Silver Dream Trundler

The Old Burny One
Not a body bag

Well, yesterday's fine intentions in the putting-the-tele-back-together-again department never actually happened, although I came close. In fact all was going well until I realised that the lovely CTS knobs were too big for the holes in the control plate I had to hand.

Which was a tad annoying as I normally have a few such things about the place. Worse I couldn't even find my reamer to make the holes bigger. In the end I did the decent (lazy) thing and treated myself to a newly relicked one, which will hopefully turn up tomorrow.

*sigh*

All of which means that today, in between waiting for a courier to take The Old Burny One to it's new home, I'm going to be doing err, something else. Incidentally, do you think I overdid the gaffa tape? The Old Burny One leaves in a Hiscox case, wrapped in a duvet and black bags and then cheekily sports 50 metres of gaffa tape. Sadly I measured it. Maybe that is too much, I don't know.

One courier has already arrived bringing a quite old and battered Gibson hardcase to fit a Les Paul. The fact I haven't got a Les Paul of any description now (until The Golden Shower One shows up again, and that has a hardcase already) is perhaps a bit daft, but my old and equally battered Gordo fits in there, so I'm convincing myself that was the plan all along. Not very convincingly convincing though, it has to be said.

As for The Fabulous One, the body should be here this week which is cool, so I went on a bit of a spree on the strength of it, snapping up bridges and tailpieces, a neck - always handy -  and boring stuff like strap pins and those long floppy things.

Strings, I'd run out of strings.

My weekends are so rock 'n' roll, well, r 'n' r anyway.


None of which helps me fill my empty, quiet and generally sad daytime hours, so I really need to think of something cool to do. Apart from waiting for UPS, and measuring more tape.

Laters m'dears

La la laaa

Jooky Special Filter

Well, what can I say. It started well, then all went shonky once more. I've got to pop out a get the new Stratty thing for the MR £100 wotsit this evening, so tomorrow will have to be solder day after all. Still, I did at least get something done.

In between being verily extremely busy, I've been playing the rather lovingly lovely The Old Burny One and it really is every bit as cool as I thought. A few days apart and well, I realised what I was missing.

So naturally I have put it back up for sale.

All of which may sound odd, but I have had a good talk at myself and if I am going to keep on doing this I really can't be keeping the guitars. Otherwise I would have kept all of them and would be living in a shed somewhere eating beans out of a tin.

So if anybody fancies it for a reluctantly obtuse £399.99 in it's cool Hiscox case delivered to your door and would thus like to save me from myself and penury, go and have a shufty HERE.

You don't have to rush though.

I won't mind even a little bit.

As for the MR guitar, I got some beautiful paisley today - like old times - and it is going to have a combination of that and walnut burr veneer. How that will work, I'm not quite sure, but that is half the fun.

As for pickups I am dithering between a simple yet lovely Gretsch one at the bridge and nowt else, or perhaps that plus a Jazzmaster one at the neck if it proves to be viable and I have whipped them out of my Jazzymeister by then.

Which involves soldering, of course.
Which sounds familiar.
Ahem.

Baby, Please Come Home....

Well, it has never happened to me before, but I'm taking it as a sign and running with it.

Can't argue with fate and everything, now can I?

What am I burbling about?

Well, I've been beating myself up over selling The Old Burny One for the last week or so, and chasing Les Pauls all over Ebay and around local shops without one feeling 'right' to me. And generally feeling pretty stoopid for letting it go in the first place.

It is my perfect Les Paul, and you really shouldn't let perfection go so easy, after all.

Then I heard from the chap who bought it, and found myself on one level gutted that he didn't like it - it wasn't what he expected, being the bottom line - and that he would like to return it.

So on one side I'm battered and bruised because, well, I want everybody to love my guitars.

But on the other I'm elated because it is coming home to me.

A while back you might remember I flogged my battered Gordo and that came back due to a few cracks appearing on it's way, and it won't be going anywhere again.

And so I feel the same way about The Old Burny One, it is meant to be mine after all, and so I plan to keep it.

All of which means that if I ever get the Golden Shower One back from the tech, I've got a dilemma, but what the hell I'll think of something.

Just hope it gets home in one piece...

I think I am a cuppa half full kinda chap after all...

