I have recently acquired from a friend a Squire Stratocaster, which is all good. I got this guitar for free, which is really all good. I've had an idea, which is..um...really great.
Basically I've been looking for a Stratocaster to play around with for a long time. As I'm going to be messing around with it seriously I didn't want to get a Fender one because that could be costly, so I've been on the look out for a cheap replica. Then the other night I was 'round my best friend's house and she mentioned that her boyfriend was giving away this guitar. I decided that just "putting it outside for anyone to take" was a bad idea as Kristian could give it an excellent home. I now have ideas of grandeur.
First I want to transform the look of the guitar. My initial ideas were to change the shape completely, but now I think I'll retain the Stratocaster shape. I went to see Iron Maiden at Twickenham the other night and saw how great the Strat looked on Dave Murray (my favourite in Maiden). I've also decided to go with Hot Rail pickups on the bridge and neck.
Currently the Strat is black with *shudder* nail varnish on. The nail varnish "art squares" are unique, in that I don't think any one else would ever do that to a guitar. This means in a months time when I get round to working on the guitar I shall be doing lots of sanding.
Now you may be thinking that I know what I'm talking about. I don't. Hopefully through doing this project I shall find out more about guitars and how they tick, or not as the case may be.
When I've got some more information and pics I'll post them up here.
That's all for now.
K
07 July 2008
28 March 2008
The Thing 2008 Review
The first rays of light came in through my bedroom window and I cursed the fact I hadn't closed my curtains again. Since I was awake I went downstairs to check my phone and noticed a reminder that on this day, I was going to London. That day was the 21st March.
On the 22nd March 2008 I attended my first convention as part of the Fallen Angel Media: The UK Web and Mini Comix Thing 2008. This was a big thing for me as it'd be the first time behind the table. Anyways, this is an aside as I'm still on the 21st, so shushup and listen.
Right, so the walk to Bristol bus station was uneventful, but I realised that I'm a bit of a benny and got there an hour and a half early. I decided to walk into Broadmead (shopping area) for a bit and got accosted by Shouty Jesus Man; can't a goth walk around in peace? First it's the goths who get accosted, it'll be the satanists next! After being told I was going to hell and responding with "at least it'll be warmer than Bristol" I bimbled around for a while before returning to the bus station to watch the weirdos go by. Shortly after Mal wandered by and we stepped on the bus ready for a trip to London Tahn, gorblimey Mary Poppins!
The trip to the hotel was uneventful and included a terrible trip on the tube (which I hate) but I accepted it as beer was getting closer by the second. Stepping out of Bethnal Green tube station I realised we were right by the Hotel which shall remain nameless as I'm going to rib the bejeezus out of it.
The hotel was in three parts, or so it seemed. The main part was the lobby, which was beside a offy and a kebab house, perfik! The lobby was very well put together and made me hopeful. Hopes were successfully dashed when the "porter" took our bags ourside the lobby, onto the street and two doors down into which looked like a normal house. This was the second part of the hotel, the third being the house nextdoor which belonged to the hotel as well. It looked clean enough inside and it was. The fellow lead myself and Mal to a room, opened the door and showed us inside; bed, TV, nuff said. Bathroom was next door. Upon asking the man where the third person was going to sleep, as three of us were booked to stay in this hotel, the porter became confused and showed us another room. It was the bathroom.
"Where's the third person going to sleep?" Mal reiterated.
The man smiled and glazed over. Mal decided it would be best to talk to someone on this plane of existence and so went back to the lobby. She came back with other key and that was for my room. Mal and Cliodna would stay downstairs and I would have an upstairs room.
After this fiasco we decided we really needed a drink and went to a proper cockney boozah. After finishing our drink rather quickly we got some grub from the kebab house an a couply of tins, then retired to the comfort of our hotel rooms to guzzle them down in expectation of Cliodna. Met an entertaining bloke named Mike from Spain/Canada (don't ask, I didn't). Once we were all together we made haste to a rather nice pub on Mile End Road. After many pints we decided to go get a curry and went to a rather nice place called "Passge to India". After this I can't remember much, but I know there was a pub painted to look like a tiger involved.
