Why Must I Tinker?

 Well, I started out saying that the last thing I needed was another guitar. How wrong I was! Just kidding. I am happy to report, after spending a total of $87.37, I have been offered $100 in trade-in credit.  PROFIT!!! Now, I didn't figure in the cost of things I had laying around. Old pots, the set of strings in a size I no longer prefer, the old pickups. And luckily, tinker hours don't count as work hours, or even at minimum wage I'm pretty sure the total would then be somewhere around the cost of a new Harley Benton.  Tinker hours are precious and priceless. Tinker time is the best anti-depressant during a long, cold winter. Too bad I don't have the patience to deal with Craigslist types, I assume the store will put a $200 price tag on it. Hopefully someone finds it useful. Or someone decides they need another guitar just to keep tuned in open G or something. I'm just glad it has been resurrected.  Let me say this: I did have to do one more thing, a little fret ...

 At the end of each of these posts, I have spontaneously thought up the title for the next post, without giving it much thought. Just typing it hot off the mind-press. Some intuition must have been at play when I ended the Pickguard Hell post, because purgatory is exactly what I got from the pickup situation. I should wrap up the pickguard thing though. It worked! I basically went conservative when cutting out the pickup holes, then slowly and carefully hand filed and sanded them to fit. I was in the other room hitting the drums in celebration when I heard a strange noise. It was Rye plucking the low E with his one good tooth. He's a thorough supervisor. If I ever catch him with his paw hovering over the 12th fret checking intonation, I'm filing a complaint with HR. Speaking of, despite having no way to adjust it, the intonation is pretty spot on. Although it did come out quite a bit better, I should probably apologize to the creator of the pickguard that was on when I bought t...

 Called it! I told you, I told you, I told you. Or maybe I just told myself. Regardless...if you EVER, EVER, EVER need a pickguard for a guitar or bass, buy one pre-made. If you can't find it, take the guitar to a luthier type and pay the big bucks for a custom made. If the guitar isn't worth the cost, just keep it next to your bed to use as a weapon to fight an intruder. I just want to say, I haven't exactly slacked off for no reason. Yes, I knew the pickguard thing would be miserable, I've done it twice before, but I haven't done it when it was 1 degree Fahrenheit outside, and not feeling much warmer in the garage. Then, this: I did my first open mic! It is quite different going solo compared to getting up with a band, even as a former front-person (shout out to Welfare Soldiers!) I want to thank the G-Man for the encouragement. I plan on embarrassing myself again soon.  So, this pickguard thing. You take a piece of plastic, and no matter how you cut it (literally...