All is Art - La la and a Laaa

Well, still no sign of the bits 'n' bobs for The Gordo, and no chance of getting to do any veneering this week, so The Gypsy One is still a box of parts. Instead, I've been consoling myself by playing some groovy bobbins on The Old Burny One, which is all verily satisfying after taking quite so long to get it together.

I have to say I am really in at least three minds about whether I should keep this one or not. I've lusted after a Les Paul for quite the longest time, and (with the pleasant surprise of the pickups suiting me perfectly) I'm kinda wondering what I'm thinking of.

The loose plan was that this year (next year - 2012 I mean) I would finally get a proper Les Paul to have done it, if that makes sense. Not that I'm impressed by manufacturer's labels - I normally find myself sanding them off, of course -  and in truth it was likely to be a Studio if I saved my pennies wisely a nice second hand one might be achievable over the next 12 months, but then I play The Old Burny One and really it is just the thing I've wanted.

Decent weight, lovely properly bound neck and I love the gold finish, so...I have to wonder what am I thinking of?

I mean, I spent a couple of afternoons recently playing new Gibsons, and a few second-hand ones too, and if I'm honest none of them quite caught me, though I'd have been happy to own any of them. So nice, but no banana; nothing that grabbed me and said this is really special keep-me-keep-me-oh-keep-me-why-don't-you?

And when I got back and played my golden Burny, it just did.

So I could sell it and spend forever trying to find a guitar that is just like it and failing dismally, certainly at the price I can afford to pay.

So I don't know. I mean, I know the answer is obvious - keep the guitar and enjoy it, but the downside if I keep it is of course that the next couple of Jookies are tied up in it, if that makes sense. One sold pays for the next to be made and all that. And if I keep this one, I'm kinda stuck going forward.

*sigh*

So it has to go really, as that was the point of the golden rules after all. Or I could flog my Jazzmaster, but that isn't going to happen.

La la laa. Stress.

In truth, I'm still all of a ponder about next year and what I'll be doing, but one thing I know is that I should be receiving an offset body in the near future, which could be fun. This is a bit of an oddity and the chap I'm having it from knows little more about it than it is sycamore and rather down at heel. It looks as though it is routed for a couple of single coils and a hardtail bridge (as far as I can tell), so it should be fun, methinks. I'm hoping a couple of Jaguar single coils will fit in nicely, though I might have to get the chisel out, not sure yet.

The neck coming with it is in need of frets, which I might have a go at doing, but as long as it is standardish I'll probably be putting a nice big headed Strat neck on it anyway.

Otherwise, I have the Explorer-with-no-name to sort out. I've had to degrease it before it can even be prepped for whatever happens to be the finish and it is truly minging. In fact it is in a black bag at the moment smothered in some special de-gunker for the third time. I think it may have been Damien Hirst's at one point and was previously suspended in aspic or cod liver oil.

I may have that wrong though. (Excuse the disclaimer, but while I know Damien doesn't pop in too often, I do know that Tracey Emin is a persistent reader of this blog and will no doubt tell him I said that, and then shit on my bed or something.)

Where was I?

Oh yes, 2012, of course - in summary, I'm still pretty clueless.
Much like 2009, 10 and 11, then.

A tootle and a pit.

Sold: The Old Burny One

About The Old Burny One

The Made In Japan ‘Lawsuit’ guitars of the 1970s and ‘80s were legendary for their quality and attention to detail. Many believe that they were better than the Gibsons they copied, and I’m not one to argue with the many.

The Old Burny One is one of these, an early 1980s Burny guitar, with a solid mahogany body and neck and more Mojo than a Mojo tree in Mojoland, MJ.

From a stripped down beginning, here in Jookyland we have painfully given it a golden top using 24 Karat Gold Leaf, and a variety of potions and unctions to both age it and protect what that leaves. It really is stunning too, none of this 9 Karat bobbins you get down Samuels.

In keeping with it’s vintage, we’ve gone for a set of Bill Lawrence designed Gibson ‘The Original’ pickups. These were fitted in Gibson guitars for only a short period of time before (allegedly) Gibson and Lawrence fell out and went in different directions. They are quite lovely pickups, giving all the old PAF tones, but with a bit of extra oomph when you need it.

