Jimmy "Flim" Johnson

[room037]

Hi Reinier,
 
Yes, I still own Tokyo Dream.
I apologize for upload.
But I found these video on YouTube.
These video are from Tokyo Dream
Road Games & Tokyo Dream  
 
Eiji

[richbass939]

I just saw a tribute to James Taylor on PBS last night.  Lots of different artists with Steve Gadd and JJ backing everyone up.  Not many good shots of JJ though.
Rich

[reinier]

Health warning: serious fun ahead!
 
For some recent pics of JJ and his SII please go here: http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/43697.html?1190198810
 
Take care,
Reinier

[white_cloud]

Allan holdsworth is simply a total genius..way way ahead of his time!
 
Jimmy Johnson has done such a wonderful job in Allans band, I remember when Jeff Berlin left the band to pursue his solo career and I thought OH NO! Full credit to Jimmy, He has been a revelation to me!

[lbpesq]

Last night's SNL was a repeat from the 90's with Steve Martin as host and James Taylor as the musical guest.  Lots of shots of Jimmy and his Alembic.
 
Bill, tgo

[Bradley Young]

Bill,
 
A friend of mine said to me (mind that he's only seen my bass once or twice), A bass exactly like yours was on Saturday Night Live last night!  I was a little dubious, but I guess it was basically true.

[JimmyJ]

Hello Alembic brothers and sisters!
 
Thanks for all the kind words.  I'm a long time lurker here and have finally decided to jump in and join the gear chat...
 
About the above rig, oh so long ago... The rack at that time consisted of an IN-2 input module, an F2-B and a Yamaha P2100 power amp.  I ran the whole rig in stereo, two 12 Thiel boxes (directly behind me on top of the rack in the photos) for the bridge pickup and the 2-15 cabs for the bass pickup.  Also, on top of the 15 boxes is a Yamaha E1010 analog delay which I used as a chorus on the B pickup while soloing.  AND, maybe only for this one gig, by my feet is an old Fender spring reverb which I can't even remember using.  What was I thinking?  Haha!  
 
That venue must be the Comeback Inn in Venice, CA.  Looks like Wayne was busy developing a nice long intro in the 2nd photo!  The graphite necked animal is my 1980 series I fretless.  That bass is still getting a lot of use today.
Best to all,
Jimmy J

[reinier]

A month short of this thread's 4th anniversary it's the man himself.... A 1000 questions and no words....
 
Welcome

[tbrannon]

Thanks Jimmy- for the explanation and all the inspiration your playing has provided over the years.

[JimmyJ]

Yeah, took me long enough, huh?  
I don't know how I stumbled onto this particular thread - and don't even know how to get back here from the front page of the forum...  But I've been an Alembic nut for over 30 years now and still stuck on 'em so I should probably drop in here more often...
 
Thanks again for the kind words,
Jimmy J

[dadabass2001]

Thank you,  Jimmy, for all the wonderful and elegant performances we've all enjoyed. I'm still immensly enjoying you and Steve Gadd on JT's October Road CD. An interview on one of his newer DVDs stated most of the album was done as a trio in the studio, then dubbed as necessary.
I saw you at a drum clinic poerformance outside Chicago probably three years ago with Chad Wackerman and Allan Holdsworth. I believe you fed sound from a small box by your floor wedges, no backline per se, strraight to the house?
If that is the case, do you ask that the monitor eq be flat, and do it on the instrument, or eq'ed for your ears in the space (leaving your instrument settings uniform)?
 
Inquiringly humbled,
Mike
 
 
P.S. completely unrelated...  Go Bears!

[dannobasso]

So very glad to see you on the boards sir. I as well as many here have found your playing and tones a real pleasure and inspiration for many years. Your work with AH is truly wonderful as well as a lesson in tasteful playing.  Continued health, success and good fortune to you. I bought the JT DVD simply because you were on it. (though I have been a JT fan since I was a young lad)
 
Thanks for years of enjoyment from your craft.
Danno

[JimmyJ]

Thanks guys.  
Danno, I've also been a fan of JT - and Sklar - for many years.  I can't believe my own luck!
Mike, since I got into recording pretty early on I've always been a DI kind of guy.  Never really enjoyed bass amps.  I know, kinda weird!  So I would rather play through a full range rig when I have the choice.  (The exception is my tiny club rig; Walter Woods and 2x12.  But even at the Baked Potato I also run through the house PA.)
 
So when traveling LIGHT my rig is simply a DS-5 power supply and an active DI box which I have wired in-line with the 5 conductor cable...  Let me see if I can attach a photo:

 
I run the bass outputs hot enough to drive a power amp directly.  So when available, I will take the mono 1/4 output of the DS-5 and plug it straight into the power amp running my wedges.  Flat, full range usually works for me.  Then the PA gets the balanced output from the DI box which is padded down to normal mic level.  OK, I admit it, I'm a bit of a wire-head / modifier too.  But I only know enough to get myself into trouble...
later,
Jimmy J

[tbrannon]

Jimmy,
 
I admire your no fuss approach to playing- I guess it's helpful to have all the tone shaping capabilities that the Series II basses offer right there on the bass.  
 
If you don't mind me asking, how much 'knob fiddling' do you do when you play?  Are you constantly adjusting filters/CVQ or do you simply alter your right hand technique to get the sounds you're after?

[David Houck]

Welcome to the board Jimmy; and thanks for answering our questions about the rig!!