Gear Talk: Wedgies and Keesters

One of my bandmates is a sucker for accessories: the Guitarist Who Has Everything; an epicure of gear. He subscribes to an obscure publication called Tone Quest magazine (Exhibit A).  He owns a hand-made wah-wah pedal (no photo available). Generally we don’t hold this against him; it’s all probably a way of managing a degrading lust for expensive guitars and amps.   But when he bought what we affectionately refer to as “The Wedgie” (AmpWedge™, Exhibit B), we began to make him pay. The Wedgie? Not hard to describe: a triangular piece of black foam upon which to set a guitar amp for optimal tilt.  How much did this cost?  Around thirty-five dollars, I believe.  He was equally proud of his latest capo, dubbed “The Keester,” (Kyser™, Exhibit C), a flashy, electric blue, quick-action, anodized aluminum number.

Then last week at rehearsal he showed up with yet another capo. What’s wrong with The Keester? Well… is it low-profile, matte black, made of ultra-light aerospace grade aluminum? One hand operation with fast micrometer screw? Is it a patent-pending Ned Steinberger* design?  I don’t think so.  In fact, as I immediately saw, there is no comparison.  And this time my reaction was to drive pronto to the local music store (The Vintage Fret Shop, Ashland, NH, $24.95) and buy myself one of them Planet Waves™ NS Design™ capos (exhibit D). It is one sleek, sexy capo.

                 
         Exhibit A                               Exhibit B                               Exhibit C                                Exhibit D

                                        *(FYI Ned Steinberger invented the boxy, headless electric guitars so popular on 80’s MTV).

Comments

[Paul "the gearguy" Hubert]

Yeah Craig, and it's got that little swirly thing on the screw thing. What could be more than THAT?! (;0) PHB esq.