Saturday is Tiswas Day

Well, family bobbins hopefully out of the way, a new soldering iron to be heated and things might even get back on track in the Jooky Republic.

Plans for the weekend are to first of all sort The Tripadelic One out. I still can't decide whether to put it back to a normal tone pot or whether the fuzz will sound better once the ground buzz has disappeared....

Decisions, decisions, but only one way to find out...

Once that baby is ready, I'm hoping to move on to The Moulin Rouge One as of course that is just missing a bit of wire to get it going. I'm looking forward to playing that one. I love Tele Customs, and the PRS P90 plus Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday promises to be a seriously cool combination. My attempt at a Les Paul BFG-with-a-better-finish.

After that, I've been thinking about what to do with the Telemaster body I'm getting, and the plan at the moment is to have a Tele pickup at the bridge, maybe a Bare Knuckle Brown Sugar or a Boss, while at the neck I'm going to have something more Jazzmasterish hidden beneath the scratchplate. There is a little Curtis Novak overwound Jazzmaster pickup nestled on a shelf somewhere, so that could definitely be a runner. If the stealthiness proves too much for the tone, I may do something different though, in which case I have a couple of hot humbuckers which might get the nod instead. Other than that, it is pretty Tele-like. Ashtray bridge and cover, Tele neck - probably Rosewood, but I'm not totally sure on that, we'll have to see. As for the finish, I was thinking a verdigris copper and bronze combo could be quite striking.

My first thought was rust, which would be kinda nice, but I've done a few now and feel the need to stretch my plumes as it were. We'll see though, bit of R&D needed before I decide.
So in truth not a lot to report until I get my finger out.

In other news I'm waiting for a Boss Compressor/Sustainer to arrive, as that plus the Boss Stereo Chorus I got recently should let me fulfill my long held ambition of making noises like the Cocteau Twins.

I know there is more to it than that, but the chap who first made me want to play guitar and opened my eyes to guitar effects, a chap called Ian who then lived in Bristol - back in the mid-80s, I remember having a Chorus plus a Compressor/Sustainer and it sounding amazing.

So closing on thirty years later I've finally gotten around to trying it out for myself. No doubt he also had a long delay, masses of reverbs and a full rack under his bed which I don't remember, but we'll see. Actually, he must have had a delay thinking about it, as I remember him impressing me by playing the ding-ding bit of U2's Bad around the same time. Hmmm... Maybe I'll get there for the fiftieth anniversary.

School Holibobs Doom - Day One

Well, I still haven't got to finish The Blue Moon One. As expected the switch arrived but too late in the day to be utilised. Still, maybe this evening or over the weekend I'll get a chance. I'm starting to feel a bit Blue about it meself.

I've said a couple of times that this may be the last Paisley guitar I do, and that is the plan really. Not that I won't use fabric anymore ever and never, I'm sure I will, but I figure it is quite nice trying other things. I'm liking my rust and corrosion at the moment, and there are so many things to try as far as the gold/variegated leaf goes that it is daft to repeat myself too much. I get bored soooo very easy-like.

The Blue Moon One is gorgeous though, especially with the copper 'plate and lipsticks, and lets face it I'm too indecisive to be certain of anything, but for now this most definitely is it.

As for the summer, well, it is a definite slow down. The Old Burny One is still top of my list, and I think The Moulin Rouge one may get a bit of attention too, if I'm honest. I've also got a hankering for a P90 & humbucker HH Strat, but that should be for the Autumn really. I've also ordered all sorts of bobbins to make a few pedals, and if they ever turn up that would be nice to try again.

Today of course, I get to choose the winner of the wreck, err, lovely piece of guitarhood that is The Beaton One. I really should read the comments, shouldn't I? Maybe come 3pm I will...

It's quite nice doing a guitar you know you aren't going to have to sell. Giving it away is so much more fun. The nice thing is how many previous Jooky owners want another one (or fifth in the case of The Fat Old Man). Or maybe they just think one of them will turn out right if they stick at it long enough. Well, you never know.

I mentioned the other day that I had acquired a WIP Telemaster body from the nascent Fusion Guitars, and I have to say I've been a wee bit excited at the prospect ever since. First of all, it is basically a Telecaster in a wolfish Jazzmaster's clothes, which sounds good to me, and it will 'take' a standard Tele neck, which is even better as I happen to have a nice roseyboarded one hanging around and looking for a home.

As for plans for it, well, I fancy having another go at a rusty finish. I absolutely loved The Rusting Nail One, and I have a few things I want to try in that direction. There is also another wrinkle or three I'd like to add to it, but we'll see.

Other than that, it is, as with the beautiful Lulu One, going to have a somewhat Esquire vibe - a black pickguard at the neck. Whether I go stealthy and pop something special under the hood or not, I'm not sure. Time will tell.

At the bridge it will be all Tele though, I loved the Bare Knuckle Brown Sugar Lulu boasted, so that is an option, though maybe one  of their other ones. Or then again, there are so many to try, who can say where my philandering gaze will alight.

Bridge-wise, it will be old school Fender-esque ashtray and chrome cover, with a bit of compensated twiddliness for the modern gentleman that, well, likes to be vaguely in tune, I guess.

What is intriguing me most, is what a red cedar body will sound like. It is apparently very light and soft - so should Jookify quite nicely over time - but sound wise, well, colour me curiosity-filled. You could say the same about pine, and the Squier Classic Vibe Teles - and Lulu, of course -  sound great - so eternally hopefilled am we.

But I'm having the summer off, so it is academic, innit?

La, La and laaaa

Of Cabronitas and Telemasters

Well, some interesting diversions coming along at the moment..

Firstly, I was really chuffed to see some fotos of a guitar put together from longterm-friend-of-Jooky Andy, the first and only chap to have a signature Jooky Guitar - The Crowley One.

Though his name isn't Crowley,
but that's just how we do things around here.

Anyway, Andy put himself together a lovely Cabronita out of a collection of parts, finished it in Nitro and I have to say I am well impressed.

I can't wait to see the blue stable-mate he is already planning...

* Sigh* I can see what I'm going to be having a go at sometime soon...it looks gorgeous.


Speaking of unplanned plans, I also came across a new Cornish-based luthier called Fusion Guitars, which as it happens is run by a cool chap called Simon who frequents the Music Radar Forums, what like I do.


Anyway, he has got Fusion up and running, and is not going the usual Fender/Gibson clone route of so many others, but instead is doing some interesting stuff around the edges. He is also a dealer for Allparts and TV Jones, which should make life simpler around here. Certainly one to be watched - you can find him on Facebook HERE.

The reason for the mention, is that I noticed he had a Red Cedar Telemaster type of body nearly finished, which for the uninitiated is a Jazzmaster outline with Tele routing/neck etc.

These were initially a kind of urban myth, but a few are popping up from Custom shops, and I have to say I've long fancied one. Anyway, long and short of it is that once it is done, it will be coming this way - and I seriously can't wait.

So much for a summer off, eh?

As for other things, the competition for The Beaton One seems to be getting some interest still, which is nice...

La la la

Definitely My Kipper Tie

I think I've fallen in love again....

Bit of a hen-house-raid feel to it,
but is this loverly or what?

Sorry - getting distracted

la
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laaa