To control these beasts well, we’ve gone for one of Shugz’ vintage wiring looms, complete with Russian Oil-in-Paper capacitors, CTS pots and all the good things. The difference between this and your standard Gibson wiring these days, is frightening. Other than that, tuners are Gibson (Klusons), and the ABR and ToM are Gotoh parts and work beautifully.

This really is a stunning guitar in every way, what else can I say?

*

To be clear, The Old Burny 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 British Dylan. There will genuinely never be another guitar like this and past experience suggests that it won’t be around for long.

*** SOLD ***

Type: Marilyn’s Gold Top Guitar

Pickups: Gibson/Bill Lawrence ‘The Original’

Guitar Type: 1980s MIJ Burny Les Paul Custom

Construction: 24 Karat gold leaf over mahogany.
Dean Markley Jimi Hendrix Pure Nickel Strings 10s

Output: ¼” Guitar Lead

Controls: 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone '50s Wiring

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

Case: Hardcase

Serial Number: JGE#38

RSP: £799

Introducing: The Old Burny One - Jooky's All Gold

Well, I don't quite know how to break this to you. I mean, it's taken nigh on a year since I first thought -

'Ooh, that could be a quick win'

- and it has had more specifications than your average DeLorean time-machine 4WD, but (and whisper it in case it is a dream and I wake up babbling like Kelly Brook)...

I've finally finished The Old Burny One.

Properly, I mean, it has strings and everything.

And, I really find this hard to say, but it is - OMFG - really rather good.

For the record, it is an early 1980s Burny Les Paul. Made in Japan to clone Gibson's finest, and if rumours are true maybe Even Better Than The Real Thing at that point in time.

It has a mahogany body and neck, rosewood board and just feels solid. The neck is lovely - not 60s thin or 50s baseball racquet either, which suits me fine. Properly bound too, which is nice,

I know, I'm gushing.

Other than that it has some Gibson branded Kluson tuners, Gotoh ABR and ToM, a vintage correct 50s wiring loom courtesy of that braided-wire-wizard Shugz - all oil in paper caps, CTS pots and Ye Olde wire and all that.

The pickups are the Gibson/Bill Lawrence 'The Originals' which Gibson fitted for a brief couple of years, and most of all, it has a worn 24 Karat gold leaf top, which has been aged and generally looks rather ancient.

And I have to say I am loving it.

I really didn't know what to expect from the pickups, but they have that real classic sound to them. All the PAF tones I love, but then some balls too. The control you get from Shugz master-filled wiring comes into it's own with these as the tone controls and volume pots throw up so many amazingly different colours, it is quite a revelation.

A time of miracles indeed.

Tidings of Apathy and well, whatever.

Well, I know it isn't that unusual - in fact I worked it out and during 2011 we have actually had nothing for sale at all for 38 of the 52 weeks, but I still feel the urge to apologise to the occasional passer-by with nothing to buy.


So I'm sorry - OK?

Don't go on so.

What is more unusual is that the Coming Soon list will soon be showing lack all as well, assuming I do put The Old Burny One back together again, which I surely will get an hour or two to do this week in between Oratorio and Nativities.

At the end of last year I wrote a crazy big massive wish list of all the guitars I wanted to make. I'll dig it out and see how it went, but I have a feeling that a lot of them actually happened, even though it rarely came about as I imagined up front.

All of which sets me up for next year and what I should do. On one side I've thought again about going the custom route, but I still think it would kill the fun for me so I probably won't.

In truth I know that really I'll just plod along and make it up as I go along. It's been cool so far so why worry so much? I don't know, but I tend to.

As for individuals, well I've got an Explorer to build, and the Gordo to fixer-upper, which is not Jooky but sort of relevant. And of course I have a big roll of rosewood veneer which is meant to be top of the list.

After that, well, we'll see.

There isn't going to be a big wish list this year, just going to enjoy the journey instead.

Yeah man.


In other news, I divested myself of my beautifully far-too-loud 3/4 of a watt BlackHeart Killer Ant, and instead got a much quieter 20watt Fender Mustang. Which doesn't make sense but it has a master switch and the most lovely clean sounds. Not that I've strayed far from the Fender Twin Reverb setting so far, with the odd dalliance in Bassman territory.

La la laaaa

And Finally...

