Johnson Instruments is a trademark of The Music Link, a California-based distributor that was founded in the 1990s and owns a portfolio of entry- and mid-level instrument brands alongside Recording King, The Loar, AXL, and VHT amplifiers. Johnson was established in 1993 and has built its catalog around affordable, beginner-friendly gear produced in Asian factories operated or contracted by the parent company.

The brand's lineup spans acoustic guitars, solid-body and semi-hollow electric guitars, electric and acoustic basses, mandolins, ukuleles, banjos, and guitar amplifiers. Johnson is best known in the folk and roots community for its budget resonator guitars, including single-cone metalbody and woodbody models, tricones, and resonator mandolins — instruments modeled on classic National- and Dobro-style designs with spun-aluminum cones, bell brass bodies, and nickel plating. Typical models include the JR-series resonator guitars and the MA-100 mandolin.

Within the resonator and acoustic markets, Johnson is generally positioned as an inexpensive entry point — priced below sister brand Recording King and frequently recommended to beginners or players wanting to experiment with resonator tone without committing to a pro-level instrument. Reviews on forums such as Reso Hangout, Mandolin Cafe, and the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum describe the instruments as playable starter pieces with limitations in tone and finish quality compared to higher-tier builders.

Johnson Instruments has 36 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, and Steel-string Acoustic Guitars. Their gear is featured by 5 artists, with the strongest followings in Pop, Rock, and Funk / Soul. Notable users include John Dwyer, Amy Winehouse, and Tommy Siegel.