Welcome to the Workshop

Well, I seem to have approx. 3 hours to spend today before the M4 beckons, so I thought I'd see how far I could get with The Chimera One...

As a very professional kind of chap, among the sackloads of fan mail, I often get requests to autograph babies, close supermarkets, and generally cut ribbons. Sometimes too, people ask for the odd foto of my workshop - the hub of the industrial quarter here in Jookyland - so that they can no doubt pick up tips about their own workspace designs and generally be inspired inspiration-ally.

So in an unprecedented lapse of security, with the cock of a nose at Hello image rights - here it is, Jookiness in action (inaction?) as The Chimera One edges closer to something or the other.

You wouldn't get this kinda access from Paul Reed Smith, telling ya.

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See Moon, Cwy Like a baby

Well, as you have probably noticed - if noticing an absence makes sense - not too much has been happening recently, but hopefully this will change soon - and I may have a day to myself, which would be a bonus.

In the interim, I seem to have acquired a couple of Gibson SGs, which is fun.

My first proper guitar was an Epiphone SG, bolt-on-neck and all, and I've always liked them since then but never quite got a 'proper' one, until now. Unless I have and I can't remember, which is possible, lets be honest.

So anyway, long wait means I overcompensate and get two. Makes sense, really.

As for the SGs, well one is a bit special - but more on that another day as it immediately went to have it's frets banged back into place, and I forgot to take a foto first, so I thought I'd introduce the-other-one, as it were.

Well, it was kinda cheap, no breaks or major issues and is a 2002 SG Special Faded.

I've always preferred the bigger 'plate of the special and the lack of binding on the neck, so I'm quite chuffed with it.

As you can probably see it is a bit posh despite that as it has an ebony 'board with crescent moon MoP inlays which are rather lush. These were apparently only made in 2002 (and maybe 2003 - this is from '02 though) and clearly is destined to be worth millions in years to come (ahem). It looks like it is a one piece body anyway and the fretboard is lovely, so I can't say I care much.

As normal I think it will get a bit of a pimping. For a faded it does seem to have a fair bit of lacquer on it, and even a half hearted buffing has made it quite glossy, so I might see how far that will go. My Epi was super shiny and I don't think I've ever mollycoddled a guitar quite as much as that one.

The pickups I'm assuming are the originals, which are nice enough but a little bland, so I am thinking I'll get a couple of Mr Mojo's finest in there. Probably a pair of his PAFs, though a 'bucker sized P90 always works nicely. An Olde Worlde wiring loom from the chap will no doubt also go in whilst I'm in the mood.

One thing that is bugging me a wee bit is that the high e string is a bit buzzy and it goes out of tune quite easily. I've had a go at the nut and that seems fine, and I've smoothed off the bridge's slotty bit, but still no banana.

I'll probably change the tuners to Grovers as I prefer them tbh and the extra weight at that end might be useful as I'm also going to put a Bigsby B5 on and balance thy name isn't SG after all, and well...a nice Tonepro or Faber bridge is also on the list as well. Might as welll do these things in style.

In fact the only real question is whether to try a Vibramate so that I don't need to drill holes to fit the Bigsby.

Why take so much trouble over a cheapo guitar? Well, I know this one will stick around as it is the year Bratski#1 was born and I'll no doubt give it him at some point.

So other than changing everything and it's aunt Greta, it is just about perfect. Apart from I might change the strap pins to a couple of the big massive Gotoh ones.

In other news, I am planning to finally put The Chimera One together at some point this week. No really, I think I can remember how and everything.

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And Then of Course...

Well, still a bit slo-mo-a-go-go at the mo-mo, but I  did get a chance the other day to sand back the top of The Boogaloo One, and stain it a proper white, and it looks more the part now.

It still needs some work in the sanding and re-staining dept. before I give it a sheen of hard wax oil, but it is more what I was hoping for and that feels nicer.

