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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | What is this world coming to? I went all the way to Sagnasty, er, Skaginaw, uh, Saginaw this morning, with Littleman in tow, to pick up new strings for the Elite. After being dragged through the drum room, the acoustic guitar room and the keyboard area, we finally made it to the counter where the strings are. Here's how the exchange went down:
Salesdroid(SD): Can I help you?
Me(Me): Yes, please. I would like to buy some phosphor-bronze acoustic guitar strings; tens.
SD: (After touching each package of Elixirs and two other brands I can't recall) We don't have any in ten. I guess I can't help you.
Me: (Somewhat inredulously) You don't have any phosphor-bronze, acoustic guitar srings in ten?
SD: (Somewhat annoyed and pointing at aforementioned brands of strings) These are all of the coated strings we have and they only go down to twelves.
Me: (Somewhat irritated) Um, ok, I don't really want coated strings. I would be happy with phosphor-bronze acoustic guitar strings in ten.
SD: (Visibily confused) You mean you don't want a coated string?
Me: No, I don't want a coated string.
SD: Well, I guess I might have something.
At this point I walked over, grabbed a package of Martin Marquis or whatever they are, which happened to be right in front of the SD and also happened to be tens and said, 'I'll take two of these.'
Now, I've never used Martin strings before, and I really have no idea if they're good, bad or ugly. But, seriously, WTF? You don't have PB tens in coated strings so you're going to just let me leave without anything? I told Sally the story and she thinks I'm being too pissy about it, that the kid was probably just being 'stupid' (her words, not mine). But, please...
Then I get home, change the strings out (they sound fine, BTW, but I'm probably asking for huge trouble by not placing them on a pre-WWII wooden box) and then decide to resume my search of fleaBay for a decent backyard/beach guitar (I'm looking for a mid/deep bowl O with no electronics for dirt cheap, in case anyone reading wants to play along) and I come across this:
1517 Ultra
Now, I'm not a fan of the panelmaster gitboxes, but you know, for playing around the campfire and spilling beer on and ashing the occasional cigar into the soundhole, it might just work. And it's cheap (right now). On a whim, I click on the 'calculate shipping' link (I generally don't worry about shipping charges because you and I all know that it runs about $35 to ship a guitar, in the OHSC, from just about anywhere to just about anywhere else in the continenal US). How much do you think this clown is asking for shipping? Freaking $75! Jeebuz, people! Two weeks ago I shipped a G&L Comanche from the wilds of Mid-Michigan to the swamps of Florida. The headstock and neck were wrapped in bubble wrap, the trem arm, keys and candy were wrapped in bubble wrap and in the case, the case was in a cardboard box that was inside another cardboard box with foam peanut filler. It cost me a whopping $32 and it got there in three days. It took me all of about fifteen minutes to package the dayum thing up. Based on that, the seller of that Ultra is charging something like $160/hour for handling/packaging. Cripes, the last time I made that kind of rate, I was conslutting, for Fortune 50 corps and sprawling huge school districts. Sheesh. Needless to say, I'm not bidding.
Thanks for letting me vent. I think I'm going to find a beer, a nice little cigar and go sit on the porch. In the back yard. Where I don't have to see any people.
:( | |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 640
Location: boulder | that's what we're here for, cruster. have a great afternoon, check out the stars tonight..it's good to be alive.... | |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 972
Location: PDX | Well, what cigar did you smoke?
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gh1 | |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | I'm right behind you, Crusty. Having a day that, with one more well placed smart-a$$ remark, could live in infamy. A cigar, beer and a solitary porch sounds like heaven to me.
'Course today I'm probably not going to get to either place. Hope you do... :mad: | |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Had the same kinda' day t'day, Crusty . . .
Mine was with the fuckwits at the lumberyard, tho . . .
Followed your advice and broke in my new workbench by sittin' on it and enjoyed a SamAdams SummerAle and one of the last of the Cuban Partagas Series D No. 4 that sumbuddy gave me . . .
T'night, got our first gig at a new place that I've been looking forward to playing . . AND . . getting to use a Viper EA68 tonight for the first time (Master Templeman's recent eBay acquision b/w/o Master Moody . . . it's residing here until Temp comes Stateside . . .)
