My Ovation/Guitar Center Repair Saga Continues…..

This ongoing situation with my Ovation Guitar and Guitar Center takes a new turn every week it seems.

Briefly, the bridge had separated from the body of the guitar and fortunately for me this is under warranty because it’s a craftmanship issue.  Great!!  Ovation get the bridge to the Guitar Center in Baton Rouge about 3 weeks later (this all started Jan. 11th), and when the Guitar Center received it they let me know.  I was in Mexico at the time and figured once my 3 week stay was done they would call and I’d pay and have my guitar back!



It didn’t happen that way….  There was no contact, I wasn’t in too much of a rush so I decided to spend three weeks with our daughter in Baytown, Texas.  Once again, I never heard anything and I’m getting close to March.

I stop by the Guitar Center coming into town and the clerk sternly told me that if there was anything that I needed to know that I’d have received a call. Hmmmmm.  He graciously checks on it in the back and tells me that the part hadn’t come in but, the part had been in since the later part of January.  I didn’t argue.

Let’s fastforward a little bit.

The guitar tech contacts me to tell me there’s another problem with the guitar.  Once the bridge was attached, he notice with tension the top of the guitar around the bridge warped.  He wanted permission to send it to their store in in New Orleans which had the equipment to work the problem.  I said, “Okay.”

I hear nothing like for three to four weeks.  Then I get an email from the guitar tech in New Orleans.

You’re no gonna believe this…

Everything is looking good!  The bridge is secured he’s gonna do some testing on the tension and if everything is okay it gets shipped back on the 12th of April and expected in Baton Rouge on April 13th.  Super!!

I checked with the store manager in Baton Rouge on the 14th…..no guitar and he said he’d contact New Orleans store for me…

Hang in there I’m almost to the last status which was today when I got to actually ‘touch’ my guitar!



On the 17th of April I get an email from the guitar rep in New Orleans as follows:  “Here is the update on the guitar. It was sent out from our location on April 12th with an expected arrival on Friday, April 13th at the Baton Rouge store (TRK1ZE60W260357934999). It arrived back at the New Orleans location on Monday with no explanation as to why, I assume this was just a shipping error and it will go back out promptly.”  There’s more but that’s the abreviated version, but note the dates.



One of the things that The Guitar Center was complaining about to me is that they were calling me but no one ever answered.

So today, I figured that guitar HAS to be at the Baton Rouge store by NOW!!!  But, for some reason, a call from them doesn’t work.  I’m driving over there today.

The manager isn’t in……(I found out his wife was having a baby!) so I give the clerk a copy of my email and then it seems that confusion ensues.  The search is on!!!

Some Good has to come!!

HERE IT IS!!!!  My Ovation REPAIRED!!!  IN MY HANDS!!!  My heart just leapt!  As the tech was removing the guitar from the case (which they gave me…yeah!) I notice a HUGE HOLE in the back of the guitar!!  That’s right a HOLE!!!
This is a rare ovation that has an access panel that is removed to do the service work.  It’s GONE!!!  They can’t Find it!!!  There were no Ovation guitars with that same access in Baton Rouge or New Orleans!!!  Can you believe this!!!

So, now the search is on for that access panel in New Orleans…and Baton Rouge.  I didn’t take the guitar out of the store, I left it with the understanding they would find or replace the panel.

I’m sure the next update will be much shorter….I’m sure.



Hey!  Just want to give you an opportunity to visit 2 other sites http://www.peaceloveandbeaches.com and http://www.60plusandfearless.com.  And please take a moment to visit my daughter’s GoFundMe page, it’s for a good cause: https://www.gofundme.com/single-momkids-with-car-debt.  And thank you for your consideration.

Peace and love,

John

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The Challenge Grew, Yep, It Did

It grew, the challenge of working on my music in Mexico and now…..it’s a challenge back in the states!

The last I reported was the problem with my Ovation guitar (that saga contines over the past almost 3 months now in the states) where the bridge had pulled up from the body (now I’m finding out that the surface of the guitar is warped).

Shortly after that while working on a song using a keyboard I purchased in the music department at a local store (local at the time was Mexico) the second A note down from middle C went out!!  Oh, just take it in for repair you may say, but it’s not as simple as driving to the nearest keyboard repair place or shipping it to a repair center. Things have a way of disappearing in Mexico.  Something shipped and arriving is haphazard and done rather irresponsibly.



So, I needed a work around. Midi didn’t work out as the key wasn’t reporting properly.  Then a stroke of luck happened!  My software program that I use for recording allowed me to lower my octaves so that an octive transposition took place! Now, I’m back in business.  So, start working the song from an octave postition and everything is going fine.

NEXT!!!

I’ve already got 4 new songs completed, 3 incomplete and 1 just getting underway.  They’re on my external drive that I used back in the states with my iMac.  Now, I’m excited and ready to do some work.  I plug in the external to access a particular song to continue work on and I can’t access the external hard drive…..ugh.

