I just got the Johnson 991-1 Tricone for $499 from music123.com. Apparently they are discontinued, hence the price reduction.
I am beyond pleased. This guitar has already made my year. It has several minor issues, but the beautiful tone is complex and I cannot stop playing. I don't even want to write a detailed review because I have songs to write with this guitar!
Minor problems:
1. The tuners are complete garbage. No debate here at all. Quite poor. I don't think anyone wants to hear my rant on how bad they are....
2. The nut is no good. It appears to be a nice bone nut, however it is cut VERY poorly. Every time I turn the 'B' string it CREAKS very loudly. This will require some work.
3. The guitar has very thin fretwire. This is actually not a 'problem'-- more to do with personal taste-- I just wish it had large frets. To be fair, when you are playing slide it doesn't really matter at all.
4. The plain strings are somewhat rusted. The strings are embarrasingly thin too. I have to get a heavier set.
5. The back of the neck has a crappy finish of some kind that seems to be coming off-- mot the stain, just the crap on top of the stain. It is hard to describe.
6. It smells kinda bad. I can't quite identify the smell, some sort of artificial chemical.
7. The neck joins the body at the 12th fret. This is just an idiotic nod to traditional styling that makes playing with a capo even more difficult when you need to play the octave. I am not impressed with this idiocy. No sir.
Good Points
1. The guitar is gorgeous. Stunning. It is truly a work of art to be gazed upon and let the imagination roam.
2. The neck feels fantastic-- it is a thick 'V' shape and has a nice wide fretboard-- I have not measured it, but it is definetely more than 1 11/16" for sure. Great feeling neck, and the rosewood is a nice light colour. Plus I think the radius is more curved than usual-- i dunno, chords feel good to play.
3. I like the dark stain on the mahogany neck.
4. I can use the back as a mirror.
5. THE SOUND. There is a strong fundamental note, with simply beautiful overtones with the notes. When I play a 6-note chord, it reminds me of the overtones a really cool organ has. You for sure hear overtones with single notes, but with 3 notes or more, they stack up like a choir! They blend in a MUSICAL way with the main note-- I can hear subtle thirds and octaves like you wouldn't believe. This has the most complex character I have ever personally heard in a guitar. I love it. Plus it is LOUD. It is easy to get carried away and just smile and play everything on '10'.
6. They shipped itde-tuned. I like this, as I don't want full stress on the strings while shipping.
7. I didn't have to set it up beyond tuning it! The saddle does not need an adjustment at all, and there is NO buzz!
Those are the highlights. Any questions and I will be more than glad to spout off about this beautiful sounding guitar!!!!!!!
I am beyond pleased. This guitar has already made my year. It has several minor issues, but the beautiful tone is complex and I cannot stop playing. I don't even want to write a detailed review because I have songs to write with this guitar!
Minor problems:
1. The tuners are complete garbage. No debate here at all. Quite poor. I don't think anyone wants to hear my rant on how bad they are....
2. The nut is no good. It appears to be a nice bone nut, however it is cut VERY poorly. Every time I turn the 'B' string it CREAKS very loudly. This will require some work.
3. The guitar has very thin fretwire. This is actually not a 'problem'-- more to do with personal taste-- I just wish it had large frets. To be fair, when you are playing slide it doesn't really matter at all.
4. The plain strings are somewhat rusted. The strings are embarrasingly thin too. I have to get a heavier set.
5. The back of the neck has a crappy finish of some kind that seems to be coming off-- mot the stain, just the crap on top of the stain. It is hard to describe.
6. It smells kinda bad. I can't quite identify the smell, some sort of artificial chemical.
7. The neck joins the body at the 12th fret. This is just an idiotic nod to traditional styling that makes playing with a capo even more difficult when you need to play the octave. I am not impressed with this idiocy. No sir.
Good Points
1. The guitar is gorgeous. Stunning. It is truly a work of art to be gazed upon and let the imagination roam.
2. The neck feels fantastic-- it is a thick 'V' shape and has a nice wide fretboard-- I have not measured it, but it is definetely more than 1 11/16" for sure. Great feeling neck, and the rosewood is a nice light colour. Plus I think the radius is more curved than usual-- i dunno, chords feel good to play.
3. I like the dark stain on the mahogany neck.
4. I can use the back as a mirror.
5. THE SOUND. There is a strong fundamental note, with simply beautiful overtones with the notes. When I play a 6-note chord, it reminds me of the overtones a really cool organ has. You for sure hear overtones with single notes, but with 3 notes or more, they stack up like a choir! They blend in a MUSICAL way with the main note-- I can hear subtle thirds and octaves like you wouldn't believe. This has the most complex character I have ever personally heard in a guitar. I love it. Plus it is LOUD. It is easy to get carried away and just smile and play everything on '10'.
6. They shipped itde-tuned. I like this, as I don't want full stress on the strings while shipping.
7. I didn't have to set it up beyond tuning it! The saddle does not need an adjustment at all, and there is NO buzz!
Those are the highlights. Any questions and I will be more than glad to spout off about this beautiful sounding guitar!!!!!!!
