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

 

Old Korma On A Friday Night

Well, I had a bit of a play with that there nice Melody Maker that arrived yesterday, as I always think you need to make a guitar your own, even if it is just a different set of knobs or a good polish.

Of course most of the changes you don't really notice, but I know they are done and that is the main thing..

So 'Old Korma' as it will henceforth be known, had a bit of a spoodle:

1. The body and back of the neck got a de-shine with a green pan scourer, and then polished to a gentle sheen with some Beeswax, so it feels lovely and smells deevine.

2. The frets had a tincher of wear, but not enough to worry about so they just got a polish with 'Silvo' and are super slippy and shiny now.

3. The rosewood board was in good nick, but I gave it a clean and linseed oiled it to perfection.

4. The most obvious change was to put the Bigsby B50 on. That went amazingly well by my standards, I even managed to string it up without drawing too much blood, which is a first for me.

5. Finally a couple of little things - I put some aged Tele knobs on as I really don't like a lot of Gibson's ones, and I thought an aged yellow-ish switch knob looked OK too, so I went with that.

And that was about it. You will notice I've done nothing about filling the holes in the body left from the ToM bridge. I did think about it, but I quite like the look of it so it is cool for now.

As for how it plays, well the action might have to rise a tad as it is right on the 'board, no buzzes but I prefer the strings to get a bit of air. As it stands though it is sooper quick, bends beautifully and the neck is a peach.

Sounds-wise, it has the original Gibson P90 at the bridge, which is good enough, but the  Rio Grande one at the neck is really nice. I've never tried them before but it makes the Gibson one sound plain by comparison. If it sticks around I'll no doubt change the pickups at some point, but no immediate rush, I think for once I'll live with it a while and see how I go on.

Coolio

La la laaaaa

Korma Chameleon

Well, this week has officially been a complete deadloss as far as Jookiness goes, but it took an upwards turn at the end as something shiny arrived, in a rather Kormaish TV Yellow...

And this is a 2003 Gibson Melody Maker, which at the time got a more Les Paul ToM and Bridge instead of a wraparound and more importantly was still made of wood. mahogany of some kind with a quite dee & vine neck and rosewood 'board.

From there it has been given a neck P90 to match the bridge one, and very neatly done that was too, and it sounds very bluesy indeed. In fact I'm in love with the neck pickup which is ironic, but there we are.

I've long loved Les Paul (and SG) Jrs, and this is pretty close, in fact headstock apart..etc.

(Insert your own favourite piece of self-justification, here).

So a bit of a mongrel, and I'm going to put a Bigsby on it just for the hell of it, but it is unputdownable, and what else matters about a guitar when you come to think of it?

As for next week, well, I guess I'll have to try a bit harder.

La la laaaa

WIP: The Chimera One

Well, after the dramatic success of actually finishing something I set out to finish, last week, I thought I'd chance my arm and try again this time around.

And the one I've got in my crossed hairs is The Chimera One, especially since the superb neck I got from Marc at Mojo Pickups - The Monster Relic one - is so verily dreamy.

As you no doubt recall, this is another Telecaster Esquire, and yet the first to feature - boast even - my very first Telefied Gimp pickup. Which I fear will be too good to share, but there we are.

So from the top it is a walnut body that has been cunningly stained a rosewood colour, genuinely wicked Bakelite pickguard, slightly distressed here and over there, has the aformentioned one piece Monster Relic neck, the first Tele Gimp pickup, a lovely Mojo wired Esquire loom and there we are.

The only problem s that I seem to be missing a few parts, namely:

1. Kluson split tuners
2. An Aged bridge plate - the one in the fotos is a bit shiny new
3. A Nut
4. A Control plate.

So first things first...

La la laaaa

Something New

Well, I got over the destruction of Scooby in the end, and as a new guitar had arrived the other day, I had something to take my mind of it, which isn't awful.

It is a, snappily named, Yamaha AES800, which they only made 'tween '97 and '00 I think, and was something I quite admired back in the mists of the day, so when it popped up I thought..why the devil not.

And it has been a pleasant surprise - it has DiMarzio P90s, or Q100s as they call them - humbuckers though, rather than single coils - which I can  honestly say I wasn't expecting much from, but are quite beautiful, and has already been upgraded as far as the leccytrix, tuners and bridge go...so for once it really is just plug in and play.

And it looks quite sci-fi retro too in a funny way.

In fact it sounds remarkably like a nice SG...

In other news, the Monster Relic neck for The Chimera One arrived this morning from Marc at Mojo Pickups, and jolly lovely it is too - I should get that baby with the Gimp installed too next week, so that is something to look forward to.

La la laaaa

And Sometimes, Things Don't Quite... Scooby Snaps

Scooby Won't Be Chasing Ghoulies, Anymore

 
Well, I know after reading this wee blog for more than a little while, you probably have an image of my never-go-wrongedness, and no doubt think that I am in some way infallible. But let me tell you, sometimes that isn't the case.

And so this morning I thought I'd finally put The Scooby Doo One together again, when I tripped over.

