Hang ten
Basses, Amps and other gear of the
Ramones
Johnny Ramone's guitar amps
Electro Harmonix Mike Matthews Freedom Amp Quad, 1974
The Ramones started not with Marshall Amps but used rare solid state EHX 4×10″ combos in their first two years. They were used live until early 1976 when Johnny bought the Marshalls after having been signed by Sire Records. There are early 1976 photos where the Freedom Amps and a Marshall head are used live. As the Freedom Amp has two inputs two amps can be used in a row.
According to Ed Stasium one of the Freedom Amps have been used on the recording of „End of the Century“. Both Quads remained at the Ramones‘ rehearsal room over all the years.
Marshall 1959 JMP Super Lead 100W – 1975
After the Ramones were signed by Sire Johnny bought two Marshall 100W heads (US-model with polarity switch) with two straight 4×12″ Marshall 1960B cabinets with checkerboard grill cloth. As the stuff is completely stock, the cabinet should have been equipped with Rola Celestion G12M Black Backs.
Around mid 1976 a third Marshall head (this time one without the polarity switch) and two 4×12″ Marshall 1960A cabinets were added.
It seems that in 1977 one of the first Marshalls has been replaced with a later JMP 1959 with larger logo and rocker switches. Around that time another 1960B cabinet was added.
Two of the 1959s were played live, wheather via Y-link from the guitar or patched:
– guitar -> Y -> input channel I top (bright channel, high sensitivity) at both 1959s
– guitar -> input channel I top (bright channel, high sensitivity) at 1959 (1) -> out from input I bottom (low channel, high sensitivity)-> input channel I top (bright channel, high sensitivity) at 1959 (2)
Marshall 1959 JMP Super Lead 100W – 1977
After the Ramones truck was stolen October 1977 Johnny bought three current 1959 Marshall 100W heads (thicker binding, bigger logo and rocker switches):
4816J (1977)
5399J (1977)
00754M (1980)
1983 back line:
47735 (before July 1969)
Johnny used them again with two straight 4×12″ Marshall 1960B cabinets and two 4×12″ Marshall 1960A with checkerboard grill cloth, although it seems he had some more:
1117
1189
1318
1417
5738
5007
1322
Marshall 2203 JCM800 Master Volume 100W – 1983
After the Ramones truck was stolen again in April 1983 Johnny bought three current 2203 Marshall 100W Master Volume heads (JCM800), although the 1959 Super Lead was still available in the JCM800 series.
5175R (1983)
5180R (1983)
519xR (1983)
A5994F (1974)
and used them again with two straight 4×12″ Marshall 1960B cabinets and two 4×12″ Marshall 1960A:
6131
6129
5814
6122
5805
Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W – 1974
Later (when?) Johnny added another 1959:
A5994F (1974)
Yamaha G50-112
Seems Johnny used a Yamaha G50-112 for the warm ups.
Fender Champ – 1979
For the before-show-warm-ups Johnny used a small Fender Champ, serial number A961258 (1979)
Dee Dee Ramone's basses
Danelectro Shorthorn DC 3412 Bass – early 1960s
Bought January 1974 at Manny’s when Johnny bought his blue Mosrite.
CBGB, NYC, September 15th, 1974
Fender Musicmaster bass – early 1970s
Bought after Dee Dee broke his Danelectro.
Guild B301-A, natural – 1978
Fender Precision bass – 1978
Olympic White turned Cream w/ black pickguard, 1975 or 1978, auctioned January 2016 for 37,995.–. GBase: 1975 Fender® Dee Dee Ramones Personal Bass
Fender Precision bass – 1978/79
S903348
White w/ red pickguard, 1978/79, given away by Dee Dee November 19, 1981, auctioned at Christie’s in June 2011 for 16,400,– USD.
Fender Precision bass – 1983
E317525
Olympic White turned Cream w/ white pickguard, 1983 „Something to Believe In“ video, sold to Barry Apfel, auctioned in December 2017 for 35,870.45 USD. RRAuction: Dee Dee Ramone Used Bass Guitar, pictures here at icollector: Dee Dee Ramone Used Bass Guitar.
Fender Precision bass – 1983
S817607
Olympic White turned Cream w/ white pickguard, „Old Grey Whistle Test“ February 26, 1985, given to Jeff ‘Truckie’ Golden in lieu of one weeks pay by Ramones manager Monte Melnick after being left behind in an equipment locker at S. I. R. in NYC after Dee Dee Ramone quit the band. Auctioned in October 2014 for 37,694.48 USD. RRAuction: Dee Dee Ramone — Stage-used Guitar, pictures here at icollector: Dee Dee Ramone — Stage-used Guitar.
