Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars

Subject: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: longhair
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 07:29 AM

Does anyone have any experience with these guitars? I know they're not National or Dobro quality or nothin', but they don't cost the same either. They make a chrome plated bell brass unit that I sure would like to have, but I know nothing of them. Any info would be appreciated... longhair

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:44 AM

They're fairly good sounding, the 3 I've had the chance to play, but they're kinda pricey...

Actually, if you want a good sounding resophonic on a budget, check out the new Dean models...VERY nice sounding and about 1/2 of Johnson's price.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 12:11 PM

My guess, Longhair, is that you needn't worry much about the guitar's construction. If it plays well and sounds good to you, I'd suggest going ahead and buying. I think there is much less to worry about when most of the guitar is metal.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Tony Burns
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 12:45 PM

I have a Johnson that I purchased secondhand. It had been owned by a friend of mine and sounds great when he plays it. (I'm working on it.)

Dean resonator guitars seem to be wooden. The site does not give even a suggested retail price. Half the price of a Johnson is one heck of a deal. (Johnson's are about $900.00 Canadian in Toronto)

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From:
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 04:32 PM

Longhair,

I got the single cone and love it! I'm going to have to adjust the biscuit to lower the strings. Sounds great. My Slide instructor think it was a great value. (he has two nationals). I am very happy wit it.

Good sliding! Casey

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 04:58 PM

Hi longhair....I assume you've checked at Elderly Instruments and if not, give them a call too. I've always found them very helpful by phone...nice bunch of people. They have quite a number in stock and pricing is always good.

Like the Big RiB, I agree on the construction. Elderly also has good things to say about their craftsmanship.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: longhair
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 07:42 PM

Thank y'all for your replies. The first one I saw was at a store in Mt. View Ar. but it was a square neck, and I was looking for a round. Then I saw a few on E-Bay and it got me thinking again. Y'all just about have me talked into it, now, how do I get it around the wife? She figures 5 guitars is enough, but we all know better, don't we!! ;-) Thanks again! longhair

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 07:57 PM

You mean like this one?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 07:59 PM

Longhair,

With 5 guitars you automatically become a "collector", not just a muscian. We all know we have collected things in our youth that later became quite valuable, you know, like baseball cards. Unfortunately, we threw them all away before they became valuable. So any guitar you buy now is an addition to your soon (well, eventually)to be very valuable collection of classic guitars. And you aren't likely to throw the suckers out like your baseball cards.

If you can't 'splain this to your honey, send a personal message to 'Spaw, he hasn't been successful either.

Big RiB

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: BK
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:16 PM

What d'ya mean 5 guitars is enough??!!?? That's SACRILIDGE! (however ya spell it..) If I only had 5 guitars, they'd probably all have to be in playing condition, instead of "I'll get around to re-doing the bridge someday" condition. Once it took me 15 or so years, but it got the new bridge; these things take time.. ask my wife.. 5 guitars! Imagine! Everybody ought to know that 'catters are highly inclined to GAS (guitar aquisition syndrome) or the broader based IAS (instrument aquisition syndrome). very serious conditions & the rest of the world ought to appreciate the influences we are under...

Cheers, BK (who WILL fix every one of 'em, someday..)

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From:
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:32 PM

I have a good friend who plays a very good Dobro I don't know what make it is but I do know it has a metal resinator in.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From:
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:38 PM

I have a friend who plays a very good Dobro and I know it has a recinator in it that is made of metal. I have a 1953 S L Mossman that is signed inside. can anyone tell me anything about it. It is a real good player.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:57 PM

Hi Yuma. You might check the date on that Mossman again. I doubt if Stuart Mossman was makin too many guitars when he was about 10 years old. Even "63" would be pretty unlikely. I owned one of Stuart's guitars in the 70s and loved it.

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: GUEST,Terapln
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 10:56 PM

The Johnsons are a real good deal, decent, not great quality. With a National cone replacing the one it comes with it would be a great sounding piece. The're going for under $500.00 on eBay and a National cone is about $50.00

By the way, the Deans are crap, as are the Epiphone "bisquit" guitars. The Regals aren't too bad for wood resonators if you want a bluegrass sound but they also need the cones replaced for the best sound, Quartermans are good.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: longhair
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 07:33 AM

Yep Spaw that's the one. Ain't it purty! I have a square neck, wooden body Morrell, but my hands don't work w/ the box laying flat. Beside, I'm more of a bottlenecker than a dobro player. I'll let you know if it works. :^)

