Sunday morning.
After yesterday’s first encounter with the AZ-10 — the cleaning, the old flatwounds, the initial lack of inspiration through the Cub8, followed by that unexpected explosion of life through the Pro Junior IV, the Triple Threat and feedback — I decided to spend some quieter time with her.
I cleaned her again, lemon-oiled the fretboard, lowered the bridge saddle and put on a fresh set of 9–42 roundwound strings.
Once the strings had settled enough, I sat down with her and the Pro Junior.
Ten minutes.
Triple Threat, echo only.
No distortion. No attempt to make her into something else.
Just the AZ-10’s own voice through the amp.
And she was wonderful.
I played mostly my own little melodies, along with the classic Thank You Jesus. There was something beautiful about hearing the hollowbody simply breathe through the Pro Junior. The guitar didn’t need much help. It had its own character, its own resonance and its own way of carrying a melody.
Yesterday she showed me that she could rock.
Today she showed me that she could sing.
Another ten minutes later, I brought her out to the Cub8.
This time I started with the Secret Path alone. Again, the AZ-10’s voice came through beautifully.
Then I engaged the Team Medic as a boost, keeping things simple, and played There Is None Like You along with more melodies that came to mind.
The new 9–42 strings made a considerable difference. The AZ-10 now feels much easier under my fingers. The action is lower and comfortable, although still not as low as Joy’s.
I’m not going to chase Joy’s setup just for the sake of matching it. The AZ-10 is playing well, so there is no reason to disturb the neck. I’ll let the guitar settle with the new strings and simply keep playing her.
That’s really what these first two days have been about.
Saturday was discovery: this big German hollowbody can rock, and she can even talk back through feedback.
Sunday was quieter: fresh strings, a lower saddle, simple pedals, and melodies.
And I think I’m beginning to understand her.
She doesn’t need to be the next Gretsch I don’t own.
She doesn’t need to be the perfect jazz guitar.
She just needs to be herself.
And right now, I’m enjoying listening to what she has to say.