Should be a FunNight . . . | |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Cliff, let me know how the Viper works out. You realise that if it gets any dings you're gonna have to give me #54 as compensation. | |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 803
Location: Avondale, AZ | Cherry flavored wood tip Swisher Sweets are the way to go. When you drop them in the sound hole, they add a precusion to your sound. Warning don't smoke them to short. | |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . you're gonna have to give me #54 as compensation . ."
F@ckThat!!
It'd be cheaper t'have a brand spanking new Viper here when you arrive! . . . | |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by gh1:
Well, what cigar did you smoke?
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gh1 I cleaned up the dinner mess, started the dishwasher, grabbed the newly strung 1868, an icy cold Molson Canadian twin-label (Could you look any hotter tonight? The answer is, 'No!') and a Zino Platinum Sceptre Series XS.
My audience consisted of three pairs of cardinals, two squirrels (one brown, one black/brown mixed) and, briefly, the next door neighbor. My set list was:
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Long Cool Woman (first however many bars)
Samba pa ti (first eight bars)
Blues in E7
That B. B. King/Eric Clapton song (heh)
Twinkle, twinkle little star (jazzed up version)
Blackbird
Blackbird
Blackbird
Twinkle, twinkle little star (funk/reggea/blues version)
Blackbird
Long Cool Woman (parts thereof)
Blues in G
Blues in E7
Love in Vain
Love in Vain
Love in Vain
Blackbird
Then I took littleman for a 'bikewalk' (he bikes, I walk). Now I get to give him a tub. Then I'm going to grab another beer, and perhaps another cigar (they're small, but good) and go light off some bottle rockets.
My therapy seems to be working. | |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by cliff:
". . you're gonna have to give me #54 as compensation . ."
F@ckThat!!
It'd be cheaper t'have a brand spanking new Viper here when you arrive! . . . It was worth a try.......... | |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 972
Location: PDX | and a Zino Platinum Sceptre Series XS. Nice cigar .. not as in your face as the PSD4 Cliff was smoking today, but a nice respite none the less.
My set list was:
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Long Cool Woman (first however many bars)
Samba pa ti (first eight bars)
Blues in E7
That B. B. King/Eric Clapton song (heh)
Twinkle, twinkle little star (jazzed up version)
Blackbird
Blackbird
Blackbird
Twinkle, twinkle little star (funk/reggea/blues version)
Blackbird
Long Cool Woman (parts thereof)
Blues in G
Blues in E7
Love in Vain
Love in Vain
Love in Vain
Blackbird Nice set. I grabbed a Rocky Patel Edge, hit the porch -- raining a bit -- so i went with bourbon, Woodford Reserve, and set to the strings:
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Blue Moon
As Time Goes By
Blackbird -- hey!
Bach -- Theme from Cello Suite #6
Brahms -- some waltz
It Had to Be You
and worked out a new idea in E minor
Glad things worked out for you in the end. Therapy indeed, Solitude, cigar, alcohol, and music.
Ahhh -- doesn't get much better than that.
Cheers!
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gh1 | |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by cliff:
...Followed your advice and broke in my new workbench by sittin' on it and enjoyed a SamAdams SummerAle and one of the last of the Cuban Partagas Series D No. 4 that sumbuddy gave me . . .
Sam Adams makes some decent ales. If I'm not buying Guinness, though, I just get whatever is cheap...er, inexpensive. Which, inevitably, is something Canaygeeuhn.
I had a Cuban Partagas once, but can't remember the model. Good stuff. That and a RyJ tubos (#3 perhaps?) were the only good Cubans I've ever had. I'm convinced that people go ga-ga over Cuban's strictly based on the embargo. The Dominican stuff is unbeatable (mostly) for consistency and quality, in my experience.
But, who am I to knock Cubans? After all, I'm just a guy that posts on a message board run by a guy who's the self-proclaimed worst salesman in the world (that shizzle still cracks me up). ;) | |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Martin Marquis or whatever they are, I've tried any number of brands and have always returned to the Martin Marquis. | |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I used Martin SP strings early on in my Ovation "career" and liked them, but have gone on to D'Addario. But I certainly wouldn't refuse a set of Martins, I know a couple of other Ovation owners that really like them!
Roger | |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Martin Marquis are pretty good strings also.
D'Addario's seem to last a little longer.
Don't know why, :confused: I'm just an old chunk of coal. :D Who likes to play guitar. :) | |
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Semi-OT: Saturday afternoon rant