Raymond-A-Go-Go

Well, I decided that I'd like The Raspberry Ripple One to go to a new home, and the long-and-short of it is that it is off to a young lad in the North West, which is pretty cool. I would have been quite happy playing it every day, but them rules are there for a reason, and I figured somebody was telling me something about that wee guitar so it is off to a new home in the frozen north. It's a zen-thing..

I also opened the case of The Fabulous One, and I don't quite understand it but the neck is pretty twisted. I've never seen one like it before, though when I twisted the truss rod it sounded like a bag of spanners, which might explain something. Even so, it looks most bizarre, I've never seen that happen before.. You live, you learn.

Anyway, as somebody else is obviously also telling me something about this one too, I've decided I'm going to replace the neck. I am also thinking about putting an old school horseshoe trem on while I'm at it, but we'll have to see how it goes. Nice to play it again though, even if the low E is 3cm off the 'board now.

The Raymond One is also off on it's travels, so this is going to be a week of courier hell again, but there we be. So The Ronin, Raymond and Raspberry Ripple Ones all need to be sent, I'm not sure I can cross that many fingers at the same time.

As for The Fallen One, well I think something special is going to be happening with this beaut, so I need to get my act together and sort it out, pronto, Tonto. Which means routing and staining and waxing and well, everything elseing.

Busy times, these holidays be.

La la laaa

National Raymondo Day

Well, and so it was that yesterday's high point was indeed the finishing and playing of The Ronin One, and what a little lovely it is. I think I played it for three hours straight last night and a tweak here and there, it just sounds excellent and feels beautiful in-the-mitt, as it were.

Ah the benefit of sick kids sleeping on the settee.

Actually, can't think of another one.



But all that love must be put aside today, as I brace myself to (shock) use an electric drill and somehow manage to (horror) use it to make some (surely not) holes in The Raymond One.

I know, there is truly no start to my talents.

The first hole is hopefully simple as it just needs to be between the pickup and the control panel rout thing. I won't say I could do it with my eyes closed as I may feel obliged to try it. But hopefully it won't be too tricky.

The other hole is for the jack socket to be fixed into, which is a bit bigger and so I will drill it twice, once to make sure I'm doing it in the right place, with a teensy drill bit, and then another with a big momma of a bit, just to make sure.

"Drill twice, measure afterwards to see if you got it in the right place",
my new mantra. I like to be professional about such things.

After that it is sewing it together, soldering things into place and generally going out to buy some strings as I seem to have run out again. How? I really don't know.

As for other stuff, I seem to have been banned from Ebay for three days. Apparently, if a guitar has Gibson pickups in it and you happen to mention the fact, they kick you off for infringing copyright. Obviously I should have said it was a Gibson guitar copied in China, because that must be OK as they never seem to do a lot about that sort of thing or 'Fender Custom Shop' guitars with Squier trems and, and, and...oh, it isn't worth worrying about, is it?

La la laaa

Ronin To Raymondo

Well, that was a bit of a scurry of a flurry of excitement earlier on, and I am loving The Ronin One. It is much better than I thought it would be and it has some great sounds in there. I can't quite make up my mind whether I prefer the single coil or the 'bucker, but together they are excellently lovable.

It's always an odd moment when I finish a guitar - especially when there have been so many twists as there has been with this one - as I have this moment where I love it, and then one where I'm not sure if it is as good as I think and I'm almost looking around for approval, then finally I play it for an hour or two and know. And this time, I really love everything about it.

In many ways it reminds me of the Sonex, though that had PAFs in and wasn't as tonally interesting as The Ronin One, but the neck is just a total joy. Lovin' it.

I've come to the conclusion that sound-wise it is somewhere between a Les Paul and a Tele Custom - with the Wide Range Humbuckers. Definitely has that sound when both pickups are mixed together.

As to what is next, well I'm aiming to get The Raymond One fettled before the end of the week, so with a bit of luck I might just get that started later today or tomorrow at least. That really just needs a couple of holes drilled and then a bit of soldering and screwing and we're in happyland. Though to be honest, if I'd been offered The Ronin One's completion over the course of the six-weeker, I'd have probably taken it.

La la laaaaa

Sold: The Ronin One

The Ronin One is a Jooky take on ‘70s rock, being based on one of Gibson’s lesser-known models, The Marauder complete with it’s Les Paul shaped Body and Flying Vee style bolt-on neck.

In building The Ronin One we’ve taken a 1970s Japanese copy of Gibson’s original, which followed the template to a tee, and far exceeds the current standards set it guitar land.

From the top then, the body and neck are solid maple, weighty but beautiful too. I hate to think how much equivalent lumps of wood would cost these days, assuming you could even get them without Greenpeace kicking your door in.

