MJ Guitar Engineering Mirage Custom

This is the 3rd production Mirage Custom, built by Mark Johnson in 1994 (I was very young and saved up for a year for it) when his shop was still in Northern California. I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to own one of these gems. The top is solid flamed maple (with a sunburst finish that looks edible)and the body is semi-hollow mahogany is ash (painted creme). The binding on the body was left natural with a clear coat finish. The neck is a gorgeous birdseye maple. The fretboard is a beautiful cut of rosewood inlaid with mother of pearl crowns and jumbo frets. Neck scale is standard Gibson scale. The gold hardware consists of a Gibson tailpiece and Gotoh tuners. The electronics are set up very intelligently: there are two EMG pickups, an 81 in the front and an 85 in the back. The front pickup splits to a single coil by lifting up the front volume knob. So the four knobs are set up as such: front volume (with push/pull pot), back volume, chorus knob (to control mix between pickups), tone knob (with ANOTHER push/pull pot containing a 20db gain booster for over the top leads). The guitar came with strap locks and was set up beautifully from the day I got it.

The guitar compliments and suits my band's music style perfectly. we play rock/modern/alternative/hard rock. The Mirage provides a lot of tonal possibilities from thick and heavy to sweet and woody to bright and jangly and even quasi-acoustic (on the single coil flipped front pickup setting.) The guitar has never been noisy except when I switch on the 20db gain booster. That really gets a little wild and I rarely use it. I play through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and it sounds like heaven. I can't imagine it sounding much better. The clean channel is like chocolate milk and on the dirty channel (I use the amp's distortion mainly) it soars. Really, the solos with this combination when the pickups are mixed dead center are the best sounding lead tones I have heard in the nearly 20 years I've been playing.

The guitar was set up well. I remember them tweaking it a few times to get it just right but the guitar was so new, the wood was still shifting around at that point. The pickups also needed to be adjusted but they gladly did this easily at the shop as I was living in Northern California at the time. The neck runs through the body which has upper and lower routed chambers. The only flaw on the guitar is where the input jack fits into the body. The routing is not perfect there but seriously, who cares. The thing is a masterpiece.

I can say from experience that it can handle some beating live. I'm not heavy-handed at all but I've played out with it a lot and it does just fine. The Gotohs keep it in tune just fine. The hardware is in good shape and showing some signs of finish wear but hey, the thing is 14 years old. That's to be expected. I use it for shows as my main guitar but I always bring a backup. No matter how good a guitar is, you have to, especially if you're playing rock. I have broken strings by overplaying on lots of guitars and this one is no exception. This guitar is as dependable (if not more) than and strat, tele, or Les Paul and allows for many more tonal capabilites. I live in New York City and the winters are dry. It hangs in there although the intonation can get a little tough to manage due to the dry air. Regardless, it's really well put together and holds up under drastic humidity and temperature conditions.

The Mirage is one of two guitars I own that were built by Mark Johnson. This guy is one of the nicest people I have ever met and he runs an honest family business. I haven't seen him in years but when I call with a question or concern he personally attends to it. MJ Guitars uses the best woods available and is a discerning master craftsman. His son, who also works there, operates with an equal degree of integrity. They're all about customer support. I never had an "official" warranty but these guys do things differently. I'm sure they have warranties but I don't know what they are or how they work.

I own a number of other guitars: a Les Paul, two Strats, a custom Epiphone hollow body, a Taylor T5 hybrid, a highly customized Yamaha RGZ 211M, and a custom shop Telecaster (that Mark worked on). I record and play out regularly. Hands down, the MJ is the best sounding and best looking guitar I own. I may want to switch out the EMGs one day and put in Duncans but it sounds incredible and plays beautifully. The neck is fast and the notes fly off the guitar smoothly and evenly. It is a fine instrument and very special guitar. It was expensive but worth every bit. Compared to the price of a Les Paul the MJ wins out.