Well, I'm all rather pleased with meself today, so I am, as I've managed to get to the bottom of the quietnessicity of The Old Burny One. Rather typically it was simple, and even more as expected it was down to me. Basically, I'd managed to break a wire and couldn't really tell until I'd stripped it all out and replaced it.

Heh ho, such is life.

Other than that, I need to string it up, set it up and we are there. I'll do a proper introduction once it is finally back together again, next week sometime I expect..

In other news, I finally got hold of an Explorer to play with - a body and neck from downtown Osaka or somewhere, so that will be nice in the new year. I've also divested meself of The Orpheum and the Dot, with the Jaguar bass going soon too. In fact there are very few guitars left, just an old acoustic my lovely Jazzmaster and the battered old Gordo which I'm giving a refurb.

I'd actually sold the Gordo, but on it's travels it seems to have developed a couple of teeny splits on the headstock. This I've taken as a sign from somewhere or other that I should keep the guitar forever. And that I should give it a bit of love.

So the plan is to firstly glue and clamp the headstock. After that I'm going to put new tuners on as I think my half-hearted use of some old Epi ones caused the weakness that caused the fault that gathered the grain, that ground it to flour, that cooked the bread that gave me indigestion.

After the repairs, I've decided to make the most of the battered and scribbled over wood and give it the full Gunstock experience - some walnut stain, Tung-Oil and a good wire-wool and polish.

As for the rest I'm going to replace the wraparound with something more newerish, and as I've never been 100% on the pickups, I'm going to replace them. I have a Seymour Duncan '59, which will be nice at the bridge and I'll probably put a P90 at the neck - not sure what yet, we'll just have to see.

Golden is Silence

Well, I've got all determined, and have decided that I really am going to get to the bottom of it, as far as The Old Burny One goes.

I'm bored hearing myself talking about it,
you're bored of hearing the excuses,
what sort of start would that be to a new year?

Not a good one, I think we can agree on that at least.

So what to do - well, my 473rd idea was to rip it all out and start again, but that is daft as I have basically done that twice, and all evidence points toward something touching something else that it shouldn't, so that the live signal is going straight to earth and giving pure silence-tone (TM).

Instead then I'm going to work with the multimeter and  following the paths. (I did try this before, but maybe with less determination and got distracted, who knows. Well, I do, but whatever.)

Anyway, today is a no go but tomorrow, is going to be amazing and golden.

Maybe.

Hope so anyway.

Winding Down...

Squier Jaguar Bass
Nice, but no banana

Well, I have had a few distracted days that have seen me Jookiless, and with only a handful of freedomhours left before the Xmas holibobs need to be endured, the truth is that I probably won't be getting much done until next year.

Saying that, I am rather chuffin chuffed at the things that have been built in Jookyland this year- I kinda miss the fabric, but the leaf and corrosion is quite satisfying too, it has to be said.

In fact I am going to do an annual fabric covered guitar, just for old times sake. If I remember.

Other than the lack of paisley in my life, the only regret I have is that over a year on, The Old Burny One is still not complete. I've said it before but it really is true that some guitars seem to take a lot longer than others, though why I don't know. So maybe I should at least try and fix that baby, tis a time of miracles, after all.

More personally, I've been reducing my own guitars - distilling maybe - and am left with a Jazzmaster *sigh*, The Golden Shower One if it ever returns from the fixer-upper chap in Clevedon, my rather knackered Gordo and a decrepid acoustic. Everything else has gone. Oh, I have my mandolin still.

I also have the Jaguar Bass that showed up today, but it won't be Jookified after all so I'm punting-that-on. It is lovely, just that I know I wouldn't play it and if I'm going to do a bass it should be better. I also just flogged my Blackheart Killer Ant amp as I fancy a change of scenery - so a bit of shopping to do there methinks.

But anyway, normal service should resume on Thursday...a toodle and a pip to you for now.

Not a Bean, I Tell Thee

Bye Bye Bella Dear

Well, blimey - The Bella Donna One didn't hang around long. That will be off to it's new  home on Monday and so we are back to our normal cupboard-is-bare state of being.

As for The Old Burny One, well it is back together and the bridge pickup is working beautifully - pity that the neck one has gone on strike now. Sheesh.

Anyway, I've decided to re-wire it from scratch and have ordered the bits 'n' bobs so that should be here next week with a fair wind.