THE NEXT DAY!
I wake up in my room with a bad headache and my stomach hating me. I get up when Mal knocks on my door and proceed to the toilet to communicate with god on the porceline telephone. I stumble to the People's Palace where the Thing is being held and sit down behind the table while Mal sets up. I thank the gods that the toilet is by our table as frequent trips are made to it until about 10:30.
Sitting there in our Gothic finery Mal and I start to sell out wares, and the feeling is fantastic. So many people were in the hall showing their stuff, and there was a lot of great stuff. I found a great comic make by a guy called Geof called Fetishman. I suggest you take a look at it. Had me chuckling all day.
Anyways, back to 10am when the doors opened and the public surged in. Luckily by this point my hangover was going and I could help sell stuff. It was easier than I thought getting someone over to have a look at your comic and since I've been to a few cons as a buyer I knew when they said "I'm going round first before buying anything" meant "I ain't seeing you again", but as everyone in the hall has that experience then it's all cool and no-one feels bad about it.
Sales were slow at first, but at the 11am mark when my hangover did that magical vanishing thing things started to pick up. The weather in London wasn't great so the people who made it were die-hards who just had to buy THAT comic! After lunch things really started moving and the convention all was packed.
I was sent out for lunch and got some funny looks in my regency style outfit, but I didn't care as I looked sexy. Lunch was eated and the convention pressed on. I met Weebl of Weebl and Bob fame and bought a Catface plushie for my girlfriend.
The con wrapped up and I we pakced up and went to the pub.
All I will say of the pub is moist flange.
I wasn't on the booze that night and returned to my room early as I was tired. The night before I was drunk and didn't realise how cold it was, but I stuck my head in the refridgerator to warm up. I tried sleeping but realised my cold nipples were turning the duvet into a tent. The whole room shook whenever a train went past behind the hotel and the bus stop outside was never quiet. Fireworks were also going off for some reason. I decided to draw a comic about all of this and it helped a little bit. Mal and Cliodna returned to their room an I went to see them. Thankfully they insisted that I stay with them as they had windows that closed properly and a heater. I was very grateful.
The next day things were very quiet as we travelled back to Victoria station to get the bus back home. There was a fantastic advert on the floor of Victoria Station for The Colour of Magic, which was a top down view of the world-turtle: Great A'Tuin.
After much standing on this we found a place which did a fantastic breakfast and stayed in there for a little while. The bus was caught back home and Mal and Jo gave me a lift home, which I was again grateful for.
So that was the Thing 2008. I'm sure I've missed stuff out but stuff you as this is my blog and not yours.
On the 22nd March 2008 I attended my first convention as part of the Fallen Angel Media: The UK Web and Mini Comix Thing 2008. This was a big thing for me as it'd be the first time behind the table. Anyways, this is an aside as I'm still on the 21st, so shushup and listen.
Right, so the walk to Bristol bus station was uneventful, but I realised that I'm a bit of a benny and got there an hour and a half early. I decided to walk into Broadmead (shopping area) for a bit and got accosted by Shouty Jesus Man; can't a goth walk around in peace? First it's the goths who get accosted, it'll be the satanists next! After being told I was going to hell and responding with "at least it'll be warmer than Bristol" I bimbled around for a while before returning to the bus station to watch the weirdos go by. Shortly after Mal wandered by and we stepped on the bus ready for a trip to London Tahn, gorblimey Mary Poppins!
The trip to the hotel was uneventful and included a terrible trip on the tube (which I hate) but I accepted it as beer was getting closer by the second. Stepping out of Bethnal Green tube station I realised we were right by the Hotel which shall remain nameless as I'm going to rib the bejeezus out of it.
