Johnson resonator

[JPL]

Any opinions on the Johnson resonator mandolins? I'm in negotiations to get a little eclectic roots music band together, and a reso would be a great sound, and the price is right.

Any reason why one couldn't be set up for a lefty?

[Bob DeVellis]

I haven't played one but it seems like every description I've read talks about people being really attracted to them visually, playing them, and putting them back down instantly. I'd love for these to be great-sounding instruments but from what I gather, it just isn't so. If others have another side to this tale, please chime in.

[DrP]

I own one of these, and for the money it was a reasonably good purchase. I haven't played any of the vintage Nationals that the design is based on so I can't comment on the "authenticity" of the sound, but it's a unique sound that can work well in certain contexts. The initial setup was terrible - the action was incredibly high and even after lowering it substantially it's still pretty high. Unfortunately the shape of the resonator cover prevents it from being lowered any further. I find that I need to use the lightest strings I can find in order for it to be playable.

As I said, they're fairly inexpensive, so even if you don't have any available in your area to try, it might be worth ordering one from somewhere with a good return policy. Who knows - you might like the sound. I have no regrets about my purchase, and it's sparked a desire to invest in a decent resonator at some point.

[John Flynn]

I didn't like the Johnson resontator I played in terms of tone or playability. Also, it weighed a ton! I really do like these new National Resonators, though. That is my next acquisition, for sure.

[bmac]

before you buy a Johnson I would suggest you take a look at Keith Cary's Commodium mandolin made from a bed pan. I intend on buying one as soon as I have the money.

search Keith Cary or Commodium and you will find info. Comments I have heard are that the Commodium has excellent tone, is well made and at a much lower price than a National. Keith (a luthier) plays a number of self constructed stringed instruments.

Anyway it will be worth your while to consider Keith's Commodium if planning on buying. Take a look at his web page and write him with questions if interested'

[glauber]

before you buy a Johnson I would suggest you take a look at Keith Cary's Commodium mandolin made from a bed pan. I intend on buying one as soon as I have the money.
http://www.keithcary.com/commodium/

Dang! now i want one too! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


I had planned to say that these sturdy instruments would stop a bullet, but a recent trial with a .22 proved me wrong.

http://img88.echo.cx/img88/9461/commodiummando2py.th.jpg (http://img88.echo.cx/my.php?image=commodiummando2py.jpg)

[jim simpson]

Quote
I had planned to say that these sturdy instruments would stop a bullet, but a recent trial with a .22 proved me wrong.

* nothing worse than a leaking bed pan!!

Would the wood bodied Dobro mandolins be of the mellow sound variety? I had one of the early National metal bodied mandolins. I thought it was cool in design but I didn't care for the noise, I mean sound that it produced. I am curious about the wood bodied variety.

[John Flynn]

jim:

That was my reaction to the Johnson resonators. The new wood bodied Nationals are different. I got to play one at a large jam. As others have said, it sounds like a good, regular mando played through a PA with reverb. It had no harsh tones at all. It is LOUD, though. The first time you really attack it, it can startle you, and everyone else in the room. Louder than a good F-5, more sustain than and good F-4. It is the real "banjo-killer."

[JPL]

The National is a wee bit out of my price range.

Actually, right this minute, the Johnson is out of my price range, too. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

That bedpan mando is great, and it would be a terrific way to let the crowd know right away that this is not gonna be a bluegrass show.

[Jim M.]

The National is a wee bit out of my price range.

Actually, right this minute, the Johnson is out of my price range, too. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
If the Johnson is out of your price range, the Commodium will be out of your range too, although it costs about 1/3 of a National. An advantage with the Commodium is that Keith can build it left-handed for you, and probably put in a pick-up too, if you want to plug it in. The Electric Bedpans, wasn't that a '60s group? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[floyd floar]

If you play a bedpandolin, people might get p*****-off at you, unless of course you can play Peedmont blues-style on it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[JPL]

If the Johnson is out of your price range, the Commodium will be out of your range too, although it costs about 1/3 of a National. An advantage with the Commodium is that Keith can build it left-handed for you, and probably put in a pick-up too, if you want to plug it in. The Electric Bedpans, wasn't that a '60s group? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Well, I’m just trying to get my options in order, in case my wife ever lets me spend money on another instrument. Gotta be ready to move fast, before she changes her mind.

I thought about the lefty issue, and that’s certainly another point in favor of the commodium.

One of the cats I have in mind for this band plays a National Delphi, and another has committed to play some zydeco rubboard. If I end up playing a reso, we’re really gonna raise a ruckus and spook the cows...

[zaelic]

I played a Johnson last month at the Hobgoblin shop in London. I was very impressed, and immediately went into "Want Mode." The one I played was well set up, good action, and good feel to the neck - surprising for a Johnson, and I am the happy owner of one of their single cone reso guitars. The word on the IGS Guitar seminar boards is that the Chinese factory is finally learning to build these things correctly, and the new Johnson reso guitars are now coming out with better, Continental spun cones. It might be a long shot, but maybe the quality is rubbing off on their newer mandolins.

I usually play a 1934 Gibson A50, so I was not expecting to be impressed. But dang - the Johnson really had dynamics - soft or loud. I had expected it to sound like a banjo-mandolin, but no, it definately had good sustain. It had that particular reso tone which would definately be a drag if you are trying to play classical music, but I ran it through some klezmer tunes, some Greek stuff, and some blues. All I can say is I liked it, and would definately look at one of these before buying anything short of a nice vintage F-4 oval hole.

You could probably set it up for lefty easily - you may have to rotate the biscuit and flip the nut to match the string guages, though.

[Pedal Steel Mike]

I tried the Johnson and didn't like it. I also played a vintage National and didn't like it either, but that paricular instrument was in very poor condition and that was undoubtedly a factor in my opinion.

The new National however is a really fine instrument that sounds terrific. My only complaint about it is that it only goes up to C and I sometimes want to play the high D if I'm in that key.

[zaelic]

Age old, tried and true advice whenever buying a Johnson resonator mandolin or guitar: always buy one you have tried and liked. They vary widely in quality, and I bought my Johnson reso guitar only after playing about ten of them in various shops - I found the one that sounded and played best. Don't trust buying them blind over the internet.

I suppose the one I played at Hobgoblin's london shop was put through a professional set up in the shop - which would justify the expectably audacious price mark-up of buying an instrument in downtown London. I saw the same mandolin on the internet for a much lower price, but I would not trust that the neck, bridge set-up, and strings would be of any quality.

Nevertheless, various Johnson distributors have personally visited the factory in China over the last few years and read the riot act with good results. The latest result is that Johnson guitars now come with Continental Guitar cones manufactured in Hungary. I don't know if this also applies to the newer mandolins, though. Still, if you can get a decent reso mandolin for under $500, you win.