In other news, I have been painfully aware that I've never tackled a bass guitar here in the Kingdom of Jook, something that was recently pointed out to me on FaceBook. Anyway, I've grabbed a Bass, which should be here sometime soonish too. Not sure when I'll do that though as The Old Burny and Rosey Wood Ones are queued up and I'm trying to stick to a plan for once in my life..

So no doubt I've be doing something at the low end of life sometime soonish too.

But there we are, such is the way of things.

Won't be Chasing Rainbows, any more...

Well, I have to say - with all modesty and not-a-hint of trying to flog you something with weasel words - The Bella Donna One is amazing.

I am so in love with that TV Jones pickup, never mind the look of the thing. The weight is nice and light too, which makes a nice change.

Today though, apart from the odd strum of Bella here and there, it is all about finishing *gulp* The Old Burny One.

I shall not be swayed or even a little bit distracted.

So what to do?

Well first of all I need to put the pickup back in, which I thought was bosted but proved not to be.

Then it is a simple case of finding out what was wrong in the first place.

And my gut feel on that is that something is touching that shouldn't be and the single is going to ground.
Simple.

The Old Burny One - you'll see it later. Probably.

Loving The Smell of Vaporware...

Well, teachers striking stopped play yesterday, but today - with a handful of new leccy parts - a steadier soldering mitt and a well sprung step, I'm going to finish The Bella Donna One, not least because my rosewood veneer arrived yesterday, and if I get Bella and the Old Burny sorted I can start to play with it, conscience clear.

To start with then, unsurprisingly I'm going to sort the soldering out. That of course may take all day, but hopefully not.

After that all that is left is to put the tuners on, which I hadn't quite gotten around to doing, and have a go at the nut as it was tightly cut for 6s by the look of things.

I'm not going to even begin to think about the Old Burny One until this babbette is out of the way.

However, I have been pondering The Rosey Wood One. If things go to plan it will have a rosewood veneer front and back, with a rust binding around the edges. There may be some dribbling involved in that, of course.

Not sure if I'm pushing my luck, but I'm going to try and veneer the front face of the headstock. Then again, if I get that far who can tell.

I've asked for some advice from people who know more than I, and I can't say that they looked inspired by the possibility of my success, but you never know. I've always had a bit of a punk ideal about things anyway.

I mean, maybe it isn't because they know a lot more about it than I do, have experience and things like that.

Maybe I'm a natural, or the fact that I hadn't even heard of any of the tools they mentioned is a positive in some small, outside-of-the-box, weirdish way.

Maybe it will work, in the same way that if I go wrong when I'm driving somewhere I just keep driving, sure that something will happen somewhere. (Usually turning around in a lay-by, or meeting cows head on and getting shouted at by Gloucestershire farmers, but I'll ignore that for now.)

Maybe it will just prove to be OK after all.

Who knows?

Given that the chances of this working are slim, I've not really thought about any of the parts, but I think trad Tele with cool pickups probably covers it.

But The Bella Donna One, focus, dear, focus. Don't get distracted.

Getting Sicker

Day 2: The Sick One gets filthy

Well, I feel like a bit of a plum in truth, as it turns out that there was nowt wrong with the Gibson/Lawrence pickup I sent to Catswhisker for a bit of TLC. Still, Allan is replacing the wire just in case (which was probably him being nice) and there we are. At least it kills off one more excuse.

Anyway, it should be back soon and maybe I won't mess it up when I pop it back in The Old Burny One.

On The Sick One, the 'journey to the corroded side' goes on today, with more rust appearing and assuming my new fangled drying technique works (opening a window) we should be lacquering tomorrow, before starting on the rust again. All good stuff.

I've deliberately concentrated on the top so far, as the back is a nicely lacquered pine and I'm in two minds whether to leave it. Probably not though, as I think a nice rust would be a better bet. The top, this morning, looks absolutely stunning and already has the 3D thing going on - excuse the extreme close-up, I'm chuffed and stunned all at once.

In yet more other news, the long-awaited Explorer should finally arrive this week. This is a bit of a special too, and is already spoken for. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not, but if I'm trying to do one-at-a-time, it probably makes sense. I'll have to think about that.

