The day I met the love of my life

Me and my new love at the Treehouse in Barnes

It’s true folks and it’s no longer a secret – I met the love of my life 2 weeks back – in the form of a semi-electric hollowbody jazz guitar by Tokai. Its phenomenal.Ive run out of superlatives to describe it. It has a beautiful deep colour to it. and what makes it even more amazing is that it was set up by the legend Phillip Dubreille.

Phillip Dubreille in case you don’t know is legendary guitar maker to the rock n roll stars – he makes guitars from scratch, all handmade and he’s made them for people like Iggy Pop, Chrissie Hynde and Primal Scream - and now he’s set one up for little old ME.

I sat with him in his basement and watched him sand down the frets, adjust the floating bridge and replace the strings and get rid of the buzz. I got him to replace the strings from a guage 12 to 11s – yes I know you will tut as my friend Guillaume did, but theyre much easier on my poor little fingers which have gotten used to nylon strings on my classical.

Then I played it through Phillipe’s funny little Robot Amp called Doobie, he’s a silver robot that Phillipe also built from scratch, really cute!  

I sat with Phillipe in his workshop and he played me some crazy music and wrote me down a list of all the songs I should go and listen to, including Marilyn Monroe/Cole Porter and Serge Gainsbourg.

You can find Phillipe at 25 Denmark St, in his basement workshop, and his website is here http://www.dubreuille-guitar.com/home.html

Thank you so much Phillipe you don’t know how happy you have made me. Je t’aime je t’aime je t’aime!

My classical guitar will have to take a back seat to the Tokai now. Sorry kiddo. These things happen. Best not to take it personally. Now that makes it ten guitars..you know what I think I need more guitar stands.