!
im one of the “apo’s” of tatang (real name Ponciano lumanog) and im happy that lumanog giutar handy crafts are being posted worldwild..don’t worry mga Lumanog’s soon ill produce the best guitar in the world cause i know it’s also tatangs dream! sana yun mga sasang lumanog na ginagamit yung surname dahil sikat eh mahiya naman kayo..sinisira niyo ang pilidong Lumanog!
alam ko kung sino ang sumisira sa name ng lumanog walang iba kundi sina jolly surban at ruben bansil binababoy nila ang gawang lumanog lalo na ng pinagmamalaki nila ang gawng china at gusto nila na patayin at burahin sa mapa ng pipilinas ang magagaling na mangagawa ng guitara sa san antonio guagua dapat sa kanila ay mawala sa industria ng guitara dahil sila ang mga walang kwentang mga tao na nabubuhay sa mundo
hi! tama ka sa sinabi mo alam kung sino ang mga taong gumagamit at nagbaboy sa name ng lumanog walang iba kundi si jolly surban at ruben bansil
yah! Lumanog guitar is great! & i’m proud to be part in Lumanog family…. & proud to be mistula fan..
I just picked up a 14 string model in an antique store. It isn’t an antique but it is an unusual addition to my stringed instrument collection. This instrument is in bad condition but will be rebuilt to a playable condition. Interesting soundhole decoration/roseatte. Front is book-matched.