Perfecto De Castro

Perfecto De Castro is a Filipino guitarist, now based in Los Angeles, CA, who works as a solo artist and educator¹. He is best known for his guitar work with iconic 90s Filipino artists such as River Maya and Francis M¹, and HeadRush describes him as remaining one of the most influential guitarists from the Philippines¹. Guitar Pedal X calls him "probably the best known guitarist to come out of the Philippines, now based in LA"².

Today he continues to tour, record and perform, and shares his knowledge of guitar, gear and music through videos on his popular YouTube channel¹. His gear affiliations span several makers: he is a HeadRush artist, an Origin Effects artist, an exclusive factory preset artist for the NUX MG-300 MKII, and the designer of his own signature distortion pedal, the BAD94³⁴⁵.

The 90s Philippine sound: River Maya and Francis M

De Castro's reputation was built in the 90s Philippine music scene. NUX describes him as "an internationally recognized guitarist, producer, and well-loved Filipino musical icon known for his virtuosic playing and genre-crossing style"⁴. His celebrated guitar work on songs like "214" and "Kaleidoscope World" is, as NUX puts it, "still prominently featured in every Filipino karaoke songbook to this day"³.

That era is also the reference point for his signature pedal. The BAD94, Delicious Audio reported in 2021, "captures the sound and feel of his early career guitar solo tones"⁵.

HeadRush on tour

De Castro is a HeadRush artist, and his artist page lists the gear he uses: the Gigboard, the MX5, the Prime, the FRFR-108 and the HeadRush Expression Pedal¹. His endorsement, in his own words on the HeadRush site:

The centerpiece of that rig, the HeadRush Gigboard, is what HeadRush calls a "road-ready floorboard guitar FX processor"⁶. Following the HeadRush Pedalboard, it delivers amp, cab, microphone and FX models in a more compact design⁶, which Guitar World described at launch in 2018 as "a more compact version of its popular PedalBoard multi-effect unit"⁷.

In Pete Thorn's 2018 demo video for Guitar World, he walked through its connectivity: full MIDI capability, a USB output for loading IRs, loading and sharing presets, and use as an audio interface for tracking direct into a computer, an auxiliary input for playing along with tracks, a dedicated headphone output, and main stereo outputs switchable between line and guitar level⁸. The HeadRush Expression Pedal, sold separately, is described by RockBoard's PedalPedia as the expression pedal to use with any HeadRush unit⁹.

Signature pedals and presets

De Castro's name appears on several products beyond his HeadRush rig.

The BAD94. His signature distortion pedal, based on the now discontinued Marshall Shredmaster, with more gain, higher output and extended treble range⁵. Guitar Pedal X notes that De Castro, a Filipino guitarist based in LA, is behind the pedal².

The RD Compact Hot Rod. An Origin Effects pedal he endorses. In his own words on the Origin Effects artist page:

Its features include post-drive EQ, a dry/wet mix control and standard touring grade construction¹¹.

The Perfecto Clean Switch. A switching pedal developed in partnership with him. As Guitar World quotes the maker's site, "this circuit ensures a seamless transition to a cleaner sound without sacrificing clarity or dynamics"¹².

NUX presets. He is an exclusive factory preset artist for the NUX MG-300 MKII³, and NUX's MG-50Li page carries a preset bank 37/38 credited to him, noting a brand-new EP scheduled for release in Summer 2026⁴.

Questions