OK, not that unusual so far, I trip over many times every day and throw in a couple of tumbles down the stairs each week for variety, but normally I don't land on a guitar body.

And if I did, normally they are solid so I only hurt me, but today's normality isn't that normal.

And so when I landed knee first on Scooby, well, I hate to say it but I think it may be terminal.

So I am having to do the right thing and well, nobody likes it, but I am having to put him down.

It is the kindest thing, after all.

The mutt gave me splinters.

Ho hum

La la and laaaa

Sold: The La Cucaracha One

The La Cucaracha One is a complete one off, being based on a reverse Jazzmaster body it begins as unusual and with a Mother of Jooky Liquid Pearl finish, it quickly blasts off toward planet unlikely.

Three lipstick pickups and a Mojo hand wired loom (using the best CTS pots, Oak Grigsby Switch, cloth covered wire, PIO caps and Switchcraft socket) give a stunning array of tones from the obvious jangle thru to rock and electric blues.

Hardware is solid, with a Wilkinson tremolo complete with a solid steel block for zingy sustain, Wilkinson tuners, Gotoh strap pins and a beautiful, CBS style maple/rosewood neck, with medium frets and 9.5” radius for the modern chap or indeed chapess.


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




*


To be clear, The La Cucaracha 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.

*** GONE ****

Technical Stuff:

Type: Bab’s Pearly Queen

Electrics: Lipstick Single Coils, Mojo Wiring loom (CTS pots, PIO Cap)

Guitar Type: Reverse Jazzmaster

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#78

RSP: £999

Introducing: The La Cucaracha One

Well, in the spirit of ersatz dreamy psychedelia dripping faux memories of Carnaby Street, I am pleased to introduce you to the latest of the Jooky brood in the offset and quite backwards of shape, The La Cucaracha One.

And what a star the wee thing is.

Starting with a reverse Jazzmaster-esque body, it has received a stupid cool finish with contrasting scratchplate.  Just to be awkward, I went for a right-handed CBS-Style Strat neck with a lovely dark rosewood board.

Adding some perzazz are three rather dishy and shiny chrome lipstick pickups, strung together with a top notch Mojo Pickups handwired loom (all good CTS pots, Oak Grigsby Switch, PIO caps and Switchcraft socket etc.)

Other bits are a zingy steel blocked Wilkinson tremolo and aged tuners, and just to annoy all the Jazzmaster owners who look everywhere for white Witches Hat knobs, a set of those too.

How does it play? Well, the action is low, I have a set of tens on there and it is dreamy. Soundwise, we are in everything from Blues to Hendrix to Stevie Ray Vaughan and of course a bit of jangle on tap if you want it. For special occasions like.

So there we are, The La Cucaracha One, groovy as funk.

La la laaaaa

Durex machina

Well, I was really rather pleased (understatedly  so) to receive the first ever Tele Gimp pickup from Marc at Mojo Pickups. These are thee Part Deux of my little plan to take over the world with guitar pickups. You may scoff now.

Anyway, this is destined for the Esquire that will be The Chimera One, and as you can see it has a nice braiding around so that it looks cool. Braid is cool. More importantly, it is based on a P90 pickup Marc made for me a while back with a little tweak or three, and I really can't be awaiting getting this together. Though unfortunately I'll have to for at least a few days.

Instead then, today I am soldering wires, burning fingers and generally causing hot liquid metal mayhem in a flawed attempt at making The La Cucaracha one strummable.

But there we are, nobody said it was going to be easy and peasie.

La la laaaa

Zoomba Zoombababa

Well, I still need to do the soldering, but just about everything else is ready as far as The La Cucaracha One goes, and it is looking jolly striking I must say.

(OK, maybe strings and a setup will help a wee bit too. And a few screws, looking at the scratchplate.)

As for other stuff, The Old No.7 One got collected at the second attempt and is now stuck in a layby on the M5 somewhere, but will hopefully put a smile on Paul's face tomorrow sometime. It took a while, but hopefully it will have been worth it.

The only other news is that I was so impressed with the neck for Old#7, that I'm acquiring a traditionally cool one piece maple one for The Chimera One instead of the originally planned ebony boarded wonder. I know, decisive am we. It is another Monster Relic one from Mr Mojo himself's stock of all things cool and relicked so at least I know it will arrive.

But anyway, there we be...

La la laaaaa

Sun In The Sky

Well, it was such a relief to finally finish The Old No.7 One for Paul, that I thought it might be good to pick a single guitar this week that I will attempt to finish and maybe it will help me catch-up.

It's a thought, give me that at least.

So as I have most of the parts for it, I figured The La Cucaracha One might be a good candidate, not least because the sun is out, the surf is risin' and well, it is cheery colourfilled, and that is good enough for me.

As to what is to be done like, well, I have the Mojo wiring loom, I've got some lipstick pickups somewhere I can dig out, I've got a neck, the Wilkinson bridge/trem thing should arrive tomorrow, I've got some white witches hat knobs, and I even have tuners and strap pins.

