LAST CHANCE - To Win This Groovy Guitar

Well, I'm not sure I mentioned it before (ahem) but Tomorrow, i.e. Thursday at 7pm sees the closure of the bag of balls, and you will no longer be able to take a punt and possibly win yourself the rather dishy The Fretboard One.

I won't go over the uber spec again...just let you see the taster of a video young Ben knocked out with it earlier..

Clearly he is playing it too fast and I keep shouting at the screen SLOW DOWN MAN YOU'LL HURT YOURSELF, but they don't listen, do they..?

So if you fancy a punt go HERE NOW or regret it forevermoresome.

And remember, every sixty seconds, another minute, dies.

La la laaaa

The Week Ahead In The Little Kingdom of Jook

Well, I'm all of a buzz to get some things done now, not least because Ben has done a funky cool SoundCloud thingy of The Fretboard One, which was a little inspiring of awe, to one so ham fisted as I.

Ben is also going to be doing a video, which I must admit after this I'm really rather looking forward to.

The Fretboard One is of course going to be given away and you still have a chance to get in there - up until Thursday at 6pm anyway. Here is where you need to see the score...

As for more mundane matters, I have at last started to Mother of Jookify The Alcaeus One and over the next few days will make it glow with liquid pearl. I'm going  for a rather dark blue on this, unless I change my mind/spill something or generally, well, forget.

It is going to be rather groovy though, but I can't decide on the pickups at the moment.

On one hand my knee-jerkery points at a pair of Gold Foils to make-up for the demise of The Alcman One, and it was rather super splendid before it, well, got crushed. But on the other hand I am kinda thinking that Ye Olde Jazzmaster pickups are rather stunning too, I have to admit. It is hard being so decisive. I'm glad it is not a burden I carry too often.

After that, there is another wee pearly dewdrop of a project underway here too, but this one subject to the tender mercies of my daughter. She has decided that we should diversify slightly and has taken it upon herself to build the first ever Jookulele.

Not just any old four stringer is good enough for her, mind. Nope she is going for a six-steel-stringed, guitar tuned behemoth that will be visible from any passing space station. It is going to be epic, I am quite sure. She is still deciding upon a name for that as I type, so I'll have to let you know when she finishes her pondering.

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The Final Curtain

Well, The Fretboard One has been passed to a nice fella called Ben who is going to do a video and generally get all widdly-wiv-it in ways a chap of my advanced years can no longer dream of contemplating

Mr Tony-Sir, of The Fretboard has outlined how the draw will be made to see who gets the guitar for keeps, which I reproduce shamelessly below:

We're going to do the draw at the GBGS.  (Great British Guitar Show)

We might get lucky and find a passing famous maintenance man to do the honours.

This weekend I will list all the donors and give them a random number between 1 and however many donors we've had.  That list will be published on this thread, so you'll know your number, and you'll also be able to double-check that you've been included.

Each number will be written on a ping pong ball, and all balls placed in a suitable container.  

The passing famous maintenance man will then be invited to pull the lucky ball out of the box / bag or whatever.

It'll all be video'ed and the clip posted here (once it's all been edited to show that I really was just that lucky).

He is joking about winning it himself of course, at least I think he is.

Anyway, what that means is that now is the time to put things right, and get in on the action and generally be in it to win it and whatever slogans I've missed that U2 didn't half-hinch first.

 

The Door-Sprung-Dork-Technique, as it is now forever known.

You still have moments - just GO HERE you know it makes sense.

La la laaaaa

Unveiling The Fretboard One - Part Trois of Trois

Well, OK, I'll never make a salesman..

So here it is, in all it's glitter and lack-of-gloss...

A proper introduction will follow but Time Is A Running Out....

La la laaaa

Unveiling The Fretboard One - Part Deux of Trois

Well, here are a couple more fotos.

I wish I'd just said two parts as I'm bored already, but I'd better go with it *sigh*

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Unveiling The Fretboard One - Part Une de Trois

Well, I'm pleased to say that I can finally begin to unveil The Fretboard One, the guitar that will be given away FREE to a supporting member of the Fretboard Forum in the next week or so...

I've mentioned it a few times but we are genuinely choosing one lucky personage at random at The Great British Guitar Show a week on Saturday and you really are in with a chance to win this lump of Jooky heaven for your very ownsome..

Mainly to annoy you, I'll spread the fotos over the coming hours. There is genuinely has no other reason..

So here it is, and Gord Bless all who sail close to the wind with it..


Not had a punt yourself - GO HERE NOW and find out what you need to do..and don't dilly dally on the way.

