mandysee_mandydo | Revival of Big Ben

I cleaned, polished and restrang Big Ben (my 12-string Washburn acoustic guitar) this evening. I'm so happy! I found out I bought extra light strings but that's okay. I'll survive so long as my high G string holds out. If not I may just buy a whole new set of heavier strings. It looks so nice and not neglected. I also removed and cleaned the pickup I had installed in the soundhole and decided I really didn't want it back in. I may reinstall the pickup at some point. I left the wiring inside and taped to a support just inside the soundhole in case I change my mind later. I really cleaned Big Ben. I even sacrificed my toothbrush so I could scrub the hard-to-clean places such as the frets, the joint of the neck and body, the edges of the bridge, the edges of the saddle and in between the tuning machines. It's very handsome once again.

I suppose Cassandra (my Yamaha classical) will be next since that guitar also only needs a cleaning, polishing and restringing.

Susan (my Strat) will have to wait until I get a new tuner (which will be very soon) so I can take it apart, clean out the electronics, check and adjust the intonation, check and adjust the action, clean it, polish it and restring it. That will be a rather major undertaking so it will have to wait for a free weekend, perhaps like the one coming up.

Satan (my Alvarez dreadnaught acoustic) needs a new saddle. I'll most likely replace it with an ivory or bone saddle, though I'm not sure if I'll go with a compensated saddle or not. It all depends on what is available at the Vintage Fret Shop. I'm rather anxious to get it playable again soon since it's an important part of my LARP character.

Wait. Did I just make a life decision based on a freaking LARP?! Somebody beat me upside the head, please. I shall find myself a suitable compensated saddle.

Ozzy (my Ibanez bass) doesn't need new strings since I boiled them recently but does need to be checked for proper intonation. The action needs to be adjusted, too, as the higher notes are flying high above the fingerboard.