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

WIP: The Spindrifting One

Well, things are still a bit on the slomo side as far as putting guitars together again goes, but I managed to get the bodywork done on The Spindrifting One if nothing else, so the world hasn't died a death.

What I wanted to do with this was basically give it a bit of an old wood vibe - not a relic, but I wanted it to look as though it has been played and generally been a bit of a workhorse for a fair few years. More of a finish worn away than a aiming a belt sander at dawn,
whoever she is.

I started with a shiny new three piece ash body, and from there stained it rosewood, sanded it back and the stained it again having mixed in a little mahogany with the rosewood to give it a darker shade. From there I used hard wax oil, which made it shiny. A few coats of that. And then took the shine away with wire wool and generally roughed it up a bit.
From there, I like to use a coloured beeswax and bring it up to a sheen. The nice thing is that it smooths out the distressed parts and gets away from that whole just-happened look, fresh minty relicing so often has.
After that, it was a few more coats and a lot of buffing so that it has a nice sheen but still looks careworn.

The hard part with all of that is of course stopping as it is such good fun, whilst the groovy bit is that it genuinely feels as though it has been played for years, feels nice and smooth and like an old friend's sock.

And I'm pretty pleased with how it has turned out. I did go for a few dents and dinks here and there, basically because it wouldn't have looked right without them, but I don't think they are excessive and other than a chip on the front, they aren't really that noticeable unless you are having a good old shufty for them.

From here, I've got a nice Gotoh hardtail bridge which I've put on, some of Mojo's aged Gotos Strap Pins and dug out the Mojo Pickups wiring loom with the beautiful old looking book PIO cap and all, and I'll sort some pickups out when I've got some pennies. Saying that I've got some Strat pickups somebody gave me, so I might pop them in until I get something better.

Other than that, I had some nice pretty things arrive yesterday, but more about them later methinks


La la laaaaa

A Wonderfilled Day For A Moondance

Well, it has taken a long old while, but I'm really pleased with how The Hartlepool One is looking so far.

I got a really nice Big-of-headstock neck for it, and the Mojo Pickups Gold Foils should be here soon too along with the custom loom.

Other than that I'm only really waiting for the Bigsby and Ricky bridge to show their faces and we shall be in business.




What I can't decide is whether to go for a scratchplate or not, though the finish is so sweet it seems a shame to cover it up.

Maybe something small would work, we'll have to see once the rest of it is together.

I've just realised I am missing tuners,

Hmmm, better sort that one out methinks.

Can't wait to play this 'un.

La la laaaa

And Now For Something Different

Well, I know that I've said before that Strats aren't really for me. I've owned loads over the years and I like the shape, but the three pickups get in the way and they never seem to stick around for long.

But still, I quite fancy having a Strat around the place, I love SRV and that chap with the hair, Hendrix or something, and well, there is nothing like that in-between-sound, is there?

So, being a recidivist in excelsis, I thought it was about time I tried to break my usual habits and see if that made a difference. So the obvious starting point is to do a Jooky Strat with (shock) three single coils and as I managed to get myself a nice swamp ash body to play with, all was timely indeedy..

So avoiding my usual go-direct-to-vintage-spec, It is going to be more of a modern Strat, so it won't have a scratchplate and as the ash looks nice I think it might end-up stained some colour or other, though perhaps rusty might be nice. I'll have a think.

In fact, I've just put a rosewood stain on it, which is a lot darker than it looks in the foto, but there we are. It looks nice either way. And I think it will end-up pretty beaten up, so it probably doesn't mater anyway.

As for the neck, I can't not have a big ol' CBS headstock, and I want Rosewood or Ebony or the board, so we'll see.

I usually go for vintage trems, but wanted this to be a hardtail with thru-body-stringing-for-sustain-like-a-lickle-blue-tab, so that is the plan there.

Other than that, I usually go for split Klusons so I'll probably go for locking tuners, just to be obtuse.

And that is about it.

Oh, wiring - I've already got a Mojo loom from another Strat project I aborted, but I will no doubt try a set of Marc's Mojo Pickups as I've never tried his Strat ones and probably won't do this again.

Knowledge is important of course, even for those of us that be powerless.

And there we find ourselves, that will be The Spindrifting One, popping up around here one day soonish, perhaps, probably maybe.

