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Part V: Gearing Up: Outfitting Your Arsenal
Compromising and accepting change
You may find yourself in a situation where you
can’t get exactly what you want in a guitar. The
more research you do, the more you know what
your ideal guitar is — and not just the guitar’s
make and model but everything about it: its condition,
its color, the hardware it sports, and the
selling price. When you venture out into the real
world, though, the reality doesn’t always live up
to the vision.
When that happens, be prepared to compromise.
You may want to spend $500, and the store
you visit charges $600. Or the price isn’t an
issue, but you want a blue guitar, and the only
available models are in black and red. Keep in
mind that if either of these scenarios occurs,
neither one affects the sound or playability of
the guitar. But it’s a setback. You can either
adjust your thinking or walk away and wait until
the right deal comes along. Maybe you can
solve the problem by ordering online and waiting
a week or two. But then you won’t have a
guitar in hand. And you won’t be able to evaluate
it before purchasing it. No one said this
would be easy.
That’s when you have to accept the detours in
the journey and just go with it. But shopping is
fun, and coming to terms with the models that
are there in the flesh is part of the process.
Research has a way of making you build up your
expectations — sort of like creating the perfect
mate on paper. It may not work out the way
you planned (except of course in my case),
but it works out, and you wouldn’t have it any
other way.
Soft cases
A soft case isn’t really soft; it’s firm — like the way a shoebox is firm. And
that’s because it’s made of stuff not much stronger than a shoebox. In very
predictable, controlled situations you can transport your guitar from one
place to another, and a soft case is fine, but it’s no substitute for a hard case.
You can rest a notebook on top of your soft case, but a foot can go right
through it!
Gig bags
Gig bags are convenient because they allow you to sling your guitar over
your shoulder, leaving your hands free to carry something else or to hold on
to a handrail. The bags are made of padded nylon or leather and offer minimal
protection from scratches, but can’t fend off a major impact, like being
stepped on or banging into a wall. Gig bags are essential for urban musicians
who take taxis, subways, and buses and must park in lots blocks from their
gigs. And they look really cool, too.
TEAM LinG