Fender Precision Basses 1983:
S899028, S906667, S90963
Fender Precision bass – 1983
Fender Precision Basses 1983:
S899028 (1977/ late 78)
S906667 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
S90963x
Fender Precision Basses 1994 (CJ)
E327426 (late 1982 – early 1985)
S906452 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
ESP "Precision" bass, red – Spider – 1986
Fender Precision Basses 1983:
S899028 (1977/ late 78)
S906667 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
S90963x
Fender Precision Basses 1994 (CJ)
E327426 (late 1982 – early 1985)
S906452 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
ESP "Thunderbird" bass, yellow – Dragon – 1988
Fender Precision Basses 1983:
S899028 (1977/ late 78)
S906667 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
S90963x
Fender Precision Basses 1994 (CJ)
E327426 (late 1982 – early 1985)
S906452 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
ESP bass – Cream
Fender Precision Basses 1983:
S899028 (1977/ late 78)
S906667 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
S90963x
Fender Precision Basses 1994 (CJ)
E327426 (late 1982 – early 1985)
S906452 (late 1978, 1979, 1980 or early 1981)
Dee Dee Ramone's bass amps
Kustom 250-1 with matching Kustom 2-15 bass cabinet, black Tuck'n'Roll – early 1970s
Played until January 1976.
Photo: Danny Fields, source: we-heart.com
Ampeg SVT
100339
Purchased in April 1983 and was one of the SVT bass amps used on stage by Dee Dee Ramone until his departure in 1989. CJ Ramone then used the amp until the band broke up in 1996. s/n 100339. Auctioned in July 2017 for 13,089.13 USD. https://rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3394999
The second matching stage used SVT amp is in the Ramones Museum in Berlin, Germany.
Ampegs 1983:
13312
133231
16124
Ampegs 1994:
100337
100339
100380
Ampeg SVT810E 800W 8x10
Purchased in April 1983 and was one of the SVT bass cabinets used on stage by Dee Dee Ramone until his departure in 1989. CJ Ramone then used the amp until the band broke up in 1996. Northern Case road case, s/n 292. Auctioned in July 2017 for 8,892.28 USD. https://rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3395000
The second matching stage used SVT cabinet is in the Ramones Museum in Berlin, Germany.
Cabinets 1983:
126530
128377
139001
126439
Cabinets 1994:
200373
200374
200375
Yamaha B100
18267
C-Jay Ramone's basses
Fender Jazz Bass
Maybe a copy, covered in stickers. Used for the audition and later in the video for „Merry Christmas“.
Photo: CJ Ramone, source: instagram.com/theecjramone
Mosrite Custom bass
100339
Purchased in April 1983 and was one of the SVT bass amps used on stage by Dee Dee Ramone until his departure in 1989. CJ Ramone then used the amp until the band broke up in 1996. s/n 100339. Auctioned in July 2017 for 13,089.13 USD. https://rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3394999
The second matching stage used SVT amp is in the Ramones Museum in Berlin, Germany.
Ampegs 1983:
13312
133231
16124
Ampegs 1994:
100337
100339
100380
Ampeg SVT810E 800W 8x10
Purchased in April 1983 and was one of the SVT bass cabinets used on stage by Dee Dee Ramone until his departure in 1989. CJ Ramone then used the amp until the band broke up in 1996. Northern Case road case, s/n 292. Auctioned in July 2017 for 8,892.28 USD. https://rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3395000
The second matching stage used SVT cabinet is in the Ramones Museum in Berlin, Germany.
Cabinets 1983:
126530
128377
139001
126439
Cabinets 1994:
200373
200374
200375
Marshall 1959 JMP Super Lead 100W
After the Ramones were signed by Sire Johnny bought two Marshall 100W heads (US-model with polarity switch) with two straight 4×12″ Marshall 1960B cabinets with checkerboard grill cloth. As the stuff is completely stock, the cabinet should have been equipped with Rola Celestion G12 …
Around mid 1976 a third Marshall head (this time one without the polarity switch) and two 4×12″ Marshall 1960A cabinets were added.
It seems that in 1977 one of the first Marshalls has been replaced with a later JMP 1959 with larger logo and rocker switches. Around that time another 1960B cabinet was added.
1994: A5994F (1974)
Photo: Robert Caplin 2009, source: rcaplin.photoshelter.com
Marshall 1959 JMP Super Lead 100W
After the Ramones truck was stolen October 1977 Johnny bought three current 1959 Marshall 100W heads (thicker binding, bigger logo and rocker switches) and used them again with two straight 4×12″ Marshall 1960B cabinets and two 4×12″ Marshall 1960A with checkerboard grill cloth.
Guitar roadie Little Matt has published part of a list that seems to show the eqipment that was stolen in the 1983 theft of the Ryder truck with nearly all the gear that list shows some serial number, so here are these Marshall amps (or some of them):
4816J (1977)
5399J (1977)
00754M (1980)
1983 back line:
47735 (before July 1969)
Marshall 2203 JCM800 Master Volume 100W
1994:
5175R (1983)
5180R (1983)
519xR (1983)
Cabinets: 5805, 5814, 6122, 6129, 6131
Cabinets 1983: 1117, 1189, 1318, 1417, 5738, 5007, 1322
Last modification: September 26, 2021