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Location: Phoenix AZ | Lot's of good ukulele talk here lately. I definately approve of THAT. Check out the latest addition to the stable. This has to heard to be believed. Yup, that's a resonator ukulele (concert size). It's got these inyticate palm trees etched into the metal body, even on the sides and back. Made by a company called Johnson. Go ahead and laugh, make sarcastic posts to this thread, etc. I can take it. But just know that when we meet in ukulele heaven, I'll be having the last laugh.
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Location: south east Michigan | That...is....cool |
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas | S
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Love it!!!
My newest mandolin is a Johnson, and it is very good. (I am prejudiced, my Mother's maiden name was Johnson) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Bailey, Last week I saw a Johnson Resonator Mandolin! The thing was incredible. This Reso-Uke is amazing quality for the money. Sound is fantastic, playability is very good. The tuners are better than my Martin uke. Great instrument for the money. I have heard they make some reso-guitars for $500 or so that are also supposed to be pretty nice. I'm anxious to take this thing apart an dsee what's going on inside. I actually don't know how reso's really work. I just bought it because it looks so great. The etched palm trees are really impressive, but impossible to photograph. Dave |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes, photographing these is not easy, trust me on that one.
The Johnson's aren't bad, I must admit to being a full fledged card carrying National snob.
As I mentioned to you in my email you must be very careful with these types of instruments. The next thing you'll do is get another uke because the engraving pattern is different, I mean you just HAVE to do it for that reason! Then it will be a mando. Then a guitar, then a different pattern on the guitar. Then a tricone which reallly sounds the best. Then you'll want to special order an engraved pattern to your special designs. If you ever cross the line to Nationals, the real deal from the 20's, you're done.
You were warned. Now enjoy! |
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Posts: 338
Location: Toronto | Sarcasm - no one on this board would do that!!!
Dave - on a serious note - that is one purdy reso. I've looked at the Johnson Reso guitars and since I can't touch one - I've shied away from them because they are prices fairly low - which I just assumed to mean cheap...
You've heard differently?
And Baily - how you like the Johnson mando. Again, the same thing - I've shied away from them because they are priced so low I assume cheap. I got my eye on an Epi mando to go with my Applause mando - but maybe the Johnson is a better price point??
Dano |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Bill, your story sounds amazingly familiar to when I bought my first joint at age 17. Some cheap mexican crap that I think I paid a buck for. The seller gave me this whole "public service announcement" like - next you're going to want this, then move up to this, and then you'll need that, and I can get you upgraded to this, and finally you'll just die ... Fortunately I bailed on the whole thing shortly thereafter with no permanent damage. I think I became more interested in girls or guitars or something like that. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Sarcasm? no I was being serious.
Just wait till I get the pictures of the 30 Nationals posted.
Yes I think the Johnson's are cheap but they are probably the best of that class so give them a looksee sometime. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Mr.Dano - The Johnson's are "cheap", but not necessarily "poor" if you now what I mean. I actually tried some of their wood ukuleles and they were crap. Basically unplayable. Tried a mandolin and it was actually pretty darn nice for about $300. Way better than an applause or celebrity in my opinion. To be honest I bought the engraved reso-uke without ever playing it. I got it just for the looks and had very low expctations about sound and playability. I would have been happy to use it as "wall art". But as soon as I played it I was blown away. If I had known, I would have easily paid a lot more for it. Have not tried their reso-guitars. I doubt you would ever confuse one with a National (from what Bill tells use), but for the money I bet they are a good deal. |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | Dave,
That Is Sooo COOL! love it! |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Dano
My son gave me the Johnson mandolin and as it came from the store it had some setup flaws, easy to fix and when I did it sounds great and plays good. It looks good, probably will never be a collectors mando but I sure am not ashamed to play it on stage. It fits my desire for a working mandolin, Plays and looks great, and if it gets broken or stolen I can get another within a few days for not much money, while my solid wood topped curly maple backed mando sits safely at home in it's case.
Bailey |
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Resonator Ukulele