From here it is of course going to have that lovely bound Jazzmaster neck nailed on, a pair of Mojo Pickups Gold Foil Toaster Specials (I'm sure he will make up a better name if he ever makes any more), and I am thinking  that a nice Bigsby will be a good way to hold the strings on.

When this will be occurring, who can say, but I am planned-up and that is always nice amid the chaos of real life..

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Hmm, Ballsed That Up Then..

Too Patchy By 'Alf

Well, the old liming of The Boogaloo One didn't exactly work as planned and as I'm off again for a few days it'll have to wait until it is sanded and I start-all-over-again.

Tis one of those things, you don't know until you try and as long as you are happy to rip it up and start again, all is OJ in the morning. It isn't how many you make, it is how many you throw away that counts. Probably.

In other news Rich tells me that the finish he is doing for The Sappho One is coming along a treat - can't wait to see it for myself. I'm a little bit nervous about it - not because of Rich, I should add - but because it will be the first time I haven't done the finish on a Jooky, so it is a little odd feeling deep and down inside. Still, it is for me to keep for once, so I guess it doesn't matter and I can't wait to see how it turns out. A collaboration then sweetie - I'll have a salon before you know it.

Anyway, miles to be eaten, sick brats to tend.

Mustn't confuse the two.

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In the Lime Light

Well, I've trickled and trundled a little further with The Boogaloo One and decided I would go for a lime type of finish - think Tom Sawyer - so I gave the back a go and it seems rather nice so far.

I've changed the stuff I'm using as the stench of the previous ones were killing me and so far this is breathable and yet cool to work with too. I'm quietly chuffed.

Many plenty more coats and bits of sanding but there we are.

Must be a Friday

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Doing The Boogaloo Doo

Well, I still haven't decided what colour to go with as far as The Boogaloo One goes, but what I do know is that it will be translucent as I want the lovely grain from the ash to show thru...

So anywaysup, I stained the body and have been sanding it back off and on for the last week or so when I can grab some time, and it really is getting to be decision time.

I had originally planned to give it a blue Nitro finish, but The Sappho One is getting one instead and The Babylon Blue has one too under the white (assuming it ever dries enough to sand back) and after all, I do so hate to be repetitive, after all.

Then I thought red, but that's quite close to a red Ricky and not the point of this after all. Black I'm not keen on, yellow looks like faggy knuckles, Green is possible as is creamy white - that's a thought. Hmmm.

And well, what can I say?

Bleurgh.

Decisions am we, but not today.

In other news, absolutely nothing happened. Anywhere. It's that sort of lifetime

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Sold: The Hartlepool One

The Hartlepool One is a complete one off, being based on a skatetastic cross between a Fender Jazzmaster and a Charvel Surfmaster, it has a beautiful offset body with a killer cat's eye view into it’s semi-acoustic body.

The finish is a stunning Mother of Jooky pearl delight topped off with a striking red binding, lovingly nailed around the edges.

A trapeze tailpiece and Rickenbacker-esque bridge are cool, but it is the pair of Mojo Pickups Gold Foils that really bring this guitar to life. They are painstakingly produced copies made in sunny Halifax by Marc Ransley and they are clearly stunning in every way. The sustain is quite incredible. These pickups are numbered 3 and 4 and will no doubt be worth millions in years to come :)

To get the best of the pickups we of course have a top notch wiring loom (all CTS, Oak Grigsby and Switchcraft, PIO caps etc.)


All in all, this is a stunning looking guitar that plays beautifully and nails everything from raw blues to jangly indie and isn’t afraid of a bit of gain Tibet. Cool in excelsis.


*

To be clear, The Hartlepool One is an utterly unique guitar, and there will never, ever, be another made. It is signed and numbered, entirely hand built and finished cooler than a slo-mo run across the pebbled beach at Portishead. There will genuinely never be another guitar like this and past experience suggests that it won’t be around for long.

