Johnson Owners Club

[Apok]

Does anyone else here own one of these unique and powerful amps? I just purchased a Johnson Millenium JM150 with the J12 footboard and I've spent the past week trying to figure everything out.

Anyone have any settings they'd like to share?

 

[stanpz]

JM150

I also have a JM150. It recently stopped working. It will function for 5 minutes or so and then the display goes blank and none of the controls will work. I have the latest firmware. I try re-setting, but it still goes dead. I contacted Digitech ( who bought out Johnson, I believe,) and they say they have no parts. It's a great amp in like new condition. I hate to give up on it.

Do you have any leads on a repairman who would tackle this job? I live in Bethlehem, Pa. ( northwest of Philadelphia )

 

[Apok]

So Digitech has finally run out of parts? Thats unfortunate, these rare amps are only going to get rarer.

Mine has developed a buzzing sound, I'm hoping to have it repaired but I've heard techs don't like working on Johnson's due to the complexity.

 

[thxcuz]

I have a Johnson bass amp that brings the thunder. I never really pushed it to it's limits, however so I am not sure how much it can take or how it would work in a live situation

 

[photoweborama]

I wish I had one. I do have a J-Station, though.

 

[LGOberean]

I've only had one experience with a Johnson amp, and it was not a good one. I'm coming straight to this thread to hear from fans on this.

Around Christmas time, I heard a local trio playing a nursing home. The guitarist was playing a G&L ASAT Z-3 Semi-Hollow. Now that was a nice guitar, but his sound was terrible! Really harsh, screetchy. I don't believe that the G&L was to blame, but he was playing through an old, ratty looking Johnson amp. I don't know if the amp was to blame or if it was his settings, but the sound was bad.

I didn't get a close look at the amp, so I can't tell you the model #. So what do y'all think? Do old Johnson amps just go downhill and develop a harsh sound, or do you think it was something else? Poor settings? Maybe like they always say on this forum, tone (or in this case, a lack thereof) is in the fingers?

Oh, BTW, his volume was not too loud for the room, so I don't think that was the problem.

 

[CAMARA53]

I have a johnson loredo jt25r...25 watt all tube amp with 10inch speaker, great little amp once I changed the speaker to an eminence delta demon 10 inch speaker, I think this one is a sleeper, it also runs my cab with 2 12 inchers and 2 10 inchers in paraelle

 

[indianjjy]

I have a Johnson Marquis JM60 and would not trade it for the world, now if I could just get a J8 footcontroller, I would be set. I have my Egnater rebel and the Johnson, really don't need anything more....IMHO

 

[Jason G]

I was recently in our local GC and this guy was just wailing away some tasty tones... cleans to blues, to plexi-like tones, and then was roaring some Scorpions songs as I left. I had to see what he was using to get those sweet tones. It was a Johnson head w/matching cab... 4x12? Anyway, I eyed the amp/cab still there last time I stopped in. If I had any amount of extra coin not being hoarded away for another impending purchase, I would consider that setup! But after hearing some tales of no one to work on these things, I might be leery of one? Don't know the model I saw/heard, but it had cool retro-vibe aesthetics and design. Hope to plug in sometime?

JG

 

[dusterood]

Anyone have a foot controller for a jt50? or any sources for one? just got one i bought mainly for the cab, the amp came with it. haven't fired it up yet johnsons tend to polarize people, love 'em or hate 'em-- they seem to be either reliable as rocks, or unfix-able. I have heard that if you don't have the controller, you can't get the best out of the amp.

 

[eddie knuckles]

I wish I had one. I do have a J-Station, though.

Me too.

)

Is it worth finding a foot controller for one of these?

 

[ElmoZappa]

Hey y'all- looking for a j12 footcontroller for my Millenium 150- in need! Thanks!!

 

[G.Rotten]

Hey All,

I know this is an old thread, but I just came across it so I'll chime in.

Do not use either the Johnson or Digitech controllers (J-12, Control One or similar proprietary pedals). These pedals are only safe to use if there is no risk of poor connection to the amp. If the 5 pin cable becomes loose or has a short while the amp is on it can leak voltage back to the board and fry random components & there are no parts available for these amps anymore.

Midi is the way to go to keep it going as long as possible.

That being said I have 3 of these amps in various stages of death. The first killed by the J-12 (Fried EEPROM) & the other 2 taken by time (I guess). If there's anyone in the Toronto area looking to salvage parts to keep their baby going I may have them.

 

[howarddavidp]

I could use spare parts for my jm150.

David

 

[kellybluz]

I have an original still with 2 vintage 30's JM 150 with a J3 & J12 that I have had for 15 years & still works good. It's just to heavy to haul around anymore so it is for sale $450.00 has 2 new Ruby 12ax7 tubes . The J12 has a few weak
L E D's on some of the patches in the read out window ( not as brite )

 

[kellybluz]

Anyone ?

 

[Tubeboy]

I had a JM 150 the thing that I didn't like about it was I would dial in a tone I liked but when I played with the band it didn't cut through. So it's long gone. Still have the 212 cab that I really like but haven't used in a long time.

 

[kellybluz]

Hey, well i finally just sold the JM 150 a few weeks ago locally. I also have the 2x12 cab it's really well made and has vintage 30's in it. I'm using it with my Mesa Mark V 25 it sounds great .

 

[ElmoZappa]

Anyone here have experience using these Johnson Millennium amps? Got questions about where to look for answers thx all

 

[map747]

Anyone here have experience using these Johnson Millennium amps? Got questions about where to look for answers thx all

I have a couple of these amps, they are still working