Re: Gasalcoholics anonymous? whoever said this was a help gr
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:09 am
Yesterday was quite a gear roller-coaster. I had a massive panic attack overnight involving Dennis Rodman not liking me and my failures as a friend, sibling, father, and lover. He also ate my Pepperjax. Anyway, my partner and I headed to our local guitar store to get my beloved 06 American Strat setup for surf and look at used pedals. We got a Digitech Polara and EHX Canyon for $200 total, which was a real win.
Driving across town to the other location, I got a pretty devastating call. My Strat couldn't be setup because the neck was "dead." The truss-rod was almost stripped out, something I had never touched, and my Lola was heavily bowed. The tech, who I trust pretty thoroughly, told me that a replacement neck was likely needed and the price tag was devastating.
I got Lola 8 years ago in a pedals and a Squier Jaguar for an American Strat trade in the Daddy's parking lot in Kansas City. She was my only guitar for years. My only possession through homelessness and unemployment and leaving an abusive spouse. I carried that guitar through two divorces, 6 states, and more addresses than I can remember. I slept in my car and went to work hungry instead of selling her. But she's broken.
My partner immediately drove me right back to the shop and we talked to the tech. He said that he would put 9s on her after humidifying the neck over the weekend and doing everything he can. My partner's immediate solution was... unexpected. Lola will stay with us as a backup but I needed to try every Strat in the store. I played used Mexican Standards and Player Pluses. I tried Strats with Noiseless pickups and Strats with relic'ed finishes.
Ned, the head of the guitar department, went to the back and pulled out a Fender travel case. Inside was a brand new Professional II with a Rosewood board and a Miami Blue finish. He plugged it into a 65 Twin Reverb with the reverb turned way up. I fell in love. The satin finished soft-C neck, the bright and strong pickups, the push/pull neck pickup switch. I just couldn't stop playing it. He setup a JHS Morning Glory and it was just ecstatic.
I went home with a new Strat.
Driving across town to the other location, I got a pretty devastating call. My Strat couldn't be setup because the neck was "dead." The truss-rod was almost stripped out, something I had never touched, and my Lola was heavily bowed. The tech, who I trust pretty thoroughly, told me that a replacement neck was likely needed and the price tag was devastating.
I got Lola 8 years ago in a pedals and a Squier Jaguar for an American Strat trade in the Daddy's parking lot in Kansas City. She was my only guitar for years. My only possession through homelessness and unemployment and leaving an abusive spouse. I carried that guitar through two divorces, 6 states, and more addresses than I can remember. I slept in my car and went to work hungry instead of selling her. But she's broken.
My partner immediately drove me right back to the shop and we talked to the tech. He said that he would put 9s on her after humidifying the neck over the weekend and doing everything he can. My partner's immediate solution was... unexpected. Lola will stay with us as a backup but I needed to try every Strat in the store. I played used Mexican Standards and Player Pluses. I tried Strats with Noiseless pickups and Strats with relic'ed finishes.
Ned, the head of the guitar department, went to the back and pulled out a Fender travel case. Inside was a brand new Professional II with a Rosewood board and a Miami Blue finish. He plugged it into a 65 Twin Reverb with the reverb turned way up. I fell in love. The satin finished soft-C neck, the bright and strong pickups, the push/pull neck pickup switch. I just couldn't stop playing it. He setup a JHS Morning Glory and it was just ecstatic.
I went home with a new Strat.