The hotel was in three parts, or so it seemed. The main part was the lobby, which was beside a offy and a kebab house, perfik! The lobby was very well put together and made me hopeful. Hopes were successfully dashed when the "porter" took our bags ourside the lobby, onto the street and two doors down into which looked like a normal house. This was the second part of the hotel, the third being the house nextdoor which belonged to the hotel as well. It looked clean enough inside and it was. The fellow lead myself and Mal to a room, opened the door and showed us inside; bed, TV, nuff said. Bathroom was next door. Upon asking the man where the third person was going to sleep, as three of us were booked to stay in this hotel, the porter became confused and showed us another room. It was the bathroom.
"Where's the third person going to sleep?" Mal reiterated.
The man smiled and glazed over. Mal decided it would be best to talk to someone on this plane of existence and so went back to the lobby. She came back with other key and that was for my room. Mal and Cliodna would stay downstairs and I would have an upstairs room.
After this fiasco we decided we really needed a drink and went to a proper cockney boozah. After finishing our drink rather quickly we got some grub from the kebab house an a couply of tins, then retired to the comfort of our hotel rooms to guzzle them down in expectation of Cliodna. Met an entertaining bloke named Mike from Spain/Canada (don't ask, I didn't). Once we were all together we made haste to a rather nice pub on Mile End Road. After many pints we decided to go get a curry and went to a rather nice place called "Passge to India". After this I can't remember much, but I know there was a pub painted to look like a tiger involved.
THE NEXT DAY!
I wake up in my room with a bad headache and my stomach hating me. I get up when Mal knocks on my door and proceed to the toilet to communicate with god on the porceline telephone. I stumble to the People's Palace where the Thing is being held and sit down behind the table while Mal sets up. I thank the gods that the toilet is by our table as frequent trips are made to it until about 10:30.
Sitting there in our Gothic finery Mal and I start to sell out wares, and the feeling is fantastic. So many people were in the hall showing their stuff, and there was a lot of great stuff. I found a great comic make by a guy called Geof called Fetishman. I suggest you take a look at it. Had me chuckling all day.
Anyways, back to 10am when the doors opened and the public surged in. Luckily by this point my hangover was going and I could help sell stuff. It was easier than I thought getting someone over to have a look at your comic and since I've been to a few cons as a buyer I knew when they said "I'm going round first before buying anything" meant "I ain't seeing you again", but as everyone in the hall has that experience then it's all cool and no-one feels bad about it.
Sales were slow at first, but at the 11am mark when my hangover did that magical vanishing thing things started to pick up. The weather in London wasn't great so the people who made it were die-hards who just had to buy THAT comic! After lunch things really started moving and the convention all was packed.
I was sent out for lunch and got some funny looks in my regency style outfit, but I didn't care as I looked sexy. Lunch was eated and the convention pressed on. I met Weebl of Weebl and Bob fame and bought a Catface plushie for my girlfriend.
The con wrapped up and I we pakced up and went to the pub.
All I will say of the pub is moist flange.
I wasn't on the booze that night and returned to my room early as I was tired. The night before I was drunk and didn't realise how cold it was, but I stuck my head in the refridgerator to warm up. I tried sleeping but realised my cold nipples were turning the duvet into a tent. The whole room shook whenever a train went past behind the hotel and the bus stop outside was never quiet. Fireworks were also going off for some reason. I decided to draw a comic about all of this and it helped a little bit. Mal and Cliodna returned to their room an I went to see them. Thankfully they insisted that I stay with them as they had windows that closed properly and a heater. I was very grateful.
The next day things were very quiet as we travelled back to Victoria station to get the bus back home. There was a fantastic advert on the floor of Victoria Station for The Colour of Magic, which was a top down view of the world-turtle: Great A'Tuin.
After much standing on this we found a place which did a fantastic breakfast and stayed in there for a little while. The bus was caught back home and Mal and Jo gave me a lift home, which I was again grateful for.
So that was the Thing 2008. I'm sure I've missed stuff out but stuff you as this is my blog and not yours.
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