La la laaa

Bye Bye Pinky - Hello Hartlepool

Well, the Tickled Pink pre-auction is over, so if you haven't already made your bid and aren't invited to the wedding, you have missed out on a groovy guitar, but there we are.

You needed to be quicker, no point in crying over it now.

The old girl is parcelled-up and waiting for a courier to take it to Burnley (so if you are passing any broken down UPS vans 'tween there and here, give them a hand, we're on a schedule here don't you know.)

Other than that, my parental responsibility for Princess Tinnitus yesterday stretched as far as her helping me to finish off the back of The Hartlepool One, and rather cool it looks too. I'd say stunning but I'm trying to rein it in a wee bit these days. Tis all cool. Basically it is a Lake Placid Blue with a Pearl and Opalescent, Shiny, Fairy dust finish and seemingly totally impossible to photograph proper nice like. The front will be similar but a bit more restrained on the fairy dust as she is back at school today.

One of the things I'm thinking of when I finally get this 'ere web site sorted out is to offer a few Jooky Custom Finished Bodies, rather than just complete guitars as, well, I like doing the finishing but there are only so many guitars I can put together, and over the last few years a lot of people have asked me to just do a body or refinish their own (I still can't be arsed with that malarky mind) so why not give it a go.

Of course as soon as I've made one, knowing me - aha -  I'll bolt a neck on and want to finish it, but there we are. The bodies will of course still be one-offs and numbered and signed and all that and if I get brave I might take custom orders for those as well. But who can really say, it might not happen at all.

So, courier waiting then, why does this feel familiar...?

La la laaaa

A Sort of Homecoming

Well, The Tickled Pink One arrived back in the little kingdom of Jook, which was a fine sort of homecoming, and I'm only a tad gutted that I can't really play it or more than a couple of minutes as the ol' gal deserves so much more.

And I must say it is in very good condition already, I think Liam's expert packing helped, and the chaps must  have looked after it well, so I really don't have much to do at all, other than to moon over it.

The really nice thing is that we'd put a book in so that all the peeps who took part could sign it and say a bit about it. That is a bit special, and certainly adds a nice touch and I forgot how many people had had their paws on it, so it is good to be able to read it. Whoever ends-up owning this 'un will be lucky methinks.

But it is off to Burnley tomorrow for the auction, fingers crossed the drinks flow hard and the bidding gets silly...

La la la

Smorgaborgadooandadah

Peter and the amazing dancing TPO

Well, despite the attentions of pukey brats, I managed to get a wee bit done as far as The Black Russian One goes and am hopeful that it will be fettled and sweet by week's end. I'm slightly desperate to hear the pickups and play the rather lush ebony 'boarded neck, but then, aren't I always?

Not too much to do other than to pull it together, so that is looking cool.

As for other things, if tinnitus allows (every child needs a nickname) I'm planning on continuing the finish of The Hartlepool One. Marc up there in Mojoland will have the Gold Foil pickups ready in a week or so, and I really want to be ready to go. The finish on this is similar to The Shonky One, and is a bit protracted by my standards - that had 42 coats to make it look so 'natural', and I expect this will be close too.

I've been playing around with some other combinations and there is a lot of scope for mayhem methinks. It is going to be pretty and cool.

Other than that, I am totally behind on my emails. Mentioning Custom Jookies has somehow turned into lots of enquiries, but I'll get back to everybody that didn't bore me too much in the next day or so.

But The Tickled Pink One is coming home today and needs to be away to Burnley tomorrow, so that will top the list when it gets here, I guess.

Oh, and we're into the final 24 hours of the bidding war for the TPO - the fotos are of it in action at the weekend in the Glasgow vacinity...how cool is that. Don't let it slip thru your donnies...go take a punt HERE.

You nose it makes senses.

La la laaaa

And Now...The End Is Neeeeaaarrr....

Well, I'm almost feeling a wee bit tenderhooked today, as I know that The Tickled Pink One is leaving on the last leg of the journey before it arrives back in Jookyland tomorrow.

Mainly worried that on recent form it won't arrive in a single box.

But, tomorrow it should be here for a final fettle before it disappears back oop north to Burnley and the auction and Andrew and Lesley's wedding on the 23rd.

