December 28, 2005
The Rats Ate My Guitar Saga
So, once upon a time in 1998 or so, I made a papier-mache guitar. It was pretty cool, and was used for all sorts of drag shows, and had a lovely shiny red finish and a custom fretboard which allowed complex fingering... okay, just kidding. But I loved that guitar.
A few weeks ago, the latest in a series of drag events came around, and the day before the gig I climbed into the attic to retrieve my trusty axe. What's this? Why is it all frayed? What's this all over it? Aughhh!
Our previously intact attic had been invaded by rats, coming in from under the eaves in a weak spot I later found. The rats, finding nothing edible in our spare-towels and off-season-clothes storage space, had resorted to chowing down on very, very old papier-mache. My poor guitar. And Spike and I had a gig the very next day!
I cleaned the rat poo off, and made with the spray paint in a hasty sort of way, then spot-repaired with hot glue and a couple of big-ass staples... and it held together for our big number.
But I'm not sure it will ever be quite the same....
-Elaine