The body and headstock have been liberally coated with active copper and then attacked with our home brew concoction to corrode in a madly degrading way. This has then been stabilised and lacquered for posterity. I’m really chuffed with this finish and it should age beautifully.

From there we eventually decided to keep the original tuners that work sweetly and have been re-jigged slightly to improve them further. They have a real aged look to them, which goes with the Flying Vee headstock perfectly

A metal bridge and tailpiece give a zingy sound when played acoustically and along with the maple make for an almost Tele sound with the single coil pickup and plenty of grit while still cutting thru from the ‘bucker.

And speaking of sounds, we were particularly pleased to find a pair of original, stamped 1978, Gibson pickups that sound quite brilliant. One ‘bucker, one single coil they give tones from your classic Les Paul through to some beautiful Telecaster twang. In fact this reminds us more of a hot Tele than a Les Paul but with perhaps a bit more grit in the oyster.

This is a beautiful guitar to play, the neck has that old feeling that relickers are forever trying to replicate, and some great sounds too that you really won’t find on your more run-of-the-mill Strats, Teles and Pauls.

*

To be clear, The Ronin 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: Lulu’s Copper Top

Electrics: Gibson NOS Marauder Pickup Set Stamped 1978

Guitar Type: Gibson Marauder

Construction: Maple body, maple/rosewood neck, Corroded Copper Finish

Strings: Nickel 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#47

RSP: £799

Of Ronin and Snotty Pickups

Well, halfway thru week one of the holibobs and other than a vaguely working washing machine, not a lot to show for it. I've done bits 'n' bobs but no banana, so I'm going to have a proper go today and see what happens.

I know I've been saying it for ages, but today I am going to finally finish The Ronin One.

There, I've said it again.

And I kept my face straight.

But this time is different, honest it is. I've done the nut so it plays lovely, and I even removed the blend pot and screwed the 3-way-switch into place, so by my reckoning it just needs a bit of solder and we'll be there. Ultimately, it has to be that simple, doesn't it?

Just once.

Please

Assuming that works out, the rest of the week is destined to be about finishing The Raymond One. That too needs a touch of solder, but first it needs some holes drilled for wires to pass thru. Assuming I get those drilled today or tomorrow, we should be in the quid seats with that finitoed this week too.

I'm looking forward to it, what with the Stratty trem and Mojo Wide Range pickup, it should be something cool methinks.

And I really do need to get these sorted as this holibob is meant to be dedicated to making my lass her own guitar - The Lightning Dragon - and most of the parts should arrive anytime nowish. Well, the ones I've remembered to organise, anyway.

She is (soon to be) six, so it is going to be short scale thanks to a nice Duo Sonic neck Mr Mojo donated to the cause and a Strat body and, well, that's it so far. Better get with it, thinking about it.

As for the Jazzymaster goodness of The Fallen One, well I've done no more, but Mr Mojo sent me a foto of one of the pickups, which has had a quite strange reaction to being aged. It has gone a funny colour.

See, it happens to the best of us, so what chance have I got?

Nice to see the extremely Mojo-laden plug hole, mind.

Ever the professional that boy.

La la laaa

Nut Chopping The Jooky (Cheap) Way

Proper Nut Slot Files
Though, obviously, I don't have any

Well, bit of a disjointedly odd day, today. The courier finally came to get The JoBo One, though too late to be usefully usefilled, so I never got to drill and solder Raymondo in the end.

I also never managed to finish off The Ronin One, again, although I cut a nice graphite nut which seems to have solved my slightly-buzzy-problem, which is good. I'd actually bought a metal nut as I love the brass one in my Gordo, but to be honest it was too much hassle to adjust it once I realised I needed to take a couple of mm off the bottom before I even looked at the slots, as it were. The graphite was easier to work with and sounds grand so that will do nicely.

Somebody asked how I cut nuts a while back, and to be honest I usually cheat and buy the pre-slotted ones and then adjust-to-fit rather than create-a-new.

Today though I had a blank so I had to do it proper like. Not that I have nut files (they cost far too much) so I use a combination of welder's nozzle cleaners - little files, you can pick a set up from Ebay for under a three squids - and some old strings.

Daft as it sounds it only crossed my mind recently that what I'm trying to do when I cut a nut is make slots to fit strings into. I know, sad isn't it?

So in my best Columbo-mode, I realised that if I rubbed bits of string back and forth, after a while they would wear a slot of the right size. These slots I finally tidy up with the small nozzle file things. Which I could use from the start, but they are a bit flimsy.

The high E is the only one that never seems to work this way, so I just use a Stanley blade to nick it in the right place and then use the file.

I mean, I'd buy the proper files if I was doing lots, but this works for me when I have forgotten to buy something prepared earlier. I should of course have taken fotos as I went along, but obviously forgot.