** SOLD **



Technical Stuff:

Type: Bab’s Pearly Queen

Electrics: Mojo Pickups Gold Foil Pickups, Mojo Pickups wiring loom

Guitar Type: Offset Jazzmaster/Jaguar Style

Construction: Alder body, Rosewood/Maple neck

Strings:     10s

Output: ¼” Guitar Lead

Controls: Volume, Tone

Special Stuff: Certificate of Authenticity, Builder Signed and Numbered, All Wrapped with our Trademark Jooky Wrapping.

Serial Number: JGE#75

RSP: £999

WIP: The Hartlepool One - I'm Such A Skaterboi

Well, I finally got the chance to pull The Hartlepool One together and while there are a few tweaks before a proper introduction may be enacted, it seemed rude not to show you the beast.

And what a beast it is - semi acoustic and offset of shape - perhaps more of a Charvel than Fender influence I must admit, lovely big headed neck and a pair of Mojo Pickups authentically dead-on-the-money Gold Foil pickups, along with a matching wiring loom...

And I have to say it plays beautifully - I have a real feeling of it all coming together with this one, the body is cool, the Mother-of-Jooky pearlesque finish is a glory box of tender delight, and the pickups - oh man. They are single coils and have a beautiful, hollow clean sound to them with just a tincher of grit. A bit more gain and they totally soar and the sustain is incredibly good, I keep hitting harmonics and just sitting back and waiting (a cuppa is handy - making one not totally out of the question if you limit the amount of water in the kettle on environmental grounds.)

So there we are. I'm really rather chuffed with this and the pickups are beyond cool.

Happy daze indeed

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Rusty Robotting

Well, back to imagining at the moment, but hopefully next week I'll be around long enough to nail some things together and the gold will glister, baby.

Until then I thought I'd mention a little pickup Marc at Mojo Pickups sent me to try, and this is it...

As you can see it has a funny stripe on it which I learn is called a blade and is like lots of pole shaped magnets stuck together. This is one of Marc's prototypes and is low output but should be crystal clear. Can't think why he asked me to have a look at it, then. It can't be the 'crystal clear' part. Hmmm.

Anyway, luckily I have a rather nice chunk of Tele shaped alder waiting for a reason to live, and I had intended to make a little rustiness with it, as it were, so that came together quite well.

Other than that, I guess it will be one of my fave Esquires, it is destined to have a neck (on it's way - somewhere - as I type) and there we be.

Jesus loves me and he can love you too.

So that will be The Rusty Robot One, sometime, probably, maybe, well, like, whenever. Duh.

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Golden Years Da Da Da

Well, still a bit AWOL at the mo', but before I configured the life raft, I did receive a double dose of Vitamin Gold Foil from Marc at Mojo Pickups, and bloomin' gorgeous they are too.

It'll be a while before I get on with them, but I couldn't help a quick plonk together of The Hartlepool and Boogaloo Ones with their gilt racked, as it were.

The Hartlepool One is obviously a lot closer as it has been, err, finished, and in a way it makes sense as I should get to play with the real deal as far as the Gold Foils go before moving on to toasters and toppings.

I'd forgotten how pretty Hartlepool was though, all verra nice indeed.

As for The Boogaloo One, I'm really pleased with the neck. It is a Jazzmaster one, maple, black blocks and it is bound too, which is very lux. The body is going to be Lake Placid Blue, unless I go darker and I'm dithering whether to put the proper Ricky 660 pickguards on - or the ones I cut from an LP - forgot about those, wonder where they are... - or maybe even to stay au natrel. No panic though, plenty of time..

Just when I'll get to be doing them really...

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Gold Foil a Go Gooooo

Well, planning-and-a-plotting as I am, I was somewhat delighted to see that Mr Marc Ransley of the Mojo Pickups parish has finished me some of the coolest looking pups this side of the Stirchley Bowl...

First up, are the authentic and uber classic Gold Foils that are destined for The Hartlepool One (that slice of offset semi-acoustalification that has been waiting under the stairs for such an occasion). These are a long held dream and I really can't wait to get them fitted and fettled...

