HOW IT STARTED…HOW IT ENDED…

That first pic is how the week started: a saddle for the G-string cracked in half as I was checking the tuning?! I’ve had Pinkie (my RG7420MC) for 25 years and while it’s had its share of issues, I have never ever seen anything like THIS before. Seeing this fall apart right before my eyes was, well, eye-opening.

I ordered a new part through Amazon and when I received it on Wednesday, guess what…wrong size! I blame myself because what I thought was quick-thinking was more like low-level panic mode. Sent the part back, ordered the right piece this time through AllParts. So now I have a guitar with a missing saddle.

Or do I?

After I posted the pic of the broken saddle, a high school classmate named Glen reached out to me and said “I have a 6-string LO TRS bridge for you, give me your address.” Wait WHAT?! So yesterday I received this bridge, everything intact, and I started using it for parts. Yanked the G-string saddle of this and installed it on Pinkie…

…and there you have it! Faith in humanity restored. And it’s like they say, “When you’re not looking…” So thank you Glen (if you’re reading this) for rejuvenating Pinkie!

Oh and Supernova did another gig last night. Strap yourself in for this one.

Getting to Tall Timbers was the easy part. What followed after was a lesson in patience. The GPS got all weird, maybe because of low signals in the area? Hmmm…drove up and down these REALLY narrow roads, not my idea of fun. Then I had the common sense to type in “Bear Cave” and it took me right there. I was only a few minutes away yet the GPS took me into outer Mongolia.

If outer Mongolia looks like this place, that is.

Then there was the added bonus of being told to set up on the basketball court? We’re Supernova, not the Lakers! After 45 minutes of sitting around, waiting for answers, we were allowed to set up in the pavilion in case of thunderstorms. Thankfully they never happened but better to be safe than sorry. Setting up was fine, soundcheck was good and then we were off and running…

…more like jogging briskly?

Started the set with more mellow tunes to ease the crowd in, but they pretty much sat there. Granted, we were new to the place, and they were new to us. Once we slammed it into high gear, things took off. And there’s always ONE PERSON who insists on talking to the band as they’re playing!!! I dare these people to run up to Rush or Iron Maiden at the Garden and ask for requests.

If I sound insensitive, I don’t mean it. I’m truly enjoying everything, yet people act like bands know every single song ever written! And some people will be truly disappointed if you don’t know a certain song. It’s weird, really. I would never do that. I’d just go and enjoy the show.

But that’s me.

Still, the band sounded great, all the glitches were out of the way, and while I used the Universe guitar all night, Pinkie was there as backup. I didn’t use her but did check the tuning and stability of the saddle. SUCCESS! But the best part of the night happened after the show…

A family came up to me and said “Our son would love a photo with the band” and I said ABSOLUTELY! You’d think this kid was meeting AC/DC or Metallica…the smile on his face was worth all the grief and drama prior to the show. He said to me “Wow I can’t play that fast” and I joked that I started lessons last week. A few people asked if we did private parties so that would be neat if they happen.

Supernova is taking another two-week break before heading to the Beacon on August 28th. I, however, will be performing with Rubber Duckie Riot next Saturday the 15th at Shortways in Hawthorne…A CLOSE GIG!! Believe me, I don’t mind the traveling but once in a while, a gig that I can throw a rock at is always welcome.

After the week I had with broken saddles, wrong parts, etc…now I can decompress and enjoy a Carvel cake later for my dad’s 81st birthday (which was Aug 7).

Party like a rock star!