Product: Johnson JM-998R
Price Paid: US $500.00
Submitted
11/13/2004
at
03:19pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
5
Chinese made unit. 19 frets, non-locking tuners, chrome-plated bell brass body, acoustic dreadnought style resonator. This beast is heavy and it sits in your lap a little awkward because all of the weight is in the body, so the neck wants to keep rotating upwards and the guitar tends to slip off of you lap.
Sound
:
4
The sound is average, a little muted, but remember that it is an inexpensive guitar, so you are pretty much getting what you pay for. I am in the process of replacing the 9.5 inch cone with a National Resophonic cone. This is a good $50 upgrade investment.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
2
Fit and finish are rather poor, especially the neck which is 'rough' and looks like it was mass produced in a hurry. There were some 'chipped' areas along the sides of the nec and the fretboard finish is uneven. The fretboard will have to be reconditioned and cleaned. The body came new with some minor finish 'bumps'. This guitar will definitely need some set up and cleaning out of the box.
Reliability/Durability
:
4
I am not very confident in the long term durability of this guitar seeing the poor workmanship and materials used. This is my first resonator and I was not sure if I would like them. This would be a good introductory guitar, but I am now going to save up for the real deal, a National Resophonic.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Have not had any experience with them yet.
Overall Rating
:
4
I am just getting into Delta blues guitar, so this is a good cost effective entry. I would be afraid to try to start with the lesser priced resonators, those in the $250-$350 range if this is the low level of fit and quality that you get on a $500-$600 instrument. It will be good for traveling around, knocking it about, but I would not buy another one. I know that several people have pointed out that the old blues guys had cheap instruments and they got along just fine. Delta blues is not a perfect sound and there is some charm to less than pristine guitars. But their cheap guitars I think were better made than the modern day cheap guitars. And remember, Robert Johnson played Gibson's and Son House had Nationals, so I think that the cheap guitar rational is a bit romantisized.
