Changeling, See Me Change

Well, an interesting week saw not a lot done guitar-wise, but not a total loss as I finally got the web site pretty much fettled. It needs a few fotos, but they are planned quick smart soon, so all is groovy.

It is going to be interesting though, as it has focussed my mind somewhat about how I want things to work, so there are a couple of new wrinkles in there with the Sophie's and what not, and I think it will be cool.

I also took the chance to give the old place a make-over with agent orange paisley.

Anyway, 15th of July for the launch (probably) and then stuff will roll-out over the summer a bit more.

Oh, and as every revolution doesn't just  need  T-shirt, I thought we needed a poster too, so this be it...

La la laaaaaaa

Thingamabobs and Bobbins

Well, not a lot to report as it is the school holibobs again (so soon, so verily soon), but the old gears are turning as per, in between iCarly and Spongebob re-runs.

For the record, both The Alcaeus and Rilkean Ones are nigh on done. Just a fiddle and a spit and they will be taking a bow next week some time.

The Travellin' Man  One is again ready to brave American Customs, and The Bacchylides One shouldn't be too far behind either.

But the thing I'm most excitable about  is something new and well, exciting.

I think  so anyway.

And other than the odd bit of nitro, this is quite cool as it is a proper collaboration and that makes a wee change if nowt else.

So what will be the end-result?

No, I don't know, just wondering if you have a clue?

La la laaa

Regress

Well, so not a load has happened, but I have added a soupcon of glitter to The 668 One, which has to remain un-foto'd for a while longer.

And I have nailed together The Liberian One, which looks kinda dishy.

And I have got the pickups and loom for The Bacchylides One which I'll pop in tomorrow.

And amazingly, The Velvet Pearl One is both purple and pearly like a queen.

So in truth, it is going quite well, thank you very much for asking.

Fotos though, didn't think of them.

La la laaaa

Saturday Night Revelations

Well, I finally get on-line again and wouldn't you know it but I canna find the camera, which is up there with the imaginary pooch scoffing my homework, but there we are. Expel me why don't you.

And the sad thing is that I actually have things to tell and show but the pix will have to wait for another day.

So top of the shop is that I realised something - and it was a bit of a slo-mo kind of road to Damascus experience, I admit, but I was explaining to somebody that despite loving The Jamais Vu One lots, I'm not allowed to keep a Jooky for my very ownsome due to the rules, when I suddenly remembered that the rule was not quite that at all. In fact my golden rule was that I could only keep one, and as we currently stand I have, well, none, zero, nada and zilchoid. Nothing. not a Jooky to my name. Not even my initials.

And that made me happy,  hippy and happy as it means that I could give myself a Jooky for Xmas and not have to feel guilty about it.

But what to pick - obviously Jamais springs to mind, but I am also on the cusp of finishing The Trojan, Lingering Honey, 668, Sally James and  Diamond Shiny Ones, so I am spoilt.

The second thing was that I finally made my mind up and finished The Trojan One. You'll have to take my word for it (hidden cameras, don't you know) but the rustiness along with a black 'plate, beautifilled neck and a pair of Marcy Mojo's Mosrite, err, Monsters makes it one uber cool guitar.

OK, it is quite understated, I am the first to admit, but the sound is like a P90 on steroids and the sustain is just crazy incredible. I am seriously in love with it.

But I'll do a proper introduction another day, as my powers of description just won't do in this case.

So there we are, well, here I guess.

La la laaaaa

Long Hot Autumn

Well, like I keep saying, I'm waiting for necks at the moment, but have stocked-up on a few bodies to keep me warm in the autumnal months...which I think should be fun.

And don't they look a lovely bunch (there are four more Jazzmaster bodies and another Tele or two as well, but can't remember where I put them (ahem).

But today, I will finally be blackening the body of The Jamis Vu One, with the copper leaf to finito the picture of innocence tomorrow. And if a neck ever arrives, we could be in clover I tell thee, clover.

Right, where do I put this lot then.. Hmmm.

La la laaaaa

It Won't Be Long, My Dear..

Well, I've had a few people asking why The Sappho One hasn't appeared up and for sale, and a few more asking me why I'm being a lazy git and not making any guitars at the moment, and well, there we are. I'm a lazy git.

