Thursday, 14 February 2013

Sold: The Siren Song One

The Siren Song One is a stunning looking and sounding Jookified Esquire that is truly cool in every way.

Based on Fender’s earliest, a swamp ash body has been stained and waxed, back and sides, set off with a hand carved Esquire pickguard made from an original 1964 copy of the Rolling Stones debut album (in Mono, which will clearly make the guitar sound better than the equivalent stereo edition.)

The neck is a nice soft C shape, 9” radius with medium frets, it has a low buzz-free action and a beautiful smooth ride.

A corroded ash tray bridge gives the traditional twang.

Sounds come via a specially wound by Marc Ransley at Mojo Pickups Broadcaster pickup, that along with the top notch Mojo Esquire loom drags every possible tone out of the guitar with ease.

Control plate, bridge and tuners have been aged, with similar distressed Split Klusons giving a solid feeling tuning.

All in all, this is a stunning looking guitar, with bags of tone and a beautiful feel. What else could you possibly want?



*


To be clear, The Siren Song 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: Norma’s Natural Guitar

Electrics: Mojo Pickups Hot Broadcaster, Mojo Esquire style Wiring loom (CTS pots, Oak Grigsby Switch, PIO Caps)

Guitar Type: Fender Telecaster Esquire Style

Construction: Swamp Ash body, Maple/Maple neck

Strings:     Nickel Hybrids 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46

Output: ¼” Guitar Lead

Controls: Volume, Tone, 3-way-switch

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

Serial Number: JGE#74

RSP: £999











Introducing: The Siren Song One

Well, after so much pain and even more whining about it, I'm please to be able to introduce to you The Siren Song One, the greatest chunk of loveliness to come out of Portishead since Eddie Large flounced into the sunset.

And from the top it is a beautifully marked swamp ash bodied Esquire, stained a dark oak hue, with what is without the finest Telecaster pickup in the world, a Mojo Broadcaster, at the bridge, with a classic Esquire wiring loom, all top notch CTS pots, Oak Grigsby switch, cloth covered wire and lovely big PIO caps.

A rather delish maple/maple neck is suitably nailed on, with relic/aged ashtray bridge, and Kluson tuners doing their bit for world hunger along with aged Gotoh strap pins and knobs.

Topping it off, we've chopped a pickguard from an original 1964 copy of the Rolling Stones debut and eponymously monikered album, and gilded this tiger of a lily with a fabric 'binding' fastened with corroded golden pins.

And man, it is one classy and classic looking guitar, which plays like a dream and sounds like everything you'd hope for.

I am so gushingly chuffed with this one I'm practically orgasmic (or maybe it is a heart attack, hard to tell at my age.)

But there we are, The Siren Song One, here, now and groovy with it.

La la laaaaa









Come Tickle A Pink 'Un

Well, I'd love to report that the bids for The Tickled Pink One are flowing in, but I'd be lying, and there is no point in that.

So if you fancy a one-off, hand built piece of gorgeous Telecaster La Cabronita-ness, swamp ash body, unique finish, Mojo TV Jones sized P90 and Ye Olde Wiring Loom, this could be a great opportunity, never mind a great way to support a fantastic cause. It's a once in a lifetime thing, like West Brom doing the double over Liverpool. You can tell you grandkiddies all about it and they will never believe it for a minute.

Anyway, in other news, The Black Russian One is back on the theoretical workbench, with some sanding to fit the neck nicely and a few other bits and bobbins lined up to get it finally fettled.  This is going to be pretty cool and I can't wait to hear what Andy thinks when he finally gets it.

Other than that, I broke out the drill so that the neck can be properly fixed on The Siren Song One and after that there really is very little else to do. It's pretty cool how quick this one happened. It is like that sometimes, even if it doesn't feel like it. And I know it is sad, but I'm loving the fabric 'binding' around the edges.

On the Siren I've gone for some of Mojo Pickups new range of relic/aged parts, and I think I have found my perfect strap pin in the shape of their Gotoh ones. Nice and heavy and looking good, can't ask for much more than that. The rusted ash tray bridge is cool too, so I've swapped out the Wilkinson one and gone with that and a set of equally aged tuners too. Lovely. (Can't quite believe I wrote that I have a favourite strap pin - sheesh.)

But the Tickled Pink One, show me your F£$%^& money. I'll say no more for now.

La la laaaaa

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Your Chance To Own The Tickled Pink One - Spread The Word

Well, the Tickled Pink One has only days before it is auctioned at Andrew Robinson's wedding on the 23rd February, and as promised, even if your invite never quite made it, you can still place a bid to own this remarkable guitar, that will be sealed and opened on the big night.

