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MoJo - FACT OR FICTION ????????????????????????

MoJo - The word is such a short simple word, yet it could possibly be the most powerful word that is used in the world of music today. So powerful in fact that I have seen it completely render men blind. So blind that they end up purchasing a raunchy, beat to hell guitar that sounds like crap for thousands of dollars. All due to an ad that explains all the MoJo that the guitar possesses. I can't deny it's power, just writing about it makes me want to go play. O.K. I'm back after a 30 minute (no crap) playing session on my cbg, that by the waY is full of MoJo (opps, there it is again). But still I have to ask myself what does it really mean? I've heard it spoken by every musician I've ever known, but never have I heard it explained. I'm sure everyone has a different theory of it's meaningl. That's why I am starting this blog, in hopes of hearing what people Believe, or what it means to them. From beginners to the old pro's, everyone should have an idea as to what MoJo really is. Guess I'll go ahead and throw my own two cents in as well. My thoughts on MoJo and what it meand to me. Well it's a certain mystical almost magical power that certain guitars have and use to control the player in different ways. Some have the power to make the player want to play loud, this MoJo is great for the player but bad for everyone else. This MoJo causes divorces, arrest, arguments with neighbors, all out fist fights and prematurely blown amps. Oh yeah, and hearing loss. Another type of MoJo is "Drawing MoJo", this guitar has the power to draw you to its self almost everytime you play. It can pull you in, through a maze of guitars lined up down a wall.The next is "lost time MoJo", this is one that I have just recently named. It's the guitar you play in which a couple hrs passes as as you play, it's kinda like you slip off into some type of trance. Then someone comes in screaming about all the things you haven't got done for the last two hrs. You scratch your head and say "wow that's weird, seems like I have only been in here a few minutes. You then look at the clock just to make sure, yep your crazy! The next MoJo I've recognized is the "creative MoJo" , guitar's with this MoJo just seem to teach you new tunes effortlessly. This may noT be your favorite sounding guitar but when you play it you notice you start catchin' all sort of crazy cool tunes. The last MoJo I have positively identified is" long winded MoJo", this guitar makes you want to play for long periods of time, stop shortly and then continue. This MoJo results in more injuuries possibly than any other. Anything from blister, to numbing of the hands and arms to outright bleeding fingers. Is MoJo real, fact or fiction, is it just an illusion or re-occurring coincidence. As for me I believe, however I do have insight. I build and sell guitars for a living so I get to play quite a few different guitars, I notice certain little things about them. I don't mention it when the guitar sells, but somewhere down the line you to to the new owner and they tell you what they like about the guitar. Then I go back in my mind and think "wow, that's crazy! That's the same way the guitar did me". So anyone out there with any type of knowledge on MoJo, where comes from or why it is what it is. Please help me explain and perhaps identify some different types that I have left out. Yeah it's Cool, it's Crazy, IT'S MOJO!

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Comment by Vincent Slegers on June 12, 2011 at 11:03pm: Well, this is the beat-up piece of wood - which I still consider a guitar, contrary to others - I was talking about. The total cost for this here thing, including shipment, was 88 USD. The pleasure this guitar has given me, is unafordable. That's mojo...

Comment by Vincent Slegers on June 12, 2011 at 10:44pm: Well, I have had this discussion before with a couple of my friends before - and was stunned to see that some of them hadn't even heard of Mojo before. To me, it is simple. Mojo is a form of irresistible charm carried out by the guitar, or any other object/person for that mater, which makes you utterly attracted to that thing/person. But you only feel the Mojo if you already have some Mojo yourself, I guess.

The thing about beat to hell guitars and mojo is a fact for me; sure, lots of old guitars are barely good enough for firewood, but some others just have that feel that makes you want to play them, over and over. I guess it is just their special tone, created by the saturated, old wood, and their appearance that speaks to me.

For instance, I picked up an old Regal flattop with F-holes for a couple of bucks as a project, because some of the back began to seperate. Shipping to Belgium costed way more than the guitar itself, but still, it was cheaper than any guitar I could find here in Belgium - even the new China el-cheapo's. After glueing the good thing back together and a new set of strings, it was (and still is) the best sounding little guitar I have ever had.

To cut a long story short: Mojo's there for those who have mojo, and it's just a meaningless word for those who haven't.

Comment by Outhouse Instruments on June 11, 2011 at 3:37pm: This is real simple. To those who don't have it, Mojo is fiction, to those who do have it , it's fact.

Where it comes from ...... just ain't no tellin'!

AFKAM

btw - I describe my steel slides ( you know, the "hardware" zinc coated ones as being forged by the devils own minions from metals found only in the delta swamps of Louisianna. I call them, Mojosteel.

Comment by HOLLOWBELLY on June 8, 2011 at 8:09am: why thank you sir.

:0)

Comment by smokestack guitars on June 8, 2011 at 6:32am: Very well put HOLLOWBELLY!

Comment by HOLLOWBELLY on June 7, 2011 at 11:34pm: out of all the mojo definitions you outline,creative mojo is the one I recognise the most.It isnt bullshit because I've experienced it for sure-some gits have it oozing out of them,some simply refuse to speak to me at all.I can tell you its presence or absence is beyond my control.It just is.I believe its out of control of the luthier also.I suspect maybe mojo is just there or it isnt, to varying degrees, and theres nothing you can do to alter or imbue it.The songs come out of the box, and some are more full than others for mystical, or at least mysterious, reasons that 1) we cant fathom and 2) we cant control.

Comment by Slowpaw Steve T on June 7, 2011 at 7:46am: Come to think of it they had Kurt Cobain's Jazzmaster there too to study 1st hand at the time, i don't know which one i was most enthralled with!

A great story i read about BB King's Lucille guitar - a visitor to his dressing room saw it propped up against the wall and commented on its amazing sound, to which the great BBK retorted something like ".. don't sound too great right now does she..?" (-;

Comment by smokestack guitars on June 7, 2011 at 4:49am: Yeah Steve, I'd bet there was some mojo on that one!

Comment by Slowpaw Steve T on June 7, 2011 at 4:03am: I once held a Flying Vee owned by Jimi Hendrix at Hard Rock Cafe museum, this neglected rustily strung instrument had Mojo all through it, i think a little rubbed off on me....(-;