So for the record, what I'm trying to do at the mo' is get a few guitars together - the list on the right about covers them - so that I can:

1. Have examples of the ones I'm likely to be making as customs in the future, and
2. Have some cool guitars to play for myself for once,
also
3. Have some pretty things to take fotos of for the theoretical web site.

And as I want all of these guitars to be top of notch in every way, I'm getting partsmade and from all over the world and it takes time baby, it takes a leetle beeta time.

But the nice thing is that they are trickling in. I should have everything I need for The Diamond Shiny One this week, and the body for The Jamais Vu One arrived too so I should be smothering that with noxious stuff this week too. So things are looking up, finally.

On the plus side, the lawn is looking deevine

La la laaaa

The Future Sound of Jookyland

Well, I've mentioned a few times that I've spent the summer dreaming-it-all-up-again, and I think I am just about there now. Just the insignificant and boring, trifling even, part where I make it happen, to do.

Hmmm.

As the regular reader will know, over the last few years I've constantly changed the way I do things - initially it was all about 'found art' and recycling, then a mixture of old and new parts and more recently new parts with the quality of these improving all the time. And I'm really happy about that, although I must  admit I still enjoy finding parts and seeing what I can make.

Anyway, going forward I have been trying to find a way where I can co-habit these splintered and diverse needs (psychoses?)  and I think I have finally developed a plot  and a plan. And the plan that I've plotted is that from the Autumn, I'll split Jookyland into three or four provinces, each of which are not at all designed for customer satisfaction or desire, but instead aimed solely at making me a happier person. I am nothing if not utterly self-absorbed and selfish, let's face it. If I was trying to please you and make money I'd spend my waking hours turning out Butterscotch Teles. And I'm not a butterscotch type of chap.

So, Jookyland is devolving, although still under the dictatorial boot of yours truly, which is of course how all good devolution works.

So how will it look?
I'm glad you asked as I was talking meself into a corner. Well, it is pretty exciting as I see it being:

1. Jooky Customs
These are going to be the cream of the gold top, and will be limited to a few 'types' or god forbid, styles.

I will be making these to order from the best possible parts, all of course with stunningly cool Jooky finishes.
This will be the first thing you see appear as I make some examples in September and October and open an order book of all things.

2. Jooky Classics
These will be the old school Jookies and I will make them as and when I feel like it, from whatever parts come to hand. There won't be many but they will be fun, for me if nobody else.

3. Strappado Bodies
I really liked doing these and they went down well, so I'm going to aim to have a few of these available at any one time. I love the idea that people can make their own guitar with a Jookified finish and they are fun to do of course.

4. Jooky Juniors
This is still being planned at the moment, but I  want to do something cheaper and trashy and superbly cool and this will be it. I love the whole lo-fi thing, and Danelectros and Airlines, Mosrites and the rest are all supremely cool, and I think a series of Jookies in that vein would be lovely to be beholden by.

So will this happen?
I'm glad you asked that too, but yes, I think it will. There are other things changing too - the mythical web site to support and explain all this is nigh on done - and generally I think it is about time that the whole Jooky doctrine on life and love got a bit easier to understand.

So there we are. That might make no sense at the moment, but it is what has been driving me m-m-m-mad for months and at least now that I've said it, it will force me to get on with it...

La la laaaaa

I Got To Thinking..and Wondering, What You think

Well, like I say, I've been dreaming up a new Jookyland over the last few months, trying to make it all work in me bonce and generally make everything cool and yet also groovy. Not for the first time, I must admit.

And I think I have got there - I know what guitars I want to make in the future, how it will work and everything else. Just a simple case of doing it now, which is all very excitement laden and I can feel the joy already.


Saying that, there is one thing I haven't quite nailed down though, and if you have tuppence, I'd appreciate you chucking it in. All suggestions gravelly appreciated and all that.

The thing is I want it all to make a little difference somehow. I've given  quite a few Jookies away over the last few years - The Tickled Pink One being the one most people will remember, but it has (like everything) been quite ad-hoc, and it would be better if it was formalised.

So I was thinking, do I do the environmental thing and plant some trees for every guitar that sells?

Or should I give every (for example) fifth guitar away to a young upper-and-a-comer.?

Maybe I should make a donation to Jail Guitar Doors which could be better still - it always seemed a cool idea to me - This Guitar Kills Time, after all.

Or maybe I should just pick a charity each year and give some dosh each time I flog a guitar.

