Hang Ten
The guitars
of
Johnny Ramone
The original idea of a Johnny Ramone guitar list is from Ian Harper’s site Rockometer.com. However, that site has not been updated for a long time, so here’s an updated list of Johnny Ramone’s guitars.
This site is still and always under construction – sorry if there are any mistakes.
The Guitars of Johnny Ramone
| model | year | s/n | color | mods | appeared | gone | used as | special appearances | sale price/auction results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fender Mustang | Sunburst | probably none | 1977 | backup | short time backup after the October 1977 theft, perhaps only borrowed | ||||
| Fender Stratocaster | early to mid 70s | black | probably none | 1977 | probably stolen October 22, 1977 | backup | |||
| Fender Stratocaster | Sunburst (white pickguard) | probably none | 1977 | backup | short time backup after the October 1977 theft, perhaps only borrowed | ||||
| Fender Stratocaster | Sunburst (black pickguard) | probably none | 1980 | TV prop (?) | TopPop playback appearance (Dutch TV), 1980 | ||||
| Fender Stratocaster | early to mid 70s | white | probably none | 1976 | probably stolen October 22, 1977 | early primary backup | |||
| Fender Stratocaster | 1963 | Seafoam Green | probably none | 1978 | 1980 | Ed Stasium’s guitar, used for overdubs on some albums (probably Road to Ruin and End of the Century) | |||
| Framus 5/150 Star Bass | mid 1960s | Black Rose (Redburst) | probably none | 1966 (?) | John Cumming’s bass in the pre-Ramones band Tangerine Puppet | ||||
| Gibson Les Paul Custom | early 1971 | 635122 | Ebony | none | June 27, 1985 | June 27, 1985 | TV prop | Formel Eins playback appearance (German TV) June 27, 1985 | |
| Gibson Marauder M-1 | 1976 | natural | probably none | 1977 | backup | short time backup before the October 1977 theft, perhaps only borrowed | |||
| Hamer Special Custom | May 1980 | X X0#¢ | white | none (custom made) | May 1980 | early 1983, traded February | backup, storage or maybe for the video use only? | perhaps Psycho Therapy video | USd 49,889.35 (2015) |
| Hamer Sunburst | Nov 1978 | 8 0508 | white | ? | 1979 | ? | backup (perhaps primary for a short time instead of the black Ventures II copy) or storage | ||
| Hamer Sunburst | Dec 1978 | 8 0578 | white | ? | 1979 | ? | backup (perhaps primary for a short time instead of the black Ventures II copy) or storage | ||
| Hamer Sunburst Custom | 1979 | 0185 | white | bridge pickup changed to DiMarzio FS-1 or similar, Kluson tuning machines replaced with Schallers | 1979 | traded May 22, 1982 (for sunburst german carve Ventures II B690) | backup, sometimes used for tv appeareances (endorsement!) | Top of the Pops, January 31, 1980 Sha Na Na, May 19, 1980 | USD 55,247.50 (2015) |
| Memphis Stratocaster copy | red | none | July 1, 1985 | July 1, 1985 | TV prop | Music Convoy playback appearance (German TV), July 1, 1985 | |||
| Mosrite Johnny Ramone custom | 1989 | 001 | white | none (custom made) | 1989 | – | primary backup 1990-93, 1994-1996 | Merry Christmas video I Don’t Want to Grow up video Spiderman video live @ MTV Movie Awards | |
| Mosrite Ramones | 1990 | black | none | May 9, 1990 | 1990 | probably only delivered for Danny Sage, played live the evening when delivered to Danny | Photos when meeting Semie Moseley backstage in SC; CJ got his Mosrite bass then | ||
| Mosrite Ramones | 1990 | R9003 | white | none | 1990 | sold to a fan February 2003 | probably only private use | USD 28,499 (2016) | |