And I should remind you that if you do fancy making a bid or this rather lovely and road worn in every sense guitar, you can still make a 'sealed bid' as long as it reaches me here by 7am on Wednesday the 20th February 2013 by following THESE instructions.

It is all going to a fantastic cause in Breast Cancer Care and a lot of people have put the effort in - so even a couple of quid would make a difference.... You can still donate Here of course, even if you don't want the guitar....

By the way, the pictures are from Peter's part of the tour where The Tickled Pink One kept some strange company. Though that van is definitely Jooky...



Oh, I'd really like to commemorate all of this with an Official Tour T Shirt, but can't quite get my head around it. If anybody fancies designing one drop me an email Here.

La la laaaa

Bit More Babylon Going On

Well, the bodies for The Babylon Blue and Scooby Doo Ones should be here next week sometime, so with The Black Russian ready for the final put-together, things are definitely starting to look up.

The Babylon Blue and Scooby Doo Ones

The Babylon Blue One is of course the second of the recent customs I've been talking about. The neck arrived a couple of weeks back, but with the imminent arrival of the body, it is starting to feel a bit more real.

This is going to be an interesting one for lots of reasons, but I'm going to be doing more of a relic job than I normally do and using nitro paints, so I'm quite pleased about that.

I've kinda avoided such things as relics are twelve-a-penny and I prefer distressing things to get a look rather than to try and looked as though they have been dragged behind a No11 around the Outer Circle, so I guess this will really be somewhere in between.

The neck is a nitro finished Tele one, left handed though it will be reversed and it sports block inlays. It was a bit of a gamble because it came from a U.S luthier I'd never heard of before, but the quality is good so it paid off.

The body is one of Jezz's, so I know what I'm getting there and as I say the finish is going to be quite excitingly cool.

As for the rest, we are yet to nail down the pickups, but a Tele neck one seems most likely - a rail probably - and something twangier at the bridge, whether that is a Ricky one or perhaps something like a Filtertron or Wide Range Humbucker, I'm not sure.

The final part of the jiggysaw is whether it has a Bigsby type of tremolo or if we have some other tailpiece.]

But all in all it may sound odd but I think it will prove to be something special - hope Damo likes it anyway.

More generally, with the new web site not a million miles away I think I'm going to be offering to do more customs as they are good fun if they work as collaborations. Maybe it is ego, but I don't do this for the dosh and I'm not really cut out for 'customer service', so this works on both levels. Anyway, if I don't find it interesting it either won't get done or worse it will be half-hearted, so nobody is better off.

I'm such a strop-laden artist...

La la laaaa

Gold Foil Dreamin'

Well, I think I may have overdone the sanding and screwing a wee bit these last couple of days, so The Black Russian One will now get bolted together early next week, but there we are. What can you do? I'm a raspberry ripple, end of story.

Instead then, my mind has turned to the long awaited and often-hazy-of-spec The Hartlepool One, my cats-eyed, semi-acousticalified Jazzmaster of sorts. I've lost track of how many variations this has been going to enjoy, so it is probably time to nail it down once and for evermoresome.

And after a good chat with Marc at Mojo Pickups, it will now have a rather intriguing specification....

So for today at least, as who knows what I'll think tomorrow, it will be:

1. A Jazzmasterish shape, cats eye slash holed, semi acoustic.

2. Big CBS headed neck of rosewood and maple.

3. A Dark-as-night blue metallic finish with essence of pearl and moonbeam

4. A Ricky bridge

5. A Bigsby

All of which is super cool of course and will look amazing.

As for the finishing touch, well I'm going to try the first set of Mojo Pickups' Gold Foils, which I think will be pretty darn stunning in this guitar, if I say so meself, which I do, so there.

I've been looking for a good place to try these for a while now and a sparkly Jazzmaster with a Bigsby sounds about the most perfect venues... The foto is of Marc's old Teisco, which also appeared in Saturday tea time's Metal Mickey when I were a lad.

Hopefully I can get started with this next week then as it is going to be uber cool methinks.

Other than that, I'm halfway there with the web site. It is going to have a couple of surprises and I've just brought  a few metres of hessian... Can you see what it is yet?

La la laaaa

Sold: The Siren Song One

The Siren Song One is a stunning looking and sounding Jookified Esquire that is truly cool in every way.