Or even more of a  probably maybe there is something else I'm missing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near minted, don't aim to make a profit as the Jooky economy is generally in the red, but if I plan it in now it can work and so it probably should..

But what to do?

I don't tend to look for suggestions too often, but now would be grand if you have some :o)

La la laaaa

Summer Time Blues

Well, as is trad in Jookyland, the summer holibobs are a bit of a slack time, so over the next few things, even compared to the diminishing lack of progress of the previous months, life will hurry along at a much slllloooowwwweeeerrrr crawl.

But don't be saddened, it hardly matters.

I am going to use the time wisely though, as I am going thru one of my think-it-all-up-again moments, and am already formulating plans for the Autumn that will meekly drive me forward toward world domination and universal dominion, or whatever it was The Sisters of Mercy were on about.

But anyway..

La la laaa

Identity Crisis Part 72

Well, I think four guitars have done an Elvis this week, and two have arrived here in Jookyland, and I am liking them both a lot.

The first is the Tom Delonge Strat that I talked about before, while the second is a rather lovely Ibanez Artcore Jazztastic semi that popped up this morning, and it is very pretty and grown up.

It does confuse me that two completely different things can both be so loveable.

Other than that, time is the herbal essence again and I won't get anywhere on anything else this week, but the body for The Boogaloo One is nearly done and Marc has sent the loom that I'd forgotten to ask for, so with a good breeze I should get that together next week in all it's glory..

But anyway

La la laaa

Tis All a Bleurgh

Seeing the back of The Black Russian One Soon Hopefully

Well, that was truly the week that wasn't and everything that couldn't go wrong tried it's best too...but there we be. Onwards and sidewards, methinks.

I've pretty much got my web site sorted now - just need some fotos to find and all will be well. Quite looking forward to it now as it will be simplistic but cool.

I decided in the end that doing Custom Bodies as well as the guitars could be fun, so they are on there and a few more wrinkles need ironing but should prove groovy too.

Marc at Mojo pickups is doing me a rather special set of pickups for The Spindrifting One, so that won't be far off once they are here and I really must, must, must finish The Black Russian One in the coming week. It is turning into one of *those* guitars that seem to go one forever, and there we are.

But anyway..that be next week, for today I cry at West Brom losing to Chelsea and giving our annual donation of points to young roman.

La la laaaaaaaaaaa

Javaless in Portishead

Well, this week seems to be getting more worsererer as time goes on.

Yesterday was wasted in the waiting room of a car mechanic type of place, after Monday was equally frittered...and so I think I'll finally get my act together today when I realise I have to wait in for a TV repair geezer, so can't leave the house and the kettle has died a death so coffee is out too.

(I know I could look it up on the interweb to find another way to cook water, but that would be a little like hard work. I'd need a coffee before I could face eHow and all that, and then wouldn't have an elk to milk anyway.)

So what to do?

Well, the web site is pretty much there apart from that I need some fotos, which are waiting on me doing some guitars to take fotos of.

All the parts I need are languishing at the post office according to the we-slipped-this-thru-your-letterbox-while-you-weren't-looking cards I seem to be collecting, so I'm stuffed there too.

And I can't do anything else unless I risk missing the TV chap knocking the door - did I mention the doorbell not working too?

Sheesh.

So in summary, don't ask me, what would I know about it anyway?

La la laaaaaa

And so...Here we be again, Like

Well, today has been a write-off, but this week the big plan is to to finally get The Black Russian One finished and to the verily patient Andy...

Oh and maybe play it a while as it looks rather cool.

Other than that, I seem to have collected a few bodies to play with - not least the ones for the Rick 650 inspired The Babylon Blue One and the Mosrite influenced The Scooby Doo One, which are rather cool.

Both of them will be a bit special, but details dahlink, I don't do details. Not on a Monday.

As for the others, I have another beauty of a Swamp Ash Jazzmaster body that is destined to be Lake, Placid and Blue, and a couple of Strats and a Tele which I am entirely clueless about.

I also have a load of half-finished other things, so I need to get-a-gooin'.

But what can you do?

 La la laaaa

And then Again...

Well, it may be a holibob, bratski-infested week, and things aren't 100% yet, but I can play a wee bit, and turn a screwdriver, so things are looking up.

The Frou Frou Fox one is a total joy and it needed very little to finish it, but I am loving it in a big way. I think the secret to it playing nicely is to always have a strap on even if you are sat down - there is a lesson for us all there, methinks.

