Johnson

This is real guitar nerd stuff right here so strap in.  Born in late 2019, Johnson is the result of my desire to create a guitar that truly fits my playing style – a Frankenstein project built with precision and pride. I’d long imagined building my own instrument to address the issues I found with most guitars, even sketching a body design inspired by a scaled-down Fender Jazz Bass. I’ve always loved the Stratocaster shape, but I wanted to “italicize” the body – giving the horn a subtle slant for greater comfort and accessibility. That sketch remained a someday plan… until Fender, in a bizarre twist, released the short-lived Alternate Reality Series. One of the models, the Sixty-Six, was exactly what I had drawn – so I bought one immediately.

From there, the customization began. I needed a neck that suited my large hands – something reminiscent of the vintage “baseball bat” Telecaster necks I’ve always loved. Working with Warmoth, I configured a custom neck: a chunky large C-profile, rosewood fretboard, jumbo stainless frets, and a special nut designed for tremolo use. The body joint was also shaved down for easier access to the higher frets. I paired it with Ratio tuning machines, which deliver perfectly balanced and consistent tuning across all strings.

Originally, Johnson had a blonde maple body, but with the help of Steve Baric, we transformed it into a rich tobacco-burst finish. The edges were darkened with a blowtorch to bring out the grain – giving it a warm, organic, and slightly vintage vibe.

After the release of my Standing Eight album, Steve connected me with Peg City Pickups out of Winnipeg. They custom-designed a pickup set to complement my playing style and the tones from that record, giving Johnson exactly the voice I was chasing. The electronics were further enhanced with a volume kill switch, coil-splitting, and custom wiring to allow precise control over individual pickups – providing maximum tonal flexibility.

Then came VegaTrem, with their brilliant tremolo design. It requires no body modification and allows a standard Strat-style bridge to perform like a Floyd Rose-style floating system –  without the cumbersome string locks.

Finally, I commissioned Alper Eskimez of Alperious Custom Pickguard to craft a stunning pickguard featuring my logo – the perfect finishing touch.

With a couple of strap locks added, Johnson became my ultimate instrument: comfortable, expressive, and completely unique. It’s truly an amazing axe.