((( JOLTED INTO INNER-SILENCE )))

The Fender Starcaster, Stratocaster copy, guitar 

had much shallower holes for the tuners

((( MUCH SHALLOWER ))))

I had to go size by size up to the point where the new locking tuners would fit

When I got to the last size drill bit the top of the headstock of the Starcaster broke off!!

The guitar is ruined. I'm going to have to throw it away!!

I can't believe it!!!!

((( THE GUITAR IS RUINED!!! )))

Talk about reaching the don Juanian "Place of No Pity"

I was so shocked then angry I went right off all scales of being angry

All that was left was a calm, 'cold as the Arctic wind' type of peace

My only consolation is that the Fender Starcaster only cost me about $130.00

If you can call that a consolation. If this had happened to my ACTUAL Fender Stratocaster

...I don't even want to think about it!!!!!!!

For your information:

Expanding the size of holes in order to fit new tuners is a job for a drill press

((( NOT A HAND DRILL!!! )))

I found this out the hard way as I keep widening the holes

The job was proving to be sloppy and unispiring

When the top of the headstock of the guitar broke off

I was jolted into a profound state of inner-silence

I was so shocked I could not believe it!!!!

It was indeed the most mind-blowing event of the year!!

I hit rock bottom so fast. Well...it was quite an experience

One that I NEVER, EVER WANT TO REPEAT

NOT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!!

I went to Musician's Friend and found a replacement Fender Stratocaster neck

FOR $199.00!!!!!

WITH NO GUARANTEE IT WILL FIT PROPERLY ON THE STARCASTER

FENDER STRATOCASTER NECK

Or...

I could order yet another California Classic from Monoprice for $89.00 

This one in white

MONOPRICE CALIFORNIA CLASSIC

So, I decided to order another guitar and

NOT MODIFY IT AT ALL!!!!

FUCK MODIFYING CHEAP GUITARS!!!

THOSE DAYS ARE OVER!!!!

((( MOTHER FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!!!! )))

I swear, I spent a while fantasizing

smashing myself over the head with a baseball bat

over and over and over and over and over

until there was nothing left but a soft pile of bloody gore

where my head used to be

fucking idiot!!

Who knows! Maybe the Monoprice tuners 

are so much better than the one's 

on the Starcaster that I won't even want to change them!!

I've read no real complaints about the pickups

Maybe this is the best way to go!

Heck, me fixing anything sure isn't!

This much I know for certain:

The tuning machines on the Monoprice Route 66 Les Paul are excellent!

They are much better than I expected them to be 

They hold the guitar in tune more than adequate for my needs

It is logical to assume that the tuners on 

the Monoprice California Classic Fender Stratocaster copy guitars

will follow the same overall standard of quality as the tuners on the Route 66

So, I'm going to blindly believe that breaking the Starcaster guitar

was exactly what I needed to do to save me money

I call this, "A blind hangover belief"

(boy did I ever get drunk after breaking the guitar neck)

ALL THIS UPGRADING HARDWARE IS GOING BACK TO AMAZON!!!

In the long run, I will end up saving money by my decisions and actions!

UPDATE:

My Fender Starcaster is not THIS broken!!

I had assumed that it was not worth fixing

Suddenly, I'm not so certain anymore

I should not have impulsively ordered the new white Monoprice California classic guitar

It's too late. I can refuse the package when it gets here and will not have to pay return shipping

However the initial shipping charge of $27.00 will be lost to me

There is the concept of taking something that is hopelessly broken

and fixing it to the point where it becomes better than it has ever been

It's kind of like my relationship with the Spirit

I feel like demonstrating to the Spirit how I would never want the Spirit to give up on me 

no matter how broken I may be from life

PHASE ONE

Glued and clamped now wait til tomorrow night

Not as perfectly aligned as it should be, but

the most important thing is the alignment at the top of the headstock

Many things have gotten worse in life, but it's great to know

glue is now stronger than it has ever been!

UPDATE:

I have decided that I am not going to send a fine wood dust

all over the house by doing Dremel tool type touch-up sanding so

I will have to wait until tomorrow and do it outside


To Be Continued...

I've been thinking about something here
I ordered the Monoprice California classic Fender Stratocaster copy guitars in both black and white
They should arrive TODAY whether I like it or not
The black one was on a July 4th 2014 sale for $69.00



The new locking tuners I tried to install on the Fender Starcaster guitar,
which resulted in my breaking the headstock of the neck
COST MORE THAN THE BLOODY MONOPRICE GUITAR!!!!



I think it would be wise of me to postpone any more work on the Starcaster
until AFTER I test out the Monoprice California classic guitars



I am still within my 30 days and can still send all the EXPENSIVE guitar upgrading hardware
back to Amazon and get a full refund for the purchase price



Just one of the pickguards with the famous Fat 50s Stratocaster pickups on it
costs more than both Monoprice California Classic guitars put together

(minus shipping)



The way I feel right now, I don't even want to hear how those Fat 50s pickups sound
Personally, these guitars are only going to be used for honoring Jimi Hendrix



Stratocasters are great guitars, but I like the Les Paul sound much better
Plus I like the feel of the Les Paul much better
Fact of the matter is Fender Stratocaster guitars are simply
not very good for playing jazz

Rock, Country, Blues, R&B, but NOT jazz

I like the Les Paul because it's great for EVERY style of music!



Why spend a lot of money 'hot-rodding' Stratocaster copy guitars
when I don't really like Stratocaster guitars except to look at?



I have no regrets gluing the headstock of the Fender Starcaster
I may decide to put the old tuners back on it and have it as a spare guitar

This is how easy I expected

installing the locking tuners on the Fender Starcaster would be

The fucking joke's on me!!!


Laugh it up, God!!!

Very funny, right?


shit!

NEW COOL TRICK!!!

Push the whammy bar a little then give it a slight pull

before tuning the guitar

When done properly a slight pull should result in bringing the guitar

back in tune after using the whammy bar!

Never knew this before!!!