Based on Fender’s earliest, a swamp ash body has been stained and waxed, back and sides, set off with a hand carved Esquire pickguard made from an original 1964 copy of the Rolling Stones debut album (in Mono, which will clearly make the guitar sound better than the equivalent stereo edition.)

The neck is a nice soft C shape, 9” radius with medium frets, it has a low buzz-free action and a beautiful smooth ride.

A corroded ash tray bridge gives the traditional twang.

Sounds come via a specially wound by Marc Ransley at Mojo Pickups Broadcaster pickup, that along with the top notch Mojo Esquire loom drags every possible tone out of the guitar with ease.

Control plate, bridge and tuners have been aged, with similar distressed Split Klusons giving a solid feeling tuning.

All in all, this is a stunning looking guitar, with bags of tone and a beautiful feel. What else could you possibly want?



*


To be clear, The Siren Song 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: Norma’s Natural Guitar

Electrics: Mojo Pickups Hot Broadcaster, Mojo Esquire style Wiring loom (CTS pots, Oak Grigsby Switch, PIO Caps)

Guitar Type: Fender Telecaster Esquire Style

Construction: Swamp Ash body, Maple/Maple neck

Strings:     Nickel Hybrids 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46

Output: ¼” Guitar Lead

Controls: Volume, Tone, 3-way-switch

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

Serial Number: JGE#74

RSP: £999

Introducing: The Siren Song One

Well, after so much pain and even more whining about it, I'm please to be able to introduce to you The Siren Song One, the greatest chunk of loveliness to come out of Portishead since Eddie Large flounced into the sunset.

And from the top it is a beautifully marked swamp ash bodied Esquire, stained a dark oak hue, with what is without the finest Telecaster pickup in the world, a Mojo Broadcaster, at the bridge, with a classic Esquire wiring loom, all top notch CTS pots, Oak Grigsby switch, cloth covered wire and lovely big PIO caps.

A rather delish maple/maple neck is suitably nailed on, with relic/aged ashtray bridge, and Kluson tuners doing their bit for world hunger along with aged Gotoh strap pins and knobs.

Topping it off, we've chopped a pickguard from an original 1964 copy of the Rolling Stones debut and eponymously monikered album, and gilded this tiger of a lily with a fabric 'binding' fastened with corroded golden pins.

And man, it is one classy and classic looking guitar, which plays like a dream and sounds like everything you'd hope for.

I am so gushingly chuffed with this one I'm practically orgasmic (or maybe it is a heart attack, hard to tell at my age.)

But there we are, The Siren Song One, here, now and groovy with it.

La la laaaaa

Come Tickle A Pink 'Un

Well, I'd love to report that the bids for The Tickled Pink One are flowing in, but I'd be lying, and there is no point in that.

So if you fancy a one-off, hand built piece of gorgeous Telecaster La Cabronita-ness, swamp ash body, unique finish, Mojo TV Jones sized P90 and Ye Olde Wiring Loom, this could be a great opportunity, never mind a great way to support a fantastic cause. It's a once in a lifetime thing, like West Brom doing the double over Liverpool. You can tell you grandkiddies all about it and they will never believe it for a minute.

Anyway, in other news, The Black Russian One is back on the theoretical workbench, with some sanding to fit the neck nicely and a few other bits and bobbins lined up to get it finally fettled.  This is going to be pretty cool and I can't wait to hear what Andy thinks when he finally gets it.

Other than that, I broke out the drill so that the neck can be properly fixed on The Siren Song One and after that there really is very little else to do. It's pretty cool how quick this one happened. It is like that sometimes, even if it doesn't feel like it. And I know it is sad, but I'm loving the fabric 'binding' around the edges.

On the Siren I've gone for some of Mojo Pickups new range of relic/aged parts, and I think I have found my perfect strap pin in the shape of their Gotoh ones. Nice and heavy and looking good, can't ask for much more than that. The rusted ash tray bridge is cool too, so I've swapped out the Wilkinson one and gone with that and a set of equally aged tuners too. Lovely. (Can't quite believe I wrote that I have a favourite strap pin - sheesh.)

But the Tickled Pink One, show me your F£$%^& money. I'll say no more for now.

