I do NOT *believe* this!!!!!!!!!!!!

PattiMichelle · #1 08-01-2010, 02:48 PM

I bought this on a whim, and I love it! It's got this light, beautiful, trashy, simple sound of something built in the lo-tech '70's but no hum at all.http://www.amazon.com/EMERALD-STRING...0694942&sr=8-2
I wonder who made the pickups? After kenny set it up, it's very easy to play and has a sound I'm scared to mess with, though I would like to put a carvin neck pup and an Audere 4-band into it. Also not sure whether Classic or 3Z would be better...

Sam Hain · #2 08-01-2010, 03:46 PM

Certainly looks cool...

MEKer · #3 08-01-2010, 04:23 PM

What's that name say on the headstock---cannot quite make it out. Almost looks like "Johnson".

Tritone · #4 08-01-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PattiMichelle

it's very easy to play and has a sound I'm scared to mess with, though I would like to put a carvin neck pup and an Audere 4-band into it. Also not sure whether Classic or 3Z would be better...

Congrats on the find! If it's easy to play and has a good sound, why mess with it?

M0ses · #5 08-01-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tritone

Congrats on the find! If it's easy to play and has a good sound, why mess with it?

True dat. If you like the sound, don't succumb to the irrational desire to mess with it. It probably won't improve it at all, in fact it will probably ruin it, and you'll feel like a sucker for wasting money.

P. Aaron · #6 08-01-2010, 07:22 PM

Looks like a very nice bass for under 300.

EagleMoon · #7 08-01-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEKer

What's that name say on the headstock---cannot quite make it out. Almost looks like "Johnson".

Nice looking bass but I think I'd have a problem with playing a bass that said that on the headstock. No matter how fancy the script.

RadioMasterDude · #8 08-01-2010, 08:01 PM

I have this bass... It's the Johnson Catalyst JJ-336 http://www.johnsongtr.com/guitars.html#jj330.html (sorry for crappy cell phone pics)

When I got it it had EXTREMELY high action. A day after I bought it, the bridge pickup started to fail, and it doesn't work (I think crappy soldering). It has nice wiring, but the finish has some flaws, and it has a lot of neck dive...

I haven't fixed nor gettin' it setup yet... But when I fix it it's gonna be a hell of a bass (that still neck dives and has a not so good finish).

Oh yeah, It cost me $3900 Mexican pesos, that's around $310 USD.

It still is a very pretty bass, and it's pretty light. It sounds nice too (before my pickup stopped working)

I guess mine didn't get setup 'cause I got it in a crappy local music store, but I'm keeping it. I guess the one on Amazon is a lot better.

bass.monger · #9 08-01-2010, 08:03 PM

damn, i want that bass now...

PattiMichelle · #10 08-01-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEKer

What's that name say on the headstock---cannot quite make it out. Almost looks like "Johnson".

Yep, Johnson. Maybe they've been around a while? Another Chinese work of art? Unfortunately, it doesn't say "Fender" on the headstock... Still, they must have some amazing hardwood supplies in China. I can't find any difference in finish quality between my it and my GrooveTool-7. It looks exactly like RadioMaster's - except I've had no problems.

Jimmy Bones · #11 08-01-2010, 09:42 PM

Johnson has been around for a while.

bassbenj · #12 08-02-2010, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PattiMichelle

Yep, Johnson. Maybe they've been around a while? Another Chinese work of art? Unfortunately, it doesn't say "Fender" on the headstock... Still, they must have some amazing hardwood supplies in China. I can't find any difference in finish quality between my it and my GrooveTool-7. It looks exactly like RadioMaster's - except I've had no problems.

I've got a couple of Johnson resonator guitars. They are sort of medium quality at a reasonable price. They are in the couple of hundred dollar range and are pretty nice but definitely not boutique quality. Still I've really grown to like them as with a bit of tweaking they really feel and sound nice. I've sort of grown to favor them over the rest because they feel good and you know what to expect from them.

I've never seen a Johnson bass before. I imagine that like the guitars, with a bit of setup and personal tweaking, they'll be nice instruments at a decent price point.

TheMutt · #13 08-02-2010, 03:40 AM

Cool find!
My first bass was a Johnson Jazz bass copy. Had an unfortunate meeting with a concrete floor from roughly a 4-foot height or I'd still own it. Split the body almost exactly in half. Was a great bass otherwise, but I did need to retouch all of the solder joints on it after a few months of playing.

Seems like the quality of these basses has come way up in recent years from the cheapo one I snagged on eBay about 13-14 years ago.

5StringBlues · #14 08-02-2010, 03:50 AM

That's quite a Johnson you have there.

peterbright · #15 08-02-2010, 04:18 AM

Johnson Catalyst Series Bass The new Catalyst bass is sweeping the nation with its hot looks, pro features, and great price. Built with select wood and superb electronics, the Catalyst bass will make even the most discriminating bass player a believer. The top is crafted from quilted maple for a gorgeous look. The body is made from solid alder for excellent tone and resilience. Each bass boasts two active pickups and a 2-band EQ for incredibly dynamic, responsive tone. The fretboard is topped with inlaid mother-of-pearl fret markers in a deluxe, sharktooth design. Johnson Catalyst basses boast hot looks and punchy tone at a price that players enjoy. Body: Solid Alder (Quilted Maple Top) Neck: Rock Maple Fretboard: Rosewood Finish: Translucent Gloss Inlay: M.O.P. Sharktooth Bridge: Die-Cast, Quick Change Tuners: Die-Cast Gold Pickups: Active: J-Style & Soapbar Controls: Bass/Treble EQ, Volume, Balance Neck Joint: Bolt-on Neck Joint Location: Access to 23rd Fret Radius: 20" Nut, Width: Graphite Tailpiece: N/A Scale Length: 34" Total Length: 47"

thumpbass1 · #16 08-02-2010, 05:02 AM

Congrats on a bass you like, and got for a reasonable price. Don't worry about self appointed brand name, fashion police, because their opinions don't matter. My guitar playing buddies own some very righteous gear that tone snobs love dearly, but they ain't afraid to whip out some cool cheap guitar at a gig either. They let their playing do all the talking for them, and that's my attitude as a bass player as well. Enjoy your new bass.