Hey Everybody! Hope all of you who read this are in good health and spirits (hi, Ma). Well, lots going on with me as usual. My Pens are out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as we just couldn’t find a way to beat Halak. Who’d have thunk? It looks as though their storied run is coming to a swift close though. Ah well. I probably have to say I’m rooting for les Habs over Philly.
The summer seems to finally be here! 80s in Minnesota this weekend, so of course we are heading south to where it’s probably going to be in the 90s. Might have to go see a movie. I’m not really a good Minnesotan–whenever there is a hint of nice weather around here, everyone is out running, walking the dog, working in the yard, biking, etc. I can’t blame people–we don’t get that many nice days up here so we have to take advantage. But I don’t, haha. I prefer indoors I guess. I am not a hiker or a boater or a fisherman or a hunter or much of an outdoorsman at all. I like to be outside if it’s nice, but that is a very small window. I’ll take 72. Anything hotter than that and I schvitz…
I’m really looking forward to our Ireland trip in November! No danger of 70s there, haha. We’ve got scads of people signed up to go, and it is really going to be a good time! I am going to be sure to take the video camera along to capture all the fun. A little video blog upload may have to be in order…
Everyone have a good weekend, okay? And if you’re in Kansas City, come say hello!
I meant to write about this but kind of forgot ’til now…
Lock-It guitar straps. Try ‘em! Adam turned me onto this company. I needed a new strap for a guitar I bought a year ago so I went with Adam’s recommendation and tried a new product from a new company. The Lock-It guitar strap has a locking mechanism built into either end of the strap. In the past, a person would have to buy new hardware and perhaps drill into his guitar to use a strap lock system. But with Lock-It that’s not necessary anymore; you don’t need to alter your guitar just to keep it from falling out of the strap.Â
BUT (you just knew there was a “but” coming)…
When we play with the full band Adam and I get to cut loose a bit and play our electric guitars. Tons o’ fun! When I tried the Lock-It strap on my electric guitar (which happens to be a Les Paul) it didn’t exactly work as planned. The combination of the angle at which I hold my guitar and the weight of the guitar itself caused the Lock-It mechanism to break. In fact, when we played at O’Gara’s Garage on St. Patrick’s Day I had to reverse the strap (top to bottom) because it had finally broken entirely.  I almost dropped my Les Paul during that show! Not good!
Here’s where the story gets better. I called Willie’s American Guitar – where I bought the strap – and asked about a refund/replacement. They said they’d just replce it for me but they were sold out at the moment. I guess these things are getting quite popular. I sent an email the the Lock-It company and told them about my predicament. I was a bit worried that I’d get the standard, 21st century corporate response:  ”that’s not our problem, sir.” I mean, it’s not like companies stand behind their products anymore. That’s why they always try to sell extended warranties, protection plans, insurance against normal wear-and-tear, blah, blah, and/or blah. But not Lock-It!
I received a reply the next day from the owner of the company and he was surprised and concerned that his strap had, in fact, failed. To make a long story short, I sent the strap to Lock-It and got it back within a week, broken parts fully replaced.Â
So I learned a few things: 1) the Lock-It strap isn’t exactly the best option for use on my Les Paul, 2) the Lock-It strap works great at home on my Strat (no wonder Adam uses this strap on his Strat), & 3) the Lock-It company stands behind their product! They get a full 5 Stars from WCB!!  Thanks, Lock-It.
This is pretty much the most frighteningly real video I have ever seen on YouTube. Having played in bands pretty much constantly since I was about 14, I can tell you this is EXACTLY what happens. Maybe you have to be a musician to see the humor in it, but I’m guessing people who aren’t will find it funny as well. I love the generic, computer-generated animation and voice work; it really does a great job of communicating how often this situation happens in the music biz; and all over the world too, by the sounds of things!
I have personally experienced this many, many times. Watch, and enjoy!
 Thanks, Lock-It.