Incidentally, after I'd worked this out I read the same thing in one of Dan Erlewine's books, and as he is King Kiddy in guitar land repairer circles, I felt good even while I felt slightly bugged I wasn't being original.

In fact I've read the same book before a number of times, so maybe 'thought' should be replaced with 'remembered' further up this page anyway.

So tomorrow, there is a bit of drilling and soldering and then all will be good and rosy like Lee, I'll finish both The Raymond and Ronin Ones and then face the fact that I'm really going to have to brave the router if I'm going to sort out The Fallen One.

La la laaaa

Getting back on the Gee Gee

Well, I've cheered meself up a wee bit over the weekend playing The Raspberry Ripple One, which I have to say is a lovely guitar, and as for everything else,
well,
whatever.
I don't care anymore.

So revitalised I'm going to drill some holes in The Raymond One and get that Wide Ranger fitted and strummable and then
I will
smile, smile, smile.

I will also fit the switch, tuners and nut on The Ronin One,
and then play that for a while and then
I will
smile, smile, smile.

Then I will play The JoBo One for a while,
before it wanders off to pastures new and then
I will
smile, smile, smile.

As for plans, well  I think I should really try and get The Fallen One ready.
OK, it involves routing and I have no safe routing capability, but I'm sure I'll manage somehow.
I think that is going to be a totally stunning guitar.
I will get that fettled and play it some and then
I will
smile, smile, smile.

And then I could fit the new nut, tuners and switch to The Ronin One,
and play lots of old 70s songs that will sound perfect, and then
I will
smile, smile, smile.

As for couriers, insurance, numpties in Totectors and everything else..
I'll worry about them on the morrow.

I love it when the lithium kicks in.

La la laaaaaaaa

Some Races Are Never Ronin

Well, Allparts managed to finally get me my tinny bridge for The Ronin One, and it has made quite a difference, I have to say.

It is odd, but some guitars seem to go together really quickly, but others, well, they are hard work. The Ronin One is definitely in the hard work category and there have been times when I wondered whether it was worth it, but I'm nowt if not bloody-minded..

Anyway, despite having thought I'd finished this months ago, it continued to niggle. The old harmonica bridge looked nice but didn't really 'do it' for me - I've developed a love for intonation for some reason - and all-in-all, well, I never really felt I'd done it justice.

Giving it a bit of time I think I've got my head around the problems and so I'm starting from scratch with it again, to put it to bed, see it out and generally make sure I am over the moon about it.

But the bridge - it works great and that makes me feel good.

Other niggles to be addressed are:

1. The Nut. It is Ok, but I want to put a better one on - it is that or raise it slightly which I could do, but I think a new one would make more sense as it is a tad buzzy on the open E string at times.

2. The Blend Pot. This works, but is a bit crappy and I think I would rather have a nice old three-way switch, so that I have three sounds, rather than spend all day looking for one that I like.

3. Tuners: I left the originals on, and they are fine, but not great so I'll replace them too.

As for the ye Olde 1978 Gibson pickups, they sound good but one of the screw holes is broken on the single coil, so I need to do something about that.

None of which is anything major, but they niggle. and nobody likes a niggle, let's face it.

So despite the new bridge and the fact that it has one of the nicest necks I've ever played, it is back in the case until I order some replacement parts.

Other than that, I should be doing something useful, but it is School Olympics week and my attendance is mandatory.

Tomorrow though will be amazing, telling yer.

La la laaa

That Was The Week...

Well, as it happens, I never got any further with anything much at all, but finishing The Old E One feels good as it seems sooo-very-long since I actually completed something. Or so it feels, anywasup.

I am in a bit of a state with balls in the air all over the place and I'm not really sure what will happen next. Mr Mojo is sending the TV Jookies for The B Movie One, so that will no doubt be do-able-ish next week.

In fact whichever one I do manage to finish next will be my fiftieth Jooky Guitar, which I find a little hard to credit.

I still haven't really found a good answer to the question of why I make them, other than because it is fun and all and because I want to make a guitar for me. Which might sound silly as I never keep them, it has to be said.

But despite my golden rules about having to sell them once they are made, I have a sneaky hope that when the music stops and I give in and do something more interesting instead, I'll be left holding my ideal guitar and that I can keep it.

What that ideal guitar is, I really don't know so I guess I'll have to keep stumbling along until I find it.

So for next week, The B Movie One, vinyl scratchplates, T Shirts and nothing at all new until I catch-up a bit.

Oh, there is The Ronin One - it seems Allparts have finally found me a bridge and that should be here soon. So that might be something else to play with too. And I need to put the veneer on The Betty Blue One too. So again, I'm losing myself in the fog. Ho hum.

