Post by 2big2b on Sept 16, 2021 16:17:39 GMT
I owned a Johnson JM-991 that I purchased used in 2007 and subsequently sold to pay rent a few years ago, regretfully. It was exceptional. It had a very resonant character that would reverberate my dog's bark, my voice or any loud noise. It had a wonderful sweet complex sound that was both warm and bright (if that is possible). I mourned having sold it for quite awhile and recently was a little shocked at how much the prices have gone up and how scarce these Johnson JM-991s have become. I had bought and sold mine for about $450 at the time. There is little information to be found about them, but from what I gather they are all pretty much a Chinese cookie cutter product marketed and badged under several different brands including AXL, Johnson, Regal, Recording King, and others.
Last week I spotted a used one for under $400 and snapped it up. It arrived yesterday. I was pleased to see that it appeared to be right out of a time capsule. Mint. There was even an inspection tag in the case indicating it passed inspection in 2004. It is virtually brand new, with probably the original strings that were still tuned to a (flattened) standard tuning. Unfortunately it seems nothing like my magical guitar that I used to own. I know how good this model can be. My new one however is tone deaf and dumb. It does not have that reverberating echo effect that my first one had. It doesn't sing. It doesn't ring.
Conspicuously absent is any brand/model label inside - or even a sticker for country of origin, but the 2004 inspection date points to it being Chinese. It has only the Johnson logo on the headstock. I could swear my original one had a label inside the upper left bout. Odd. I found a tiny spot of rubber glue residue on the back of the headstock suggesting there had once been a paper label, since removed, that probably read "Made in China".
It sounds so different sounding from my first one. Why?
Being conservative, my first assumption is it that the strings are dead. Factory strings at that. So, that will be the first place to start. However that doesn't satisfy my curiosity about why it doesn't seem to respond to external sounds like my first one did.
The typical knee jerk conclusion is that the factory cones are crap - "hubcaps" as someone called them. That is probably true. I don't have any way to know what was installed in my first one or what Johnson was using when these appeared on the market in 2004. The lack of response would seem to be related to the cones. Then again the T-bridge might be painted causing some muting. I have read comments about that.
Or could it be that the first one was an earlier AXL Czech made model with better cones - or perhaps the original owner had upgraded them? They sounded so bright and sparkly that I speculated about that at the time.
Or could it be that this one simply has not been "played in" yet?
The temptation is to seek out a YouTube somewhere that can walk me through all the tweaks to the posts, the T-bridge, and just replace the cones with National's or Belton's if I can find them. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would love to hear it. But that sort of radical surgery is like getting a heart transplant to cure acid reflux without first getting a general checkup. Obviously it would be sensible to seek a qualified resonator tech - preferably with experience setting up a Tri-cone and familiar with the Johnson/Regal models. Damned if I can figure out where to look for one. Else, as long as I would swap out the strings I might as well open it up and see what exactly I have. I doubt it would make it sound worse... I am quite capable, but am cognizant that there is no substitute for experience. Trial and error is expensive in both time and money.
I live in Chesapeake/Virginia Beach, Virginia. Guitar Center has a busy store downtown which is an obvious place to call - but they are probably pricey and are very retail oriented. Who knows if they have someone competent of setting up a tri-cone resonator? I need to call around.
In any case, I know it was hardly a mistake to buy this one. I could probably flip it and make a profit just the way it is. Knowing what it could/should sound like, it is worth investing in either getting a pro to set it up and do the modifications & tweaks, else learn how to do that myself and source out the cones and bridge piece.
I have that same situation with a wonderful vintage Yamaha FD-365s acoustic that plays wonderfully but has had its bridge shaved down to its saddle, obviously by an experienced luthier who set it up. Knowing that it will eventually need a neck reset I found another one, but with a much better bridge. It's sound is lackluster. I have been doing my own tweaking for years, but I am inclined to take that one to a good luthier for a matching setup. So, same dilemma. Where to find one. That project is on a back burner in the meanwhile, as is this one I guess.
I suppose the better discussion thread would be tips about how to go about finding a reliable, qualified luthier and resonator specialist in any given area.
Any thoughts? Have I missed anything?
Last week I spotted a used one for under $400 and snapped it up. It arrived yesterday. I was pleased to see that it appeared to be right out of a time capsule. Mint. There was even an inspection tag in the case indicating it passed inspection in 2004. It is virtually brand new, with probably the original strings that were still tuned to a (flattened) standard tuning. Unfortunately it seems nothing like my magical guitar that I used to own. I know how good this model can be. My new one however is tone deaf and dumb. It does not have that reverberating echo effect that my first one had. It doesn't sing. It doesn't ring.
Conspicuously absent is any brand/model label inside - or even a sticker for country of origin, but the 2004 inspection date points to it being Chinese. It has only the Johnson logo on the headstock. I could swear my original one had a label inside the upper left bout. Odd. I found a tiny spot of rubber glue residue on the back of the headstock suggesting there had once been a paper label, since removed, that probably read "Made in China".
It sounds so different sounding from my first one. Why?
Being conservative, my first assumption is it that the strings are dead. Factory strings at that. So, that will be the first place to start. However that doesn't satisfy my curiosity about why it doesn't seem to respond to external sounds like my first one did.
The typical knee jerk conclusion is that the factory cones are crap - "hubcaps" as someone called them. That is probably true. I don't have any way to know what was installed in my first one or what Johnson was using when these appeared on the market in 2004. The lack of response would seem to be related to the cones. Then again the T-bridge might be painted causing some muting. I have read comments about that.
Or could it be that the first one was an earlier AXL Czech made model with better cones - or perhaps the original owner had upgraded them? They sounded so bright and sparkly that I speculated about that at the time.
Or could it be that this one simply has not been "played in" yet?
The temptation is to seek out a YouTube somewhere that can walk me through all the tweaks to the posts, the T-bridge, and just replace the cones with National's or Belton's if I can find them. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would love to hear it. But that sort of radical surgery is like getting a heart transplant to cure acid reflux without first getting a general checkup. Obviously it would be sensible to seek a qualified resonator tech - preferably with experience setting up a Tri-cone and familiar with the Johnson/Regal models. Damned if I can figure out where to look for one. Else, as long as I would swap out the strings I might as well open it up and see what exactly I have. I doubt it would make it sound worse... I am quite capable, but am cognizant that there is no substitute for experience. Trial and error is expensive in both time and money.
I live in Chesapeake/Virginia Beach, Virginia. Guitar Center has a busy store downtown which is an obvious place to call - but they are probably pricey and are very retail oriented. Who knows if they have someone competent of setting up a tri-cone resonator? I need to call around.
In any case, I know it was hardly a mistake to buy this one. I could probably flip it and make a profit just the way it is. Knowing what it could/should sound like, it is worth investing in either getting a pro to set it up and do the modifications & tweaks, else learn how to do that myself and source out the cones and bridge piece.
I have that same situation with a wonderful vintage Yamaha FD-365s acoustic that plays wonderfully but has had its bridge shaved down to its saddle, obviously by an experienced luthier who set it up. Knowing that it will eventually need a neck reset I found another one, but with a much better bridge. It's sound is lackluster. I have been doing my own tweaking for years, but I am inclined to take that one to a good luthier for a matching setup. So, same dilemma. Where to find one. That project is on a back burner in the meanwhile, as is this one I guess.
I suppose the better discussion thread would be tips about how to go about finding a reliable, qualified luthier and resonator specialist in any given area.
Any thoughts? Have I missed anything?