But the Explorer, I'm still mulling this one a wee bit, but it is definitely going to have a P90/PAF combination, which should be rather groovy.

But, to the rust..

Sick, Up Close and a bit flaky

Getting Wired

Well, I've sent my bosted Gibson/Bill Lawrence pickup to Catswhiskerville to be reconnected or rewound or whatever it needs to make a peep again, and also sent the nice man an old Seymour Duncan '59 I had lay around too that was similarly unassuming.

It's the resurrection principle - why stop at one?

All of which means that The Old Burny One is yet again on hold. It was always going to be the way, let's face it.

As for The Wasteland One, well I'm pleased to say that the rather lovely looking Fake58 wiring harness arrived yesterday, complete with a couple of Ye Olde Bumble Bee capacitors and a lot of vintage Mojo-ness. The only slight buzzy thing in the medicine is that I ordered the wrong switch and it is too big, but I have another more petite one, so all should be well.

You'll hear the shouts of dee-lite if I get it all together today, as planned.

As for The Joe Le Taxi One, I've got to the bottom of that and the body should be here sometime soon. I'm quite looking forward to that baby. I think a nice shiny TV Jones  pickup will do wonders.

I'm also thinking about doing another Telemaster, though maybe with a couple of Soapbar P90s and a Strat neck, though I guess that is another name for a Jazzmaster, really.

Not sure why I didn't think of that before, as it is a wee bit obvious, isn't it?

Hmmm.

The Sound of Deafening Silence

Hmm, well Les Paul week took a bit of a knock today, as after replacing every pot and the switch and then all of the wire, it turns out that The Old Burny One's silence in the bridge pickup department, is down to the bridge pickup not putting out.

Not a glimmer.

Not a peep.

The worst thing is that I am sure, positive and not a little certain that testing it was the first thing I did.

Though there is a smidgen of doubt as it is always possible that I simply tested the neck pickup twice.

Either way, everything else is perfect, I've dropped a 'scratch' pickup in there to make sure and there we are. I'm hoping Allan at Catswhisker will revive the pickup as lets face it after so much time, I'm more than a bit curious to find out what a Gibson/Bill Lawrence 'The Original' actually sounds like. I could put other pickups in, but I've waited this long, and...

I know, I may well hate them when I finally hear them, but there we are.

As for The Wasteland One, well, the wiring loom isn't here yet, so I was waiting on that anyway. I have though re-fitted all the parts I fitted before and then took off, so that is all we are missing now - and yes, I've tested the pickups - both of them. Twice..

Doesn't feel a lot to show for day one though, I hate to admit.

In other news, it seems my little Explorer will actually be here on Thursday, which is good. It is coming (had been coming for a fortnight) from Ireland, but after a little local difficulty (it being mis-delivered to a perplexed lady in Galway), it now seems to be finding it's way again. I love a good courier saga, it almost makes me feel competent.

Official Jooky Les Paul Week

Well, I have to admit that my determination to finally finito The Old Burny One failed dismally under a pile of tweaking of The Elmer One and a lot of Keef impressions in front of the mirror.

Sometimes these things have to be done, or they take away your lad card.

This week though, is very definitely lotsly a Les Paul week in Jookyland with The Wasteland and Old Burny Ones getting a good dose of solder and making sweet music, if things go well.

It's been a long time coming along,
let's face it.

Assuming all goes well, I think they may be nigh on the last guitars for 2011 as The Joe Le Taxi and Floored Genius Ones have faltered somewhat, and my little Explorer still hasn't arrived.

Also, of course, I've reached a point where I need to dream it all up again.

Which happens here and over there.

I'm pleased with everything I've done so far - the fabric finishes, the leaf, the corruption and degradation of all things metallic -  but I think a bit of R&D in some different directions would be timely.

(Obviously, if something interesting occurs to me in the meantime,
or the right project appears,
or I forget I've written this
or even thought it
which regularly happens
well, I love a challenge and it'd be rude not to,
wouldn't it?)

But to the solder...

Moody in the Morning

The Wasteland One
Moody in the Morning Light

Well, it was nice to get something finished again, and The Elmer One is a rather stunning guitar. Can't quite leave it alone at the moment, and the Bare Knuckle pickups + mahogany body seem to work verily goodsome.

If you like Led Zeppelin 1 - this is Jimmy-in-a-tweed-case.