La la laaa

Not Man Enough For My Lippy

Well, I was rather pleased with the simplistic lines of The Kooky One. The next couple of days will be lacquertriffically endowed in that department, but hopefully not too much time after that and we'll be back in offset paisley nirvana.

As for the rest, as you can no doubt see - having a discerning peeper, and all - I've coppered the scratchplate and then mottled it with some bronze before splishy-sploshing a bit of the house acid around for some lovely bluey corrosion. The headstock face is plain old unadulterated copper, just for a change like. Sometimes it is the show of understatedness that makes all the difference.

And today, I managed to lacquer the body - though a bit more to do - and I had convinced myself that wiring the 'plate up was a good idea.

Until I tried and noticed that I'd given Marc at Mojo some duff information, and the wire to the switch isn't long enough.

No big deal, I can sort that.

And then that the holes for the pots weren't big enough.
Sorted that out quick smart too with my handraulic reamer..

And then finally that the lippy pickups were too big as I had snaffled the wrong ones.

*sigh*

Now, I know I should probably make the holes bigger, but the copperisation is done and de-dustificated, and I basically didn't want to. So I need to find some replacements for those.

Heh ho.

Despite the teensy glitches, I'm all verysomely excited about this one, gaudy paisley plus lots of chrome being the order of the day, a couple of lipstick pickups, a Gretsch 'bucker and Gretsch knobs to complete the visuals. Mojo wiring to make it sound great and err, work first time.

Sometimes you need to get back to basics, know what I mean?

Fun, fun and a touch of fun.

As for other things, The Ronin One is still niggling me, it is in tune, intonated, I've greased the tuners and they are now spot on, but there is just something, and I don't quite know what, that is bugging me. I know I still need to change the blend pot, but it isn't that.

I don't know, it just doesn't feel right somehow. Most annoying. I'll just have to keep on playing it and see if I can suss it. Maybe I'll go for a straight set of strings in case it is that (I put a hybrid set on with heavier wound strings), but I'm not sure it is that at all as I did the same with The Tatty Adonis One and that feels fine.

Sometimes, this guitar cobbling bobbins just does my head in.

What else, oh I snaffled a Floyd Rosed double buckered Super Strat sort of thing, which will hopefully show up this week. All a bit rock, but if it turns out to be OK, I might well have a home for it...

Heh P. ?

La la laaa

Introducing: The Ronin One

Well, another week in paradis mislaid,
Vanessa, where art thou now, bab?

As it happens, this week is likely to be pretty much Jooky-light, but I'm pleased to be able to introduce you to The Ronin One, a solidly maple homage to Gibson's classically ignored Marauder.

From the top this has...

1. A Solid maple body that weighs a tonne at least.

2. A maple/rosewood neck, and a right big chunky thing it is too. Feels lovely.

3. A genuine pair of '70s Gibson pickups, one humbucker and t'other a single coil. These are stamped with dates in 1978, which would have been a great year if Ipswich hadn't beaten West Brom in the cup semi-final. (Can't be arsed to check whether that was '79)

4. A chukkie headed blend knob rather than a switch, which gives some great tones and looks groovy.

5. An acid-strewn corroded copper finish that looks rather prettily spesh to mine eye..

And there we are.

I have to say, as far as the pickups go the jury is still out. I'm not sure whether it is the blend pot I've used, which gives 70:30 at either end rather than 100% on or off (if that makes sense), but they are a lot quieter than I was expecting. I'm thinking I'll swap the blend switch though and see how we go. In fact, this is pretty 'done' but I'm going to tinker with it for a while longer as it doesn't feel quite what I expected. The neck though is a revelation and a beautiful piece of old Rosewood. It just feels great to play.

But there we are. Anyway, I'm keeping this one for a while so I'm going to try to find out what it is that is niggling me (a fine excuse if never I've heard one).

In summary, sex on a stick.

La la laaa

Ronin Along...

Well, I'm all rather chuffed with meself as I've managed to make The Ronin One work. Blend pot, 70s pickups and all.

I think the thingy that shocks me most is that it is simply amazing that you need to connect wires in the right place for the thing to make a noise, such an old fashioned idea, it has no in-built intelligence, your electric guitar
maker.

I'm not entirely convinced by the tuners, so they will probably be swapped, but I can't really tell until I go out and buy some more strings as I have run out again. But there we are, I can do that, I'm empowered and everything. Until then I'll just sit and blend the clonks a screwdriver wheedles out of the pickups and dream of better days.

Speaking of which, next up is The Kooky One, so with a bit of luck I'll be able to get going on the body later today. I'm going to break a habit of a lifetime and make sure I have all the parts before I start, just to see what it feels like.

Other than that, I've given The Tatty Adonis One a bit of a tweak here and there and it sounds deevine. I'm loving that there Mojo Wide Ranger, I can see those popping up again in other Jookies.

