Jimmy "Flim" Johnson

[edwardofhuncote]

Saw that later this morning Dave...
 
I'm familiar with the bass player looks at drummer and grins clue that something just about crash-landed. The way the rhythm of that tune switches up is *really* tricky... I thought the guys made a great save. =)

[David Houck]

I'm more familiar with the was that you or me that just completely lost the beat grin.

[eddievig]

Jimmy,
 
Just got the AH Earth track from PledgeMusic with you and Virgil Donati...WOW!
 
Like I said before...ferocious!
 
Ed V

[JimmyJ]

Thanks Ed,
 
That means you were a pledger so thank you for helping support the original suffering Artist: Allan.
 
Everybody has been asked to NOT share the track in any way and I hope they will comply.  It's meant to be a private release to those who pitched in to support the man.  Eventually ... maybe ... he will finish the album and it will be available to all.  (Still shouldn't share it but don't get me started on that subject!!)
 
Kind of a bizarre piece of music - a Virgil composition originally intended for his own record, so it's a bit of a drum-a-thon.  Several parts of this bass solo are me playing to Virgil's crazy rhythms.  But Allan, in his amazing way, rewrote much of the harmony and then put a lovely musical solo together.  I am extremely happy and relieved that he was able to pull it off because I wasn't sure he could in is current not-very-healthy condition.  It's great to hear his beautiful unique solo voice again on something new!
 
Take it easy,
Jimmy J

[edwardofhuncote]

Hey there Jimmy J, enjoyed that Alembic mini-meet-up last month! Man, you guys sounded tight. I (somehow!) had no idea Andrea Z was in the band, and that was a nice surprise. Met her one time back in my Nashville days... monster singer & fiddler, never struck me as someone who was caught up in that whole clique-ish side of the music scene, just did her thing better than everybody else did.  
 
I'll share this with our little circle here...
 
Turns out sometimes they *do* recognize the bass player. I was sitting in the stands with JJ hashing out the finer details of 5-string Alembics when this lady a couple rows over recognizes him. Being the good sport he is, Jimmy posed for a picture, and made quite an impression on her. During intermission, she apologized profusely for interrupting our conversation, and I assured her it was totally cool, we were just hanging out for a minute before the show. We exchanged emails and I've heard from her a couple times since... she and her husband (I guess?) are big music fans, and are now following the groups I play in.  
 
Next time we meet up, remind me to tell you about the crazy guy I played that gig for the next day. Wow, what an adventure, and a sad day for banjo-philes everywhere!
 
Safe Travels!

[jazzyvee]

I've probably read most of your threads over the years Jimmy and your posts have always been informative and with a lot of experience behind your comments. Have you ever thought of publishing a booklet in conjunction with alembic of Series II Tips, Tricks & Traps. :-)

[JimmyJ]

Hey Gregory,
 
Yes indeed, nice chatting with you in Greensboro, glad you could make it.  And I look forward to stories from your next day's gig, that had great comic potential!  Cool that you knew Andrea - she really is great.  And also nice that you made a connection with a local there.  James puts out a friendly vibe and usually the audience goes with it.  I say usually because there were a couple funny moments...  
 
Jazzy Vee,
 
Thanks but I'm no authority!  I've just been playing these particular basses longer than most of you guys have been alive.  Ha!!  Everybody has their own way of setting up and using their gear.  How you reach the end result is an individual thing which is part of the creative process.  Whatever method YOU use to make the sound you want to hear is the correct one.  I don't know everything about these axes, I'm still learning.  But I'm happy to jump in and share my experiences if I think I can add anything to a thread.  All good!
 
Jimmy J

[funkyjazzjunky]

Mister Johnson,
 
Please tell us about some of the modifications to the bridges of your Alembics
 
VMG

[JimmyJ]

VMG,
 
The bridge itself is stock on my fretted basses.  Odd bits include the aluminum bridge blocks - which came about accidentally (another story) - and my quick change tailpieces.  I change strings often and wanted it to be as easy as possible.  This design probably saves me, oh, 3-seconds per string?  But hey, those seconds add up.  HA!!  Really, both of these ideas were from way back in '75 when we built my first custom 5-string.  I thought that bass was so successful that I stuck with these design ideas through the years and onto the current basses.  Detail (ha!) pic below of my live axe.
 
Now let me see if I have a picture of the fretless rig - which is quite odd!
 
Jimmy J
 

[JimmyJ]

Oh yeah, here you go!  This is quite crude by today's shop standards but it was a custom piece built for my 1980 graphite-necked fretless.  
 
My initial idea was that the bridge and tailpiece could be combined and together represent the end of the vibrating string instead of the bridge being, well, just a bridge.  (Keep in mind I have no idea what I'm taking about when it comes to instrument design!)
 
Combined with my choice of RotoSound SuperWound bare-core strings which slip into an endplate with tiny J cuts.  The whole thing is somewhat ridiculous!  As you can see the string tension is doing its best to pull the double-size block right out of the bass.  And the brass backplate with the cuts in it is bowing under pressure.  But somehow it has all held together for ... 35 years!  And I do LOVE the sound of this bass so won't be altering it anytime soon - unless it actually does explode one day.
 
Jimmy J
 

[sonicus]

I like that Double Size block ! It is giving me design ideas .  
 
 Wolf

[moongerm]

Wow I had no idea this existed, thanks for sharing! I have an FBASS 5 string fretless that uses the same type of exposed core string but they go thru the body instead of a tailpiece holding it in place. Hoping to replace it with an Alembic custom fretless down the road.
 
Is there a sound or string tension advantage to using this string and bridge design?

[JimmyJ]

I hope Mica doesn't kill me for showing it to you guys.  HA!  The point is, if you can imagine it Alembic can build it.  That's the kick of having a custom instrument made.
 
And they've put together some crazy axes over the years so pay attention to their guidance as you expound your creative plans because they will tell you if you go awry.  They're game to try almost anything but it can get expensive because they never compromise on parts or build quality.
 
Brian, I have no idea what effect this bridge has on the sound or string tension because I didn't do any experimenting with alternatives.  The whole bearing angle / distance beyond bridge and nut / effect on string tension is beyond my grasp.  The biggest factor in the tone, sustain and pre-compression of this fretless bass is most likely the thick-walled graphite neck.  (Congratulations on your new bass - that's a beauty!)
 
Wolf, if you're thinking about a double block on a Series machine you'd better also think about relocating the battery compartment.
 
Cheers!
Jimmy J
 
(Message edited by jimmyj on September 04, 2015)

[sonicus]

Hello Jimmy, Thanks for your response. Lately , on my Series Instruments I have removed the batteries anyway and just use a power supply. It is possible that there would be no battery compartment in my future custom build. ( that is still in my dream stage)  
 
Wolf

[funkyjazzjunky]

Thanks Mister Johnson
 
I always wondered what was going on with your bridges/tail-pieces