Without a strap it is horrible trying to find a good playing position, but it is dead comfy when you get there. I played around for ages before I found the ideal (yet odd) placement for the strap pins, but well worth the effort. I'm really loving it and it sounds golden.

As for what is next, well The Black Russian One is top off the shop, though I need to do a little sanding to get the neck to fit the pocket properly. It's amazing how often standard parts in standard sizes are err, not. But there we are, well worth the effort and too snug is always better than too sloppy bucket loose, imho.

Similarly afflicted of course is The Siren Song One. That isn't a million miles off either and the neck fits too, so that will hopefully be a runner this week and all.

The nice thing about my enforced lay-off was that I have made a good start on a proper web site at last, and have decided what I will be offering in my artyified little way. I think it will be fun, and that is the main thing. We'll see though...

La la laaaaa

40 Years of Hurt - Cheers Angela

Well, even by my slackest of standards, I've been on a bit of a go-slo-mo these last days, mainly, in my humble defence because I managed to dislocate my shoulder and apparently they are useful when you are doing guitar bobbins. I hadn't thought about it before.

Not that it is anything new - this year is officially the 40th Anniversary of the first time I dislocated that same shoulder - in fact I'd like to thank Alison McCormick for all the years of pain since then, as it was she who tried to pull me to my feet by my arm, back in Mrs Wilson's Reception class in  1973, at Moor Green Infants' School, and was left holding a dangly arm. I can still remember the bus ride up Raddlebarn Road to Selly Oak Hospital, mainly as they were resurfacing it at the time and it was a wee bit bobbly.

I don't hold a grudge though Alison, but I'll always remember you. fondly.

But getting away from a Hannibal moment (and I'm joking Alison I always thought you were beautiful and felt awful when you cried) it doesn't leave me with a lot to do - I can't even play a guitar at the moment, never mind screw one up, so instead I've reverted to type and have been planning.

And the plan I have been plotting is for a little Jooky web site. Everybody else seems to have one, and I was feeling left out.

Now it won't be anything fancy, I'm not your fancy kinda chap, but I would like it to be there in some shape or other, especially if I do a few more of these custom things (HM Customs apart, I'm enjoying it at the moment) and I have this faint idea that people could make guitars on-line with weird looks to them. It won't happen, but it is good to ponder.

But anyway, more soon I guess..

La la laaaa

Have A Jookilicious Crimbulmus

Well, it has been a long and arduous year in Jookyland, and I don't have to read all this drivel, but I wanted to say Taverymuch to a few peeps who have made it somewhat triffic, innit?

Firstly, Jools and all the chaps that are still seeing The Tickled Pink One around the country. I've stayed out of it more than I probably should have, but at last count it was in Middlesex somewhere, and the dosh is still trickling in. So cheers chaps..

Secondly, Marc at Mojo Pickups has been a complete star. I'm using his looms on nearly all the guitars which are a big improvement on my own efforts, and he is making the best pickups I've ever played, so this former pickup whore is definitely monogamous these days. He's going to be making plenty more for the Jookies in the new year and I can't wait to see what he comes up with. Cheers m'dears.

Other than that, obviously all the peeps who have bought a guitar. I don't do this for profit, so selling one means I can make another, which is a trip and it keeps it fun (couriers apart), so again, cheers m'dears, you are making an old raspberry ripple very happy. Think of it as care in the community.

And that is about it. I'll no doubt talk about next year soon enough, promise to make one guitar at a time and reduce the numbers, but we all know it will just be talk.

Hope you and yours have a fine Crimbulmus, and I look forward to boring/confusing/annoying you in the near futuredom.

Oh, and I snuck in the gold leafing of the The Seaside One, which looks vaguely appropriate if more of a yellowy gold in-the-wood.

La la laaaa

Gone, Gone and Gone

Well, bit of a good news bad news week in the end, both The Pearly Dewdrop and Floored Genius Ones will be on to pastures greener next week, while The beautiful and generally gorgeous The Resurrected One seems to have gotten stomped by yet another leaden footed courier and knacked like a knackered thing.

It never shines but it rains.

I knew I was asking for trouble calling it that.

On the plus side, I've started on The Frou Frou Fox One and should have photographic proofical evidence for you to wonder at soon enough.

