First public performance was in a skiffle cum rock'n'roll group at the local Cymru Groes youth club. The following year the beat group Dave and the Diamonds was formed which later became the Roadrunners. In 1965, JJ moved to Aberystwyth and joined the Xenons, playing a more pop based repertoire. Playing lead guitar, his on-stage gear was first a Futurama guitar into a Watkins Dominator amp and Watkins Copycat echo combination, later upgrading to a Burns Jazz solid and Vox Supertwin amp. But in 1966, fingerstyle was taking over with the help of the studies of Sor & BMG Magazine, the electric gear was replaced by a Levin Goliath (LN-26). A dreadnought shaped guitar with maple back and sides.