As for The Wasteland One, well the lovely Gibson soapbars arrived and the Fake58 wiring harness should be here soon too, so that is well on it's way.

As you can see in the fuzzy fotos, I've mocked it up and in truth it just needs the wiring and we are home and dry. (Ahem).

Either way, it's looking pretty good methinks, if I say so meself.
Which of course I usually have to.

The rust has worked really nicely again, it was the same with the Rusting Nail and Porn Shop Ones, once it is lacquered it looks like some amazing red wood, you really can't pull your gaze away from it, and it seems to be permanently changing colour depending on the light. Yesterdays, almost orange fotos were in sunlight, today it is misty and dull here and the shade is a deeper colour. Spooky.


OK, maybe not, but I'm easily impressed.

As for the rest, well, I'm all a-loin-girdling again, and am planning on utilising my shiny new soldering iron and sorting out The Old Burny One, before it is a year of not really trying hard enough.. It's grown roots on the Coming Soon page already and even by my standards is starting to feel a tad silly.

So there we are. It has been nice moving along a bit this week, I feel all positive (for five minutes) about the remainder of the year.

Go Jooky Go
on and
on then...

Talking about Elmer

Elmer
an Inspirational Effalump

Well, a weekend at But-er-lins is surprisingly brain-numbing, and school holibobs or not, I need (and I mean need) to sort some guitar bobbins out.

Firstly, I really must finish The Old Burny One, even my kids are laughing at me about it. "The Never Ever Going To Be Finished One" as they re-named it.

Nowt worse than a five-year-old telling you that you are a failure.

So that, I need to sort sharpish-like.

Other than that, it is The Elmer One I want to concentrate on, once the new pickups - Bare Knuckle 'The Boss' warm, yet lovingly traditional too -  arrive and Ye olde Worlde Tele ashtray bridge show up.

This guitar looks rather stunning, it has to be said, and I think the pups will be rather amazing in it.

As they would be in The Porn Shop One, if I ever finish that particular babe.

Another I should mention is The Floored Genius One. Unfortunately, this 'un will be a while as I need to sort a few things out on that. It is more flawed than genius at the moment and there we are. I can't quite get my head around it right now, so best to leave it for a brighter season.

If I'm being a completist, I'm waiting for the body for The Joe Le Taxi One, my little La Cabronita project. I've got most everything else, but what can you do without a body? Not a great deal.

Elmer
a Swap Shop of a Guitar

As I said the other day, I should get the '70s SG copy this week, but that isn't likely to be Jookified as I need a guitar I can just play, once in a while, and this will hopefully be it.Especially as the Jackson didn't stick around for long.

One that is likely to get the treatment sooner or later, is a Les Paul Special type of thing, I couldn't resist. Twin soapbar P90s mahogany body and neck, rosey-wood 'board. Lovely.

I've already got something in mind for that one, but I need to see how good it is when it shows-up - took a bit of a punt on it, if you see what I mean and you never can tell until you can see them up close and personal-like.

So there we are, much the same plans as before, with a couple more added for good taste..

When Will It All Go Right?

Well, slight change of plan in that I'm still courier-a-waiting, and so never made it to town to get the shiny new bridge for The Drip Dry One, so I rewired it and that is that.

Instead of finishing that baby I dug deep and faced the pain that is The Old Burny One.

Now I thought I'd found the problem with this. I replaced the switch I'd managed to break, and I swapped the wires I'd manage to misplace...and things were looking good, but no banana.

So, at the moment I've got the neck pickup working but the bridge and middle positions of the old flicky switch are doornail dead. And man have I checked my wiring, rewired all sorts of bobbins, but nada, naff-all and zilch.

So is it a knackered pot?

Another dodgy switch?

Is my old Gibson 'Original' past it's sell by date?

I really don't know.

Wondering whether to cover up the bridge pickup and call it a Jr?

Nah, it'll never look right and will only bug me.

~~~~~~~~Musical Interlude ~~~~~~~~

Well, the courier arrived - wonder where that will end up?
But too late in the day for me to get to the Post Office, and I'm out of soldering time as far as the Old Burny One goes.

So, tomorrow, it will have to be tomorrow now won't it.

*Deep breaths *

Yours, beautifully bugged...