The Old No.7 One is still waiting for a neck, but I put an electrosocket in and remembered the ferrules in the end and even got a set of Fender Klusons, so that is all good.

I'm not quite sure why yet, but I also bought a JD towel and some '70s poker chips, which I had some vague idea about using in the early hours, but don't now how anymore.

They look good and will make the case rattle if nowt else. The chips, not the towel.

Other than that, I think I'm taking on another Custom jobby, which is going to be quite stunning if it happens/we can pull it off, but more on that if it is go-go-go come the New year.

But there we are, busy, busy and busy.

La la laaa.

So long, My Chi Chi One

Well, I managed to get the back of The Floored Genius One done yesterday, as well as leaping like a salmon with The Pearly Dewdrop One, so that was all pretty good.

I am rather excited by both of these, it has to be said.

So I have.

Said it, I mean.

Then.

Anyway.

As for today, well, The Chi Chi One is off to pastures new if the courier arrives. I set the guitar up for it's new keeper, Max, with 11s this morning and I have to say I think I'm a bit of a convert. I normally put 10s on Teles and Strats, but this felt brilliant, really meaty. It could of course be that it helps with my ham-fisted 'technique', but there we are. I have 11s on my Jazzmaster and on Old Honey, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.

Other than hanging around for TNT, to err, explode on to the scene, the front of my Genius will get stained and waxed, and I'm going to bite the bullet and try and finish the comicisation of The Marvel Us One, before I give up on it due to it not being as much fun to do as the others.

Which would be wrong and generally a little naughty and credit-worthy-less.

Don't get me wrong, I really want it to be finished, it is just a PITA and I'm a little fragile at the moment. (Ahem)

As for other things, well it seems that despite my best intentions not to do any more Teles for a while, I have a couple more Tele bodies en-route from the frozen wilderness that is the north, so I need to think about what I will do with them.

But that is for another day,
maybe.

Though I have been thinking about...etc.

La la laaaa

Forward To The Past

A Long, Long, Time Ago...
The Beano One

Well, the weekend wasn't totally unproductive for once, as I managed to finish the finish on the top of The Pearly Dewdrop One, and bloomin' scrummy it looks too, I am all rather pleased with meself.

It is now face down having it's back stained but hopefully I'll have the finishing entirely finished in the next few days, which is rather groovy.

As for today, well, I've got my Captain America comics, so I'm going to be chopping them up and getting going on The Marvel Us One.

I've only ever done one comic guitar before - ah The Beano One - so it is a bit exciting, though a teensy bit fraught as it is nowhere as forgiving as the fabric and the rest. But such is life, nobody said it was going to be easy.

As for other things, well the ubiquitous waiting-for-parts covers so many things, but there we are and over there we be. Indeedy dee.

La la laaaa

Hot Sex In Bergasol

Hot Sex In Bergasol
A Study In Cool

Well, other than fettling the rather awesome The Bergasol One, I can't say I did a lot yesterday.

Playing took over from Jookifying, but that is no bad thing. Well, unless you are my next door neighbour, when it may well be, maybe probably.

I have to say, and I know I rave about them normally anyway, but the Hot-hot-hotter version of the Broadcaster pickup Marc wound for this guitar is a total joy. If anything it works the Esquire wiring better than the vintage specced one, especially in that cocked-wah position, and it is clear as a bell when clean as well as breaking up as easily as a teenager-in-lurve when you play a tad harder.

Very nice indeed, I don't think I could be more pleased with it.

As for what is next, The Black Russian One will be a while yet as will The Pearly Dewdrop One and everything else awaiting parts as, well, they are waiting for parts. There was a clue there I really failed to spot for a few minutes

Today then, I'm going to do something different and dig out some comics for The Marvel Us One. Marc also sent me a lovely vintage loom for that baby, and I've got some lipstick pickups somewhere and a neck on the way, so that is all cool like an ice lolly.

This was meant to be one I'd do with the Brats but they don't seem that bothered so I'll amuse myself instead.

More generally, I'd have to check with Mr Gorman hisself, as he is the only one that can be bothered to keep track, but I think this may well be the first occasion that I've ever had four Jookies for sale at the same time. And in a way it is quite nice to sort of go from one to the next - actually I waste a lot of time doing that - but I do feel slightly claustrophobic with too many guitars in the house (and you can't chain them in the garden like the kids, as the necks end-up warped.)

Anyway...

La la laaaa