03/06/2024
As many of you know, I have not been doing much business for a while. As a matter of fact, I believe that I have had 3 jobs that I made any income since the pandemic started in 2019. On top of this, the muscular dystrophy has been increasing it's problems at a faster pace. It is at this time that I am considering shutting it down with the exception of the GearHead Ministries car and truck shows every September. If I have a job that I can get help for from someone who is knowledgeable and can take direction, I am not against it, but as a general rule, without providing help, I will more than likely not take the job. If good help is available, I may take any gigs you may have.
On another note, I am taking luthier classes, and will begin doing guitar setups and repairs. This time, I will have a web presence, and some advertising go on. I am hoping to get enough work to sustain it, but not so much that I am working a full time job. I want to continue to take out the RV with friends and family, as well as the jobs at home and still have time to relax and recover. I am also getting back into playing guitar again. The way that I am doing this, that I have given the bass and all acoustic instruments (including the Martin guitars, upright grand piano, et cetera) and am strictly playing electric guitar (including a Reverend Airwave 12 string as a favorite) which requires far less finger strength to play. I can still play the acoustic instruments, but only for about 10 to 15 minutes before my hands and forearms give out. I don't recall any music gigs that are that short. When I was playing for the worship team at my previous church, we would gather for an hour long practice, then go straight into worship. I was not playing so well by the time the church service began. I still play fingerstyle and often use an acoustic simulator (basically, I cheat)!
As far as the new business goes, Poppy's guitar setups and repair, I currently have my first customer's bass (formerly mine) on my workbench. The switch had come loose and someone decided to rotate the switch to change the pickup selection, and when I got to it, the line to the jack was completely severed and lying uselessly in the bottom of the guitar. Not a physically demanding job, nor requiring much know how, but it is a hollowbody without access plates. After I have the electronics put together, I have to work through the F hole and the pickup mounting holes to install it. Not fun! Think about how you would reach a hand in. It is not possible. But I have to pull the jack and k***s and switch through their mounting holes, and install them from outside the guitar!
