Sold: The Sappho One - JC#1 The First of the Jooky Customs

The Sappho One is the first of our new range of Jooky Custom guitars, numbered JC#1, and is basically Jookified in-excelsis.

The swamp ash body has been given a Lake Placid Blue Nitro Cellulose finish, the right way, with the correct sealers and silver underpainting. It has then been aged so that the lacquer crazes, but hasn’t otherwise been relicked. Sort of a Freezer Classic, rather than a Closet one.

The neck is a real beauty, with a Wizard profile, made of Goncalo Alves with a Pau Ferro fretboard, this isn’t an obvious Jazzmaster neck. Stainless Steel frets will give a lifetime of service and a Tusc nut means tuning is lush.

On top of this we have gone for Sperzel tuners which are super cool and yet groovy too.

Other hardware is traditional Jazzmaster – a Fender branded tremolo matched with a Mustang bridge handle the wobbly bits and a minty clean scratchplate is partnered nicely with Gretsch knobs.

The final flourish is a pair of deeply unusual pickups, courtesy of uber pickup guru Marc Ransley of Mojo Pickups. At the neck we have his reissue of the trash classic Gold Foil pickups, while at the bridge we have his equally vibrant sounding Mosrite pickup for lo-fi joy and tidings. And these really are a stunning combination, which we’ve joined-up with one of Mojo’s beautifully traditional wiring looms (all CTS pots, Switchcraft Switches and socket, Paper in Oil caps and cloth covered wire), which is destined to last generations.

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

*

To be clear, The Sappho 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: Jooky Custom

Electrics: Mojo Gold Foil and Mosrite Jazzmaster Pickups, Mojo Jazzmaster Wiring Loom

Guitar Type: Jazzmaster

Construction: Swamp Ash body, Goncalo Alves/Pau Ferro 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: JC#1

RSP: £1249

Of Course, The Only Downside..

Well, it was cool to get The Sappho One fettled yesterday, and all that is left to do is a bit of window dressing - but naturally, I'm waiting on bobbins so I can do that, and all I can do with the blue one is well, play it.

It is a tough job sometimes.

And waiting seems to be the name of the game at the moment - necks from one place, bodies from a couple of others, tools from more places than I can imagine - so plenty of thumb twiddling.

Might even have to learn a fourth chord at this rate

La la laaa

Sneeka-Peeka-Sappho

Well, I got some strings on The Sappho One at last today, and I really, truly and slightly insanely can't stop smiling.

There are still a few tweaks to be made, so I'll do a formal introduction tomorrow, but I couldn't help but share it with the group..

And from the top, it has a delight-filled swamp ash body that has had a proper Lake Placid Blue Nitro finish (with the silver beneath so it shines, shines, shines). This has not been relicified, but has had some lacquer crazing induced which looks stunning and can only get better. Saying that, it will no doubt have a few genuine dinks before the day is over. That's the kinda guy I  am.

From there we have a quite beatified reversed lefty neck - Stainless steel of fret, Goncalo Alves with Pau Ferro fretboard of woody bits. Sperzel tuners at the top are staggered so no need for the stringy trees and a Graphtech TUSC nut for the detail chaps.

Back down the interesting end, I've gone for a Mustang bridge, and the classic Fender tremolo, shiny Gretsch knobs for a bit of bling and a minty cream scratchplate.

As for the pickups (and dear what pickups they are) Marc Ransley of Mojo Pickups fame has outdone himself with a couple of Jazzmaster sized beauties that are uber cool. At the neck we have one of his Gold Foils which is superb, whilst at the bridge we have a Dirty Gerty of a Mosrite style pickup which is brash, harsh and stunningly in your face. The middle position is simply enormous and the sustain on these two just goes on, and on (and on and ...)

But like I  say, I'll do a proper intro tomorrow maybe. or the next day, or week or something.

La la laaaa

And So..

Well, my earlier pondering went around in a few circles and the end result was that I spent some time putting the lovely Mojo PAFs and loom into The Old Gordo. Typically though, all that is left to do is connect the wires and do you think I can find a working soldering iron? Nope.

Four soldering irons and none of them work. It is a disgrace. So that too, is a job for another day. *

As for The Sappho One, my dithering has ended and I am going with the excessively gorgeous Warmoth neck for that, I've given it a good polish, sorted the fret ends and generally fettled it and basically I can't resist temptation. Fingers crossed it will be finalised this week then.

As for The Diamond Shiny One, I may in fact be using a different body for that, for highly technical details that I don't think I'll go into here as you will laugh at me, but basically because the knotted body has a new porpoise in life, methinks, that will be quite fun and involve copper nails.

More on that another day methinks

La la laaaa

* Edit: Just realised I had the power switched off at the wall... *sigh*

Decisions..

Well, the rather lovely neck I'd ordered for The Sappho One arrived a few minutes ago. A lovely posh wood Warmoth one, reverse of headstock, Goncalo Alves woody bits with a poshly Pau Ferro 'board.

