They are made of wood. Shock.

One thing that has surprised me so far about the Leona's guitars is that nobody has asked about the 'provenence' of the guitars or parts I've built them from. Now as it happens, that is good. Not because I'm worried about them being bits of junk I've picked-up - apart from the Glistery One, that is - but more because they have been pretty decent guitars to start with. That may sound odd to say.

The reason I don't advertise where they have come from is basically because the last thing I want people to think is that I sell a 'Fender with a fancy finish', if that makes sense. I wouldn't want the buyer to buy the guitar because of it's roots with all the pre-conceived ideas of quality that engenders, as it were, instead I want people to love them for what they have become...

La la la. I am sooo very up meself.

It doesn't mean though that I don't think about it. I could quite easily pick up a cheapo, rubbish plywood Strat copy, for instance, and give it a quick cover of something flashy and then flog it on for ten times the original ticket. It would be a well shonky guitar, but heh who cares if it looks OK, right?

There is no fun in that, of course, so instead i try and find decent guitars and then see how I can Jookify them. The Groovy one, for instance, was a Squier neck and body - the proper ones not the Affinity series, and then all the bolt-on-bits were whatever I laid my hands on - but again, not the cheapo bobbins I could find for pennies. Second-hand maybe, but good old 'uns.

Did it seem daft sanding off the Squier logo?
Probably, but there we are.

Tis art sugar and nobody said it had to make any sense.

What's Going On?

Well, I've been neglecting these parts as real life takes over sometimes, so I figured a wee update might be in order.

First up, The Groovy One:

I decided to drop the price to a stunningly, bargainsome £199 including delivery, as to be honest I never quite know what to charge for these things anyway.

More to the point, I want to get on with something else and instead keep playing it - and The Beano One - which is great and fun and my Hendrix impressions have never been less painful to listen to, but does use a lot of time up that could be better spent doing something useful-like.

So save me from myself, why don't you?

Blah blah & blah.

Of more interest, I'm picking up the double neck later today - with a fair wind - and am currently deciding what to do with it. It is a six string and a twelve string beat combo, rather than a bass, so there is plenty of scope for mayhem there, and as fine an excuse to play Led Zepp as I'm ever likely to get.

I am thinking that I should call it The Siamese One, with a nod to an ex-girlfriend of mine, but we will have to see.

(I always felt bad about her, to be honest. She is a siamese twin, but dumped me when she found out that I was seeing her sister behind her back. I'm not proud of that.)

Other than that, I have a pile of Cigar Boxes that I really should do something with. A couple of sliders, I keep promising myself, and maybe even a couple of amps. I keep thinking aloud that I will make some more Amys and Cheryls, but never quite seem to settle down and do them.

Heh ho

Lust, at my age...

I know it is sad - a 42 year old, lusting after young, firm bodies, but I have to say that at the moment I can't seem to get one particular wee beauty out of my mind.

Some would call her a Plain Jane, I'm sure and OK, she hasn't got the attributes of her higher maintenance sisters, but that is part of the appeal, I think. The fact that she has limited horizons and is unapologetic about it.

Who is this lassie then?

Well, it is a Gibson Melody Maker I fancy walking out with - one of the new ones, don't mind what colour, white, black or 'bursting with sunshine.

Ah...she's lovely.






p.s. Did I mention that I'm open to trades for The Beano One or The Groovy One?
No, well, fancy that...

Blimey - This is Getting a Bit Real

It suddenly struck me last night - after the unprecedented flurry of activityness we've encountered in Jookyland - that for the first time in, well, I don't have a clue how long, we are actually and really selling two things at the same time.

I am all of a quiver,
and don't really know what to say.

On the right
is the stripped down and Paislified Groovy One,
all P90 and super-dooper
cool.

And then on my left,
is the double-humbie-mayhem that is
The Beano One.

All British Blues and gorgeous tone.

Luckily neither of them have been sold,
as it means that I can play one,
and then the other.

Sometimes the other first,
and then the one,

Other times?
Well, the world is oyster-filled with potential.

What next?
Gord knows.

Not sure I can take the pressure of all this retailness.

Introducing The Groovy One

Well, some births are easier than others, and this Groovy Baby seems to have slipped out without touching the sides. The P90 pickup is awesome, and all in Jookyland agree it is a mighty fine looking guitar too.

Actually, they aren't that sure about my playing, saying it sounds good despite such handicaps.

I have to agree.

I am actually really chuffed with this one. It is a proper player's guitar and sounds rude thru a Fender amp.

No more, off to play some more Love songs...it's a Bummer in the Summer.

Sold: The Groovy One

We’re thinking about sipping Electric Kool Aid, riding a Magic Bus, chasing White Rabbits, visiting Atlantis in a Yellow Submarine, tripping the light, chasing rainbows, coming in colour and tagging on the end of yet another Majiikal Mystery Store. Yep, we’re thinking about the Psychedelic Sixties all over again, mining foney nostalgic thoughts of kaftans and religious cults, gurus and gondolas, painted Minis, flowers in our hair and beads, man there were beads. I have so many beads; you really couldn’t comprehend the beads I’ve seen.

And the scene, man what a scene, what an electric acid-fried, kaftan wearing white rabbit of a scene, chasing Alice now, chasing Dragons later. It’s groovy, and cool and fried and man, it is so psychedelically acid-fried real, ships fly to inches from your nose, the auras man, I can see, no I can feel your energy. I’m feeling cool man, I’m feeling groovy. And it’s Arthur Lee Forever Changing, and it is Jimi Hendrix, always Jimi for the search engines, Jimi wrapped in paisley, Jimi wrapped in tie-dye, Jimi wrapped in other people limbs. And it is the Beatles, and the Stones and Brian, this one’s for Brian, and it is the Grateful Dead, thinking about the Dead and Zappa, getting cynical, getting into marketing and selling, trying to sell you something warm, and west coast sunny, Pet Soundy and rainbow drenched rabbits. Feelin’ cool, Feelin’ Groovy.

*

The Groovy One is a step back to a simple, raw sound. Single P90 pickups, Woodstock ready Paisley acid fried finish, utterly gorgeous to play, beautiful to see. You should buy it. Really.

To be clear, The Groovy 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 beatnik on blotting paper. There will genuinely never be another guitar like this and past experience suggests that it won’t be around for long.

Technical Stuff:

Type: Leona’s Groovy Guitar

Pickups: Bridge Humbucker-shaped P90 Irongear Alchemist.

Guitar Type: Fender Stratocaster Inspired

Construction: Cloth over wood.

Strings: Fender 350L Stainless Steel 9s

Output: ¼” Guitar Lead

Controls: 1 x Volume

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

Serial Number: JGE#12

RSP: £299        Sorry, it has now been sold

Sneaky, Kinda Groovy Preview

Well, I was finally wiring The Beano One yesterday, and realised I was still missing a certain something. Hopefully that will show-up today.

What it did mean though was that I could continue my weekend's play, and carry on with something new....The Groovy One.

I realise I need to work on my branding.

Anyway, lots to do yet, but here is a cheeky preview...

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