La la laaa

Don't Be Thinking - Here's What I Could have Won

Well, I haven't mentioned The Fretboard One for a wee while, but am pleased to say that the lump of gorgeousness will be unveiled on Friday to a salivating nation, and I am rather pleased with how it has turned out, I must admit.

From there it will be off to sunny Stroud on Monday where a top notch guitarister will be doing a proper cool video to show it in a better light than I could ever manage, before the winner will be unveiled or announced or something at The Great British Guitar Show in Birmingham in a couple of weeks time.

This is exciting, really.

The what, what and what? I hear you say?

Well, if you missed it, this guitar is of course going to be given away to a member of The Fretboard Forum, and best of all you still have a chance of winning.

I've said it before, but the idea behind it is to raise a few bob toward the running of the Forum, which is totally independent, won't steal you words as 'content', has no advertising to annoy you and is full of great advice, fun, frolics and the odd free guitar.

To join in  and hopefully bag yourself a slice of Jookiness, all you need to do is:

1. Join the Fretboard Forum. it is is easy, just go Here and you can logon with your Facebook or Google accounts so you don't even have to fill a form in.

2. Go to the Free Guitar thread Here

3. Read the thread and not only will you see WIP fotos of the guitar being built, but also find out more about how you can win it.

4. Something to note - joining the forum is free, but the winner will be selected from people who have made a donation to the forum - a couple of quid is enough, but it is a good cause so don't be a stingy get all your life.

And that is it.

As for the guitar - the spec is pretty darn tooting...

1 A handmade body courtesy of one of the Fretboard's founding fathers, Mr TTony. (I think he is dyslexic). This is a solid Tele style body with some lovely curves and carves. Exceptional work that I can only envy. It is signed by Mr T. hisself and is a complete one-off.

2. A gloriously cool bound and blocked, maple/rosewood neck.

3. What is only the second ever Custom Cool Etch made Jooky headstock plate.
Surprisingly on the headstock.
I can't imagine what I was thinking to be so predictable.

4. A rather beautiful if I smugly say so meself, aged bronze finish.

5. A Teisco Style Mojo Gold Foil Pickup at the neck.

6. A Mojo Broadcaster Pickup at the Bridge.

7. A Traditional style top notch Mojo Wiring loom (all CTS pots, Switchcraft switch and jack, PIO caps...)

8. A quite beautifully understated Callaham Stainless Steel Tele Ash Tray Bridge

9. A set of Sperzel Trim Lok Locking Tuners

10. A rather cute Hard Case

And let's face it, if that isn't enough there is no pleasing you.

So for the final time (today) this is me nagging you,  to punt a few bob toward a good cause and give yourself the chance of a lifetime.

You'll hate yourself if you don't

Glory be.

La la laaaa

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 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

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

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

Free The Jooky One

Well, a while back I did this little 'how to Jookify your guitar' thing on The Fretboard, and at the time one of the founders of said forum - we'll call him 'Tony', as that is his name - also gave me a second body to defile (that is going to pop up on some strange web searches) but I completely forgot to do a thing about it.

Anyway, thru guilt and for no other good reason, I decided to do something for once and in the process hopefully raise a few bob for the forum, which has no advertising, is UK based and accounts for 90% of my spare time and the Classifieds probably 120% of my residual income.

So the plan is that I will take the body that Tony made and turn it into a rather cool guitar.

And the guitar will be a bit special - the body you can see, but it will also have a neck, which is useful, one of those rosewood/maple/bound/blocked jobbies I've been pleased with in recent times.

Tuners will be Sperzels, the bridge will either be a Fender Tele one or a Hipshot hard tail jobby, not sure yet, and the pickups will be a Gimp Tele pup at the bridge and a Mojo Gold Foil at the neck.

So basically it is going to be one groovy mama of a guitar.

As for the finish, well, haven't quite decided that yet but I think I'll have a little fun with it.

And as for the finale of this little show, I'm going to give it away to a random member of the Fretboard community.. For free. no money and basically bugger all.

Or rather I will give it to one member that has shown his/her dedication to the cause of interwebby freedom by making a  donation toward the running costs of this oasis of GAS.

So if you fancy your chances of getting a shot at what is destined to be a spectacular lump of guitarish delight, you need to...

1. Join The Fretboard - and if you do, stick around, there are some great people on there and I've learnt more about guitarythings there, than from anywhere else. If you are on Facebook or Twitter you don't even have  to register, just logon by clicking a little icon thing, and then

2. Make a wee donation to the cause, the thread Here explains all

3. Cross thine fingers...

La la laaa