Roger, I'll try that, but me thinketh she's too smart to fall for it. ;^)

BK, with the guitars, guns, and newly acquired motorcycle(I really thought I was through w/ those) + other misc. toys, I may be reaching my limits in the goody department. :^)

Terapln, E-bay is what got me thinkin' about them again. I usually never go there, but guess that I was bored that night. I think, I really need to feel and play a bit before I decide to buy one. But who knows.....one of the wild rabbits may jump on me and force me to order one. Wouldn't that be ashamed? LOL longhair

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 09:29 AM

John....The Deans are NOT crap...Speaking ignorantly might cause someone to pass over a fine, reasonably priced instrument just because they thought you might be knowledgable...BTW, how many of the Dean resophonics have YOU played?

I personally own a 1941 Dobro (square neck) and a Dean round-neck (w/ the "lipstick" P/U)...both are excellent instruments & get requested for borrowin' at pickin' parties a lot!

I wouldn't've bought it if it wasn't a good instrument.

BTW, the Dean model I own runs around $450-475.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 11:07 AM

RICK et al.........

Stuart Mossman died last March, I believe of a heart attack complicated by other problems. Do any of you know exactly when he did start building? My best guess would be around 1970 or maybe a little earlier. He built some fine instruments for some big Nashville folks, but a lot of the production seemed to be great sounding but plagued with wood problems, perhaps not dried properly or of a lesser quality, specifically in the neck area. I was working parttime in a music store in the early 70's and the Mossman's we had had to be kept away from significant changes in temp/humidity......far more so than a lot of equally priced instruments.

Rick, didn't you have one? (I'll not make the mandatory joke here) Does anyone have anymore knowledge of the whats and whys and hows of Mossman? Later on he was quite well respected, but did the early problems continue? Anybody?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: GUEST,terapln
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 02:23 PM

Sorry you don't agree Terry, and I will admit you may have got THE good one but I have played several, the cones are poor (and need replaced like the Regals, Johnson and others) but the construction and finish quality I did not think was as good as the Regals I mentioned. Of which you can get either a bisquit or spider cone model for the same dinero as the Dean.

As for what I know, if were gonna drop names how about a '33 El Trovador, '30 Triolian, '37 Tricone, '38 Style O, I also restore and build guitars including a Resolectric style Tele, a steel body single cone and a Mahogany body Weissenborn-Tricone. I don't mind being disagreed with and perhaps the term crap was out of line and bruised feelings, for that I apologise, but when it comes to resonators I am not ignorant (but perhaps a little too opinionated)

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: JedMarum
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 03:44 PM

I can vouch for Terapln's obvious knowledge of the instrument. I played one of his instruments in Phoenix, and heard it played by an expert. Hers's a taken in Phoenix (middle shot).

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 06:01 PM

So TRPLN GUEST, friend of Liam/Jed etc.....Join up! We'd love to have you around. Along with the music and general BS, we run a few instrument threads now and then and we'd love to have your input too.

There's a lot of past threads on brands and tunings, other instruments...Check back thru some of the old threads by entering a keyword in the search box at the upper left of the main page. Glad to have you here.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: GUEST,Terapln
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 06:32 PM

Thanks for the comments liam (Jed). Who was the expert you heard play it? I'll have to watch my stuff closer from now on

Spaw, I didn't mean to be harsh on those posts (and I really didn't mean to post twice) I've been lurking around and doing an occasional post since meeting the Texas-Irish fingerpickin' phenomenon (Jed) at Fiddlers a while back. It seems like a decent place and I may just join up. Thanks

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: JedMarum
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 08:37 AM

It's a great place, Terapln ... and it seems you're already into the thick of it! Great place for lyrics too. There's a ton of great songs on the databas, and some very knowledgeable people in the forum when you have questions about songs, or instruments.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 10:03 AM

For what it's worth, there were 5 Dean resophonics at the store I bought mine from...2 w/ gold-plated hardware, 2 w/ the lipstick P/U (chrome), and one that was acoustic...they ALL sounded great...I simply picked out the one I liked best.

Dropping names? Get real...

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Jon W.
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 10:28 AM

Terapln (Terraplane?), Do you have a good source for resonator parts? I'm thinking of building one myself one of these years.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: GUEST,Terapln
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 02:19 PM

Bingo Jon W. Love that R.Johnson stuff.

