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Roaches don't seem to bother your guitar
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mark cleary
Jan 28, 2012, 11:58:37 AM1/28/12
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The thread on extreme heat or cold had me thinking of when my dad shipped me
his Barker guitar in 1984 he was not able to play anymore so sent it from
LA. It had basically spent 19 years in southern Ca. and was in excellent
shape zero problems issues. Well as I mentioned I left it in the whole
shipping case and box for about 30 hours before opening just to give it slow
change in any temp extremes. It was in January and I recall very cold below
zero most of the nights so to be safe in going through various climates
shipping I would let it sit. This was good because of course nothing
happened the guitar was fine dad did not even detune just packed it and
shipped. Well the funny thing was the guitar was stored at my dad's studio
that was terribly roach infested in a not so-good-area of LA. The roaches
were crawling all over everything when I would visit him. They came out of
the piles of music and yes probably crawled all around the guitar case....
who knows where? Now that the guitar was in my house I though this could
bring the roaches and they might have planted eggs more roaches in the case
or packing materials. What to do?
I called my local exterminator friend and he said the easiest solution was
to just leave everything outside for 2 days in the below zero weather and
those roaches would be long gone. I told him I could not leave the guitar
out or get near exposing it to that extreme cold. He just said he understood
but the below zero is the best exterminator known those roaches will never
live. So my solution was I got the guitar and shook it all around to see if
any roaches or other living things would emerge from the f holes. It was a
bit dusty but nothing. So then I put the guitar on the stand and took the
case outside on the front patio and the temp was around 8 or 9 degrees for
the high. I left this beautiful, crushed purple interior, lifton case
outside for 3 days to give those roaches the real freeze if they were
lurking in existence. Then went back in and cleaned the old Barker up and it
was fine apparently roaches did not find the guitar appetizing. I bought the
case back in after the Illinois freeze and the roaches never appeared ,
lifton cases are good for at least -10 with not ill effects, and once the
temp equaled out I put the guitar back in the case. I then took it to Bill
Barkers shop a few days later in Peoria and Bill told me the story of making
the guitar and how it made him sick( below). Barker was really pleased to
see it again appreciated that dad had keep in in super shape but still well
used by a real player.
Anyone interested I would post a pick of the guitar as it sits today, if
there is interest. Was the 8th Barker made and all original. For the more
OCD in the group the action at the 12 fret low is 5/64 bass side, 4/64 12th
fret treble side, very little relief in the neck .005. Rosewood fingerboard
which is unusual Barker normally used ebony. Has abalone inlay, only about 3
Barker guitars have this because Bill later found out he had an allergic
reaction to abalone dust and had to stop using abalone. Floating D'earmond
that sounds wonderful electric. It has a single bass bar like the Stromberg
guitars and Bill used this for his first 15 or so guitars. Give the guitar a
punchy type sound not quite as steely sounding as some archtops. I use this
guitar if I ever play a strolling gig it does the trick like no other guitar
for this application. When Martin Taylor was in town the first thing he
wanted to see was this guitar since his own Barker was number 9. He said
that it was good to see his guitars sister................that is all I
remember since Martin proceeded play solo guitar in the living room for
about 40 minutes. I was all ears and eyes and at 8:30 in the morning he had
no trouble playing before even a cup of coffee to start the day.
I guess roaches are ok just not the cold.
Deacon Mark Cleary
Epiphany Catholic Church
his Barker guitar in 1984 he was not able to play anymore so sent it from
LA. It had basically spent 19 years in southern Ca. and was in excellent
shape zero problems issues. Well as I mentioned I left it in the whole
shipping case and box for about 30 hours before opening just to give it slow
change in any temp extremes. It was in January and I recall very cold below
zero most of the nights so to be safe in going through various climates
shipping I would let it sit. This was good because of course nothing
happened the guitar was fine dad did not even detune just packed it and
shipped. Well the funny thing was the guitar was stored at my dad's studio
that was terribly roach infested in a not so-good-area of LA. The roaches
were crawling all over everything when I would visit him. They came out of
the piles of music and yes probably crawled all around the guitar case....
who knows where? Now that the guitar was in my house I though this could
bring the roaches and they might have planted eggs more roaches in the case
or packing materials. What to do?
I called my local exterminator friend and he said the easiest solution was
to just leave everything outside for 2 days in the below zero weather and
those roaches would be long gone. I told him I could not leave the guitar
out or get near exposing it to that extreme cold. He just said he understood
but the below zero is the best exterminator known those roaches will never
live. So my solution was I got the guitar and shook it all around to see if
any roaches or other living things would emerge from the f holes. It was a
bit dusty but nothing. So then I put the guitar on the stand and took the
case outside on the front patio and the temp was around 8 or 9 degrees for
the high. I left this beautiful, crushed purple interior, lifton case
outside for 3 days to give those roaches the real freeze if they were
lurking in existence. Then went back in and cleaned the old Barker up and it
was fine apparently roaches did not find the guitar appetizing. I bought the
case back in after the Illinois freeze and the roaches never appeared ,
lifton cases are good for at least -10 with not ill effects, and once the
temp equaled out I put the guitar back in the case. I then took it to Bill
Barkers shop a few days later in Peoria and Bill told me the story of making
the guitar and how it made him sick( below). Barker was really pleased to
see it again appreciated that dad had keep in in super shape but still well
used by a real player.
