Saturday, November 30, 2024

The Day After Black Friday

I usually don't do anything on Black Friday. My family takes advantage of the sales but I hunker down with my odd and ends projects. This year, it was organizing the music I'd be playing with my friend Ken and next week's Toys for Tots event at the Portuguese Club in Chicopee. We compared song lists and then songs to make sure we were in sync on keys and whatnot. I think we're in good shape. FWIW - we'll be opening for the Brass Attack Of Springfield band. Opening is a bit strong in that we'll be playing during the events less busy times (just before dinner, for example). Anyway, that was my Black Friday activity for this year.

I did manage to actually buy a couple things. I needed a hand vac and opted for a corded Dirt Devil. I'd used a Dyson in our staircase but, apparently, it's only good for 15 minutes per charge. That wasn't enough and I had to use our large corded vacuum cleaner, which is awkward on stairs. So, the smaller one should do the job.

The other thing I bought was a humidifier for our TV room. We have hot air heat and it dries out my guitars. The one that's most affected by this is my Guild acoustic. Last year I noticed a crack had formed from the bridge to the bottom edge of the guitar. I thought, "Well, now I'm on my way to having a guitar just like Willie Nelson's Martin, all chewed and cracked up." I jokingly put a large bandage on the crack just so folks would ask me about it.

As it turns out, the crack disappeared (closed up) during the warmer and more humid Spring weather (we didn't need the hot hair heat as much). I kept the bandage on the guitar, though.

Anyway, I'm hoping that the humidifier will do the trick and keep that crack from getting worse. The problem it could create is that the bridge wood could come off and that means expensive repairs.

I did have a kit that I could use with the guitar in a case, but I rarely use the case and probably have no idea where that kit is.

I take refuge in the motto that Guild has for its guitars, "Made to be played." I like that. It says that their guitars aren't designed to be iconic, stored behind glass. They're meant to be played, which means occasionally beat up an sometimes cracks form.

The bandage is my guitar's badge of honor. 

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