We've already had a couple of bids, but if you would like to have a punt yourself, all you need to do is send us:

1. Your Name:

2. Your Address:

3. Your Telephone Number: (Preferably one where you can be reached on the evening of the 23rd February)

4. Your Bid.

To info@jooky.co.uk, and we'll do the rest.

The Bids will be printed and posted to Andrew, to be opened on his wedding night, or maybe at the reception if that proves too busy, and therefore must arrive in Jookyland by 7am on Wednesday 20/02/13 to be valid - so don't delay, seize the moment etc.

If you are lucky enough to be the highest bidder, the Tickled Pink One will be sent by courier in a nice tweed case, along with a Diary signed by all the guitarists who have taken part in the journey. There will also be some pretty pictures.

As the winning bidder you will be expected to pay the dosh via the Tickled Pink JustGiving page HERE within 48 hours.

If the winning bidder turns out to be a shyster and not good for the dosh, the second highest bidder will then be asked to step up to the plate, whilst we gather the mob and light their torches, sharpen their pitchforks etc.

And if you don't want the guitar, that is fine, you are still more than welcome to help Breast Cancer Awareness by donating some dosh HERE

Thanks to everybody that has taken part in getting this guitar around the country - there have been many an above-and-beyond tale to tell, and of course many many thanks to Julian Longhurst without whom it probably wouldn't have gotten much further than Gordano Services on the M5 just outside Portishead. You're a star man...

THE BIDDING IS OPEN

La la laaaaaa

Monday, 11 February 2013

And then Again...

Well, it may be a holibob, bratski-infested week, and things aren't 100% yet, but I can play a wee bit, and turn a screwdriver, so things are looking up.

The Frou Frou Fox one is a total joy and it needed very little to finish it, but I am loving it in a big way. I think the secret to it playing nicely is to always have a strap on even if you are sat down - there is a lesson for us all there, methinks.

Without a strap it is horrible trying to find a good playing position, but it is dead comfy when you get there. I played around for ages before I found the ideal (yet odd) placement for the strap pins, but well worth the effort. I'm really loving it and it sounds golden.

As for what is next, well The Black Russian One is top off the shop, though I need to do a little sanding to get the neck to fit the pocket properly. It's amazing how often standard parts in standard sizes are err, not. But there we are, well worth the effort and too snug is always better than too sloppy bucket loose, imho.

Similarly afflicted of course is The Siren Song One. That isn't a million miles off either and the neck fits too, so that will hopefully be a runner this week and all.

The nice thing about my enforced lay-off was that I have made a good start on a proper web site at last, and have decided what I will be offering in my artyified little way. I think it will be fun, and that is the main thing. We'll see though...

La la laaaaa

Sold: The Frou Frou One

The Frou Frou Fox One is the second ever Jooky Teardrop, and is never to be repeated.

The shape may be based on the Vox Teardrops of old, but we wanted something a little more playable and have gone for a Fender Stratocaster neck, rosewood board over maple. We went for a centre block to cut down on the traditional feedback ‘features’, as let’s face it we all play a little louder these days.

The body is semi-acoustic, and along with the Gibson P90 at the bridge and matching loom – complete with a gorgeous Grey Tiger PIO cap – the tones that can be dredged from one so simple are stunning.

The top is a classic corroded bronze and copper with arty pants painting in acrylic on top and one we’re particularly awed and musted about, and a fabric binding and rear cavity cover give more of a homespun ‘60s vibe.



*


To be clear, The Frou Frou Fox 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: Pam's Baywatch Bronze

Electrics: Gibson P90 Dogear, Mojo Junior Wiring loom (CTS pots, PIO Cap)

Guitar Type: Vox Teardrop Style Body

Construction: Semi Acoustic body, Maple/Maple Strat neck

Strings:     Nickel Hybrids 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#73

RSP: £999











Introducing: The Frou Frou Fox One

Well, it took a while but sugar, it were worthy of the wait.

I'm all rather pleased ce matin that The Frou Frou Fox One is barking at the moon (barking - there may be a theme there...) and generally tip at the  top and Brizzle fashion.

So from the top, let me introduce you to only the second teardrop shaped Jooky to be born of my twisted mind.

The body is semi-acoustic and vaguely based on Vox's original. From there though we've gone for playability and used a nice old Strat neck - maple and rosewood - and generally tortured the sweet thing in a number of directions.

