| CLAP CLAP RIOT's love at first sight - guest blog! |
| Written by Stephen Heard |
| Wednesday, 05 May 2010 09:48 |
 My 1972 FENDER BRONCO and I, have a love/hate relationship – mostly love. We first met on the inter-web back in the Autumn of 08’. Following a life altering auction battle, I picked up her up for a bargainous price of $700. Not knowing much about her kind or actual quality, it was a nerve-racking drive all the way out West to pick her up. Entering the owner’s house was like walking into a different era, with a whole heap of awesome retro stuff scattered everywhere. The man pointed me to the corner of the room and... we met in person, for the first time. First impressions last and I can tell you - I wasn’t impressed. It turned out that Bronco had been owned by the man since new. With more dents and scratches than actual paint, I’m not sure what he’d been doing with her, but she surely didn’t look to be in the greatest of shape. I was curious to know how she sounded so I asked for a go. I plugged her in to an amp underneath a pile of the man’s stuff and my life CHANGED FOREVER – I’d fallen in love with the ugly old bird at first strum. After picking my heart up from the carpet and wiping away my tears, I forked out the $700 and made an exit. The man stopped me - "...don’t forget your free strap, it goes with the guitar..." - it was a red, musty smelling, broken piece of leather. I replied - "...thanks". Nearly two years later, things are still going swimmingly and she’s sounding better than ever. We’ve had our differences too - like the time I dropped her off a stage two or three meters down to the ground, or how she gives me a nice rash on my arm every time I play. Our anniversary is coming up soon. I might surprise her with a shiny new case, the old one is held together by one dodgy latch and a bunch of luggage tape. I bought her a new strap last year. Be sure to come and check out me and Bronco at one of our upcoming shows in May, we’re on tour with an Australian band by the name of The Scare.  |
