Introducing: The Fabulous One

Well, I'd like to introduce you to my latest trick, a little guitar I've grown to know and love as The Fabulous One.

From the top, it is a semi-acoustic (though thankfully with a feedback busting centre block hidden beneath), and it is quite clearly based upon the Fender Coronado I, though with a few Jookerific twists to make it my own.

The body is made from alder with an ash block in the middle, and it has been joined in holy matrimonial goodness with a Strat neck - maple and rosewood for the fact fans out there.

The finish is multi-dimensional, with the back and sides being given a beautifully blue corroded bronze finish, while the top has a greeny corroded copper. To set it off a little more, there is an Ersatz binding of red paisley, which looks lovely and messy and cool all at once as it wiggles it's way around.

Pickup-wise, there is another one-off, handwound by Marc Ransley at Mojo Pickups, and with all due nods to any company's who's name begins with "R" and ends with "ickenbacker", it is a version of something famously toaster-like. I have to say it looks great sat there all proud and West Coastish.

Other bits are a nice trapeze tailpiece with a quite Danelectro-esque metal bridge which only adds to the jangle. Tuners are Grovers and of course are rock solid and smooth of twirl.


Playing the guitar acoustically, there is definitely a nice bright jangle about it - almost a touch resonator like, which is probably down to the bridge and I have to say it does sound Dano-like, in a good way.

Plugging it in shows the pickup does a whole lot more than Smiths impressions, and whilst Beatles, Byrds and yes Mr Marr can be found without trouble it is really easy to get a touch bluesy with it too. Marc supplied another of hiis excellent wiring looms for this too, and using good pots makes a world of difference. Just volume in this case but with a nice responsive amp it adds plenty to the option list.

In a way I'd be disappointed if this was just seen as a Jangle monster as The Fabulous One really does have a lot more to offer. With a bit of distortion it sounds massive and overdriven it is reet sweet.

So there we are. I didn't even need to dig out the  SpongeBob plasters as a couple of pipe cleaners meant the wiring went in without any hassle at all.

The Fabulous One, in summary, cool as Ray Bans in a niteclub.

La la laaa