And naturally I quickly mock it up with my beautiful LPB body, and then I get indecisive.

And I'm thinking, should I wait for the ebony boat oar I'd originally planned to use and instead put this on the knotted Tele that is The Diamond Shiny One instead (as it will clearly fit it to a tee and a hee) or should I go with the plan.

So instead of thinking that I could be playing Sappho like a honey fiddle before the day is out, I'm buying myself another few weeks of thumb twirling instead.

So I'm not sure what to do really.

It does look good in the foto, I like that a lot. But then,...gah.

I think I'll go and start drilling and sanding the Diamond instead and put it off until tomorrow.

La la laaa

Seller's Regret

Well, you'd think I would be use to it by now, but giving The Boogaloo One a final once over and a good hour or so of strumming duty, I have to say I am genuinely gutted to see it off to pastures new with Arto in Helsinki.

The neck is absolutely gorgeous, and the 620ish shape feels very natural - and those Mojo Gold Foil pickups, of which these are the only set in the world right now (Toaster-tastically speaking,) I just can't say enough good things about them.

All of which means I am only pacing the floors of Jooky Towers, hoping that the neck for The Sappho One will arrive tootsie and sweetly so I can play myself a Jooky again. It is a hard life of knocks.

So it is a little painfilled and sad, but there we are. I guess if I could sling them out the door without a seconds thought and second thoughts it wouldn't be worth making them in the first place, would it?

At least that is what I'm telling meself.

La laaa laaa

And Then Again..

Well, I put The Sappho One together, but couldn't bring myself to use the 'other' neck, and instead snapped-up something cute and yet incredibly cool and special...

So with the hope that that will arrive sometime soonish NOW, I think it is a good move.

I won't describe it yet as I'll no doubt jinx the whole shaboombangabang, and that would never do.

Other than the continuing saga of the neck that never was, I've been organising some cool bobbins that will help the new style Jookies stand out from the crowd, as they are a bit understated recently.

Speaking of which, Mr Rendall, who did the classy Lake Placid Blue-ness on Sappho, I saw his latest on Facebook - this stunning Zombie Burst Strat body... (Hope he doesn't mind my nicking the foto)

So if you are looking for a re-finish of epic quality check the chap's stuff out HERE

La la laaaa

Plan Bee: National Sappho Week

Well, the news I dreaded arrived, and the spiffy ebony neck for The Sappho One is going to be delayed a further month. And I have been patient, very very so patient. I haven't ripped a corner on the wrapping paper, no sneaky peeky peeps, nothing.

But another month at best is a step too far, for even one so tranquil as I, and I am going to Plan B.

Not quite sure what that is yet, and it may involve a fat sweaty guy in a suit, but I'm going there.

I have got a quite lovely maple/rosewood and big-of-head neck I was saving for a special occasion, so I may just go ferrit in that direction.

I mean, really, what's a poor boy todo today?

So this week then, I will be doing Sappho, and strumming some delish Mosrite and Gold Foil sounds thru my AC15 or, err, the little Yamaha THR5 amp that seems to be heading in this direction. (I need something to play my iPod thru, well, if I had an iPod.)

La la laaa

Bedbugs and Boogaloo

Well, The Boogaloo One is off to Helsinki, and my post-holibob surge of enthusiasm and achievement faltered in the first furlong as one of the bratskis got an early sick day in before I had a chance to catch me breath. It's never simplistic around here.

Tomorrow though (unless the other one  has her turn) I'm going to be getting The Sappho One together as far as I can as the super cool neck should be here any day now (meant to be yesterday, but who is counting? Well, me obviously.)

This is going to be a special one in many ways - the cracked nitro Lake Placid Blue finish, the Mosrite and Gold Foil pickups courtesy of Marc at Mojo Pickups, and the U shaped neck, 12" radius, jumbo of fret, ebony of board and flaming  maple of stick - all pretty groovy. Nice heavyweight set of Gotoh tuners too, Fender tremolo and Mustang bridge. Lovely.

Better still as of course this is the Jooky I'm going to keep. No, really. I know I said that about The Boogaloo, Golden Shower, Old Burny, Groovy, Old E and another dozen or so of the Ones, but this time is different. Probably mainly..

Scouts honour.

La la laaaa

Now That's Mojo

Well, I got woken up this morning by a neighbour, knocking on the door and doing an air guitar solo in the middle of the road. Simultaneously, which is a good trick if you  can do it.

Most odd. but the reason for this was that the thievin'bastard-postie had delivered a parcel to his house instead of mine, presumably to save himself a three yard walk and rather than give it me when I saw him last night, he thought he would wait until I was asleep.


Anyway, I opened the box and was rather pleased to find the pickups and loom for The Sappho One nestled in their cool wrappings - the latest delivery from Mojo Pickups, this job is always a joy.