| Mosrite Ventures | 1964 or 1965 | Ink Blue | none | February 1976 | for recording the first album, borrowed or studio property | Photos of the recording sessions of the first album | |||
| Mosrite Ventures | 1964 or 1965 | RM-3 (inventory number) | red | bridge pickup changed to DiMarzio FS-1 or similar, Vibrato changed for Gibson style tailpiece, | 1983 | May 22, 1990 (given to Ramones‘ security chief) | backup guitar 1983/84 | Club MTV playback appearance | USD 71,875 (2015) |
| Mosrite Ventures II | mid 1965 | blue | Gibson (Schaller) harmonica bridge, vibrato changed for Gibson style stoptail | January 23, 1974 | stolen October 22, 1977 | main guitar 1974-77 | |||
| Mosrite Ventures II | mid 1965 | B120 | brown, later refinished gold | bridge pickup changed to DiMarzio FS-1 or similar, Vibrato changed for Gibson style tailpiece, Grover tuner, | 1984 | – | primary backup guitar 1984-89 (brown), 1993 (gold) | Pet Sematary video I Believe in Miracles video Substitute video | |
| Mosrite Ventures II | mid 1965 | Sunburst | bridge pickup changed to Gibson P-90 or similar, Vibrato changed for hardtail | 1975 or 76 | probably stolen Oct. 22, 1977 | backup guitar 1976 (?) | |||
| Mosrite Ventures II | mid 1965 | RM-1 (inventory number) | white | bridge pickup changed to DiMarzio FS-1 or similar, neck pickup changed to Seymour Duncan Mini Humbucker, Vibrato changed for Gibson style tailpiece, Grover tuner | 1977 10 27 | – | main guitar 1977-96 | seems it was used first at CBGB’s on October 27, 1977 | USD 937,500 (2021) |
| Mosrite Ventures II copy | 1978 (?) | RM-2 (inventory number) | black | none (custom made) | early 1978 | probably stolen April 24, 1983 | primary backup guitar 1978-83 | ||
| Mosrite Ventures II German Carve | 1966 | B690 | Sunburst | bridge pickup changed to DiMarzio FS-1 or similar, neck pickup obsolete, full pickguard, Vibrato changed for Gibson style tailpiece, Grover tuner | May 22, 1982 | stolen April 24, 1983 | backup guitar 1982/83 | Time has Come Today video | |
| Mosrite Ventures II German Carve | 1966 | B546 | blue | none | sold to a fan around 1990 | storage, rehearsal | USD 28,875 (2023) | ||
| Mosrite Ventures II Japan | 1995 | white | probably none | 1995 | sold May 1, 1996 | backup Japan tour 1995 | sold 1996 | ||
| Mosrite Ventures II Japan | 1996 | white | probably none | 1996 | auctioned 1998 or 99, signed May 11, 2001 | backup Adios Amigos tour and Lollapalooza | Played by Johnny on stage with Pearl Jam during a performance of The KKK Took My Baby Away on July 14, 1998 in Los Angeles | USD 34,785 (2012) | |
| Mosrite Ventures II Japan | 1996 | white | probably none | 1996 | 1996 | backup (?) or storage | Signed „Previously owned by Johnny Ramone July 10, 1996“ | ||
| Mosrite Ramones 1974~1996 model Japan | 1996 | JRB000 | blue | probably none | 1996 | 1996 | storage | USD 46,875 (2021) | |
| Rickenbacker 450 | 1959 (?) | Mapleglo | bridge pickup changed to mini humbucker, TRC missing | 1977 | stolen October 22, 1977 | backup | |||
| Rickenbacker 450 | 1966 | FA180 | Fireglo | bridge pickup changed to DiMarzio FS-1 or similar | 1977 | got retired in late 1978 (kept under Johnny’s bed); traded February | backup 1977/78 | USD 56,250 (2015) |
Pre-Ramones
Framus 5/150 Star Bass mid-1960s Black Rose (Redburst)
Some years before the Ramones John Cummings played bass in a band called Tangerine Puppets (1966–68, Bob Rowland–Vocals, Tamás Erdélyi–Lead Guitar, Richard Adler–Guitar, John Cummings–Bass, Scott Robert–Drums).
