Johnny Ramone

This image is of Johnny's guitar that we all know him for. Premier Guitar writes in this article " Johnny went through a number of Mosrites over the years, but from 1977 until the band’s last show in 1996 he played a white model with a stop tailpiece and a DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker in the bridge position."

More context: the 1965 Mosrite Ventures II (slab body type) that John used was modified. In stock form, it did not have a TOM Tailpiece, it had Kluson and not Grover tuners, and it had its stock Mosrite pickups. The bridge was left alone, which explains the tape on the guitar to hold it down; the stock bridge was kept in place with metal screws, not wood screws, and the stock tailpiece had a baseplate that was removed from the guitar before John bought it.

When he got the White Ventures II, it already was missing its original tailpiece that was replaced with a TOM Tail. The guitar was already refretted, too. The Grovers were put on after John bought it in October 1977, but before he played it live. This is according to Chris Lamy, who verified the guitar before it went on auction in 2022.

John later added a DiMarzio Pickup to the Bridge position in Mid to Late 1979 (that's verifiable by live footage and photos,) and a Mini Humbucker was added to the Neck position in (it's said) 1983, but it's not clear why when John wasn't normally using the Neck Pickup.

In this photo, one can see Ramone playing white Fender Stratocaster.

Johnny is seen in this image playing his Mosrite Ventures II. Rolling Stone writes in this article "John Cummings made his name with an inexpensive Mosrite guitar, on which he hammered out high-speed downstroked barre chords in a slashing, minimalist style that appropriately became known as 'buzzsaw.'"

This article from Premier Guitar writes "Johnny relied on a Mosrite Ventures II model guitar. He often said that he went to 48th Street in Manhattan—music row—looking for the cheapest guitar he could find. This is true, but he was also looking for something that would separate him visually from the soft-rock players of the day. Made only in 1965, the Ventures II model was the company’s entry-level Mosrite guitar, and it had a basswood slab body, a thin and fast neck, plastic trim and knobs, and single-coil pickups."

Used from 1974 until 1975. It can be heard on the ‘915 sessions’ demo and can also be seen during the rehearsal video filmed in Arturo Vega’s loft.

This photo is of Johnny Recording 'The Ramones,' New York City, February 1976 according to this Spin article. Premier Guitar writes in this article "when money was finally available, Johnny purchased not one but three Marshall 1959 Mark II Super Lead heads and six Marshall 1960B 4x12 straight cabinets."

Johnny Ramone used these rare Ramones picks, as shown in the user-uploaded photo on 40ouncebeer. These picks were specifically made for the Ramones and were also used by Dee Dee and C.J. Ramone.

From 1983 until the last show in ‘96 Johnny used JCM800’s. These were the twin vertical input 100w 2203’s with 6550 tubes.

Johnny Ramone used a DiMarzio FS-1 in the bridge position according to Guitar Geek.

"So when money was finally available, Johnny purchased not one but three Marshall 1959 Mark II Super Lead heads and six Marshall 1960B 4x12 straight cabinets" - excerpt from Premier Guitar's article about punks' gear.

Johnny owned 2 Custom Hamer’s. Both built to his specs. Unbound, thinner, contoured bodys and slimmer necks. Serial number 0185 was made in 1979. Modified with Schaller tuners and his favoured Dimarzio FS-1 in the neck. The second, serial XX0#¢ was made in 1980 and was left unmodified. Both were later on traded for Mosrite’s.

Made early ‘71, serial number 635122. Used only once for a German TV show lip syncing ‘Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La) in 1985.

In his 1990 rig, Johnny used a Boss Tu-12H, according to this Guitar Geek rig diagram.

Used very rarely as a backup in 1977. This is the ‘76 model with the ‘chickenhead’ blender on the lower horn. Natural satin finish, white pickguard and with an ebony fretboard.

Johnny Ramone used a Seymour Duncan Mini Humbucker in the neck position according to Guitar Geek.

Johnny used two Marshall JMP 100s in 1990, according to Guitar Geek.

This photo has appeared in an old issue of Creem magazine and also Guitar World. It is likely that this guitar was only used for a couple of shows. Here Johnny is on the left (Dee Dee's side) of the stage but they already are using Marshalls so I would date the photo to early 1976.

As a fan of the Beatles, Ramone was eager to purchase a Rickenbacker. He acquired his 450 guitar in 1977 and used it throughout the late Seventies, during the group’s time performing at CBGB in New York City’s East Village, and into the early Eighties. This Rickenbacker is the second-oldest documented guitar belonging to Ramone. All of his earlier guitars were stolen in 1977, except for this guitar and his white Mosrite, which was also purchased in 1977.

When recording the first Ramones album in 1976, John used a studio guitar: a 1965 - early 1966 Mosrite Ventures model in Blue.

John also had another Ventures model in Red which he occasionally used in the 1980s. It was modified to his specs.

Before joining the Ramones, Johnny Ramone played bass in a band called The Tangerine Puppets, where he used a Framus 5/150 Star Bass. This is documented in the story "RAMONES: RICHARD ADLER'S TELL STORY OF THE '60s" on Ramonesheaven, which includes one of the few existing photos of him during this early period.

Johnny Ramone used a custom white Hamer Special guitar, later modifying it with a single coil pickup in the bridge. This information is supported by images found on Yahoo Image Search.

On the Mosrite forum, it's revealed that Johnny used Dean Markley Blue Steels. Johnny used surprisingly light strings; 9-42 and 8-38!