Anyone interested I would post a pick of the guitar as it sits today, if
there is interest. Was the 8th Barker made and all original. For the more
OCD in the group the action at the 12 fret low is 5/64 bass side, 4/64 12th
fret treble side, very little relief in the neck .005. Rosewood fingerboard
which is unusual Barker normally used ebony. Has abalone inlay, only about 3
Barker guitars have this because Bill later found out he had an allergic
reaction to abalone dust and had to stop using abalone. Floating D'earmond
that sounds wonderful electric. It has a single bass bar like the Stromberg
guitars and Bill used this for his first 15 or so guitars. Give the guitar a
punchy type sound not quite as steely sounding as some archtops. I use this
guitar if I ever play a strolling gig it does the trick like no other guitar
for this application. When Martin Taylor was in town the first thing he
wanted to see was this guitar since his own Barker was number 9. He said
that it was good to see his guitars sister................that is all I
remember since Martin proceeded play solo guitar in the living room for
about 40 minutes. I was all ears and eyes and at 8:30 in the morning he had
no trouble playing before even a cup of coffee to start the day.
I guess roaches are ok just not the cold.
Deacon Mark Cleary
Epiphany Catholic Church
TD
Jan 28, 2012, 12:08:22 PM1/28/12
to
-TD
GreggL
Jan 28, 2012, 9:27:30 PM1/28/12
to
Gregg
thomas
Jan 28, 2012, 9:28:17 PM1/28/12
to
I accidentally burned the top of my tele with a roach back in the 70s.
GreggL
Jan 28, 2012, 9:36:40 PM1/28/12
to
On Jan 28, 8:58 am, "mark cleary" <mclear...@comcast.net> wrote:
with some great mechanical and repair info and then every now and
again you "Barker" out (quietly) with one these anecdotes like Martin
Taylor playing a solo concert for you in your living room!
You're a hoot! I love it.
Gregg
TD
Jan 28, 2012, 10:39:12 PM1/28/12
to
On Jan 28, 9:28 pm, thomas <drthomasfbr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I accidentally burned the top of my tele with a roach back in the 70s.
That explains it.
> I accidentally burned the top of my tele with a roach back in the 70s.
danstearns
Jan 29, 2012, 7:09:06 AM1/29/12
to
Mitch
Jan 29, 2012, 8:50:48 AM1/29/12
to
I'm trying to add a clever comment like the other replies, but I just
can't come up with one at the moment...'Maybe later on. But it's quite
a story! I remember playing one of Bill's guitars at his booth at a
guitar show, and I thought it was quite nice. I think it was grey, or
another color unique for a guitar (No guys...I don't think it was
blue).
Mitch Seidman
TiborReach
Jan 30, 2012, 1:35:11 AM1/30/12
to
On maybe a similar note, I once visited a friend at his old country
house - a converted (barely) barn. We jammed and I left my case open
overnight with the guitar (a J50) inside. The next morning I closed
the case and put the guitar in the car for the ride home. That night I
got the guitar out to practice and while picking it up heard something
inside.....
A dead mouse. Scared the crap out of me! (I admit it...) It could have
been worse had he been alive I guess.
house - a converted (barely) barn. We jammed and I left my case open
overnight with the guitar (a J50) inside. The next morning I closed
the case and put the guitar in the car for the ride home. That night I
got the guitar out to practice and while picking it up heard something
inside.....
A dead mouse. Scared the crap out of me! (I admit it...) It could have
been worse had he been alive I guess.
David J. Littleboy
Jan 30, 2012, 3:18:05 AM1/30/12
to
"TiborReach" <ruanas...@mypacks.net> wrote in message
news:177df67b-d1e4-45ce...@o4g2000pbc.googlegroups.com...
On maybe a similar note, I once visited a friend at his old country
house - a converted (barely) barn. We jammed and I left my case open
overnight with the guitar (a J50) inside. The next morning I closed
the case and put the guitar in the car for the ride home. That night I
got the guitar out to practice and while picking it up heard something
inside.....
A dead mouse. Scared the crap out of me! (I admit it...) It could have
been worse had he been alive I guess.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
At least you found it before it started to stink...
house - a converted (barely) barn. We jammed and I left my case open
overnight with the guitar (a J50) inside. The next morning I closed
the case and put the guitar in the car for the ride home. That night I
got the guitar out to practice and while picking it up heard something
inside.....
A dead mouse. Scared the crap out of me! (I admit it...) It could have
been worse had he been alive I guess.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Hey, if you're still in Tokyo, drop me private note (if you can stand
putting up with rank beginners, that is).
(Things are more than a tad crazy here. But we're planning on a return to
normal by the summer, and I have good intentions of making at least some
time for any rmmgj-ers who come by.)
--
David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
TD
Jan 30, 2012, 8:39:31 AM1/30/12
to
>
> - Show quoted text -
Had it been a dead fish you'd have really been in trouble.
TiborReach
Jan 30, 2012, 9:23:08 AM1/30/12
to
Hello, David.
Wow, Thank you very much for the invite. Unfortunately I am on my way
back stateside tomorrow morning. I had a great time though and hope to
come back. Maybe then. And yes, I was lucky about the stink part, but
even without that it was all pretty disgusting! It made me consider
going solid body from then on.
Tibor
Wow, Thank you very much for the invite. Unfortunately I am on my way
back stateside tomorrow morning. I had a great time though and hope to
come back. Maybe then. And yes, I was lucky about the stink part, but
even without that it was all pretty disgusting! It made me consider
going solid body from then on.
Tibor
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