Writer’s block leads to some odd musings..
Strings
Guitar players all know you have to change strings on a regular basis. That’s easy. But once you agree upon changing strings the fun begins! There’s a limitless variety of strings with a bewildering array of characteristics. Some are bright, some last longer. Some are bronze, some are nickel. Most guitarists I know are devotees of one type. By the time I’m ready to change strings, I can never remember what I had on there, so it’s always a crapshoot for me.
Changing strings always means one good poke from an E or B string, and I dread that. It’s like going to the doctor and knowing you’re going to get a shot.
There is a lot of scientific (and not-so-scientific) debate over how many coils to put on the string post on the peghead. I have heard it said that past two winds, you’re wasting your time. I put as many as I can fit, generally, and it doesn’t seem to hurt anything.
Martial Arts
Almost every strip mall I drive past has a martial arts studio, and there are a huge number of martial arts – Tai Kwan Do, Karate, Judo, and so on. My oldest son did karate for a while and I think it actually came in handy in one schoolyard confrontation. But the number of choices got me thinking. It seems likely that some of these “styles” are better than others, and if that’s true, there must be one martial art that’s the absolute worst. Which one is that, I wonder? Maybe the Sensei warns the students, “If anyone comes after you that knows any other martial art, then turn and run, because you’ll have no chance!”
Dings
Musical instruments are often beautiful works of art. Sometimes their beauty is in the craftsmanship and pristine condition. Other times, we see older, well worn instruments as profoundly beautiful. An instrument that gets played a lot is bound to get some dings – some from the rigors of being played (pick scratches, maybe belt buckle-rash), and some the from the rigors of travel.
I’d rather have a lovingly worn looking instrument than a perfectly new looking one. I’m not careless -I treat my instruments with respect – but every ding that occurs in its useful life tells a story. I bought a brand new bass, and the first gig I played with it was with the Mighty Crows at the Crazy Horse Saloon in Nevada City. I packed it carefully in its brand new bag, and unpacked it carefully when I got the gig. But by the end of the evening, there was a belt buckle rash on one of the bouts. It’s tough to get that first mar, but it officially launched the working life of that instrument.
