My family is staying home, but I’ll be at the Orlando International Guitar Convention on Saturday, February 1. If you watch the YouTube channel, you would be able to identify my ugly ass err, I mean, handsome mug and if you do, please say hi!

Last year I did a “convention tips” video, so I’m not going to be remaking that.  I’m also not going to be shooting any video where I’m standing in front of the camera with a mic talking.  Why not?  Mostly because I would rather spend all of my time looking at all the cool stuff.

This year I have a small list of things that I’d like to find.  Some discounted Fender Strat pickups would be welcome (Alnico only, none of that ceramic stuff.)  If I could find a Keeley 4 knob compressor to replace my old one that died, I might pick that up, or maybe a Wamper Ego Compressor.  That’d be good.

I’m also always open to buying any cool humbucker pickups or guitar parts or strat bodies or necks or pickguards.  You never know what you’ll find.

I don’t have the cash to buy any of the guitars still on my wish list right now.  I kinda want a Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster, but they go for almost new prices used.  I never see them cheap.  My current “dream” guitar is the Epiphone Les Paul Custom, black with gold hardware.  Yes, I already have two Epiphone Les Pauls.  But I love the black custom ever so much.  I’d love to hang it on my wall like a piece of art.

Last year I bought an Epiphone SG for like $293 or something.  I still play it, a year later, so that’s good.

It’s not just the convention that I look forward to.  I look forward to the hotel almost as much.  I stay at the Embassy Suites on International Drive in Orlando, near the convention centers.  International Drive has a lot of cool places to eat, and a Dave and Busters, and a giant ferris wheel, and a Friendly’s which has great ice cream.  If it’s still there.

Some people hate to eat alone and be alone in a hotel room, but I absolutely LOVE it.  I’m not sure why.  It might have something to do with never staying in hotels as a kid because they were “too expensive.”  Now I get a suite for just me.  Mwa ha ha!  Also, that particular hotel has an indoor pool and hot tub.  Last year I spent an hour talking to a nice couple in the hot tub.  He used to be a DJ, so we talked music.

So I’ll check in on Friday night, go out and eat dinner, go back and hit the pool and the hot tub (and maybe the bar) and then crash.  Get up early Saturday morning, get in line at the convention, spend the day there.  Eat horrible food for lunch.  Then back to… the hotel, another night out eating dinner, another trip to the pool/hot tub/bar (not in that order probably) and then back to my room.  Get up Sunday, check out, and either go back to the convention or go home.

I am sooooo looking forward to this!