The Challenge Grew, Yep, It Did

I toyed with the external, do some research on youtube.com and come across a possible solution.  I drive 30 miles to an electronics store (they are not on every block there, they are ‘rare’ as a matter of fact) and they don’t have what I need.

Now I’ve got a few choices here; start the songs in progress all over, or work on something new.  BUT!!!!  But, I’ve got no external hard drive to save them to!  Now I could just save that to my internal hard drive on my MacBook Air and I started to do that, it just takes up so much hard drive space!

So, I just decided ‘no’, I’ll just learn some of the tricks of the software, access my backups on my iMac when I get back in the states.



Still on the table of options was to buy another guitar.  Getting a name brand guitar on the Caribbean coast of Mexico is rather slim.  So, not much effort went into that.

Fast forward to being back in the states, sitting at my iMac to access my backups for my completed and working songs and my iMac tells me that the files cannot be accessed, cannot be found, and files may be corrupted!  Ugh!!

Another idea is to bring my external hard drive to a reputable computer store and have the data accessed.  Here’s the story on that.  If the data can be accesseed, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be in the form it was produced. Hmph!  That’s really no good.



Needless to say, only a cursor attempt was made to to retrieve the data.

Now the ‘new’ challenge is to start over.  Whoopiii!

After listening to the mp3’s (no I can’t use mp3’s in this form to maintain a quality recording) of my songs I realized that there had been some things that I could do to improve the elements and production of my songs.  I’m happy now.  Now, I’ve just got to find the original handwritten copies of the songs with the chords on them…..I’m looking.



Challenges are everywhere and a good attitude makes things happen.

Back to the drawing board, or should I say the recording board.

Peace and love,

John

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Happy New Year!!!

I’ve not been here much…..my bad.  But I have been busy!!  I’ve been honing my blogging skills at http://www.peaceloveandbeaches.com     Along with learning a new music software program, writing some more tunes, exposing my creativity to some different vibes.

Moving to Mexico has just been a delight.  Challenges yes, but nothing that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying myself and my new adventures.  One problem is I didn’t bring everything I needed for my music.  According to the immigration rules I was limited on musical instruments that I was importing. It seems and I’m sure it’s from previous experience…..they are trying to stop American’s from bringing musical instruments in to Mexico for resale.  Hell, these people can’t afford those musical instruments!

So, that has been a bit of a set-back.  Most of the instruments I’ve found at the local (about 30 miles away) music store are the 2nd tier instruments from the major and not so major music instrument companies.  And frankly, those instruments are pricey compared to back in the states.

Some sites ship to Mexico….GREAT!  But they don’t ship just any instruments brands.  I guess it’s a NAFTA thing.  So, I can buy an instrument thru Musiciansfriend.com and have it shipped for more than that same instrument purchased here, even though the price may be less expensive.  What happens is…..the shipping cost more than in the states but it’s the ‘import fee’ assessed that’s the killer.

So, I’m having my audio interface shipped to me for less than I can buy one here!!!  Besides, mine is a much better piece of equipment than anything I can get here.  This I could have brought here with me if I had the room!!!  But room in the SUV was precious, too precious.

Back To What I Love, My Music

But, there’s other things I’m able to do with my mics, acoustic guitar, and keyboard (I bought that here…..that was inexpensive) to operate my software via midi.  Plus I like to play the keyboard.

Okay!!!  Enough rambling!!!

Trip on over to the ‘MusicPreview’ tab and Download a FREE Copy of ‘No More Mondays’!  From what I’m told it’s a very ‘easy and painless process’.

I’ll be back shortly……lots of experience, lots of music on the way.

I think I’ll start off sharing some clips from my first CD from several years back.  It’s not the best on certain issues, but I did it and i’m PROUD that I did it!

Here’s a cut….”Wasting Time”

https://soundcloud.com/john-gaudet/wasting-time

See ya soon!!!!

Peace, love, and rock-n-roll!!!

John

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I’ve been working on some music for my upcoming CD.

I’m having to make adjustments down here in Mexico.  Some things aren’t as convenient as I’m accustomed too.  I can’t just run to one of the many music stores….I’ve found there to be one in Quintana Roo!

I was supposedly limited to what equipment I could bring into Mexico.  From reading this restriction is because the government doesn’t want people bringing in instruments tax free and reselling them.  So, I had to leave behind a lot of gear.  At the border……they didn’t even check my inventory!! So now I’m having to reacquire necessary gear for recording.  Some of that gear isn’t available in Mexico and some of the U.S. companies can’t make that product available for shipping to Mexico.  Must be part of NAFTA.

I’m working on this……..

So, most of what I’m doing now is exploring ideas of writing and a new instrument here and there.  It’s interesting. Sort of like I’m biding my time.  Another thing is I’m moving in about a week, so I’ll have a new address.  But getting things mailed or shipped down here seem to be a bit iffy.  Time consuming, expensive, and quite possibly won’t show up.  I’ll be rolling the dice on this one.

