I had the pleasure of visiting Bruce Johnson's shop while having some neck work done by Jeremy aka freekmagnet who has a work space there. Lots of custom machines and tooling there used for his creations. You can check out a video that shows Bruce being interviewed, and it shows his shop; search Bruce Johnson and Fillmore to find it. Getting to play his custom basses built in the style of the early Ampeg instruments was quite the treat; amazing workmanship and tone. I really enjoyed meeting Bruce, and also Jeremy, who makes his own cool basses, too.
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Visiting luthier Bruce Johnson at his shop
- Thread starter littlebun
- Start date
Oh man that was cool! I would have been the annoying guy prying into every corner, what an incredible trove of tools, equipment, and a lifetime of knowledge aquired in layers, like a pearl. The time I spend in the shop is the only time that's truly mine, and this is All Yours, All the Time. Very cool seeing some of the tools we've seen in isolation in context with the rest, although this covered only a fraction of the collection. If I'm ever in Filmore.......
Amazing. I love the fact he does everything from scratch, in house, and even by himself! Truly awesome type 
Check out Bruce's thread The Secret Underground Laboratory where he demonstrates the various machine processes he uses to build his Ampeg style basses. Many of the machines and fixtures are custom built, but he also has a bunch of old reconditioned "american iron", tools from the heyday of American manufacturing. I'm an amateur tool geek, but only vicariously.Bruce built or collected all this around him, so I should have said "All His, All the Time".
I was in the area about a year and a half ago and paid Bruce a visit. He was extremely generous with his time and his knowledge.
We hung out for about 2 1/2 hours talking about woodworking, restoring old machinery (he gave some advice regarding the restoration of some of my old machines), truss rod design, the lutherie business, lutherie in general and the town of Fillmore. It doesn’t take much to get Bruce talking, and when he does you end up learning something!
It was a cool tour and a great talk. Anyone who’s able to is strongly encouraged to pay him a visit.
We hung out for about 2 1/2 hours talking about woodworking, restoring old machinery (he gave some advice regarding the restoration of some of my old machines), truss rod design, the lutherie business, lutherie in general and the town of Fillmore. It doesn’t take much to get Bruce talking, and when he does you end up learning something!
It was a cool tour and a great talk. Anyone who’s able to is strongly encouraged to pay him a visit.
Fillmore is a gorgeous little town about an hour southwest of me, around halfway to Ventura.
I did some contracting work there some years back.
I definitely need to stop in and visit Bruce the next time I'm through there.
And maybe grab a sack of the world's best avocados while I'm at it!
I did some contracting work there some years back.
I definitely need to stop in and visit Bruce the next time I'm through there.
And maybe grab a sack of the world's best avocados while I'm at it!
After watching that video, a couple more popped up in my YT feed, I hadn't seen this one, also filmed in the Secret Laboratory. Good stuff, comparing the original and Bruce's new version of the pickups:
Yeah, that's actually a good video, showing off the difference in sound between several Scroll Basses. And it really helped having Juan doing the playing!
Ugh, that video was shot when I was at my heaviest weight. I've lost 45 lbs since then. And my hair is about a foot longer now!
I had hair down to my shoulders until I had to get my first "real" job out of college, been short ever since, but I occasionally threaten to go back to my Hippie roots in retirement. Short hair is easy, long hair is easy. It's that awkward in-between stage that's a PITA! I had my beard and mustache stage for a while too, when I was working outside a lot. Beards do work as advertised to keep your face warm, but mine itched maddenly. My youngest son aspires to be Grizzly Addams (he collects and restores old axes and Bowie knives), and unlike my patchy little attempt, he's approaching ZZ Top territory. You wear yours well in your Avatar.
I spoke w/ Bruce on the phone and immediately thought "what a voice" like this guy should be a radio DJ, reminded me distantly of a more serious Alan Hale in terms of voice quality
I hacked my long hair off when I got my shop stuff together and was playing with rotating machinery again.
Started growing my hair out in junior year of high school and apart from one ill-advised year in the early '00s, kept it long ever since. I'm younger than the hippie era, but close enough to where I got "long-haired hippie" a lot in my 20s and 30s. Very annoying to me personally as I'm a metalhead.
Of course, now that I'm in my early 50s, the hair isn't quite as long or as thick as it used to be. My 11-year-old daughter's hair is much more voluminous and I can tell how thick her hair is when I help her tie it up into a ponytail. I'm rather envious of that.
Got a collection of hair ties in the workshop. It's considered safety equipment
Career-wise, I work in technology, so out-of-the-norm appearances aren't so out of the norm.
Of course, now that I'm in my early 50s, the hair isn't quite as long or as thick as it used to be. My 11-year-old daughter's hair is much more voluminous and I can tell how thick her hair is when I help her tie it up into a ponytail. I'm rather envious of that.
Got a collection of hair ties in the workshop. It's considered safety equipment
Career-wise, I work in technology, so out-of-the-norm appearances aren't so out of the norm.
Thanks! I'm a baritone/bass singer in a local band these days. I sing lead on most of the cowboy/western songs, and deep harmonies on the rest. I'm also Santa for the city of Fillmore. They like me because I'm tall and have a loud deep voice.
Started growing my hair out in junior year of high school and apart from one ill-advised year in the early '00s, kept it long ever since. I'm younger than the hippie era, but close enough to where I got "long-haired hippie" a lot in my 20s and 30s. Very annoying to me personally as I'm a metalhead.
Of course, now that I'm in my early 50s, the hair isn't quite as long or as thick as it used to be. My 11-year-old daughter's hair is much more voluminous and I can tell how thick her hair is when I help her tie it up into a ponytail. I'm rather envious of that.
Got a collection of hair ties in the workshop. It's considered safety equipment
Career-wise, I work in technology, so out-of-the-norm appearances aren't so out of the norm.
I've worn my hair shoulder-length from high school (early '70's) up through my working career in the corporate R & D world. Surprisingly enough, even at Defense Contractors. Around 2004, I went with short hair, mostly for comfort and convenience. Mostly a buzz cut, but still with the moustache. Then in 2020, during Covid, my regular Barber retired and closed his shop. So I just let it grow out again. What the hell, I'm officially retired now, and a social hermit. No wife, no boss; I can do whatever I want. I'm a genuine Mad Engineer in my Secret Underground Lab.
One of my favorite pilgrimages...I go whenever I find a reason to go. Bruce and Jeremy have done amazing work for me... Jeremy has done lots of custom things I can't imagine anyone else would've. Glad you got to experience it!!
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