The other, if at all possible are even more special. As you no doubt know, The Boogaloo One is going to be a funky little momma, based on a Rickenbacker 620 with a groovy maple blocked neck, I'd initially thought that I'd get Marc to make a couple of his Toaster pickups, but in one of those weirdly cool moments, we have ended-up with Toaster-sized Gold Foils which look quite frankly, stunningly cool. I don't even know where to plug in the hyperbole for these babies...or indeed how the hell he has managed to put them together at all, but the boy is a genius. End of.

So, in summary - all is golden, all is glistery.

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Back On The Chain Gang

Well, with one thing and quite a bit of t'other, there hasn't been a lot to speak of in recent weeks, but next week should see the resurrection of the Jooky Mojo and a tad of added muse, and I'm feeling all excited about it again.

There are a couple of things I need to finish, and I won't bore you with those, but the one that has ignited the pash once more is The Travellin' Man One, which has been on the to-do list for far too long, but there we are.

With a hint of Trigger's Broom, I've thrown away the body and neck I was going to use and had been all-of-a-dither about, and am rather pleased and chuffed that a new body in beautiful swamp ash has arrived. This is going to get a bit of a different finish to the previous norms, but more on that later. If I can pull it off it will be lovely, if not it will, err, probably get covered in old copies of The Portishead Times.

As for the neck, that has been made especially for this guitar by a top notch luthier type who contractually must remain known only by the Nom de Guerre, Jermaine. His name is Adam, but I'm trying to be circumspect. OK, his name isn't even Adam, that's how cool he is. His pseudonyms have nom de plumes.

Other than that, I finally decided on the pickups which will be fresh from Mojo-land when I remember to ask Marc to make them. It is a HSH Strat so I'm going for a PAF 'bucker, a warm single coil in the middle and a Wide Range Humbucker in a HB size at the neck. I'll also get the chap to do me a classy and classic wiring loom that give plenty of options.

Other than even that other, I'm going for a Bladerunner trem, locking tuners and err, anything else I can think of that will make it uber coolski von crypt. With the sprinkles on top of the cherry at the pinnacle being a scratchplate lovingly carved from a beaten old record.

At this point a few fotos would have been handy of course, but as I'm a nowhere man, you'll have to settle for something else.

So The Travellin' Man One, hopefully showing that some things are worth the wait....

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Sold: The Teabagging Incident One

The Teabagging Incident One is a complete one off, being based on a Fender Telecaster we have gone the Esquire route with a single ‘Gimp’ pickup, lovingly crafted by Marc at Mojo Pickups to our exclusive recipe. This in turn has a traditional Esquire wiring loom to dredge every last morsel of tone from the proceedings.

The finish is pure Mother of Jooky, with a handpainted effect happily dribbling over the edges.

The neck is a beaut – maple/rosewood with a low action, a bone nut and a distinct lack of buzziness.


All in all, this is a stunning looking guitar that plays beautifully and nails all of the classic tones.


*


To be clear, The Teabagging Incident One is an utterly unique guitar, and there will never, ever, be another made. It is signed and numbered, entirely hand built and finished cooler than a slo-mo run across the pebbled beach at Portishead. There will genuinely never be another guitar like this and past experience suggests that it won’t be around for long.
*** SOLD ***
Technical Stuff:

Type: Bab’s Pearly Queen

Electrics: Gimp Pickups, Mojo Esquire Wiring Loom

Guitar Type: Telecaster Esquire

Construction: Alder body, Rosewood/Maple neck

Strings:     10s

Output: ¼” Guitar Lead

Controls: Volume, Tone

Special Stuff: Certificate of Authenticity, Builder Signed and Numbered, All Wrapped with our Trademark Jooky Wrapping.

Serial Number: JGE#80

RSP: £999

Teabagging Across the Universe

Well, the next couple of weeks are destined to be Jookiless, but I remembered that I had started something and not shared-with-the-group, so at least that is something different to contemplate.

