NOGD: Johnson by AXL

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jhull54
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Have seen these fairly often in the wild at pawnshops and never thought much about them, but snagged this one at a Goodwill auction with case for low coin.

If this isn't an Affinity in disguise, I'd be surprised.

Supposedly these are alder body. The neck on this is pretty well done, and pretty good fretwork. Definitely worth grabbing for low coin.

A few bumps on this one, but solid little strat, and having fun with it.

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toomanycats
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Thanks for the tip. I love a good low cost beater as much as the next guy and they're what I mostly practice with.
My main reservation about that guitar would be that the headstock looks like the red headed step-child of a 70s Strat and an Ibanez Gio. Damn it's fugly!
It is large enough of a paddle that it could probably be shaped into something more traditional.
“There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats!” Albert Schweitzer
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jhull54
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toomanycats wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 8:16 am ...the headstock looks like the red head step-child of a 70s Strat and an Ibanez Gio. Damn it's fugly!
Yes, it's hideous. I was telling my wife that it reminds me of a carp's head/mouth. Terrible headstock.
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mozz
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"Goodwill auction with case for low coin"

I have yet to see anything in any category on that auction site that didn't go for almost new prices.
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jhull54
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mozz wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 9:29 am I have yet to see anything in any category on that auction site that didn't go for almost new prices.
You're right about a lot of stuff there. I think a lot of people bidding get into the "I'm going to bid until I win this" mindset. Seen lots of stuff there that eventually sells for MSRP a lot of times, which is stupid. Usually though, it's for big brand name stuff. (Fender/Gibson/even Squier, etc.)

If you are willing to (arguably) bottom-feed with brands like Peavey/Crate/Johnson/First Act, etc. and set $ limits on what you're bidding on, you can snag some decent gear here and there. I ended up paying $66 including shipping for this guitar/case. Not a bad deal, but wouldn't have paid that if it had been the guitar alone.
Tonray's Ghost
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jhull54 wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 8:42 am
toomanycats wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 8:16 am ...the headstock looks like the red head step-child of a 70s Strat and an Ibanez Gio. Damn it's fugly!
Yes, it's hideous. I was telling my wife that it reminds me of a carp's head/mouth. Terrible headstock.
Was it really necessary to insult carp ?
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jhull54
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Tonray's Ghost wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 9:55 am Was it really necessary to insult carp ?
Ok, maybe an anteater. :lol:
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toomanycats
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Tonray's Ghost wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 9:55 am
jhull54 wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 8:42 am
toomanycats wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 8:16 am ...the headstock looks like the red head step-child of a 70s Strat and an Ibanez Gio. Damn it's fugly!
Yes, it's hideous. I was telling my wife that it reminds me of a carp's head/mouth. Terrible headstock.
Was it really necessary to insult carp ?
The Johnson Carpcaster. Has a nice ring to it.
Who was that guy that used to be on the old forum, SVR, or something like that? He’d be all over that guitar.
“There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats!” Albert Schweitzer
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mozz
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" I think a lot of people bidding get into the "I'm going to bid until I win this" mindset. "

I was going to actually put that quote in my reply.
I have seen some Gibsons and USA Fenders, makes you wonder if parents are donating their kids toys while they are at college.
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jhull54
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mozz wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 4:25 pm I have seen some Gibsons and USA Fenders, makes you wonder if parents are donating their kids toys while they are at college.
Sure does. And a lot of those Gibsons and Fenders are (IMO) way overpriced for the condition they're in.
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honyock
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mozz wrote:"Goodwill auction with case for low coin"

I have yet to see anything in any category on that auction site that didn't go for almost new prices.
They used to be decent about 10 years ago before people really used Shopgoodwill

I bought quite a few cheap guitars to fix and flip when I was first learning.

I don't understand it is like people bid stuff up like crazy, almost like Goodwill have shill bidders who take the proxy bids up to the limit just to get more money out of people...

I've seen some weird things trying to get a cheap practice amp for my daughter, specifically doing pickup only to cut down on the overbidding.

People bidding, canceling a bid. No one else bids the entire time, and then getting sniped at the end of auction by the same person (according to the anonymized username).

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nomadh
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Gearlist: My Gear:Electric
Gibson '13 studio dlx hsb
Gibson '79 flying V
Gibson '06 sg faded
Gibson '15 LP CM w gforce
Epiphone Casino coupe
Epiphone dot studio
Fender USA strat w mjt body _w Original body 81
Fender lead II
Firefly spalted 338
Squier affinity tele bsb
Squier strat std relic
Squier subsonic baritone
Agile al2500 albino
Agile al3001 hsb
Sx ash Ltd strat
Sx ash strat short scale
Sx ash tele
Sx callisto jr
Dean vendetta
Washburn firebird. Ps10
Johnson trans red strat
Johnson jazz box Vegas
Seville explorer
Inlaid tele
flametop bigsby tele wood inlaid neck
23

Acoustics
new Eastman acoustic
Sigma dm3 dread x2 (his and hers)
Fender 12 str
Ibanez exotic wood
Silvercreek rosewood 00
Ovation steel str
martin backpacker acoustic
Johnson dobro

I have that guitar in trans red. I just ignore its pronouns and play it. It's a beautiful finish, great neck and a crazy powerful resonant peak that can shake your chest when you play. It has something as bit touchy with intonation on the low e. Never have figured it out
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