Happy Pennal and his Toys… Pennal Johnson in an ad for Aguilar Amps, bringing his Wyn along for posterity. Right on Pennal! Photo by Chris Monaghan for Mo/Pho Photography.
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The great Jermaine Jackson “J” Bass – Part 3
Jermaine Jackson’s custom Wyn bass has been completed! For parts 1 and 2 of this post, see The great Jermaine Jackson “J” Bass and The great Jermaine Jackson “J” Bass – Part 2
I have worked with Jermaine off and on over the course of more than a year to brainstorm, make crude drawings, cut out cardboard mock-ups, make the basic guitar block and hang a strap on it to see if the ergonomics were right, and of course, (of course) went shopping for the exact right Swarovski Crystals. Yes………….
Through this entire process, Jermaine has been like a little kid. So in awe of the concept that his idea could actually become a tangible playable bass. Okay, I’m a bit in awe of that myself!! I spent a lot of time explaining the “prototype” thing to Jermaine. There were just a lot of things that I did on this bass that I haven’t really done before, it’s a work in progress, there are no guarantees this will be anything you’ll want to play, etc………. handle in the middle of the top, working with Jermaine’s logo “J” as the basic body shape and coming out with something you could put on your knee and actually play, inlaying the entire fretboard with pearl, and the Crystals………
Did I have my moments?? You bet I did!! But some how (as usual, luck played a role) the “prototype” turned into a very playable, very funky sounding growly bass! Our wild and crazy scheme actually came together as a real bass!! I now know how Geppetto felt when all of a sudden Pinocchio started talking!!
The magic day arrived when Jermaine was ready to drop by the shop and I had the guitar tuned up and ready to go. Glee I tell you, one of those super fun days you do not forget!! Here, Jermaine poses in my crowded little lunch room/ guitar storage area/ office space, surrounded by my other in progress basses. Obviously the other basses are a bit miffed that they didn’t get the jewel treatment. I tell ya, they won’t shut up about it!!
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We had to pose in my shop space/ space port wood shop! All of the dust tubes make you question whether this really could be ready for outer space travel. (The truth of the matter is that when I put on my special helmet, it is ready!!)
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Here Jermaine in front of a giant Waterfall Heart and Sap Bubinga board. I look at this board every day and wonder if I’ll ever have the guts to cut into it, it’s so beautiful just like it is. Well, it’s not only the guts, it’s kinda heavy too!! Like 280 pounds heavy!!! It will crush my saw horses I fear!! Speaking of dangerous things, at this point we discussed the need under stage lighting for the entire audience to be fitted with very dense sun glasses!!
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Outside to check out how the guitar worked in sunlight. It worked!!! Jermaine stood in the middle of the parking lot and I moved the guitar from side to side. Shards of wild colorful light emerged. In the mid day sun, you could actually see the colored light across the cars. This is more than a guitar. On the right sunny day, it could rob a 7-11!!!
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And finally, the “walk on stage carrying the guitar by the handle moment!!” Life doesn’t get any funner than this!! We discussed the stunning fact that someone (some guy named Leo Fender?) seems to have already invented the “J” bass. What!!!!!????? We were only 50 years late with ours!!!?? I think Jermaine will come up with another name and who knows where this will all lead!! a
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Abraham Laboriel and Friends at NAMM 2012… & More
Abraham Laboriel stopped by the Wyn Guitars booth once again this year at NAMM 2012 and jammed with Jose Valentino on flute and Johnathan Hulett on congas. Slammin!
Part 2:
A couple of somewhat-Wyn-related bonus videos from NAMM 2012:
Jerry “JBlakk” Henderson and his Wyn as part of ProSonus All-Stars:
Pennal Johnson and his Wyn demonstrating the finer points of speaker response to various bass-playing techniques:
Wyn Guitars Promo with Donald J. Alford
Donald Alford came to me about a year ago with a request for his own signature 6-string Wyn Bass. Our collaboration produced a bass built with a 5A Quilt Maple top, Padauk tone layers, African Mahogany body core and Quilt Maple back. The neck is a 7 lamination taper core design of Wenge with Padauk striping. Don’s fretboard consists of Maccassar Ebony with “DON J” inlaid in Birds Eye Maple. (Don’s musical production company – “Don J Productions”) Nordstrand Fatstack pickups, Aguilar OBP-3 preamp, with Hipshot bridge and tuners.
Bill Dickens on a Wyn 7-string
Bill Dickens cooks on a Wyn 7-string Amboyna Burl Bass at the 2011 NAMM Show. (Just before he played, he told all of us that he wasn’t really warmed up……Yea, right!!!!)
Donald Alford II and his band (and his Wyn bass!)
A great improvisational live clip of Donald Alford II and his band. Don is playing his AAAAA Quilt Maple topped 6 string with solid Wenge neck. “DON J” (Donald’s production company is called Don J Productions) is inlaid into his Indian Rosewood fretboard with Birds Eye Maple.
Ethan Farmer and his Wyn bass on David Letterman
Ethan Farmer, one of the busiest cats in show biz, plays his Quilted Maple Wyn 5 backing the very hot Keri Hilson on Letterman. She sings her classic song “Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful” (boy can I relate to that) At the end, David Letterman appears to want to know what that bass is? I’m pretty sure when he can afford it, David’s gonna be buyin’ a Wyn!
The great Jermaine Jackson “J” Bass – Part 2
Progress continues on Jermaine Jackson’s custom Wyn bass. For part 1 of this post, see The great Jermaine Jackson “J” Bass
Progress has been made. We toyed around with many different ideas for how the bass could look and what materials to use. We’ve gone from one that was pure white with clear jewels to lights and colored jewels to a variety of exotic hard woods. We decided that the first one would be all hardwoods as we prove out the concept of a great sounding and playing bass. I made the body wings in the shape of Jermaine’s trademark “J” out of Ziricote (the blackish wood), Quilted Maple (center of the “J”), African Mahogany and Padauk (body core layers). The neck is made from Eastern rock Maple and Wenge with Bubinga stripes. As you can see, we’re going to inlay the rest of Jermain’s name into the fret board.
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It’s clear from this photo that there’s plenty of work left to do. The neck looks a tad thick and perhaps lacks a bit of grace? This would be called the “blocking stage” of the Prototype.
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At this point, the center of the “J” shape has been inlaid with Quilted Maple. But we have big plans for hollowing part of that out. It will provide a neat carrying handle, will add a cool dimensional look, and on a practical level, will lighten the bass a bit. (When you’re using all these wonderful dense tone woods, you’re always looking for ways to reduce the weight.) A Cocbolo board sits where the fret board will be. We haven’t decided whether the fret board will be Maccasar Ebony or Cocobolo. You’re just gonna have to wait for the next installment to see!!!! Stay tuned!!!
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