Now I realise, my regular reader, that you see me as a quiet planner, considered and never, ever prone to rashness. But as I am only now just a neck short of a Jooky, I am sorely tempted to use another neck and get to play it.

The pickups, of course, are a little different. Marc has made a Jazzmaster sized pickup to the spec of one of those lush old Mosrites for the bridge, repeating the trick but making a Gold Foil Pickup for the neck spot.

I have expectations of this guitar, I can safely say that.

But do I or don't I?

I am struggling to do the right thing here.

Decisions...

La la laaa

WIP: The Sappho One

Well, I got a lovely box off the miserable UPS chap this morning, opened it with casual abandon, and peeping from the wrapping was the body of The Sappho One.

And to say I was slightly impressed, agag and agog, ecstatic, pleased and ever so slightly awed, would be a lot of vowels. So instead I think I'll just say I am rather happy with what Rich has done to it.

If you remember, I've always wanted a Lake Placid Blue Jazzmaster, and that is what Rich has done. Taken my rather lovely swamp ash body, given it all manner of layers of silver, blue and tinted clear nitro, and then delicately crazed it... And it truly is amazing work. I came to conclusion that I didn't want it relickified, so no dinks scratches or belt sanders were harmed, but it does look old - like it was bought a long time ago and then just left to do it's own thing. And of course it will continue to age, which comes to most of us too.

As for the rest, well I'm waiting for the proper neck - a nice Ebony boarded Jazzmaster jobby with a U shaped neck and flamed maple stick - so in the meantime I'm going to use a Warmoth Strat one which is equally beautiful - Anigre and a slab Kingswood 'board - well posh.

Other than that Marc at Mojo Pickups is making me a pair of Jazzmaster sized pups based on a Gold Foil and a  Mosrite jobby, as well as the usual loom, which means it should sound just about as cool as it looks.

La laaa and indeedy laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

WIP: The Sappho One

Well, I feel a bit of a fraud being as I haven't actually done it, but I got a WIP foto from Rich who is giving The Sappho One an aged and distraughtified Lake Placid Blue nitro finish on my lovely ash Jazzmaster body, and I thought I would share with the group.

It has a way to go yet - it will end-up looking that beautiful aged green with some lacquer cracking to taste, but it looks pretty darn groovy already.

The Sappho One is going to be a bit different as I'm planning a Wide Range Humbucker at the bridge and a Gold Foil at the neck courtesy of Marc at Mojo pickups, and I already have a rather lovely neck and just about everyhing else.

I must says I am a tad excited.

La la laaaa

Hmm, Ballsed That Up Then..

Too Patchy By 'Alf

Well, the old liming of The Boogaloo One didn't exactly work as planned and as I'm off again for a few days it'll have to wait until it is sanded and I start-all-over-again.

Tis one of those things, you don't know until you try and as long as you are happy to rip it up and start again, all is OJ in the morning. It isn't how many you make, it is how many you throw away that counts. Probably.

In other news Rich tells me that the finish he is doing for The Sappho One is coming along a treat - can't wait to see it for myself. I'm a little bit nervous about it - not because of Rich, I should add - but because it will be the first time I haven't done the finish on a Jooky, so it is a little odd feeling deep and down inside. Still, it is for me to keep for once, so I guess it doesn't matter and I can't wait to see how it turns out. A collaboration then sweetie - I'll have a salon before you know it.

Anyway, miles to be eaten, sick brats to tend.

Mustn't confuse the two.

La la laaaa

Into The Blue

Well,  I won't bother saying that nothing much has has been happening, all over again, as it would put the bland into boring, but I have been having a think about something new so I thought I could share with the group.

I've said before that my dream guitar has always been a '68 Lake Placid Blue Jazzmaster, and clearly it ain't happening in this incarnation, but have never got my act together to make my own homage fromage. Sat on me bum for a few weeks now has given me the impetus and happening it will be now.

So from the top it will be a lovely swamp ash body that will have a proper nitro LPB finish. Inca silver beneath, blue on top and lots of groovy layers of lacquer to taste.

From there I want it to look old but not battered, so lots of checking and a few dents here and there but no belt-sanding or keel-hauling, if you see what I mean. I want it barnacle free, at least until it is finished.

As for the neck, I'm going for an ebony 'board, usual big headstock bobbins and everything else. Tuners, the classic split Kluson, it can only be so.

As for the pickups, well as I intend keeping this for my very ownsome, and don't really need two identically soundified guitars, I'm thinking a standard Jazzmaster pickup for the neck with a Wide Range Humbucker at the bridge. I'll get these made by Marc at Mojo Pickups along with one of his groovy wiring looms as, well, I want the best of everything. Other than that, Mustang bridge, Fender AVRI tremolo, blah blah and blah.

When will it happen?
Well, could take a wee while I expect, but I've waited decades already so that is groovily cool. And that will be The Sappho One, coming one day maybe probably soonish later.

La la laaa