Well, unsurprisingly, it is a nice Esquire, with a funktastic finish. I did initially have this down as one of the Strappado bodies, but in the end-zone couldn't resist the allure of the trip, so there we be.

Oh, the pickguard is chopped from Lou Reed's Rock 'n' Roll Animal, a nice '74 copy.

So, from the top - alder body, groovy finish oversplattering the edges like a bingo caller.

Beautiful maple/rosewood neck, Wilko tuners and bridge and best of all a Mojo-made-to-a-Jooky-recipe, Gimp pickup at the bridge in all it's raw and sexy P90/Tele-ness.

A nice Mojo esquire wiring loom settles the nerves and there we be..

When I get to finish this, it will be known as The Teabagging Incident One, so there we are. When that will be, who can say right now?

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Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, I Got A New Guitar

Well, I seem to be on a bit of a trip at the moment, as a new arrival this morning ticks off another of those guitars-I-never-thought-I'd-own entries on the list marked Non Chance.

As you can probably see it is a Rosewood Telecaster, something I've long lusted after since seeing George Harrison's one somewhere or other.

First things first, it is a 'Replica' put together in the UK by a top chap called Rich and dare I say it is closer to the original in a lot of ways than any Fender have made since Let It Be. It also didn't cost the £15K one of the old uns seem to go for.

For a start, the body is solid rosewood, made from two pieces and utterly stunning looking. The one Fender gave to Georgy Boy was solid (though pancaked with a maple strip - which this isn't), but the ones they made for sale were chambered to get over the fact that solid rosewood weighs a ton or more. This is just shy of 13lbs according to the kitchen scales, so go figure. Regardless, it has had a lovely nitro finish and will no doubt age like a demon.

The neck too is all rosewood apart from a maple skunk stripe (again differing from the originals). Most of the recent Fenders have just gone for normal maple/rosewood necks and lose a lot in the process I fear.

As for the rest, all the parts are standard Fender fayre, with the exception of a couple of Marc Ransleys excellent pickups, which lets face it I would have put in anyway.

As for the sound, well Rich described it as a monster and that is spot on. The sustain is incredible - good Les Paul territory and it has a different tone from any other tele I've played. Still with all the twang, but maybe a bit warmer and richer (fuller? - god I'm crap at describing this stuff). It does need a few tweaks but nothing drastic and it will make it feel more like mine anyway, so no worries there.

As for the weight - as I tend to play sat sitting these days, it isn't an issue but I can imagine standing on a roof top for a couple of hours in London, it must have   been trying.

Other than that it arrived in one of those lovely retro Fender G&G hardcases which sets the scene.

So there we are, Old Rosey is in the house and for once I really can't imagine this guitar ever leaving me.

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Into The Blue

Well,  I won't bother saying that nothing much has has been happening, all over again, as it would put the bland into boring, but I have been having a think about something new so I thought I could share with the group.

I've said before that my dream guitar has always been a '68 Lake Placid Blue Jazzmaster, and clearly it ain't happening in this incarnation, but have never got my act together to make my own homage fromage. Sat on me bum for a few weeks now has given me the impetus and happening it will be now.

So from the top it will be a lovely swamp ash body that will have a proper nitro LPB finish. Inca silver beneath, blue on top and lots of groovy layers of lacquer to taste.

From there I want it to look old but not battered, so lots of checking and a few dents here and there but no belt-sanding or keel-hauling, if you see what I mean. I want it barnacle free, at least until it is finished.

As for the neck, I'm going for an ebony 'board, usual big headstock bobbins and everything else. Tuners, the classic split Kluson, it can only be so.

As for the pickups, well as I intend keeping this for my very ownsome, and don't really need two identically soundified guitars, I'm thinking a standard Jazzmaster pickup for the neck with a Wide Range Humbucker at the bridge. I'll get these made by Marc at Mojo Pickups along with one of his groovy wiring looms as, well, I want the best of everything. Other than that, Mustang bridge, Fender AVRI tremolo, blah blah and blah.