Main Guitars
Mosrite Ventures II Slab 1965 blue
Bought January 23, 1974 at Manny’s for 69.55 USD, the blue Mosrite Ventures II was the first guitar Johnny Ramone used with the Ramones. Around September 1976, the original tremolo has been replaced with a fixed Gibson style tailpiece. It did not have a Mosrite bridge but a Gibson/Schaller „harmonica“ bridge.
The guitar has been stolen on October 22nd, 1977 in the first theft of the Ramones‘ equipment after the show at The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, and has not surfaced yet.
Mosrite Ventures II Slab 1965 white
Immediately after Johnny lost his blue Mosrite it was replaced with the same model in white. I’ve never seen a picture or video that shows both, so wether Johnny kept the white as a spare or he was so lucky to find it directly after the blue was gone. The first video I know Johnny playing the white slab is of a three day show October 27–30 at CBGB’s, only five days after the equipment was stolen.
From the very beginning as Johnny’s main guitar, the white Ventures II was modified: refinished, Gibson style fixed tailpiece without the Mosrite tremolo plate and grover Rotomatics that replaced the original Kluson Deluxe tuners. The spun Mosrite poti knobs have been replaced with black Gibson style bell knobs. Everything else seems to have been original.
Between October 1979 and January 1980 the bridge pickup has been changed to a DiMarzio FS-1, the pickguard has been replaced, too.
Around early 1983 the neck pickup has been replaced with a Seymour Duncan Mini Humbucker that has been tinkered in the larger original pickup’s cutout in the pickguard. Later the pickguard had been replaced again and the SD got a proper cutout (not really centered).
From Daniel Rey’s collection, this guitar was sold at RR Auction on September 25, 2021 for USD 937,500 (USD 750,000 without BP): Johnny Ramone’s Stage-Used and Owned Mosrite Ventures II Guitar.
It was used with a replacement case since 1979; here you can find its original case and the story behind.
Backup, studio, rarely used and TV props guitars
Fender Stratocaster white
This guitar seems to have been Johnny’s first backup guitar, sometimes played with a capo…
Photo: Danny Fields, The Club, Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 20-22, 1976, source: www.slate.com
Mosrite Ventures 1964 or 65 Ink Blue
Mosrite Ventures II Slab 1965 Sunburst
This rare guitar has been used as a backup guitar around 1976 and then seems to have disappeared.
The tremolo top was replaced with an unidentified fixed tailpiece, the knobs with black Gibson style Witch hat knobs.
Until around mid 1976 it has had its original pickups, later the bridge pickup has been replaced with a black P-90 style pickup.
Dates to pictures are often a little weird, for example at The Club on May 20–22, 1976 (not May 12), it still had its original bridge pickup (see picture above), at CBGB’s in April 1976 it already has the P90, in February 1977 – I’ll try to find the correct dates, probably the Chuck Pulin photos are from September 1976 ;)
Photos: Chuck Pulin, NYC, April 1–3, 1976 (date may be wrong, probably later); source: www.rockpaperphoto.com (top) and www.nettavisen.no (bottom)
Photo: Sheri Lynn Behr, CBGB’s, NYC, February 3–5, 1977; source: www.thisisdig.com and www.alamy.com
Fender Stratocaster black
Rickenbacker 450 Mapleglo
Original condition with missing trussrod cover/logo. The bridge pickup is replaced with a Mini humbucker with mounting ring (attached with 3 screws).
This guitar has been stolen in October 1977.
There’s rumors that this guitar is now owned by Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander, but Robin’s Rickenbacker is NOT Johnny’s Rickenbacker:
If you compare the few existing pictures of Johnny’s maple glow Rick with those detailed photos of Robin Zander’s 1959 Rick (Gibson Repair and Restauration’s pictures) you will see that these are two different guitars.
There are differences that could be changed, like black nut (Johnny) vs. white nut (Robin), black knobs (Johnny) vs. silver inlayed knobs (Robin), bridge pickup Mini humbucker w/ screwed on mounting ring (Johnny) vs. toaster (Robin) (so there should be additional screw holes in the pickguard).