So with a fair wind at my back, hopefully there will be some WIP and a bit of an introduction later this weekend. That would be a good end to a shonky week, methinks.

Elsewhere, I gave my Les Paul a bit of a spoodle yesterday, and a string change. I've been having some probs with my hand, so I thought I'd try some lighter strings - don't think I've used 9s in years - but I was a bit wary of the low strings being a bit wussy.

So, catching up with the rest of guitarville, I thought I'd try a hybrid set where you have the lowerer three from a pack of tens and the higherer ones from some 9s. (I know you can buy them pre-done, but whatever), and it actually worked for me. Never thought I'd put 9s on a shorter scale guitar, but you can get used to these things when you have to, I  guess. Not quite sure what I'll do with the other half of the set, but it explains why I haven't got any left for The Ronin One.

Next week I'll be putting spider gossamer on my Jazzmaster. One to look forward to.

La la laa

Jooky Special Blend

Well, the blend pot and the rest arrived for The Ronin One yesterday, so as soon as I get a chance to fire up the soldering iron, and then another four attempts to get it right, we should be, finally, in business.

I truly have no idea how the aged Gibson Marauding pickups will sound - I did test them for workingness, but can't remember the numbers, but I have an idea they will be on the hot side of ouch.

Which should be fun. Given all the maple I'm expecting something bright so have gone for an appropriately unlikely capacitor to try and balance things. (Don't ask me what as I thought it thru, got the cap, then instantly forgot all the details. Including where I've put-it-safe).

But that is about it - nigh on ready to err, rock. I'm sadly most impressed by the blend knob chicken headed thing. It's the sort of thing that keeps me going, so don't laugh too much.

As for The Tatty Adonis One, we're all ready to go as soon as the pickups arrive... The DIrty Finger is in the postie's clutches, so you never know it might be this week sometime, but we'll see.

In other news, yesterday afternoon was spent helping my lass make herself a cuddly toy out of some offcuts of paisley fabric. Sewing isn't really my thing so it is held together by fabric glue, and is currently drying and awaiting a bit of a stuffing.

She wants to take it to her verily rather C-of-E school when she goes back, for a show 'n' tell type of thing, which should be interesting, it being her 'Cuddly Jesus Toy' and all.

Ah, I'm sure they will love it. (Do they expel kids at 5?)

Oh and I might have found a nice Les Paul project. Busted neck, but not the end of the world. (How did I get so cocky about such things?) and it looks truly horrible, everything I wouldn't want in a Les Paul, so that's perfect twice over as it will definitely keep me interested. More on that if it happens anywaysup and thanks for the pointer Sam.

I am coming to the conclusion that I enjoy the making more than the playing of guitars these days, or at least I spend a lot more time on that side of things. I am going to play more though (that goes down as a warning to anybody near-close, so no complaining I never mentioned it, eh?) and even learn some of those chord things before Christmas. I've just got a couple of things to sort out first...

La la laaa

Getting Tired of the Square of Pants

Well, waiting for the postie seems to be an obsession at the moment, and even The BDSM One is causing hassle as it seems to have got caught up in some sort of strike in Greece and is yet to reach it's new home.

Which is pretty annoying all around and I can't help but imagine it is already being strummed to entertain Shirley Valentines in some restaurant on a beach somewhere hot and sticky.

I don't get out much.

Fingers crossed it won't be too long though.

Otherwise I'm waiting for stuff again - a blend pot for The Ronin One, pickups for The Tatty Adonis One, opportunity for the others, which is tiringly tiresome, but can't be helped.

While trying to ignore Spongebob, Moshi Monsters, Minecraft and something I can't pronounce or begin to spell, I've been thinking about Les Pauls again, and am coming to the conclusion that I probably wouldn't be happy with an off-the-shelf one anyway, so I might as well look for a little project to do.

Preferably something old-ish and maybe Japanese and battered, broken and torn, I don't know. So if you know of some such thingy give me the nod and wink your tip in this direction. I'll just have to try and remember not to put 'Jooky' on it, so that I can keep it for once.

One thing I'm deliberately avoiding doing is putting sketches of possible guitar bodies up on here. I've done dozens now (hundreds in truth) and have got to the stage where I'm starting to like some of them, which is obviously either delusional or some sort of syndrome that'll be named by some callow youth yet to be born. I could put them here, but to be honest it is pointless until I can actually make them, so why bother you with my nursery level drawing skills? Exactly, no point at all.

I am itching to start on the chipping and chopping though, has to be said.

But for now, all there is to do is wait, and wait and wait...

Lu Li Leeee

Stoopid is...

Well, blimey. It err, seems as though I didn't need the pillar drill after all. Or the choppy-tubes-of-wood thing either, or the wood glue and filler and well, all the other things I have been waiting for. I didn't need them anyway, and could have sorted out The Ronin One weeks ago.

