Learning Curved

Well, I have strings on The Whipped One, not the proper strings as I fear I may get thru a few sets before the set-up is pukka right,  but strings there are.

And first thing I must say, is the overwound Uber nutski Mojotron (for want of a better name) nearly took my head off. Man it is loud.

Still, that was clanging it with a tuning fork, with the strings it is more of a normal level, which is pretty cool.

And I had  forgotten how much a bit of power helps with these fretless guitars - who'd have known, eh?

Sustain is distinctly lacking of course, and thankfully the  recently arrived Line 6 amp #1 bratski loves. has a variety of high gain settings so I haven't had to wind my AC15 up to 11, which thhe neighbours no doubt approve of..

And playing this is a total voyage of intrigue and discoveryness.. I actually got vaguely competent with The Iceblink One, but that is long forgotten, and I've found treating it as though you are playing slide works the best (you press over where the frets should be of course, instead of the more usual between them.)

The weird thing is that the action can be incredibly low. At the moment it is too high (mainly because I can't find my nut files), but even so we are talking a mm at most. Still, find them I will and I'll  get that down.

The neck  is gorgeous - Warmoth definitely know their onions. Funny colour, but lovely all the same.

Still to do, other than the set-up, are to fashion a pickguard out of something and a string bar thingy instead of the string tree as once the nut is down, deep down low, I remember needing one or the strings spend more time out of the groove than I do.

I have to say it is dead good fun to play, really pleased I did it ..

La la laaa

Times-a-Running-Out For A Free Guitar

Well, The Fretboard One is nearly done and will be given away next week.

And do you know what? It could be you playing this trendilicious lump of Jookiness...

So how can you get it?

Well, as previously mentioned it will be given away to a member of The Fretboard Forum, a member who has sent a few shekels in their direction to go toward keeping this independent, advert-less place of sanity and tranquillity of a guitarish variety going.

So if you fancy it all you need to do is:

1. Join The Fretboard Forum. It is free, fun, edumacational and generally cool,

2. Go to the 'Free Guitar' thread Here and send a couple of quid to the PayPal address show. Say hello and meet the natives, they bite but no more than a nibble.

3. Cross thine fingers

And it is as easy as that.

The guitar is rather cool, featuring:

a. A stunningly cool hand made body of Tele-ish design with a wickedly cool corroded bronze/copper finish

b. A beautiful bound and blocked maple/rosewood neck

c. Sperzel Tuners

d. Callaham Bridge

e. Mojo Pickups Tele bridge pickup

f. Mojo pickups Gold Foil at the neck

g. Uber trendy ye Olde wiring loom with all the good stuff (CTS, Switchcraft, PIO caps etc.)

h. Strap pins

and err, think that is it. Oh a case probably too.

Obviously this is a complete one-off, never to be repeated and it is signed and dated and everything else.

Last chance....

La la laaaaa

WIP: The Whipped One

Well, things are a movin' if not quite a groovin' here in the Kingdom of the Fat White Jook,and yesterday saw my little The Whipped One take several giant steps in the right direction.

As you can see from the pix, the Mother of Jooky inside-of-a-shell top is finito'ed, and I went subtle (ha - me, subtle) for the back to show off the Flamey Walnut body nicely. (Came as a shock, I didn't realise you could get flamed walnut at room temperature)

Other than that the blingy gold bridge matches the blingy Gold Sperzels and Blingy Gold Gretsch knobs, and the super and dooper looking Mojotron, whilst not gold, adds to the visual wow-ness.

I spent a lot of time checking on the flatness of the fretless ebony 'board, so fingers crossed it works as planned...

As for what is left - well, I need to sort out a pickguard and I didn't have any bling gold neckplates or strap pins, so they are on the way annd will be swapped for th ones I put on yesterday. I am also still waiting for the flatwound strings, but hopefully they will be here today or tomorrow. If I get the nut on I might try some normal strings just to get the string height right, or I may not. it's that sort of day, really.

La la laaaa

WIP: The Fretboard One

Well, I was aiming for the end of January to complete The Fretboard One, and it is going to be close as for once in my life I have someone who needs me, someone I've needed so long, and I have managed to get my act in gear and my backside together and well, do a little...