See Specs and pics at http://www.luciaproperties.com/guitars.htm

I own 2 of these guitars. Bought them last year on Ebay. They are both the first 2 signed by Michael Johnson and hand made by him (authenticity by signed letter from him to who he built them for)
I called them to register them and he spoke with me for an hour and a half. Great company and even better guitar

Has Tele, Strat and Les Paul capabilities. If all the professional musicians had to play the best sounding and looking guitars out there, this would be it.

Beautifull fit, slim neck, very fast. Finish on top is second to none I have seen. MJ leaves the little imperfections in the guitars and them masterfully finishes them to a smooth consistancy. Looks like real wood, and is very organic in its visuality. Excellent job. Dont let Santana see these, or PRS is in trouble. Matter fact, not mentioning names, but Someone from MJ Guitars informed me that some of the best guitarist own MJ's. They just dont play them on stage due to big $$$ contracts with other manuf.

Solid, fast, well built. You have to see and feel it to believe it.

These guitars have been played, literaly a total of 2 minutes each.

As I stated above, I called MJ after hours, after I bought the guitars with the intention of leaving a message and the owner Michael Johnson answered the phone and spoke with me personally for almost 2 hours. What a nice guy and great support too.

I have been playing and started collecting guitars on 2/26/2002. I am getting to be a decent player, but better collector, can anyone say GAS (Gear Aquistion Syndrome).
If these guitars were stolen or lost, I definately would purchase new ones, although they are irreplaceable.
I have 15 guitars, including several Les Pauls and BC RICH USA and these two, coupled with my Mockingbird SLP are the best, bar none.

This is my review for a MJ Mirage Custom. 2 days after receiving my Mirage Standard (seenhere in Harmoney) I ordered this guitar. It is stunning, perfect, visually and mechanically perfect and typical of Mirages..incredible. My Custom came with a gorgeous birds eye neck, AAAA flamed maple top and MJ's incredible "Hawaiian Sunburst" which you have to see to beleive, this sunburst is gorgeous and has colors you normally dont find. Built in 2002. Body is a very high grade mahogany with striations that indicate the best grade (I am an accomplished cabinetmaker and know woods extremely well) so I know Mark at MJ only uses the best woods. In my guitar Mark left a very small wood imperfection which I thought very classy as this imperfection adds to the guitars class and look...again it it clear this guitar was built with extreme pride. 24 5/8" scale..perfect weight (which is to say extremely comfortable weight (about 6.5-7#) but very solid). There is no finer made guitar anywhere for any price...trust me on this. Considering I ordered this Custom 2 days after I received my Mirage Standard and ordered ANOTHER (Mirage Catalina)a month ago might indicate to you how much I like MJ guitars. I have searched for over a year, played at least 100 of the very best guitars I could find...MJ gets my money from now on, along with probably a Driskill Diablo down the road. An 11...all the way.

Perfect, crisp, perfect sustain, offers Gary Moore bite and tone when you want it...super fine smooth jazz when you want it...not a metal guitar I would think (they have other models that I understand do that just fine). This is my LP killer...MUCH lighter than an LP, cleaner/better tone than ANY LP I have played and sorry guys..for the dollar is a far better guitar than any PRS I played (and I have played alot of PRS's). You want tone out the wazoo and a top end tone/bite attack that will cut a mix?...get a Mirage Custom...whoaa. The Mirage Standard might be a better axe for strat players..the Mirage Custom is for true LP players and I am that kind of guy but have both for the flexibility. Another 11....

Perfect, gorgeous, impeccable, flawless (except for very minor wood flaw intentionally left in) These guitars are HANDMADE...as in ONE MAN MAKES THEM HANDMADE....as in TRULY HANDMADE...as in NO KIDDING HANDMADE. I am tired of makers who say "handmade" and conveniently leave out the part about assistants, and/or "other" places who make this or that part of the guitar. Action, fit/finish...everything a perfect 10. I would also like to make special not of Mark's finish..it is so deep as to be scary...the perfect balance between satin and gloss...not shiny but not "not" shiny. How good is this finish ? I can shave in its reflection...try that with another sunburst flametop !! Another thing..in a world of "too many" PRS's and toomany "PRS mee too's" the Mj is a stunning, classy departure with FAR, FAR more handwork in the top curvatures and carving. MJ Mirages have more curves than Sophia Loren...curves everywhere...these tops are made with love folks. The "fangs" (I call them that) that extend from each horn are truly handcarved and are pefect. How Mark can carve a top like this and charge the pittance he does amazes me but he's been doing it for 25 years.