I didn't need them, as somehow - using my depths of ingeniusness - I managed to sort out the bridge, by changing the posts for others I already had and routing the holes in the bridge itself out a bit. (There may have been some plumbers tape, a small dog called Toto and a click of the heels too, but I wasn't watching that closely. No big hammers though, I've given them up for Lent.) And it all means that I didn't need to change the position of the holes at all. Though the posts are currently gold coloured, but that can change easily enough.

I don't feel silly, the relieved feeling is overpowering it.

As for the tuners, well, I had written off the originals, but a bit of TLC saw them working well, so I'm going to try them out and if they are OK go with them, as they look beautifully corroded and beatifically aged. And if they prove useless, I have replacements already, so no big deal. I am that calm.

So all-in-all, it is looking good. The one fly bathing in aqueous cream is that the blend pot I thought I had and would have listed as the one banker in my Ronin armory isn't so dependable - rather like a banker, in fact - and I didn't have one at all and have instead ordered a couple. They should now arrive tomorrow, now that I hav ordered them, that is.

So with a fair wind at me back, I may just be able to get it wired and then strung up this week.

Similarly, The Tatty Adonis One just awaits the first pickup to show it's face, so that could happen too. Dirty of Finger or Wide of Range, I really don't know, I'll leave it to the tender mercenaries of the postal service to decide for me.

Which is crazy cool, and I can't help but feel that I'm hoping like a Dingles fan for something frankly impossible.

Thinking of football, I have to say I'm a tad torn about Wolves' gastrointestinal implosion. On one hand, now that West Brom are pretty much safe, I can enjoy the wringing of six-fingered-hands from the direction of Wolverhampton and look forward to the grubby faces of the tear-stained brats on whatever day their final day proves to be final. I hope they get relegated at home as that is always good for a laff and more fun than seeing the couple of dozen away fans. And the outpouring of tears means that they all get a wash, which isn't a bad thing.

On the other donny, Terry Connor seems a decent bloke in an impossible sitch, and it never feels the same if we don't get to play them a couple of times over the season. Which we won't assuming we do stay up and they don't. Plus, I think staying in the Prem for a couple of years means it is actually harder to come straight back up from the Championship than if you do the yo-yo, so we may have to wait for us to be relegated next year before we play them again. And then we have the whole out-of-phase promotion/relegation thing going on again, which is irritating. Not that they ever manage to get promoted if we are in the same division of course which at least means they are stranded down there for a few years playing the Bluenoses with a bit of luck.

So overall, I can't quite bring myself to hope they stay up, but I wouldn't be too upset if they did. A win-win really.

As for the Villa, god, I hope they plummet. It is about time. They could play Forest and compare their European Cup collections, bless them.

(Yes, I can hear the cries of at-least-we've-won-it-and-you-ain't but to be honest it only confirms their status as has beens so I don't really care.

Right, that was the football, the weather is shonky so next week I'll move onto social comment.


La la laaa

A Bit of a Ronin Sore

Well, as we seem to be back in the land of 'ware de vapour at the moment, I thought I'd sort out in my bonce just what I'm doing with The Ronin One as my bonce is done in.

For those of you that have forgotten the tales of long ago woe, this is an old 70s or 80s Japanese copy of a Gibson Marauder and jolly nice it is too. It has a solid maple body - and man you know it, a guitar the word 'heft' was designed for - with a maple/rosewood neck that is quite lovely, complete with a pointed flying vee-esque headstock.

As with the original it is a bolt-on neck, not that that is much of a worry and it feels like something John Shaft would have swinging around his neck down Madame Jojo's, assuming he'd run out of go-go dancers and ladies of the night. He's a bad motha, after all.

Obviously that is just a starting point, as when I got hold of it, it was a sadly neglected body and neck combo of ill-repute and a lack of shoutable family values.

From there of course it has had a beautifully corroded copper finish inflicted upon it, along with a Gibson scratchplate, a pair of authentically cool and rather enormous looking 1978 stamped Gibson pickups, which will be wired with the usual volume and tone knobs and a more unusual blend pot instead of the three-way switch the plonked together foto is showing you. Some of the originals used a switch and others used a blender, and I think I'm probably doing it the wrong way around for this particular model, but what the hell. I've never tried a blend thingy before and this seems fitting somehow.

And it is a chance to use a Chicken Head Knob for the first time on a Jooky guitar.

And what geek can ever turn down a Chukkie Headed Knob, I ask you?

(Maybe somebody can ask that at the next Apple iExpo.)

Whatever. Rather handily the Gibson pickups and scratchplate all fit perfectly, which is more than I could claim for the harmonica bridge thing which basically doesn't, and has proven to be the Peter Crouch in the corps de dancers de limbo. Or something.