But there are differences that could not be altered:
– Johnny’s Rick’s neck through wood is way blonder than the rest of the body (you can see it from the front side), Robin’s isn’t.
– Johnny’s Rick’s headstock’s had a triangle trussrod cover once (can be seen from the headstock’s yellowing and the single screw hole near the G tuner), Robin’s has a trapezoid plate (with according yellowing and screw holes).
– The truss rod channel at Johnny’s headstock is longer than that of Robin’s Rick.
If someone knows Johnny’s Rickenbacker’s serial number he can compare – Robin’s Rick is 4C482A.
Gibson Marauder M-1 late 1976 or 77 natural
Rarely used backup guitar. It may have been stolen in October 1977, too, but probably it has not been owned by Johnny but only borrowed for that Whisky a Go-Go gig.
Stock Gibson Marauder: original pickups, natural finish, natural headstock, white pickguard, rosewood fretboard with dot markers, chicken head blender at lower horn (from late 1976).
I know only one photography by Jenny Lens of Johnny playing a Marauder at the Whisky a Go-Go in October, 21 1977 as backup guitar for his blue Mosrite, just before the equipment was stolen. This picture can be found in the „Official Ramones Calendar 2007“ and on www.johnnyramone.com ;)
As this Los Angeles show was placed between two dates in the Great Lakes area (Detroit, MI on October 20 and Chicago, IL on October 22), I guess part of the equipment was borrowed. The only other photo of the Marauder I know is probably from that same date ;)
Photo: Jenny Lens, Whisky a Go-Go, October 21, 1977, source: www.johnnyramone.com
Photo: Jenny Lens, probably backstage Whisky a Go-Go, October 21, 1977, source: www.vanityfair.com
October 22, 1977
Equipment stolen after Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL.
Fender Stratocaster Sunburst
Photo: David Godlis, CBGB’s, October 27–30, 1977, source: www.salon.com
Fender Mustang Sunburst
Again I know only one picture of this backup guitar, as a stage shot of this guitar and the white Ventures II appeared as a poster of the Tribeca Film Festival 2003 to promote the movie „Ramones – End of the Century“, photo by David Godlis.
Again CBGB’s in late October 1977, I’d say the Mustang has been used as a backup only directly after the robbery – it may have been only borrowed for backup, but as its case has the „RAMONES“ stencil print it should have been owned by Johnny.
BTW, the case to the left should be the original Mosrite case of Johnny’s white Mosrite that he got only a few days before. It was replaced in 1979 after it was dumped because of a broken hinge and reappeared in November 2024, story here on Instagram.
Photo: David Godlis, CBGB’s, October 27–30, 1977, source: www.rhino.com/
Photo: David Godlis, CBGB’s, October 27–30, 1977, source: www.tribecafilm.com
Fender Stratocaster, Seafoam Green
Belonging to Ed Stasium, he and Johnny Ramone used that 1963 Fender for studio work, probably for studio recordings to do overdubs on Road to Ruin and End of the Century.
Source: edstasium.com/wall-of-shame/
Mosrite Ventures II copy black
Long time primary backing guitar that appeared some time after the October 1977 theft, around early 1978 (earliest safe usage I have found is in Dover, NJ, January 9, 1978). This propably DiMarzio brigde-pickup-only equipped guitar with black neck and headstock (with unidentified white logo) seems to be not an original Mosrite but looks more like a custom made copy of a slab Ventures II. Ian Harper says it’s made by a fan or friend of the band. It has a Gibson style fixed hardtail and a Gibson style bridge.
Civic Center, San Francisco, CA, June 8, 1979
Us Festival, Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernardino, CA, September 3, 1982
It disappeared around late 1982/early 1983, probably this guitar has been stolen in the second theft (April 24, 1983).
Rickenbacker 450 1966 Fireglo
serial number FA180 (January 1966).
