I’m trying my best to play music and make people happy (because that makes me happy) and my guitar has a bad fret that has gone beyond my ability to tolerate. It was so aggravating for me that I had to incorporate it into my show, demonstrating for the audience that annoying splink! every time I play that particular note.
I demonstrate by playing an open string which RINGS! unhindered by the fingers. Then I play the first note which makes a metallic “buzz” on the first fret, then the next note up and it’s even more “buzzy” and then that next note up is, for my ears, like someone taking a fingernail file to my front teeth.
Bless my chronic failing heart, I can’t begin to explain the inner rage… I could string together an impressive tirade of the most vile language that would make a sailor blush but it’s not enough to convey the control it took not to smash the guitar into the concrete pillars and toss the POS into the bay! I’ve never been happy with that guitar. I’m also more angry at myself for forgetting to call Steve Venini as he’s pretty good at solving those problems. I also need to remember to spray all the electronics as all the knobs are “scratchy” when they are adjusted.
It’s easy to see why guitar players need so many guitars especially guys that work them three or four times every week on top of the rehearsal time.
This is the logic I use to talk my wife into letting me get a backup solo gig guitar. I’ve had the current one for long enough to have sent it back to the factory for a complete fret job which is now wearing out.
I sent it back again because the 5 position switch wasn’t functioning properly and it turned out to be all of the ball ends of all the strings I had broken while playing were shorting out the electronics inside of the guitar. So twice a year I have to unscrew the back of the guitar and clear out all of the broken string remains.
I was going to sell it but without having a good backup guitar to play in the meantime I’m kind of stuck with it. I’m searching for my forever solo guitar but I hate fucking shopping. It also means a trip to the real world and all the “normal” people. I find if I take the teeny tiny puppy dog with me people tend to be nicer and less put off by me. I like the way I warn them that she bites but her cuteness is irresistible and 99% of everybody is willing to take the risk.
I try not to get aggravated but this world is designed to test our resolve and some days I’m more successful than other days.
That’s a picture of her when she was new. Pictures below are fairly recent. Amazing how much I’ve played this guitar without feeling any love from it. The opposite of my brown Les Paul.
It certainly has “yellowed“ over the years and it was never played in cigarette smoke filled bars. it’s also a fret or two short of a real lead guitar.
Peace and Love!
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