So what I need to do to fix this (having zero chance of finding a bridge that does actually fit - and believe me I have left no pebble unskittered searching for an easy way out,) is to plug the existing holes and drill new ones. Of course a pillar drill comes in handy for the latter, which I'm still waiting for, as you need the holes to be straight, let's face it and the chances of me managing to do that 'by eye' are reedy slim.

What I can do now, I've just realised, is cut out and fill the incumbent bridge post holes, that is the new plan d'hoof. I can also put some new tuners on and wire the scratchplate now I come to think about it...so that is the newly minted intention du jour, and if the drill ever materialises, I should be able to finish it off quick smart. And that is plain unlikely.

Blimey, I never thought I'd actually be doing something today. I've talked meself into it.

There is good reason for wanting to get this done, of course, I just forget what it is right now.

La la laa

Tiswas Day

Hmm..battered veneer on my Coronado...Maybe?

Well, bit of a clamped squid of an end to the week. Nothing showed-up of any use, and apart from playing with the frets and rather dry fretboard of The Tatty Adonis One there hasn't been too much to distract me. I just know that everything I've been waiting for will arrive first thing on Monday morning when I have a fortnight to look-but-don't-touch.

But what can you do?

CCCRRRYYY III TTTEEELLL TTTHHHEEEEEEEEE

Phew, that's better.

So where am I?

1. The Fabulous One - Body coming from Mojo-land, rest of the bits here already, just need to add a bit of bottle and make some sawdust. (There may be a touch more to it than that.) Half tempted to put a veneer on it after seeing this piccy, mind.

2. The Ronin One - Got it all, just need to drill new bridge post holes, which I will do if the drill and plug cutter things ever arrive from La la land.

3. The Tatty Adonis One - Wiring from Mojo and a pile of other bits on their merry way too. Like I said, this is the-official-holibob-build, so with a bit of luck there might be something to see by Good Friday. (Why is it called Good Friday when the nailed him up? Never understood that...)

4. Chopping wood - waiting for router bits, some clamps and a child-free-environment, but I think it will be a while before I actually produce a body that could be usable, has to be said. Though man, once I get the hang of this, there is going to be some seriously weird shit going down. (ahem, well probably.)

Yep. think that is about it.

After that, who knows. I have still got some walnut burr veneer that I intended to put on a Tele, so that will probably happen sooner or later, and I fancy doing a proper Esquire, so that could tie together nicely. If The Fabulous One doesn't get Burred first. I've always cheated and hidden a stealthy neck pickup, but it would be nice to do-it-proper for once. Maybe walnut and paisley, Hmmm, who can say. I seem to have reawakened my paisley muse, for the odd and special occasion, but it's all about finding the fabric, man, dontchaknow....

But that is then, and yesterday finished with a no-show on the courier front before taking #1 Son to his first Rugby match. I think the last time I went was, ooh, thirty years ago or more, and I was a bit surprised to find that they don't pass humbugs around and sing roll out the barrel anymore.

A tootle and a blip.

La la laaa

Time Ronin One...

Well, I got all excited for a minute or three when the posty delivered the rather lovely and chunky 'Harmonica' bridge for The Ronin One, then less so when my suspicions that it wouldn't fit were confirmed.

So, as it was the last throw of the die, I basically need to drill new holes for the thing, after first plugging the existing ones. Which sounds easy when you say it quick.

I've had some knowledgeable advice, and it seems I need some tools I haven't got, so I've ordered them (I needed them anyway, so tis a good excuse) and so I'm back to waiting on that score too.

The other good news was that the other Gibson Marauder pickup arrived too. I love the fact they are both stamped with dates in 1978. I did wonder when I was ordering them whether they would be kosher, but to be honest who would be arsed to fake them? Bloomin' enormous looking things they are, and I'm betting they sound rather craze-filled when I get to try them proper like. I'm itching to give it a blast as it feels beautifully solid and heavy. Mainly because it is, I guess.

As for The Fabulous One, there is no more word on that either, though the trapeze bridge and neck are here, which is all good. I just need somebody etc.

As for my templature, well they should be here later this week, and I'm planning on going to the wood recycling place tomorrow or Thursday, so that will be good too.

All at a bit of a stand still then really.

And odd though it is, while I'm waiting I've been having a bit of a play on my Jazzmaster. I know I got all frothy about the Mojo pickups, and having played a few other guitars in between, it is nice that when I plug it in, it still sounds brilliant. I can just lose an hour or two and have this silly daft grin on my face for the rest of the day.  *sigh*

La la laaa

That Was The Week That Sorta Happened

Well, that were quite a productive week, that was.

