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I have an old Johnson
- Thread starter gary mitchell
- Start date
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I have an old Johnson
Hmmm
I think I will just let that comment pass and not say what I am thinking
Hmmm
I think I will just let that comment pass and not say what I am thinking
I don't have an old Johnson, but I do have an old Evinrude. I know someone who had a Johnson P bass. It wasn't that bad for the price. If you're bored and want a project, have fun upgrading. It will probably never be worth much, so keep the original parts in case you want to keep the upgrades for another project and intend to flip this one.
I also have an old Johnson, but it's not a bass, it's an acoustic guitar. Made-In-China Johnson JG-620! One with one of those 'black velvet" style tropical scene oil paintings covering the entire top. (Artwork by the legendary "Chuck"). 
I bought it on eBay in 1999 - took down the nut and saddles til it played real easy, and sent it to my dad ( who likes those kind of paintings and used to dabble on hawaiian guitar ). Turns out he never played it (arthritis issues) and a couple of years ago he gave it back to me. In the 20 or so years since it was built, it has really aged nicely, and (despite - or perhaps because of? - the oil painting on the front) it actually plays and sounds as nice as any modern $3000 solid wood acoustic. It's my go-to acoustic when I need something loud and Martin-esque. IIRC, it originally cost $100...
I bought it on eBay in 1999 - took down the nut and saddles til it played real easy, and sent it to my dad ( who likes those kind of paintings and used to dabble on hawaiian guitar ). Turns out he never played it (arthritis issues) and a couple of years ago he gave it back to me. In the 20 or so years since it was built, it has really aged nicely, and (despite - or perhaps because of? - the oil painting on the front) it actually plays and sounds as nice as any modern $3000 solid wood acoustic. It's my go-to acoustic when I need something loud and Martin-esque. IIRC, it originally cost $100...
Lookit, there's two kinds of "adults" in the world; those willing to beat on their Johnsons, and liars.
My other bass is a Squier Affinity P-bass. It has surprisingly nice fretwork and is a smooth player, and feels to me like it's finished to a little higher standard than my Johnson. The Johnson has given me the impression of less careful initial assembly: it has a noticeably rougher edge on the skunk stripe on the back of the neck and rougher fret ends, sloppier tuners and what seems to be a cheesier bridge stamping. But it's got a barkier, more aggressive sound, it stays in tune just as well and it's fun to play.
My Johnson was given to me with a dead pickup...one of the magnets had detached from one pickup half and when I removed the pickguard to investigate I found a bunch of sawdust and little wire snippings trapped between the pickguard and body surface. Yikes, but since installing a different pickup and tweaking the trussrod and setting the intonation and string height, it's had stable tuning and performed well for the month or so that I've had it.
The drummer in my band mentioned, after about one band practice (and using actual words rather than emphatic hooting sounds) that it "had some ass to it" and sounded subtly better in the mix and was easier for him to hear than my Squier.
Well, since we're all showing off our Johnson's, I tried swirling mine in paint a long time ago. Went through a "phase".
My johnson also has a black nut. The original white one busted when my girlfriend bumped it and it hit the ground.
And yes, 3 strings. Jaco only needed 4 to struggle, so im starting at 3.
My johnson also has a black nut. The original white one busted when my girlfriend bumped it and it hit the ground.
And yes, 3 strings. Jaco only needed 4 to struggle, so im starting at 3.
If you're considering modifying your Johnson, you should think it over first. There are pros and cons.
What about pickups? Can you handle and fit all the different kinds of pickups compatible with your Johnson?
The neck? Johnsons have long necks (at least, the best ones do) and although some like adding frets to their Johnson, others like the smoothness of a fretless Johnson.
And of course, before modifying your Johnson, you should consider whether you can return it to its original condition, should that be desirable. The wrong modification can make a Johnson malfunction, and it could become nearly useless. That's a sad condition for any Johnson.
What about pickups? Can you handle and fit all the different kinds of pickups compatible with your Johnson?
The neck? Johnsons have long necks (at least, the best ones do) and although some like adding frets to their Johnson, others like the smoothness of a fretless Johnson.
And of course, before modifying your Johnson, you should consider whether you can return it to its original condition, should that be desirable. The wrong modification can make a Johnson malfunction, and it could become nearly useless. That's a sad condition for any Johnson.
