Fretter pandemic check-in - let us know how you are!

[tjcurtin1]

Hey everyone who still checks in on occasion - I found myself wondering, with things so quiet here at the Fret - how all of us remaining Fretters are doing. I feel a friendly connection to many long-time fretters and am hoping that everyone is well and safe - but it would be good to know that you really are! Can I suggest that everyone chime in and let us know that you are OK? I am fortunate to report that all is well on my home front - waiting to get my vaccine as part of the over - 65 tier two, hopefully this month.

Warmest regards to everyone - Ted.

[Zip]

Yep, doing good here too. Not old enough to get vaccinated but I'm staying as safe as I can I guess. Everything's been cancelled, so until I get a phone call I'm just trying to keep up my chops, writing a little, etc. Hoping when the weather gets better I'll be able to do some outdoor shows. Not expecting much in the way of $$, just some fun playing out again.

[Jipes]

Doing fine here and keeping hope for a brighter future ! never played so much acoustic since a hell long time :thumbsup

[marnold]

Hey everybody!

We're doing well, although after being in Wisconsin for almost 25 years, I'm now pastor in Michigan! We're just getting settled in. Lots of things to learn. Nothing like moving in the Midwest, in January, during a pandemic! Because I also teach in our school, I was able to get my first COVID vaccine (the Moderna one). Unfortunately it didn't grant me super-powers--at least not yet. It was just like getting a flu shot. A little pain in the arm for a day or so but that was it.

Because of the move I haven't gotten much of a chance to play recently. My stuff is all set up in my office at home, though.

[tjcurtin1]

Wow, Rev - that's a serious change! And as you say, in the midst of all the current mayhem! Best wishes in your new home and with the new work.

[marnold]

Thanks TJ! Yep, I'm drinking from a fire hose here, but it's all good!

[piebaldpython]

Doing well here in Philly. I teleworked due to Covid from mid-March until 01/01/21 when I retired after a 44 yr career with the Federal Gov't. My wife still continues her part-time public school job (25 yrs) as a kindergarten aide....teleworking. I have had the privilege of listening to her class for the past 10 mths. It is truly amazing how much these kids learn teleworking. The kids are not being shortchanged. She will get her Covid shot some time in early March (hopefully) as she is in school. I am 64, so I might have to wait a bit. We go nowhere, other than to a doctor or food shopping (monthly). We either make our food ourselves or get take-out or have it delivered. We are doing well as can be expected. Cheers to all. Congrats to Marnold on the new pastor gig. I find that amazing as I spent my entire career in the SAME building.

[Jipes]

It's nice to have news of everyone :thumbsup

[Robert]

I am doing fine. I don't know of any people in my town who has had the virus. We are hanging in there, playing guitar and trying to learn new things every day. It's just myself, my dog and my daughter in the house. She will be going to Victoria, B.C. in the fall.

My dog has hip dysplasia, which is a genetic condition and that was unexpected. I'm going to take her to a veterinary college for a full hip replacement this spring. She is only 1.5 years old and she's already limping.

I've also been busy with my virtual band, Warp Kings (http://warpkings.com). Yesterday, we released a new single. Waiting For The Sun, by the Doors.

Good to hear from you guys!

Stay healthy!

[tjcurtin1]

Glad to hear that you are all well in your neck of the woods, Robert. SO sorry to hear about your dog's troubles...:( - she's so young...! Could it be possible that your little daughter is getting ready to go off to university already????

[Robert]

Ted, she is 17 now and yeah, time flies like an arrow (but fruit flies like a banana).

[tjcurtin1]

Was thinking that wasn't too far from home - but, Wow - that's a long drive from Camrose!

[duhvoodooman]

A-OK here in Albany, NY. My wife and I both got our second shots (Moderna) on Friday. Minimal side effects. Glad to hear everyone is hangin' in there!

Currently working on this: http://www.byocelectronics.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=59346

[piebaldpython]

I had melanoma 4 years ago on my left arm. Surgery went well and I have a nice 4" scar. Had the surgery done 4 yrs ago at HUP. Because of that surgery and my history of melanoma, I am in HUPs data-base. Imagine my surprise when I received an e-mail from them OFFERING me a chance to get the COVID vaccination. They didn't have to ask me twice! Received my 1st shot (Pfizer) last Saturday and get my 2nd shot on 03/13/21. My wife, the teacher's aide, is scheduled to get her 1st shot next Wednesday.

DVM....love your new Strat and will say the following quite emphatically.......a string-thru design thru a decent piece of wood will affect tone and sustain. I have 4 lap steels that are string-thru and they all sing sweet and long. Add a bit of airy compression (Barber Tone Press) and the sustain is endless.

[cebreez]

I am well! We are well! Just retired this last July so I'm trying my best to steer clear of the pandemic. Enjoying every day of retirement! Have a new woodshop and a new music room. The woodshop is big enough but the music room is a little small. But at least I have one so I will persevere. Glad to see all of you guys still here! I've missed this place.

[tjcurtin1]

Looks like a fun project, Vood - good to hear from you! You WILL, I hope, inform us of your reaction to the finished project...:)

[duhvoodooman]

I had melanoma 4 years ago on my left arm. Surgery went well and I have a nice 4" scar. Had the surgery done 4 yrs ago at HUP. Because of that surgery and my history of melanoma, I am in HUPs data-base. Imagine my surprise when I received an e-mail from them OFFERING me a chance to get the COVID vaccination. They didn't have to ask me twice! Received my 1st shot (Pfizer) last Saturday and get my 2nd shot on 03/13/21. My wife, the teacher's aide, is scheduled to get her 1st shot next Wednesday.