As you can hopefully see, I've taken TTony's rather lovely hand made body, and smothered it in bronze and copper and then generally abused it with foulness and vitriol. And rather bonny it looks on it too.

I have of course forgotten to take fotos all the way along, but heh, such is life.

As the eagle-eyed among you may notice, the rather cool Callaham bridge is a little wonky (it isn't screwed down, but I also need to sand the routing somewhat still) but the Mojo Gold Foil is already nailed down and there we are.

So, more to do, but progress, and that is never a bad thing. Unless you are a Roman.

La la laaa

Flagellation (For The Nation)

Well, time it scoots on, but I got around to putting a few coats of pearly and silver Mother of Jooky onto The Whipped One, and rather nice it is coming along too if I say so myself which I clearly do.

I even got a start on with the headstock, which suprised me, and I even more even bought the rest of the bits.

This  could be fun..

As for other things, well, I need to get my act together, so I will. Or might at least  soon enough

La la la laaaaa

Ganga Game-on

They Cut Them With Their Metal Knives
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Well, it has taken a while but sick children, flood warnings, roof-ripping Gales and general pestilence apart, I am finally going to start on the Ganga6 Jooky Jrs tomorrow, as well, it is about time and slightly overdue even by my standards.

And if you can't remember what these are, I won't be surprised or throw chalk at you, as I'm not sure I can really remember meself.

So from the top, the idea is to make six guitars that all have the same spec but stay utterly unique by having completely different finishes.


The Gangas are all based on a streamlined Tele body, some are alder others ash, and the back and sides will all be walnut stained which always looks rather good. I've listed the finishes before but they are all Jooky faves, rusty iron, corroded copper and bronze, Mother of Jooky pearl, paisley and gold leaf'd.

Each will have a single bridge pickup, one of Mr Mojo's finest Teisco-stylee Gold Foils, and some Mojo wiring for long-term uncomplicated and predictible motoring.

The necks are some lovely Strat ones that have already been levelled, frets polished, nuts cut and woody bits stained and Tru-oiled and waxed which is rather deevine, and may even boast tuners. I know, they have it all.

As for the rest, well the final Midget Gem in the jar is an especially made scratchplate which will set it off a treat.

I also mentioned before that these will be available to pre-order at a cheaper price and as it happens three have already gone, the Gold Leaf one, and two others that I can't remember at the moment and genuinely can't be arsed to look at, so if you do fancy joining the fray, it might be wise to give me a tinkle bell. £599 now or £749 later, I think I said. (Note to self, you'd better check).

So tomorrow, I start with the body staining. or fake tanning as it is known locally, as I look kinda like Jooky Essex by the time it is done and from there it is party on.

So anyway, the Ganga6, gammon.

La la laaaa

Whipped Pick-Me-Up

Well, just saw a flashy foto of the rather cool blade pickup that will end-up on The Whipped One, my Fretless La Cab-a-like, and rather stunning it is too, methinks.

I know you probably think of me as the chief Mojo Pickups fanboi, but it is this type of lateralness I just love, the guy is a genius, end-of.

Just don't tell him I said so, you know, he might put his prices up.

As for the rest, well ignoring the pile of other things I haven't finished, I should have the paint this week and will get a move on methinks.

La la laaaa

WIP: The Alcman One

Well, got up this morning needing to get on with something, so I dived straight into my little box of Mojo goodliness, and grabbed the pair of Gold Foils and loom for The Alcman One.

Everybody needs a Jazzmaster on a Sunday morning.

As you can see, Alkie is a rather wondrous Daphne Blue Nitro jobby, complete with some lovely dinks and lacquer craziness, and for once it has strap pins engaged.

I really fancied proper Teisco looking Mojo Gold Foils in a Jazzmaster as they look stupendous, but this presents a few challenges as far as fitting them goes, so I've used some fibreboard for them to sit on and amazingly it worked great. Sorry about the shonky fotos, but it really does look cool.

As for the rest, I've used one of the last of my blocked and bound necks, which looks proper pukka and all Fender parts for everything else really.



As for what is left to do, well it is all at the headstock end as it needs the Sperzels banging in along with the string bar thingy, logo and headstock painting, but other than that...tis lovely.

