In the fight for survival, an old friend returns
Right when my situation was bleak (and a deadline was right on top of me), I finally was able to bring back an old friend of mine. A little back story: Last time I changed strings on my best guitar - my near-flawless Jackson JK-20 - my zeal for tight string clamps (caused by the first time I changed strings on her and the A string slipped) drove me to shear the lock screw on the bottom E saddle. This wouldn't ordinarily be a problem - she was still playable - save for the fact that the fine tuners depend on the clamp screws. Sooo, she had to be relieved of duty until such time as I could get parts to repair her. But, after a recent roofing job, I got to choose how I could be paid. It turned out that I had earned about $100 - exactly how much I needed to get my hands on a set of GraphTech saddles from Stew-Mac. We placed the order (Jim and I, since he was buying) and expected everything to be here around December. To my surprise, I got an e-mail a couple days ago that they had just shipped. I didn't actually get it until the day after, with how infrequently I check it anymore. I was excited beyond belief with the prospect of being able to play her again. I also was thinking that they would be here Wednesday. I was pleasantly mistaken by seeing them when I got home. Badly needed as I was irritated over my dad ranting to me about not spending as much time with my sweetheart, Christiana, instead of looking for work and getting my life together. After about an hour or so of assembly, cracking a saddle (again, because of my zeal), taking all the strings off to get to the bridge pickup to put a screw back in place, restringing, retuning and such, she was brought back to life and sang just as wonderfully as the last time I picked her up. My dad, of course, was thoroughly impressed when I played her with 2112 live from 'Different Stages' by Rush. So, after all being said and done, I once again have a close friend and ally in the fight for a life. I should endeavor to remember all the other friends in my fight as well; some in unlikely places. But, I'm reunited… and, it's fuckin' fine. *bright smile, tips hat*