Can There Be A More Exciting Day Than This?
Jan 30, 2020 12:44:22 GMT
Phil Taylor, brianr2, and 1 more like this
Post by andyhowell on Jan 30, 2020 12:44:22 GMT
So, it's been a busy week with lots of things to deal with including financial fraud, gross misconduct of staff and issues that are not easily dealt with. But today the diary is empty. So, I thought I'd do nothing.
Doing nothing was nice for all of half an hour. Worried that I might spend the day watching You Tube videos of people reviewing electric cars or opening mystery return pallets from Amazon (compelling by the way) I thought I'd better do somethibg constructive. I have a gig this weekend and so it seemed reasonable to prepare the old banjo.
I usually change the strings on my guitar when the 3rd string breaks (it is always moving up or down with changes if tuning). But some months ago I seem to have found a super super string from Newtone. These strings have been on for months and months as I wait for a break. I've even lived dangerously with them on gigs. But they survived. But now these are as dead as a dodo.
So, I remove the three bass strings and catch a glimpse of the guitar in daylight. My goodness. It is what you might call dirty. There are al kinds of smudge marks on the top, not to mention a few new dings I don't remember. But the sides, oh the sides ....
Singing takes its toll; well at least it does with me. Basically we are talking about months of built up spittle on the upper sides. I applied a damp cloth. And then I thoght, what the hell, let's get the polish out. And so I polished the guitar.
Then to restringing. Back last summer I realised I was down to my last pair of spare strings. I was off to a guitar weekend and needed a spare. There wasn't enough time to buy Newtone strings over the web. So, down at my local store I purchased a packet of medium Elixir Nanowebs. I've always thought I didn't like coated strings but they have been sitting there in the case for months and thought it was time for a review of the situation. Of course, I now have a supply of Newtone's in if these are a disaster.
Next I decided to experiment with a new stringing technique — the lock string technique. This worked well enough.
And so I now have a new and shiny looking guitar with proper strings on. It was rather a relief to find that on close inspection the guitar does not look new but rather road tested. However, I thougth its builder Adrian Lucas would be happy as every time he picks this up he kind of glares at me in the kind of 'what a disgrace look'.
And while I was at it I put in a new pick up battery. Oh, yes.
As so to the Elixirs. They sound lively but loud. And bright. Like it says on the packet. But this might just be because they are not dead. But they sound OK on this guitar. My only observation is that these seem to be a higher tension than my Newtones and I kight have to tweak the action a bit.
I now feel very rightous. Time to go and rehearse I think.
But can there be a better morning?