I live on the ocean...you want humidity and humidity chages..heat/cold ? I got it in spades...MJ's dont budge.

As mentioned in my other review..these guys are THE BEST..period. Mark is a kind, mild-mannered gentleman who always has time to have a chat without a hint of salesmanship or hurry. As far as Diedre..she's a total sweetheart (Hi Sweety!!!!!) Joan and Ethan the best. A family run business by people who clearly love what they do and care deeply for their customers....you are family when you buy an MJ. Name another company who will take the all time you need, build you a masterpiece for a criminally small amount of money and then GIVE YOU TERMS TO BUY IT !!! In this area MJ gets a 15+. Listen folks, I own and operate a world-class mail order company selling some of the worlds most exclusive high-end audio equipment. My customers dont want to hear "ooppss" or be ignored in any way (as in 7/24 service which we offer)..MJ Guitar gives this level of service because they have the right "mindset" and love what they do...absolute A+++..none better...period.

If you are truly a "Player" or affionado of fine guitars you owe it to yourself to check out MJ Guitars. If you are someone who wants to fit in and buy a name like Gibson, Fender, PRS, etcc or you buy guitars as an "investment" then spend your money there and get a factory made guitar and pay a stupidly high price for sloppy inlay work and an axe made by machines a 100 people who are their for a paycheck...sorry but thats the reality these days guys. I can sell my Mirages for what I paid for them tomorrow and I know they'll be worth alot more in 5 years, but the real beauty is my MJ's are a far, far better guitar. When you get your MJ and open the case for the first time you say to yourself "WOW!!"..when you plug & play them you say "Ummm...Errr...what am I gonna do with my other guitars"...and there's at least 2-3 other guys in Harmony reviews that say the same thing. Ok...I am done now...whew !!

I believe mine was made in 2000. I have the Custom in Hawaiian sunburst. Unbelievably beautiful. I have 14 (high end) electrics and though I'm attached to all of them, 13 will sit and collect dust from here on out. See the website for the list of features. Mine has the Duncan '59 in the neck position and the Classic in the bridge.

Perfection. I use a Fender Blues Deluxe, a Mesa Nomad 55, and a Fender Vibrolux re-issue. The best (and I've tried over 20 distortion boxes) all-round setup is the Vibro-lux w/ Mesa V-twin (truck bumper looking pre-amp), Ibanez TS-9, and Danelectro Cool-cat chorus. I don't have time to go on and on right now, but I could - in every catagory. This guitar rendors all others obsolete.

Perfection! Flame maple top has little "birds eye" characteristics around the pickups...very custom looking. The Hawaiian sunburst is beautiful...in fact I just ordered a Wechter acoustic with the same paint. I'll admit that after ordering the guitar on a Friday, with Saturday delivery freight...I was worried about buyers' remorse. When I opened that case, all I could think of was getting the Rally ordered! After I plugged it in, I started coping with the psychological effects of having to part with the 13 guitars I wouldn't need any longer...

Guitar seems very sturdy...I've used it for 5 gigs so far...with my Strat and my Les Paul (Heritage 150 custom), I break the D and high E string EVERY SINGLE GIG. This is with graphite nut and saddles on both. Haven't broken a string yet with the MJ. I don't know why. I forgot mine in my last week and the temp got down to 1 degree. I took it out to practice the next morning and it was still perfectly in tune. Even after it warmed up the high E string was only minutely sharp.

Small family owned company. The only way to go.

I've been playing since I was 8 (25 years now). I've played Les Pauls (Customs), Teles (Am Std), Strats (Lone Star, Am Std, SRV), Hamer (Mirage Koa), Music Man (Silhouette) and my first, a '64 Epiphone Coronet. I love everything about this guitar and it leaves me wanting nothing except more Mirages.