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ARCHIVED TOPIC: Story of My Johnson Squareneck Upgrades

Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.resohangout.com/archive/4846

Kevin B - Posted - 09/13/2008: 10:25:11

Back a few years ago I bought a Johnson square neck from FQMS. At the time you could get it without a case for $299. Overtime I have hot rodded it and I thought I would share the results.

I hadn’t had it long before one of the plastic tuner buttons failed and I ordered a set of Ping P2631 metal tuners from JDMS for $12..

Next I upgraded the nut to a Beard pre-slotted bone unit which I left at the original height (see photo). That made the action much higher but also seemed to help the sound.

The next thing I did was replace the cone with a Quaterman and the stock spider bridge with a genuine Dobro #14. I inserted Beard maple/ebondy pre-slotted inserts in the new spider.

In my opinion these were the modifications that really helped the sound. For about $120 I got a lot more volume, bottom and sustain.

As time went on the inferior steel Asian parts really rusted and tarnished no matter how much I cleaned them. So I ended up replacing the cover plate with a brass unit from JDMS and getting a Beard tailpiece from FQMS. I believe these modifications were purely cosmetic but they sure make it less gritty under my hand. One last thing was to replace the tarnished sound hole screens.

For a long time I used a Planet Waves quick strap release on the headstock. These days I have a Schaller quick strap release mounted at the tailpiece. The strap is a brown Levy’s.

For many years I kept in an old ABS dreadnaught size case. A week ago I got a Guardian hardshell Dobro case which is a much better fit.

For the money I finally had in it I may have gotten close to the same guitar for the same $$$ but this has been a rewarding project as I am a hopeless tinkerer. I have one sound file (in My Music) of me playing it as modified for Curt Dunn at a local concert. It was recorded on a cassette deck and converted to MP3. The Dobro is my second instrument I mainly play five string banjo.

The overall results.

In the safety of the case.

Action at the nut.

Replaced Johnson parts.

Schaller strap lock mounted to Beard Tailpeice.

Kevin - "Possum, it''s what''s for dinner."

Edited by - Kevin B on 09/27/2008 07:23:50

monradon - Posted - 09/13/2008: 12:25:02

Looking good some of use can come up with a few dollars over time than a whole bunch all at once. Besides I like to tinker and learn myself.

Hobbit

Kevin B - Posted - 09/13/2008: 12:31:09

That is the way it was for me. I gradually invested on the upgrades. I kept the original stuff so I could retro fit it all if I ever chose to use a different Dobro body. Thanks for the kind words.

Kevin - "Possum, it''s what''s for dinner."

monradon - Posted - 09/13/2008: 16:23:32

Kevin did you check out my galveston upgrade ?? Haven't upgraded the cone yet but just setting it up right and loading the cone sure made a difference can not wait to upgrade the cone .

Hobbit

Kevin B - Posted - 09/13/2008: 17:21:11

I checked it out just now. Nice job and fun to learn along the way.

Kevin - "Possum, it''s what''s for dinner."

just Bill - Posted - 09/13/2008: 19:44:09

Wow, Kevin, I remember some time back you telling me in a BHO email about you hotrodding your reso, but this thread really shows you did a great job! (...and it sounds good, too!)

Bill Breen

Proud to be a "MURPHY HENRY-ITE"

"If you ain''t different, you ain''t normal!"

Kevin B - Posted - 09/15/2008: 15:39:34

Thanks Bill. This has been a fun work in progress. Not much left I could do unless I vented the soundwell more or something. But I'm satisfied with the sound and am going to play it for awhile. If the neck ever goes south or something I may transfer it all to a solid headstock Regal body.

Kevin - "Possum, it''s what''s for dinner."

Bradskey - Posted - 09/16/2008: 12:06:12

Nice job. I got roughly the same thing all at once buying my Gold Tone, but I'm sure you had fun with this. I actually mentioned getting a Johnson and upgrading it as a possibility to somebody around here who was asking what to get for less $$, although after all the upgrades its not that cheap anymore is it? But still not too bad I reckon. I like Regal bodies, but I don't trust their quality, sad to say. I guess if you can see if first hand and it doesn't have any glaring defects.

Reneker - Posted - 09/23/2008: 10:44:10

Salute Kevin. Good job. I, too, am a hopeless tinkerer. It is just another part of my enjoyment of my instruments.
Thanks for the post.

Bob

fxhere - Posted - 09/25/2008: 11:09:33

Kevin, good job and these Jo-Bros sound good when reworked. I did one last year, and I removed the soundwell, installed braces, tonering,post, and baffle..I also used a Quaterman and a #14 spider...The cover was still as new so I didnt change it , but I left the screens out for the time being--sounds good tho..Enjoy it--Doug