DVM....love your new Strat and will say the following quite emphatically.......a string-thru design thru a decent piece of wood will affect tone and sustain. I have 4 lap steels that are string-thru and they all sing sweet and long. Add a bit of airy compression (Barber Tone Press) and the sustain is endless.

Rough way to get on the vaccination list, but it did the job, eh?

Yeah, hear you loud & clear (pun intended) on string-through guitars. I have several Teles!

[marnold]

I was very confused for a bit because I read "string through" as "neck through" which is an entirely different animal. That would be a bit more of an ambitious project.

My Tele certainly is louder acoustically than my Jackson. Still, for me having the Floyd is worth the trade-offs. Having said that, I wouldn't want EVERY guitar I own to have one. It's nice to be able to adjust tunings without having to spend a half hour refloating the bridge.

DVM, with the shielding paint, can you connect it to the shielding on the pickguard somehow? The static noise from pickguards during the winter drives me nuts.

[Bloozcat]

I had a mild case of the COVID 2-weeks ago...no big deal...I'm fine now. Ironically I was offered the vaccine during the middle of my infection but had to turn it down (someone cancelled). You can't get the vaccine if you're infected or for at least 2-3 weeks after you're over it. Oh well, I've got the antibodies now so I'll be good to go until my turn comes up again.

BTW: Happy Birthday DVM!

[duhvoodooman]

BTW: Happy Birthday DVM!
Same back atcha, BC!

Glad to hear you had a mild case....


Looks like a fun project, Vood - good to hear from you! You WILL, I hope, inform us of your reaction to the finished project...:)
Finished it up today. Comments and photos here:

http://byocelectronics.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=497015#p497015


DVM, with the shielding paint, can you connect it to the shielding on the pickguard somehow? The static noise from pickguards during the winter drives me nuts.
Yeah, that's possible and often done to maximize EMF shielding and minimize electrical noise, especially for guitars with single-coil pickups. I've done that on this guitar using the wire that comes up from the pickup cavity under the hardtail bridge to ground it (and through it, the strings and tuners). I added a strip of conductive copper tape under the very bottom edge of the pickguard and overlapping its shielding foil, so that it contacts that same grounding wire.

The bad news is that I doubt that it will have any real effect on the problem you're referring to, which arises from the build-up of static charge on the TOP of the pickguard during very dry winter weather. I've found two ways to address that:

1) PRETTY GOOD: You're probably already familiar with this one. Rub the top of your pickguard with a fabric softener/anti-cling dryer sheet like Bounce or Cling-Free. It'll do a good job suppressing static charge build-up for a few days, then you'll have to do it again.

2) BEST: Get yourself a good humidifier for the room where you usually play, and try to maintain a relative humidity of 45 - 50%. This works wonders. I strongly recommend a good evaporative humidifier like THIS ONE (https://www.abt.com/AIRCARE-Medium-Home-Evaporative-Humidifier-MA0800/p/140761.html). Stay away from the ultrasonic kind if you have any significant amount of hardness in your tap water, because the dreaded "white dust" ends up on EVERYTHING. Unless you want to feed the thing distilled water, which gets pretty expensive! Vaporizers aren't much better because the hardness minerals just end up accumulating in the heater portion of the unit and are a maintenance headache. With the evaporative humidifiers, you just toss the filter pad when it gets fouled with mineral build-up and install a new one.

[Tig]

I'm a little late, but doing well here in Texas. My wife is a nurse, and got COVID 19 in the early days, but was fine after a week.

Almost a year ago, I had LRTI surgery on my right thumb, which took about 6 months to completely recover. Before that, I couldn't hold a pick for more than a few minutes. Unfortunately, I lost my desire to play and still haven't found it. I haven't sold any guitar gear, so the door remains open.

Overall, my health started declining in 2015, mostly osteoarthritis and what was diagnosed as fibromyalgia. I still ride bikes, but just a fraction of the endurance and speed. I love being out, enjoying nature. Life continues to have it's difficulties, but I try to keep it as positive as possible. I've learned to simply get comfortable with being uncomfortable!

[Jipes]

Dear Tig my prayers and thoughts goes to you hoping that things get stable and maybe better

[tjcurtin1]

Hey Tig, I hear ya re the 'getting comfortable with being uncomfortable' - just recognizing myself that it goes with the territory of getting on in time... curiously, I also hit a wall with playing in the last 6 months. After having made pretty good progress with lots of study and practice, I got tired of playing by myself (partly covid isolation) - just not enough satisfaction in that after a certain point. I used to make music with my students every day, but since retiring, it's just been me, myself and I. I haven't given up completely tho. Anyway, hope that you can keep things at a slow glide and stay well.

Jipes, always good to hear from you, too - hope that all is well in your part of the world!

Ted

[Jipes]

Jipes, always good to hear from you, too - hope that all is well in your part of the world!

Ted

Hello Ted, everything fine on my side got retired January 2022 and enjoying life with my sweet wife. So far health had blessed me keep my fingers crossed and still playing with two bands getting gigs from time to time, always a blessing and a joy to play live