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A detailed look at Johnny's guitars

This was posted to the alt.music.ramones newsgroup by Carbona (carbona@ix.netcom.com).  He owns a couple of Johnny's guitars, and obviously knows a lot about the history of Johnny's guitar collection.

Used with permission.

Johnny's original white Mosrite would have had its serial number stamped on the 21st or 22nd fret (most likely) although it is very possible that it could have been worn down due to player wear.  His 2 custom Mosrite guitars probably did not have serial numbers, I know that his 2 white Hamers did not.  One (or perhaps both) of the newer Mosrites I believe had "to Johnny Ramone from Semie Moseley" on the headstock written in Semie's hand.  Also, John did not have 30 Mosrites over the course of their career as someone posted but probably closer to half a dozen and never owned more than 2 or 3 at the same time.  As a matter of fact, he took precautions to always have one in their storage space in case the white one got stolen.  A couple of his Mosrites went thru various stages of colors and pickguard configurations which probably owes to some of the confusion about the actual number he owned.

Guitars John owned as a Ramone were:

Blue Ventures II, #1 stage guitar-stolen 70's.  this was the first one ($50).  You can see it in pictures and videos of early appearances.

White Ventures II, #1 stage guitar, this was his second mosrite and the one that he played as his #1 stage guitar up until the end-Daniel Rey supposedly owns it now.

Natural 1960 Rickenbacker 450, #2 stage guitar stolen 70's.   He also used this guitar on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" which is floating around on video.

White 50's maple neck Strat, #2 stage guitar-stolen 70's.  He did not own this one too long before it was crooked...

White Hamer custom endorsement guitar, 1 single coil/1 dbl coil.  This Hamer was used in the Sha Na Na episode the Ramones were in and traded to a friend in mid 80's (most likely) for the dark brown Ventures II below:

Brown Ventures II, #2 stage guitar, later maybe black (Pet Semitary video?), then sparkle (Substitute video) , where abouts unknown.  Ramones photographer/expert extraordinaire Ian Harper heard this guitar was perhaps painted green for the last shows.  Maybe John sold it.  After the breakup, some of his guitars ended up in a music store in California along with a pair of his jeans!

White Hamer custom endorsement guitar, #2 stage guitar, 2 dbl coils, also used in "Psycho Therapy" video and Hamer endorsement ads/posters-traded to friend in mid 80's with below:

Fireglo Rickenbacker 450,  #2 stage guitar, then kept by John in his apartment-traded traded to same friend in mid 80's with above for blue Ventures II below:

Mint condition blue Ventures II-eventually sold in early 90's to fan/friend of Mark's. This guitar was kept in storage just in case one of the stage Mosrites went missing.  It was a variation model II with scalloped edges on the body.  It was in original 1960's mint condition and never played onstage.  The pickguard was autographed to the person who purchased it from John.

Ventures or Mark 1/ V1 with scalloped/contoured edges.  This guitar went thru a few transformations as various 1 and maybe 2 pickup models and of various colors.  I know it was sunburst at one time and than later maroon.  It was used on Club MTV show and in the "Time Has Come Today" video.  Don't know what happened to this guitar...

White 1 pickup new style Mosrite, #2 stage guitar.  I think it was autographed to Johnny from Semie on back of headstock ... he uses this guitar in "Merry Christmas" video and I think the "I Don't Want To Grow Up" video.

Black 1 pickup new style mosrite, #2 stage guitar.  Also autographed to Johnny from Semie on back of headstock, I think...

Johnny Ramone was no stickler for original equipment and finishes on his guitars.  Mosrite lead pickups in some cases were replaced with DiMarzio "fat strats".  On his white Mosrite a chrome Gibson Firebird minihumbucker pickup replaced the original pickup in the neck position.  A Fender Strat pickup adorned one of the Rickenbackers complete with a hunk of Fender pickguard to cover the larger hole left by the original lead rick pickup.  He kept the newer Mosrite pickups on the new style Mosrites.  Mosrite vibratos and sometimes bridge assemblies were also taken off and replaced with Gibson style stop tailpieces and bridges. Kluson tuning machines were replaced with Schalers on the Mosrites. Pickguards were machined and knobs replaced as needed.  On one of the Rickenbackers the bridge was actually nailed into position to keep it from moving.  All of this was done for utilitarian reasons, and according to Johnny, "to accommodate today's rock and roll sound".  While original Mosrites and Ricks are in some cases sought after by collectors, any modifications which he (his techs) made (that may have "marred" an original) have certainly increased the value of the guitars to Ramones fans.  He sold his long time white Mosrite for much more than its current market value would have been had it been kept original and not owned by him.

Oh yeah...during the slow song in the "R n R HS" film John plays a Rick 450 12 string and an acoustic guitar.  I'm pretty sure I heard way back that he did not own those guitars and only used them as props.  If I have missed anything Ian will be good enough to point it out...

Note: Carbona has since made the following corrections:

The brown Ventures II was never black as I thought.  There was a seperate black Ventures model guitar.  The brown one was painted gold sparkle by a friend of C.J.'s.  It was never green, thank god...

The chrome Gibson Firebird pickups were actually Seymore Duncan Firebird pickups (what was I thinking).

The replaced tuning machines were not Schaler but Grover.