I fortunately find myself in a laid back creative environment…..much to my liking.  Sometimes I think, ‘shouldn’t I be doing something?’!  Crazy to think I can live in such a way!  But, it’s my reality.  There’s so much to see and do here….this is the Riviera Maya…the Caribbean outpost of Mexico.  And it’s rather inexpensive to live here, not as inexpensive as living further inland, but it’s inexpensive.

I’ll have the basics of what I need shipped within the next 2 weeks. Then I’ll engage in the recording aspect while continuing to explore new and creative ideas.

I’m working on this………

What I want to do is after I’ve done my basic recordings is take about 2 weeks away in a jungle rental to record my vocals and whatever else comes about.  I’m sure some animal sounds would abound.  The idea of finding a bungalow deep in the jungle and recording there……just has me charmed.

Well that’s what’s happening here.  Back to work after a short siesta.  I love my siesta.

Peace and Love,

John

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It’s what I do. And I do it most all the time.  Of course there are some who say ‘I never listen to them’!  Not never, I’m just listening to other things.  I’m listening now to more and different music.  And I’m curious as to the effect it will have on what I write.

I’m on the Caribbean coast of Mexico!!  I’m not ‘trying’ to fit-in in the sense of forcing myself, but I’m trying to fit-in in a natural sort of way.  Being alive in the moment.  Open to what is happening and taking it in.

Yesterday, I was briefly at a beach in Tulum. Walking….make that trudging along in the sand I pass an outdoor bar at a nearby resort and other than the rows of bottles of liquor enchanting the passerby, me included. Were the authentic sounds of a Caribbean vibe.  This one just grabbed me…..while it had a familiarity about it, there was a distinctive variance.  It caught my attention.  Which, when I’m listening to the sounds around me and seeking out music isn’t hard to find.

I’m out there listening!!!

Realize, there’s such a difference in sound here!  It’s almost as if the sound is designed for a laid back lifestyle that can be transformed to a pulsating frenzy at commanded by a gyrating beat!  Syncopated to the synchronism of life.  I’m not sure if I said something of value, or correctly there, but it is fitting to the surroundings!!

Just to let you know….I’m having fun.

Puerto Morelos

I’ve made the acquaintances of local d.j.’s and resort managers…….introducing me to a new facet of the Caribe Lifestyle.  Can an old dog (me), learn new tricks. That is in play right now.

There’s no new tricks here……it’s music.  It has a beat. I can do this!

It seems to be all in the arrangement…….every song has an arrangement that skillfully (we hope) uses, the beat(s), melody, rhythms, lyrics (if they apply), and a taste of idiosyncrasies that make it unique.  Even to an old time rocker as in me.  Some may say to any who tread in this enchanting landscape that they are doing it wrong…..I beg to differ.  They have made it their own…..unique and authentically theirs.

I’m out there listening!!

I relish the newness, accept the challenge, and look forward to the outcome.

Thanks for tagging along with me……it’s like we’re doing this together!

Peace and Love,

John

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If I haven’t told you before, I’ll tell you now….  I’ve moved.  I’ve taken my creative self on an adventure.  I’m moved to the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Affectionately known as the Riviera Maya.  A new experience!  I’ve traded one piece of paradise for another piece of paradise.

Just to let you know.

But why trade in one piece of paradise for another piece of paradise.  I like paradise?  There’s a difference.  Quite a bit of difference. Starting with the country, its people, culture, cuisine and even the beaches are different.  So, this becomes an adventure.  I write about adventure, I talk about adventure……darn it’s exciting to live an adventure.

So, I’ve been busying myself doing a little exploring.  I’ve hit the beaches first off…..well, no I hit the restaurants first, over the first week.  Yeah, most of them were on the beach or a street or two off the beach.  Visiting the fishing village of Puerto Morelos.

Welcome To Puerto Morelos

I spent to first week here……I rather enjoyed myself too.  The only thing I didn’t like about this little village was the seaweed.  While there isn’t an overabundance of seaweed, it does take away from the experience.

Here I’ve gotten the exposure to some of the music of the Caribbean……unique.  Has me rethinking a sound. Very diversified by my first experience.

It’s a Brazilian guitar of sorts!!!  Great sound.  Naturally I inquired and I want one.  While the name escapes me, it’s in my iPhone.

There were some other troubadours, guitars, harps, and the such…..while I don’t have pictures of all, I did do some videos that are on my Facebook page……https://www.facebook.com/johngaudet333   Stop by for a visit.

I’m hoping the influx of sound will have an effect on my writing…..I’m sure it will. Plus at some of the bars there’s music blaring from the stereo systems and I’m catching that stuff too.

My friend Nolan is a musician. He lives 3 doors down (sounds like a good name for a rock group!) and plays out and about periodically.  I like to catch him when I can…..very good, works his audience really well too.

So, there you go… My update.  Now, back over to www.peaceloveandbeaches.com for my daily post and then back to my music. Don’t forget while you’re here to download your FREE copy of “No More Mondays”!!!!  Did I mention it was FREE!!!!

Peace and Love,

John

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