Traded (together with the Hamer X X0#¢) in February 1989 1985 for a blue Mosrite Ventures II German Carve, B546.
Has been auctioned in September 2015, sold for 56,250.– USD.
Auction site: Item 8113 – Johnny Ramone’s Stage-used Rickenbacker Guitar Catalog 461 (Sep 2015).
Description here at icollector.com.
Hamer Sunburst, 1978, white
According to the HamerFanClub serial number list (Wayback Machine version), Hamer has built two white Hamer Sunbursts for Johnny Ramone in 1978 (matching the Hamer log books):
– 8 0508, dot inlay, white Ramones, Nov 3, 1978
– 8 0578, dot inlay, white Ramones, Dec 20, 1978
I don’t know if there’re really two Hamers that Johnny has owned before the two custom made Sunburst Custom/Special, but compared to 0815 and X X0#¢ the Hamer ad (and regularly live used) guitar has a different headstock logo and the earlier positioning of the 12th fret’s dot markers – at least this one is another Hamer Johnny’s used.
Photo: Tom Hill, January 30, 1979 The Agora Ballroom, Atlanta, Georgia; source: www.rrauction.com
Hamer Sunburst custom, 1979, white
Serial number 0185. Custom made for Johnny Ramone by Hamer (according the the auction’s description): „deep body contours, no body binding“.
Unbound, contoured body in pre 1980 shape and a white headstock. Equipped with a DiMarzio FS-1 (?) in bridge position, original Kluson tuners were replaced with Schallers.
1980-01-31 – TOTP, London, England – Baby I Love You
1980-05-19 – Sha-Na-Na.
Johnny traded this Hamer on May 22, 1982 to Adam Greiss for the sunburst Mosrite Ventures II (German Carve) that was used later in the „Time Has Come Today“ video.
Adam Greiss played the Hamer (besides his white Mosrite Ventures Mark I) with his band Immortal Primitives that supported the Ramones live several times in 1983/84. Some info about that band here: Radio Mutation, September 29, 2006: Out of the Vaults, Into Your Ears #14. And he played both guitars at the band’s revival in 2015: The Adam Greiss Group (HD) — Live at The Sparks Reunion 5/9/15 The Crooked Rail, E. Northport, NY.
Auctioned May 19th 2016, sold to Linda Ramone for $55,247.50. Auction site: Item 7498 – Johnny Ramone’s Owned and Stage-Used Signed Hamer Guitar Catalog 476 (May 2016).
Description and photos here at icollector.com.
Hamer Special custom, 1980, white
Serial number X X0#¢, custom made for Johnny Ramone by Hamer, completed May 12, 1980, based on the Special, white headstock, „beveled edges thin neck thin body“ (Hamer). Traded (together with the Rickenbacker 450 FA180) in February 1989 1985 for a blue Mosrite Ventures II German Carve, B546.
Has been auctioned in July 2015, sold for 49,889.35 USD. Auction site: Item 7411 – Johnny Ramone’s Early 1980s Stage-used Hamer Guitar Catalog 457 (Jul 2015).
Description and photos here at icollector.com.
My guess is that Hamer was primarly (if not only) used for the Psychotherapy video (then equipped with a black trussrod cover).
Again, the picture on the Hamer ad shows another Hamer than X X0#¢ according to the different (larger) headstock logo. That’s the one Johnny’s played live regularly and is probably 8 0508 or 8 0578.
Fender Stratocaster Sunburst
Dutch TV Show TopPop, 1980
Mosrite Ventures II 1966 Sunburst
Backup guitar Johnny got on May 22, 1982 (from Immortal Primitives‘ Adam Greiss in trade for the white Hamer s/n 0185), also used in the music video for „Time has Come Today“. This guitar has probably been stolen in the second theft, April 24, 1983.
1966 model, s/n B690, with custom made full size pickguard and only one DiMarzio FS-1 (probably) at the bridge, Gibson style tailpiece instead of the original Moseley tailpiece, Grover Rotomatic tuners.