The body was stained, with the top getting a bronze finish and then an acid bath. From there things got corroded, stabilised and then acrylic painted for that eye of the dragon thing I kinda love doing.

I went for an old style tailpiece and a Ricky-esque bridge that works beautifully. The P90 at the bridge is a Gibson Dogear, and an equally old school Mojo handwired loom, all CTS pots and Grey Tiger PIO Caps, works beautifully.

Split Kluson tuners are old looking and rusted to fit in whilst also being brand new and working perfectly and a lovely fabric binding is nailed down with bronze topped tacks. Classy.

Sounds-wise, well it is verily nice. The body has a solid centre block on feedback minimisation duties and it gives you all the spanky cleans thru to scrotum tearingly sexy tones you'd hope for.

And there we are, The Frou Frou Fox One, sexy as Funk.

La la laaaaa









Sunday, 10 February 2013

The Week Is Bright, The Weak is Jooky

Well, things are looking up and I'm tres verily hopefilled that despite being a week of the school holibob variety, I should well be getting back to work to some extent in Jookyland and doing something.

Top of the shop, is to finish The Black Russian One. I've got all the parts including a rather nice ebony 'boarded neck and cut down Wilkinson bridge plate and the Mojo TV Jones sized 'buckers have been staring accusingly at me for months, so it is overdue.

The Frou Frou Fox One is pretty much done already and sounds really cool, but as I can't play much at the moment it is tricky to tell for sure.

As for the others, well I'll get back to them soon enough.

La la, it's good to be back, it's good to be back...la la laaaaaaa

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

WIP: The Shonky One

Well, I got the finish finitoed for The Shonky One and completely forgot to show anybody, which is silly but there we are.

As it happens, it really is rather stunning in the 3rd dimension, I am most pleased.

What I haven't done is decide on the pickups it will boast, which is a little bit on the silly side as it will prove to be a wee bit quiet otherwise.

In the end it was routed for a couple of  standard 'buckers, so I am tempted to go for the Mojo HB Sized Wide Range Humbuckers, or perhaps one of those and something else of a P90 persuasion.

Ooh, it's like Liquid Pearl
Or maybe a P90 and a PAF as they always sound cool.

Or maybe it will be something entirely different.

In fact I am clueless,
I'll have to think about it a bit more.

What I do know is that it is going to get a Bigsby when that arrives from L'America and a Ricky style bridge, like that which adorns The Frou Frou Fox One as I am verily impressed with it.



Other than that, I managed to crock myself for the third time in a week, which is damned careless and silly in extremis, so not a lot else happening I guess.

La la laaaa









Tuesday, 5 February 2013

WIP: The Frou Frou Fox One

Well, I guess you are as bored of hearing me whinge about my dodgy shoulder and the impact such things have on screwing guitars together, so I thought laterally and remembered that The Frou Frou Fox One didn't actually need any screwing and I only had to put a bridge on and some strings.

Now bearing in mind the bridge isn't nailed down, it perhaps shouldn't have taken me four hours to get it this far, but there we are. I even dug out a string winder.

Anyway, there is a bit of a way to go - I can't find a second knob to fit, believe it or not, and worse of all one of the tuners is knackered so I need to replace that.

Also, I've just noticed I only seem to have one strap pin which unless you want to play it Shankar style is a bit of a pain.

But anyway, nearly there and I feel like I've got somewhere further along the line, and the P90 sounds raw which is sexy good.


But is is fun and groovy and I can do Joy Division and Julian Cope impressions now, if I breathe in severely, which is all good.

La la laaa



Monday, 4 February 2013

Slo-Mo-A-Go-Go: A Siren Sings

Well, dodgy shoulders mean I can't actually do a great deal at the moment, here in the little kingdom of the fat white Jook, so The Black Russian and Frou Frou Fox Ones are still awaiting starters orders in the finishing department.

I did however have a lovely piece of Telecaster shaped swamp ash arrive last week, and in between doses of a variety of dosages, I gave it a bit of a stain and wax, and generally plonked it together to make meself feel better.

I had a Mojo Broadcaster going begging, and Marc at Mojo Pickups is sorting me out another of his lovely Esquire wiring looms, so that is cool, and I gave it a 60s style maharishi binding around the edge which I'm quite pleased with.

Other than that it is a nice maple/maple neck, split Kluson style tuners and a pickguard chopped from an original 1964 copy of the Rolling Stones debut album (in Mono for your delectation).

And ultimately it is frustrating because I can't finish that one either, but one day it will be known as The Siren Song One, and really when doesn't matter, lets be facing it.

La la laaaaa