La la laaaaa

Your Chance To Own The Tickled Pink One - Spread The Word

Well, the Tickled Pink One has only days before it is auctioned at Andrew Robinson's wedding on the 23rd February, and as promised, even if your invite never quite made it, you can still place a bid to own this remarkable guitar, that will be sealed and opened on the big night.

We've already had a couple of bids, but if you would like to have a punt yourself, all you need to do is send us:

1. Your Name:

2. Your Address:

3. Your Telephone Number: (Preferably one where you can be reached on the evening of the 23rd February)

4. Your Bid.

To info@jooky.co.uk, and we'll do the rest.

The Bids will be printed and posted to Andrew, to be opened on his wedding night, or maybe at the reception if that proves too busy, and therefore must arrive in Jookyland by 7am on Wednesday 20/02/13 to be valid - so don't delay, seize the moment etc.

If you are lucky enough to be the highest bidder, the Tickled Pink One will be sent by courier in a nice tweed case, along with a Diary signed by all the guitarists who have taken part in the journey. There will also be some pretty pictures.

As the winning bidder you will be expected to pay the dosh via the Tickled Pink JustGiving page HERE within 48 hours.

If the winning bidder turns out to be a shyster and not good for the dosh, the second highest bidder will then be asked to step up to the plate, whilst we gather the mob and light their torches, sharpen their pitchforks etc.

And if you don't want the guitar, that is fine, you are still more than welcome to help Breast Cancer Awareness by donating some dosh HERE

Thanks to everybody that has taken part in getting this guitar around the country - there have been many an above-and-beyond tale to tell, and of course many many thanks to Julian Longhurst without whom it probably wouldn't have gotten much further than Gordano Services on the M5 just outside Portishead. You're a star man...

THE BIDDING IS OPEN

La la laaaaaa

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

Sold: The Frou Frou One

The Frou Frou Fox One is the second ever Jooky Teardrop, and is never to be repeated.

The shape may be based on the Vox Teardrops of old, but we wanted something a little more playable and have gone for a Fender Stratocaster neck, rosewood board over maple. We went for a centre block to cut down on the traditional feedback ‘features’, as let’s face it we all play a little louder these days.

The body is semi-acoustic, and along with the Gibson P90 at the bridge and matching loom – complete with a gorgeous Grey Tiger PIO cap – the tones that can be dredged from one so simple are stunning.

The top is a classic corroded bronze and copper with arty pants painting in acrylic on top and one we’re particularly awed and musted about, and a fabric binding and rear cavity cover give more of a homespun ‘60s vibe.

*

To be clear, The Frou Frou Fox 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: Pam's Baywatch Bronze

Electrics: Gibson P90 Dogear, Mojo Junior Wiring loom (CTS pots, PIO Cap)

Guitar Type: Vox Teardrop Style Body

Construction: Semi Acoustic body, Maple/Maple Strat neck

Strings:     Nickel Hybrids 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#73

RSP: £999

Introducing: The Frou Frou Fox One

Well, it took a while but sugar, it were worthy of the wait.

I'm all rather pleased ce matin that The Frou Frou Fox One is barking at the moon (barking - there may be a theme there...) and generally tip at the  top and Brizzle fashion.

So from the top, let me introduce you to only the second teardrop shaped Jooky to be born of my twisted mind.

The body is semi-acoustic and vaguely based on Vox's original. From there though we've gone for playability and used a nice old Strat neck - maple and rosewood - and generally tortured the sweet thing in a number of directions.

The body was stained, with the top getting a bronze finish and then an acid bath. From there things got corroded, stabilised and then acrylic painted for that eye of the dragon thing I kinda love doing.

I went for an old style tailpiece and a Ricky-esque bridge that works beautifully. The P90 at the bridge is a Gibson Dogear, and an equally old school Mojo handwired loom, all CTS pots and Grey Tiger PIO Caps, works beautifully.

Split Kluson tuners are old looking and rusted to fit in whilst also being brand new and working perfectly and a lovely fabric binding is nailed down with bronze topped tacks. Classy.

Sounds-wise, well it is verily nice. The body has a solid centre block on feedback minimisation duties and it gives you all the spanky cleans thru to scrotum tearingly sexy tones you'd hope for.

And there we are, The Frou Frou Fox One, sexy as Funk.

La la laaaaa