Ramones – Time Has Come Today (Official Music Video)
A little discussion about that guitar here on facebook, February 2023: Another pic I took of John playing the sunburst Mosrite I traded to him. More pictures of that (unknown) venue here, again by Adam Greiss: More pics I took at that East Hampton show Summer of 1982.
East Hampton, August 29, 1982, Photo: Adam Greiss, source: www.pinterest.com
April 24, 1983
Equipment stolen after Reseda Country Club, Reseda, CA.
Mosrite Ventures (Mark I) 1964 or 65 red
Mosrite Ventures II Slab 1965 brown (refinished to Gold in 1993)
Finally Johnny found an adequate backup guitar in 1984, a brown slab Ventures II (that might have been Sunburst, originally).
Later, for the Ramones‘ „Acid Eaters“ Tour, this guitar had been refinished gold. In opposite to Johnny’s three other slab Ventures II Mosrites this is the only generation 2 slab, s/n B120.
Ramones – Pet Sematary (Official Video)
Ramones – Substitute (Official Video)
Photo: unknown, source: www.reddit.com
Mosrite Ventures II 1966 blue
According to the 2023 auction’s description, „Ramone obtained this guitar in a trade with his friend, Chris Lamy of GG Allin and the Jabbers, when the former desired to have a backup Ventures II at the Daily Planet rehearsal studio. […] According to Lamy, he believes that he traded this Ventures II to Ramone in either 1987 or 1988 and that Ramone likely sold this guitar circa 1990 […]. Given the time period, Lamy believes that Ramone used this guitar for rehearsals during the band’s Brain Drain era.“
In 2015 Chris Lamy remembered trading this Ventures II on February 27th, 1989 for Johnny’s Rickenbacker FA180 and Hamer X X0#¢ to remain in the storage locker and was only used to rehearse for an upcoming European tour (probably 1990).
Here’s a reddit-post about that guitar: Johnny’s (other) blue Mosrite
The original reciept dates Lamy’s purchase to February 13, 1985.
Here’s the 2023 RRAuction ad: Johnny Ramone’s Signed and Rehearsal-Used Blue Mosrite Electric Guitar where it sold for $28,875 on June 22, 2023.
Serial number B546
Photo: RRAuction 2023, source: www.rrauction.com
Gibson Les Paul Custom 1971 Ebony
Johnny Ramone can be seen playing a black Gibson Les Paul Custom on German TV at „Formel Eins“ on June 27, 1985 in Grünwald/Munich, doing a playback performance of „Howling At The Moon“.
Serial number 635122, all original except for one knob (that’s already been changed in 1985). After some research in Bavaria studios I was able to find it in its original instruments rental in Munich ;)
Memphis Stratocaster copy red
Music Convoy, Freibad Münster-Hiltrup, Germany, July 1, 1985
Mosrite Johnny Ramone custom 1989 white
Mosrite Ramones 1990 black
Black custom made one pickup Mosrite – Johnny gave it away to NYC based guitar player Danny Sage, or more probably just picked it up for him from Semie Moseley in Charlotte, NC..
Mosrite Ramones 1990 white
Japanese Mosrite Ventures II white
Japanese Mosrite Ventures II white
signed and inscribed on the reverse of the neck „This is the last guitar played on stage which was in 1998 … Los Angeles, also used on Lollapalooza 1996, Johnny Ramone, 5/11/01“.
This guitar was initially sold at auction in the late 1990s.
June 12, 2012 it was auctioned at Christie’s/London for GBP 22,500/USD 34,785: Lot 111 Johnny Ramone.
Japanese Mosrite Ventures II white
Photo: Rick Weinman 2018, source: facebook.com
Japanese Mosrite Ramones 1974~1996 model 1996 blue
From Daniel Rey’s collection, this guitar was sold at RR Auction on September 25, 2021 for USD 46,875 (USD 37,500 without BP): Johnny Ramone’s Mark-2 (JRB000) Signature Model Guitar.
Photo: RR Auction 2021, source: rrauction.com
Last modification: December 03, 2024