I think tomorrow will see me splashing metal paints and acid around the gaff, but then...who can really say what tomorrow will have to say about it all.

La la laaa

Saturday is Mojo Day

Mojo Pickups and loom for The Fretboard One
Sexy as Sin

Well, an early morning knock of the door here at the Palace d'Jook saw a flustered postie lady looking, well,  flustered as she handed over a large white box.

I love it when piles of Mojo pickups arrive as they are always so groovy.

First out of the box were a set of Mr Mojo's Authentic Vintage Dano Lipstick Pickups, along with a nice wiring loom and all the usual funky caps and pots. These of course are going into #1 Bratskis sparkly Gecko Strat and a quick plonk together shows them to be well funky. I may change the scratchplate, as the golden anodised metal one needs the holes for the pickups widening, and I quite fancy going for maximum wow and getting Custom Cool Etch to make one of their wonders instead. We'll see though as I'm not sure my boy will want to be waiting much longer.

Next of course, are the pickups and loom for The Fretboard One. A Tele bridge pickup with a Gold Foil for the neck duties. This ia actually well on it's way now, just need to finish the finish and we'll be in clover.

Incidentally, this is the guitar that will be randomly given to a supporter of the Fretboard forum - and you still have time to  stake a claim and join the place and make a small donation toward their running costs. It is going to be quite a monster with it's hand made body, bound and blocked neck, Sperzel tuners, Callaham bridge and the aforementioned Mojo Handwound pickups.Don't miss out -  All the Gen Here.

The third pile of goodliness in that there box was if anything more exciting. This is of course a little closer to my heart, as it is a Jazzmaster wiring loom complete with a pair of Mojo Teisco style Gold Foil pickups, which will find a home nailed to the front of The Alcman One. I think this could be something rather special and I am hoping that tomorrow may see a final introductiion on that one.

Speaking of introductions, I still haven't taken some snaps or The Sally James and Diamond Shiny Ones to share with the world, so I should probably do that too.

Anyway...

La la laaaa

Whip Crack Away

Well, while I've been a-plotting-and-a-planning, one of the things I thought I'd do was make myself a la Cabronita. Oh, I know they are tuppence a pound, now that Fender/Squier have finally recognised they'd Dun Good, but it really doesn't matter as I prefer my own.

From the top, I snagged a rather nice walnut body, routed for a single TV Jones sized pickup, which OK doesn't give you as many options, but I think look better. Call me King Shallow, but it matters. I'm going for something pretty and cool in the finish dept. too, which is nice.

As for the all important pickup, I've (surprisingly, for the regular reader with a poor memory) ordered something special from Marc at Mojo Pickups, along with the loomy wire thing to go with it. This is going to be hot, as I need the extra oomph for what I am planning...

As for the rest, I'm going for a hard tail of some sort, which I clearly haven't decided yet, tuners are going to be Sperzels and Strap Pins and knobs, well two of each, don't need to say any more than that.

All of which doesn't quite nail the 'Something Different' angle, but I think the fact that the neck is a beautiful maple with an ebony fretboard will help, and the fact that it is fretless definitely does.

I did once make a fretless guitar, quite a while ago, which I think International Jet Set Rock Star Mr Chris Gorman still has, and that was crazy fun and rather weird to play, and I've always been keen to do another, and so well, here it will be. (The fret positions on this one have been scored into the 'board, which I think will help somewhat, I have to admit.)

So that will be The Whipped One, whenever it is I get around to it.

La la laaaa

Lizard-a-Go-Go

Well, I haven't done a lot other than pose in front of a full length mirror with The Lingering Honey One, but on behalf of  #1 bratski, a little project arrived this morning which tempted me to, well, do something useful.

As you can see it is a Strat, and it has been finished by the Wizard that is Rich (Ceri) Rendall over the big bridge I used to be able to see until they built a load of houses.

It is one I saw Rich put on Facebook a couple of months back, and is a rather startlingly noticeable glittery Gecko kind of look, he has finished to his usual high standard using Ye Olde Nitro paints and Suzi Quatro's make-up. Probably.

From here, it has had a nice steel blocked Hipshot style Wilkinson trem nailed on, and Marc at Mojo Pickups is doing me a set of his Authentically Vintage Danelectro  lipstick pickups, which should be rather cool.