I'm really rather chuffed with The Dust My Broom One, and glad that I didn't go the EMG route in the end. I don't think I'm cut out for such blatant modernity and despite sounding like a Mojo fanboi recently, the pickups are truly awesome, so no apologies for the religious zeal.. Or to the neighbours and their colicky baby. It keeps me away all night, so I'm just returning the favour in the daily-lit hours

*sniff*

The BDSM One too is a rather stunning guitar to play - I don't think I've ever played a Strat that lets you glide around the neck quite so easily. I could get used to this low action bobbins, I never thought it would catch on.

I must be getting old.

I am totally loving the pickups on this one also, The Gretsch 'bucker is excellent. Nice and twangy clean as you'd expect, but a great hot tone too I've got a matching bridge pickup which I'll have to find a home for sometime soon.

The Mojo Jazzmaster pickup, in this guitar at least, has a lot of the P90 to it, which is very cool indeed, as well as *that* darkness I've always loved.. It came as a bit of a surprise, but there is such a rich range of tones I have to say I can't really believe my luck.

I spoke to Marc about it and we're coming down to different environmental factors - the wood of the guitar, the wiring/capacitor, the fact it is raining, American primaries are on and England don't have a manager and people are still talking about Roy Hodgson - to explain the difference in sound between this and what is pretty much the same pickup in my Jazzmaster.

Don't get me wrong it sounds brilliant, just different, which is no bad thing, of course.

Whatever the cause, it has a great separation of the notes even when you get fuzzy with it that I'm loving.

Almost seems a shame to give it away, but there we are.

I did promise that whoever buys the truly lush The Foxy Roxy One will also find this in their stocking. (I think I might need to put my prices up or at least work on my far-too-visual imagery) so that is the way it has to be.

As for what is next. Well, I've given up on America and have ordered a boxy 70s bridge from Fake58 for The Ronin One. I'm a tad concerned that it won't fit, but given my lack of options I'll just have to get clever about it if my luck runs out. There must be a 'For Dummies' book that covers plugging holes and then putting new ones in in the right place.

The good news from the US of A is that the Gibson pickup is likely to come, which is rather nice. It just seems to make sense to go for the proper pups if i can.

That is for next week though, and at least I know Fake58 will deliver, which is more than I can say for some peeps.

Looking further forward onwards, I've grabbed some wood to practise my slashing and routing on and I'm hopeful of an old mahogany mantle piece to use 4Real, as we used to say in the olden daze.

I just figured I might as well get on with it as the worst that can happen is death and amputation or maybe a nice splinter to show the grand children. My plan is to go for a Teardrop outline with a couple of tasty pickups, Strat bridge and neck. But then it may be more amorphous blob with sharp bits that is more likely an outcome. I'm going to have a praccy freehand, but I'm guessing that there may be templates in my future.

If I can manage that I'll try and get adventurous later. I think that is the right direction to take though if I'm going to keep things interesting for myself, if nobody else.

Today though, not a lot to be done, so I think I'm going to try and record something embarrassing again.... No animals will be hurt in the process, however much it sounds like it.

La la laaaa

Reality Nibbles

The Ronin, Foxy Roxy, Dust My Broom and BDSM Ones
Talking to the Taxman About his bloody awful poetry

Well, I'm starting to think that perhaps my newly totally vaunted one-guitar-at-a-time approach isn't exactly going to plan, and I'm kinda not verily getting close to finishing anything at all at the moment.

Before me I have sitting a string of unfinished bobbins, and I'm starting to lose track, so excuse the memorandum-esque lists while I try to remember/plot/plan/regain my life:

1. The Dust My Broom One

This is all done apart from the EMG pickups still needing to be soldered together again.

I have to sort this, though I'm a bit back-on-my-heels this morning as I played a Tele last night with exactly these pickups, and I wasn't best impressed. Not quite what I was expecting, which kills the confidence somewhat.

Still, I have got to try them and see how it goes.

2. The Ronin One:

This is waiting for a pickup from the States, some wiring and a Bridge.

So "waiting-on-parts", I can live with that.

3. The Foxy Roxy One:

This too is "waiting for parts" - pickup rings, tuners and wiring loom.
So not a lot I can do right now either.

Hmmm. So basically, the only thing I can do is sort out the EMGs on The Dust My Broom One and see what I think of them.

They start out pink, fluffy and innocent...
And then they end up into BDSM.
It saddens me.

Of course there is my Jazzmaster too, which follows on and needs a bit of tender loving Mojo-ing and the slight matter of the MR Strat I picked up yesterday. Yes, the pink one.

This is better than I hoped, and amazingly it sounds quite good with the stock pickups it came with.

Weird.

I'll think about that later though.





Can't start it until March anyway, so no panic this week about The BDSM One.

La la la - going around in circles again.