Resophonic Outfitters has a great selection of parts. Paul Beard builds Dobro style guitars and also offers a squareneck wood kit. I built my first one (steel National copy) from a blueprint he offers. Check out Stewart-MacDonald for other parts and all the tools you'll ever need. Be carefull, it's damn near impossible to build just one.

PS if you like Robert Johnson look around for the video "Can't You Hear The Wind Howl?" very nice and good interviews with folks like Honeyboy Edwards, who was actually there playing with Robert at his last gig.

Terry, OK, OK I change my mind: Dean makes the GREATEST resonator guitar in all the world! All others pale in comparison and I will hereby sell all of my way cool vinatge and custom resonators and buy one (OK two so I won't have to change tunings all the time) and I will spend the leftover money by giving it to homeless shelters so that they can provide Dean Resonator Guitars to all the worlds poor.

(the preceeding message was intended to be a lighthearted attempt at relieving the tension between myself and Terry, I hope it succeeded. I DO NOT intend to sell my way cool guitars so I request that no one ask to buy them. Thank you, Terapln)

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 03:00 PM

Well you were doing real good there Terraplane til you explained that the reason for 2 Dean's was to avoid changing tunings. Damn....I had it figured you were going to say, one to crap on and one to cover it up with. I'm so dissappointed..............(:<))

BTW, I've mentioned this before, but if anyone wants something checked out in the flesh, so to speak, at Stew-Mac, I live about 40 miles from there and I'm generally there about once a month.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: longhair
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 03:12 PM

Well, let me tell you the latest. I told mama that y'all thought that the Johnson was probably good enough to get, and that if I wanted one that you thought I should get it.. Weeeelllll! She informed me that if Y'ALL thought I should get one the Y'ALL should pay for it. So... I'm taking donations. Who's first? hahhahaha LOL ;^)

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: GUEST,Terapln
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 04:08 PM

Longhair, it's in the mail.....

Spaw, if I spend any more money with Stew-Mac MY mama will kick me out and I'll have to move in with you (Hmmm, think of all the shipping costs I'll save)

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 04:23 PM

Maybe our wives could live together. Nine words that I avoid..."Hey Honey, I think I'll run down to Athens."

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 06:00 PM

Terapln (hope that's the right spelling),

When you sell all your vintage stuff and donate all the money (except enough to buy a couple Deans, of course), you will come to understand what makes life truly magical.

Enjoy.

P.S.: Might oughtta hold back enough to buy yourself a 300-series Taylor, too....the 355 is nice!

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: GUEST,Terapln
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 06:16 PM

Mmmm, not a Taylor, maybe an old OO Gibson or Martin (just glad you didn't say Ovation, if you think I've got problems with Dean's you ain't seen nuthin' )

As for what makes life truly magical, girls, 3 of 'em one wife two kids. That's my life, not gittar's

See ya.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 06:19 PM

Agreed...Ovation aren't my taste in musical partners, either....but they sure are fun as toboggans!

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: GUEST,Terapln
Date: 28 Jan 00 - 09:57 AM

Now we agree! Unfortunatly that guy up at Snowbowl with the Adamas didn't (but what a ride) best sound ever from an Ovation.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Jan 00 - 11:03 AM

Anyone remember when Dean Guitars caused a huge scandal by using semi-naked women (with long fingernails) to advertise their instruments in "Guitar Player"? Big kerfuffle for a while. Dean Zalinski was quoted as saying he wanted to "reach a younger hipper market". I guess young hip folks now play resonator guitars. Who'da thunk it?

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: Jon W.
Date: 28 Jan 00 - 11:51 AM

Thanks terapln, I've got the Stew Mac catalog. They're running a series of articles now on building a do-it-yourself resonator guitar for under $100. I suppose that is using a cheap cone, not the Quarterman. The question is, will it be better than a Dean or a Johnson?

I just watched "Can't You Hear The Wind Howl?" last week. My wife had checked it out of the library for my birthday. I wonder how well verified the information is? It was very interesting. I also got the two-CD set of RJ's recordings the same day.

Subject: RE: Help: Johnson Resonator Guitars
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Jan 00 - 10:20 PM

I've gotta question, since this resonator guitart thread continues; I've been listening to an Ed Mille recording that has an almost duclimer sounding instrument, but is surely played (chord voicing, finger picking, pitch range) like a guitar. Ed is primarily Celtic folk ... and does use other unusual instruments on the tracks. But it occurred to me he has someone playing a resonator guitar. Does anyone know if that's right? Have ya ever heard of a resonator guitar being used in Celtic folk?