This isn't a Jooky for once, as it is for said bratski, but I'll no doubt leave my mark on it somewhere. Probably with a screwdriver..

All of which means I'm back in business, so expect a bit more excitement in the coming months.

And if you need any nitro painted on your guitar, Rich of Rendall's Restorations can be found on Facebook Here (or if you don't do the FB thing, I'll pass you his email address)

La la laaaa

Introducing: The Lingering Honey One

Well, it has taken a while, but the rather dapper and fresh, The Lingering Honey One is finally complete, and oh what a joy, oh what a feat....

The final touch of course, I'll mention first, was the rather beautiful scratchplate I had custom made by Custom Cool Etch, which is a stunning piece of work. Chris and Jane are nice people, and there is a lot of talent up there in the frozen North of England, or the always sunny South, if you are a Scot, and I really can't describe how chuffed I was when I saw the finished article. Utterly brilliant and really captures the whole vibe perfectly. My lovely Paisley-J, immortalised, I feel so proud.

(The fotos aren't the best - apologies - I'll do better anon)

When I started on Honey, I was thinking Deco, but with my usual obtuse directional sense, I went for a fully corroded bronze top, which has little to do with the idea. The stunningly cool Hipshot Baby Grand wraparound bridge though is more of a statement as are the Grover 190C tuners, and as for the Mojo Gold Foil - well, I think I've talked about them often enough already. But saying that, in an all mahogany guitar they do have a different tone to the ash or alder I normally play Jooky with, and it works perfectly for a Jr type of guitar. Which is handy, thinking of the Ganga6.

From the top then, The  Lingering Honey One is a set neck, single cut Les Paul Junior type of thing. The neck is nailed together by a long tenon joint (which is a must, lets face it) and the body is made from a single piece of mahogany, and indeed so is the neck. The 'board is a nice piece of rosewood and there we go.

I introduce to thee, The Lingering Honey One, cool as funky funk.

La la laaaa

Cool is as Cool Does

Well, I had an action shot from those clever people at Custom Cool Etch, showing the aging of the scratchplate for The Lingering Honey One, and rather good it looks indeed.

Nice to see that Health and Safety is being observed, as the regular reader will know I am a strong advocate of such things.

Anyway, that is dusted and done and should be here this week, and nailed onto my latest baby, and how   cool will that be? Verily cool methinks. So cheers to Chris and Jane, I think I'll be back for other delights soon enough.

As for other things, still can't find the camera, so I'll just tinker a bit more with The Sally James and Diamond Shiny Ones before I give you a look see.

La la laaa

Getting Hunny

Well, I've been waiting for a scratchplate for The Lingering Honey One, but some things are worth a little time, as the WIP image I got from Custom Cool Etch shows.

This is yet to be finished, but the verily talented Jane has played a blinder and incorporated my Jooky Paisley logo into the design to a groovy effect.

The guitar itself has turned out excellent - it has a proper big old neck on it and I'm loving the Mojo Gold Foil.

Can't wait to get this baby finitoed...

And if you are into crazy cool looking scratchplates, it is well worth talking to Chris and Jane over Here.

They have some stunning work on their Facebook page - the Tele scratchplates are amazingly cool and they will soon be making guitars too, which I have high expectations of meself...

Cool people doing cool things.

It don't get better than that.
La la laaa

Golden Foil And a Watery Day

Well, we're on flood alert as I type this, and wondering whether I should empty the sand pit and fill some carrier bags - but of more interest, I see that Mr Mojo has done me another of his Delish Gold Foil pickups.

And as this one is for The Fretboard One - the guitar that will be given away to a member of the rather cool and groovy Fretboard Forum - read all about it here - I guess I'd better come out of the Crimbulmus hibernation and, well, not to put a sharp point on it, do something.

The body of course was hand made from wood by Tony, as I mentioned before, and so far I have killed off the oil finish and am ready to paint it.

As it is a nicely contored thing, I'm going to go for a mixture of bronze and copper and generally get it quite messy.

The neck is one of my lovely wee stock of bound and blocked Jazzmaster/CBS Strat style thingies..

So all in all it will be rather groovy, I can't help but think.

Right, where's me waders..

La la laaaaa