FINLAND’S NATIONAL GUITAR HERO NUMBER ONE
One day I’ll make you a guitar
The year was 1992. I went to see Jukka Tolonen Trio play at a local club. The gig was fantastic, and afterwards I had a chance to shake hands with Jukka. I gave him my card and told him: “One day I’ll make you a guitar”. He laughed, thanked politely – and walked away. I was in the very beginning of my studies to become a guitar maker at that time. I didn’t know too much, but I was determined as hell to learn.
I couldn’t be sure…
Years went by, and I got my first original guitar design, the Duke, ready in 1997. I thought it was a great guitar – but I couldn’t be sure… I wanted to show the guitar to someone who could tell – and I came to think of Jukka.
Guitar heroes
I’m a great fan of prog rock and fusion jazz – and Jukka stands out in my book of guitar heroes on the same top level as John McLaughlin and Jeff Beck.
Little white lie…
I found out Jukka lives in Sweden, and I called his record company to get a telephone number. For whatever reason they gave me his home number, and I started bugging Jukka with voicemails – until one day he finally answered my call. I told who I was, and that I would just want to hear his opinion on my guitar – that’s all. Finally Jukka agreed to meet me after I said I’m coming over to Stockholm soon anyways. This was a little while lie though to bring the threshold down…
I was totally broke, but I managed to get a free ferry ticket from a friend, and off I went.
In seventh heaven
I remember having tea at Jukka’s place, and he was noodling away with my guitar, sometimes mumbling a word or two… and then drifting off, playing along.
He wanted to try the guitar with different amps so we ended up at Halkans guitar shop where Jukka continued playing. I was starting to think that maybe he really likes the guitar even though he doesn’t say much… And finally, at the end of the day, Jukka blurted it out: “I gotta buy this. It’s great. Fantastic job.” – and we shake hands. On the way back home I was in seventh heaven. I was a novice guitar maker – nobody knew about me – and now I had sold a guitar to Finland’s national guitar hero number one of all time!
Over 4 decades of spectacular music
Jukka has played in a number of successful bands over the past 4 decades, including Tasavallan Presidentti, Piirpauke and Wigwam. Jukka is, however, best known of his spectacular solo recordings such as ‘Summer Games’, ‘The Hook’, ‘Hysterica’ and the self titled debut ‘Jukka Tolonen’. Some of his other projects include ‘Guitarras Del Norte’, ‘Trio Tolonen’ and ‘JTB’ (Jukka Tolonen Band featuring Coste Apetrea), SF Blues – and more.
Windermere Avenue
You can find Jukka’s music online for example on Spotify or Apple Music. Check out the song Windermere Avenue. My personal favourite piece. Music just doesn’t get more beautiful than that…
Duke JT Custom
Jukka has played that first Duke since 1997 – until in 2003 we built him the Duke JT Custom. The Duke #1 returned back home to me.
