How do you feel about the term "MOJO"

[IanAllison]

How do you guys feel about the term "MOJO"? Do you use it to describe vintage instruments - or perhaps new instruments that have that special something?

Personally, I'm tired of it. It reminds me of the advertising word, "EXTREME". After being used millions of times, it seems to lose it's meaning. If everything is extreme, where do we go from there? What can possibly be better or more ca-razy than extreme?

To me, "mojo" is the most hype-laden, and overused word in our TB lexicon. I know I've used it, and will probably let it slip out a time or two again. But I propose a challenge to find a NEW word or word-set that will give "MOJO" a most-needed rest.

Takers?

Ian

[()smoke()]

while it's nice to experience a certain bit of 'magic' when things come together nicely, the more i setup, adjust, put together and take apart my instruments, the more clear to me is the idea that they are just wood, metal and plastic waiting for an animate person to impart said magic with them

[r379]

Lemme see, here. We can't use awesome 'cause that's already worn out.

[The Golden Boy]

I absofrickin'lutely hate that "word."

[Earwigger]

I purpose the word "snibblegack" to replace the word "mojo" when describing expensive used and worn instruments of more then 20 years age. Sound good?

[Dincrest]

I use the term "mojo" for many things, but here's the reason I like to use it: One simple 4-letter word "mojo" carries the same meaning as "that intangible often unexplainable quality of why I like X item perhaps more than I really should" or some such.

I like the simplicity when one word explains as much as a verbose piece of verbiage.

Of course, a similar argument to yours could be made about the word "soul." What *is* it that gives a musical instrument (i.e. a Stradivarius), a form of music (i.e. the blues), or a particular form of American cuisine (soul food) this quality known as "soul?"

Or there's that synonym for mojo, the X-factor.

[fenderhutz]

This is why I dislike the term. Someone already coined it for this century.

[Doctor J]

I used to think it was a useful term but it's getting very overused, especially when every battered POS over 20 years old is seemingly made from it.

[mjolnir]

I never understood what the generally accepted definition of mojo really is.

Personally I like the word just fine, and I don't think it has anything to do with the year a bass was made or how worn it is. It's about how it feels to you. Everyone has that one bass that just seems to sing whenever they pick it up. That's what mojo is all about.

IMHO, of course.

[spade2you]

Term of snobbery to make one's basses more important than others, especially to put down custom basses.

[FL Knifemaker]

That was the name of the little dog in Transformers

[baba]

Mojo as used to describe some undefinable/mystic/positive quality is just BS.

Some people seem to use it when talking about instruments to describe old, beatup, and played. I prefer to call them old, beatup, and played.

[realdeal]

Yeah, I sure can see how using a word can cause pain...

It's like that classic blues tune:

"I got my individual, personal, particular opinion about how I feel about my new or vintage bass, which makes it feel right to me for whatever reasons I choose it to do so workin'...

In my experience,when someone says their car or bass or whatever has some mojo going for it, I kinda understand what they're talking about.

Maybe some require a more detailed description, I dunno, always has worked for me.

Jeesh, it's just a word!

[Max]

Maurilio's 66 Jazz bass that is for sale in the Basses for Sale thread; the one that used to be owned by the bass player for Tom Jones; that would have been on stage laying down the low end for "It's Not Unusual" back in the 60's and 70's while Mssr. Jones was up there shaking it in some pastel suit. Mojo.

I always thought "Boss" was a cool way to describe, say a 60's muscle car. Let's bring Boss back.

[ROON]

Originally Posted by spade2you

Term of snobbery to make one's basses more important than others, especially to put down custom basses.

How is it? I have a $400 Ibanez which is beaten to ****, has scratches and chips all over it, I call all those blemishes mojo. Still doesn't change the fact that it's a $400 Ibanez.

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by Earwigger

I purpose the word "snibblegack" to replace the word "mojo" when describing expensive used and worn instruments of more then 20 years age. Sound good?

Mojo is a perfectly good word. That is, it's no worse than other vague terms such as "punch" and "growl". Mojo is a catch-all for intangibles, it doesn't have to mean chipped paint.

Just because a very few people -- usually sellers of vintage instruments -- abuse it doesn't mean we need to throw it away.

[JoeVictim]

I feel that it is a product of pop culture revitalized by a movie with a tired plot that borderlines porno and commedy. I don't think it should describe anything other than the male anatomy.

[bovinehost]

I purpose the word "snibblegack" to replace the word "mojo" when describing expensive used and worn instruments of more then 20 years age. Sound good?

Snibblegack. Hmm.

"My 62 Jazz has a lot of snibblegack."

I don't know. Maybe an adjective would be better than a noun.

Horkalicious, maybe.

"Damn, man, that old P bass is horkalicious."

Better?

[tmart937]

I use my Mojo to get laid. Just like Muddy Waters intended.

[rfclef]

I use Gojo to get my hands clean....