New project Johnson tele type

marklk · May 27, 2022

I just picked this up for $50. It's dirty and dinged up but I still couldn't resist for the price. I have a Johnson strat and it gets the closer to feeling like a Fender than any of my other made in China Starts and teles.

Someone must have really needed small screws because they are all gone. I'm going to clean it up and get it playing. Eventually I'd like to put a p90 in the neck but I need to save my pennies.

The electronics are not working. What the best way to ID where the problem is?

mexicanyella · May 27, 2022

A friend gave me a Johnson P-bass missing some screws and string tree, and with one of the pickup magnets detached. I replaced the necessary parts and I’ve been tinkering with it on and off, trying various “wrong” pickups in it. It sounds barkier and more aggressive than my Squier P. It’s fun to play. Looking forward to seeing yours come together!

Hodgo88 · May 27, 2022

The electronics are not working how? No noise? Cuts in and out?

Is your jack even hooked up? I don't see the lead (black wire) going to the jack, just the ground but it's a pretty small photo on my phone.

marklk · May 27, 2022

Hodgo88 said:
The electronics are not working how? No noise? Cuts in and out?

Thanks. I got them working now. I cleaned them all good. They were so grubby and dirty I wasn't getting any sound.

Now to clean the rest up and find some screws.

Fenderdad1950 · May 28, 2022

Beauty for a Tele is in the eye of the beholder, or holder in the case of a guitar. Good luck

Michael A. · May 29, 2022

The OP may want to also look at this thread in the Guitar Owners Club section.

Johnson (Axl) Tele

I've been able to find quite a few links to this brand of Tele copy on these pages, but no actual Johnson or Axl Tele Owners thread. I don't know how many of these guitars are still in use by members, but in light of my recent acquisition, I thought it may be time to have an Owners Thread where...

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