Louis Johnson basses and bass mods

[daveonbass]

Unfortunately the pics are gone from this listing - can’t find any info out online about this bass/model: SOLD - Performance Louis Johnson Signature BlkDragonCustom 4

 

[daveonbass]

More videos:

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Unfortunately the pics are gone from this listing - can’t find any info out online about this bass/model: SOLD - Performance Louis Johnson Signature BlkDragonCustom 4

I just came back to respond that his basses were built by a company out of L.A. called Performance.
You beat me to it.

I remembered because one of my favorite Gospel players Allen Snoop Evans plays Performance as well.

 

[daveonbass]

Unfortunately the pics are gone from this listing - can’t find any info out online about this bass/model: SOLD - Performance Louis Johnson Signature BlkDragonCustom 4

A bit more on the “Performance” signature models here: Who can build a louis johnson bass

 

[daveonbass]

Well, now I’m just totally in the rabbit hole on this whole thing. Another somewhat related thread: What bass is this? Louis Johnson content.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Well, now I’m just totally in the rabbit hole on this whole thing. Another somewhat related thread: What bass is this? Louis Johnson content.

Louis had a lot of basses with different companies. The Trekker was also well known. This might be one reason he never had a MusicMan signature StingRay or Sabre.

He is always going to known most for playing his StingRay, Sabre, & Yamaha BB thanks to playing it on Billie Jean.

 

[Altitude]

If you read the Bass Player Magazine Louis Johnson Tribute Cover/article , it states that Yamaha asked Louis to consult on designing the original Yamaha BB basses. He did this on his Trekker and Louis Johnson line of basses.

I had no idea, but that is not surprising.

 

[jimmydean]

WHAT? Are you saying you were offered Louis own bass? If so you need to pm me this guy in Denver’s info .

I think I was offered the bass back in 1990 and if only I could do it again, I might still have it .

 

[yankeeblues]

I'm a big LJ fan and I picked up this Performance YB5-24 PJ in a trade a couple years ago. Everything but the hardware is made the shop in Hollywood, CA. Doesn't get played enough as my Sandberg TM5 is more comfortable for me, but it is an excellent bass.

 

[daveonbass]

I'm a big LJ fan and I picked up this Performance YB5-24 PJ in a trade a couple years ago. Everything but the hardware is made the shop in Hollywood, CA. Doesn't get played enough as my Sandberg TM5 is more comfortable for me, but it is an excellent bass.
View attachment 4893342

that’s awesome

 

[Steve59]

Louis’s Funk still on earth! So missed and always appreciated!

 

[Matt Dean]

I saw ALL of the major bands in the '70's! Saw EWF probably 8 times between '74 & '82. Their shows more like an event than just a concert. Saw The Bros Johnson probably 6-7 times from '76 to '81. T.O.P., Chic, Con Funk Shun, Slave, Pleasure, Cameo, Sun, Narada Michael Walden, P-Funk, Bootsy, Brick, Rufus, Graham Central Station, Mother's Finest.....All the prominent bands of that era. It was "my thing" as a kid. Probably the "Golden Era" of the electric bass coming to the fore. Great exposure for me at the time.
I suppose I was pretty fortunate as a kid. I didn't have many toys but because my folks were musically inclined i was more likely than not to get what I asked for musically. However, the incident after seeing "The Brothers" live and asking for a bass after my set of Pearl drums had just arrived didn't go over very well at the house!! My pops' response when he overheard me talking about wanting a bass with my mom..........."the next instrument you get will be the one YOU buy!!!!" So i actually went 4 years after that to get my 1st bass. As college freshman I had a roommate who played bass. He was from N.J. and had a copy of a P-bass, the exact same color and neck as the one on the "Look Out For #1" cover. A few months into that 1st semester he saw a Yamaha BB in a music store we were in and later called his folks for the $$ to get it. The next day he came walking into the dorm w/ his Yamaha and actually 'gave' me his P-Bass! It was ON from there! My social life went away. I practiced ALL the time! I only put that bass down to eat, shower, crap, or go to class. By the fall of my sophomore year I was playing in 2 bands (country-western & r&b) doing club dates several nights per wk.

Most excellent show resume.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

He primarily recorded on a stingray and a Sabre and imo that’s the one that matters the most regarding what a favorite is or what bass sounds like him.