So really, it is just a case of putting it together.

And then I am in Surf Safari heaven.

So there we art. This weeks special model.

La la laaaaa

Introducing: The Old No.7 One

Well, it has taken a while - for once not entirely down to me - but I am verily pleased to be able to introduce you to the latest Jooky on these shores, The Jack Daniels influenced The Old No.7 One.
As you can see it is based on the classic Fender Telecaster Esquire and has more than a hint of JD about it.

The idea behind this one wasn't so much to make a relic guitar - not really my cuppa after all - but instead to aim for something that looked like it had been carved from an old Jack Daniels cask, and so we have a lovely, dilapidated looking black finish that has been 'Cask aged' (ahem) and generally beaten into submission.

The pickguard, fact fans, has been chopped out of an old metal Jack Daniels sign, and the studs around the edge are bronze topped and are meant to give a wee nod toward the rivets in the original.

Pickup-wise it boasts a Marc Ransley wound Broadcaster which is a little hotter than normal, and works perfectly with one of Marc's Esquire looms.

Other than that, it has one of the nicest necks I have ever played. It is a Monster Relic one, so again artificially aged without being silly about it. Top notch stuff.

Tuners, bridge and cover are all Fender original parts and there we are.

This baby was custom made for Paul and should be off to him on Monday with a fair trade wind and light around the tunnel.

Tis cool.

La la laaaaa

Mr Boogaloo

Well, as ever things get in the way, so The Old No.7 One will have to wait until tomorrow for it's formal introduction, as I've been AWOL and now face a court martial.


I did however get a couple of pretty pictures of a nice ash body in the shape of a Ricky 620 that is coming soon to Jookyland as I quite fancied one for myself after starting on the finishing of The Babylon Blue One. Speaking of which I really must find the camera as that moved on a bit unnoticed.

Note to self: Get a grip.

Anyway, this Ricky inclined one will be a bit different as it will have a big headed Strat neck with an ebony board, and when I get that far a couple of the stupendously cool Toaster pickups Marc Ransley at Mojo Pickups made for me before. I'm putting a Bigsby on The Babylon Blue One, but I think again this might just have a trapeze tailpiece, though then again...

As for the finish, I've missed my Mapleglo 360/12 for many a long year and will never have the dosh again to replace it I expect, so this will be something more natural I think. Maybe a bit of stain and a shiny nitro finish. Or maybe not, who knows.

Either way, that'll be The Boogaloo One, methinks

La la laaaa

Going to be amazing

Well, you'll just have to trust me on this as I can't find the camera - cameras in fact, four of them - but The Old No.7 One is getting closer and is going to be amazing.

The neck is on, and if I hadn't somehow split the nut (that's about 3 in the last couple of weeks, must have been some donkeys with brittle bones out there) there could even be some strings to strum. New nuts should arrive tomorrow though, so - well, cool. I'm vaguely happy.

That in fact took my day, although The Siren Song One took a bit of a bashing as well, here and  over there somewhere, and I'm thinking that maybe that should be the one I keep for myself.

Though I don't know.

Hmmm.

Anyway, that was all, as you were.

La la laaaa

JD & Gimps

Well, this week has only one job as such and that is to finish The Old No.7 One and get it up norf to young Paul.

Today then I carefully laid all the parts out, fitted a nice bone nut, polished some frets and drilled a few holes. It was as good a start as any, and tomorrow I might even use a screwdriver to nail that neck on.

I think this is going to turn out to be something a bit spesh, so it is easy to stay focused for once.

Other than that, I must admit I had a little Gimp time, playing The Spindrifting One quite lots loudly and generally having a bit of fun. I think I may have to keep this one as:

1. I am Jookiless
2. I only own one guitar, my Jazzmaster, and it is lonely, and
3. It is the first time I've really 'got' a Strat and it may never happen again.

So we  shall see, though The Shonky One is also rather a good candidate for permanence, I have to admit.

Anyway. such is life

La la laaaa

And Then There Were ST#6

Well, I'm rather pleased with how this one turned out - I was trying for a kinda sea foam greeny/blue hue, by quite naturally enough corroding copper with acid (I'm sure that is how Fender did it originally), and I like to think I nailed it. Or at least nailed what I was thinking of if not Fender's colour, which it isn't but there we are.

Excuse the poor light fotos, but it was finished and I'm not one to hang back for a better moment.

So this is my sixth Strappado body, I think it is going well. Alder Tele body, it will have a nice pickguard when I can find one and there we are.

Jesus wants me for a sunbmw.

La la laaaa

Getting Old on a Saturday

Well, I mentioned the other day that I'd hunted and gathered a Monster Relic neck for The Old No. 7 One from Marc at Mojo Pickups, and it arrived this morning and it is rather stunningly cool. I am really impressed with the quality of it, and the ageing is very subtle, no stupid wear, just genuinely old looking and feeling.

And as that was just about the final jiggysaw lump, and hopefully next week this baby will be on it's way to Paul for mucho strumming.

La la laaaa