When will it happen?
Well, could take a wee while I expect, but I've waited decades already so that is groovily cool. And that will be The Sappho One, coming one day maybe probably soonish later.

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Strappado Bodies -Special Offer Thing

Well, do second degree burns and an array of poorly-ill bratskis slow the turn of the Jooky globe so that nowt and nada gets done for weeks on end?

Yes, yes they do, and so there isn't a lot to report, and therefore I, well, I haven't.

I did miss you though.

Yes, you, not the others, just you.                               

However, time waits for no deluded-demi-tasse and as I am a leetle bored  I thought I'd welcome myself back with a spesh offer.

So for a small short time only if you fancy any of my beautiful Strappado Guitar Bodies, you can have one of them for a quite silly £149 delivered to your UK-based door. Simple as that, and then just make yourself something cool, all to your very own tasties.

£149. How daft is that - just pick one from Here and then Click on the Big Yellow Button and let me know which one you wanted in the first place.

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Some Think Old, Something New

Well, last week never happened in Jookyland, and that is official, and I won't bore you with plans for the coming week either today as it is far too sunny and despite the brummie influx, it may be a day for the beach at Weston super Mare.

Two nice things did happen though, which managed to be-smile my mush.

Firstly, I had a beautifully miniature teensy valve amp show up in  the deevine shape of a Vox Lil Night Train. I've looked at these for ages as though my Fender Mustang is great, I only use one of the amp sims and none of the effects, so it made sense. (Self Justification Part 4c). I know it is silly, but it feels a lot more real and that is cool. Plus I have an excuse to buy effect pedals again, even though I won't use them and then sell them on at a loss.

Actually, anybody got a fuzz factory? Clones are fine too..but I digress.

So that was the something new.

As for the Old, I finally picked-up The Golden Shower One from my local tech.

Now you may remember back in September 2011, I dropped it off as it had a raised fret that I didn't fancy messing up and then 15 months later heard that he couldn't do anything with it/wasn't worth the effort.

Anyway, I finally picked it up the other day, mainly because I thought the case would be handy for Old Korma. Well, five minutes with a fret file and  all is well with Goldie and man I'd forgotten how muchly fun it is. The Kent Armstrong HB P90s are maybe a tad polite, but still very nice.

The nicest surprise is how well the gold top has aged. This was full monty gold leaf with a nitro lacquer and it looks gorgeous almost like crushed velvet in the right light. (No, not the dark.)

In summary, well pleased with that.

But anyway..

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How Does It Feel?

Well, OK. I put the Bigsby on crooked on Old Korma, but it is straight (now that I am) and I am seriously in love. There are a couple of wrinkles to iron out - but they should be sorted by the morrow.

But that isn't getting things Jookified around here, and after last week's fiasco, I really need to get something done.

Top of the list is of course still the delightfilled The Chimera One and this week it shall be done, but I also want to get The Boogaloo One going as well, and hopefully the paint on The Babylon Blue One might dry this millenium.

What else? Well, dunno in truth. Time for a delve.

La la laaaa

Michael Finnigan

Well, sometimes you have to step back a bit to see where you were meant to be going in the first place and try and figure out why you ended-up learning to ride under Spaghetti Junction in a thunder storm when really all you wanted to do, was baby, just be with you.


And so it is with The Travellin' Man One - one that has gone on forever with little to show for it, and that I have always known is wrong in some way but couldn't figure out why.

And anyway, finally you have to cut your lossy formats and start again, as it were. To be sure.

So, I've rethought and refangled my plans for The Travellin' Man One and by doing so it has all become clear and Jesus loves me once more.

And so I've ditched the paisley and will be doing something else a bit special, it will have a HSH format (it be a Strat of course) instead of HSS, and generally the world looks cooler.

Some guitars - or at least thir conceptualised idea germs arrive on stony tablets, and others evolve in their merry own time.

Tis all good though.

As for other things, there aren't any really.

La la laaaa