Say Hello To "Barnesy"

Yes, it's another bloody guitar post. Count yourselves lucky that I haven't been harping on about the footie lately (that's for tomorrow...).

Remember that thing I was pining for which I ordered from the back pages of Soldier of Fortune? I didn't really get it from that rag, you don't think I actually read that kind of war-mongering macho tat, do you? This happens to be an acquisition from eBay. It's come all the way from Indonesia (where it was manufactured) via the States, it's tired and it needs a rest from all that jet setting. One day I may even buy a case, a snug home for me to lay her weary headstock down to sleep.

The letter arrived from Parcel Force International this morning informing me that it was ready to be collected, so I eagerly stepped on the gas all the way down to their depot in Mitcham. Realising that I had forgotten to take some decent identification with me, I offered them a debit and Costco card which they begrudgingly accepted. Import duty and tax paid for, I lugged the large box out of the office and into the Fiesta, resisting the urge to ravish it from it's cardboard and foam protection and give it a thorough fondling.

At home after a quick tune-up, I played it's first riff acoustically ("Nice'N'Sleazy" by The Stranglers) and then realised that it might need a slight set up tweak once I'd eventually get around to plugging it in for real. It'll do for now though. The good thing about this new addition is that it incorporates the Buzz Feiten Tuning System which guarantees an improved intonation on the instrument and you really can hear the difference. It also works when you apply this system to acoustic guitars too. It's a beautifully constructed electric six string although it has a tiny lacquer drip where the neck meets the body but it's quite unnoticeable, so I'll let that go considering what I paid for it.

The reason why I had to order it from the States was that this model is not available in the UK and the last few are selling out over the pond. Washburn have even stopped listing them on their catalogue. I was really worried about it becoming damaged in transit but on reaching these shores I was pleasantly surprised that it had arrived in one piece.

Why have I christened her "Barnesy"? Because it came in the mail.

**********************************************************************************

This weekend's music treat comes courtesy of Billy and Pompey Joe doing this classic;

Alas, there is a live version here.