| Stories about Eric Johnson's ear for details are | | | | world-class and some of the most fascinating pickups |
| well-known. Honestly, how many people do you know | | | | we have heard. |
| who can hear the difference between various battery | | | | The wiring configuration mimics Eric's preferred Strat |
| types used in effects pedals? Not many. This is a guy | | | | modification, so the tone controls affect the neck and |
| who's somewhat particular about his gear, to say the | | | | bridge pickup, not the common neck/middle |
| least. | | | | configuration. |
| When Fender declared that they would be bringing out | | | | The headstock also lacks string trees, since Johnson |
| an Eric Johnson Artist Stratocaster, it became instantly | | | | asserts that they impede tuning constancy. Instead, the |
| evident to me that EJ wouldn't put his name on | | | | Eric Johnson Stratocaster uses staggered string trees. |
| anything that wasn't absolutely first-rate. | | | | Though it seems like an unusual request, EJ also |
| Since Johnson prefers a 1957 Fender Stratocaster as | | | | insisted that the tremolo cavity not have a cover plate. |
| his main instrument, the company used that as the | | | | Furthermore, he wanted the cavity left paint-free, |
| foundation for the Eric Johnson Stratocaster, where | | | | asserting that this helps the vibrant qualities of the |
| the gifted Mr. Johnson would have final say on | | | | instrument. |
| everything from the screws to the pickguard. | | | | All of these particular modifications and suggestions |
| The first thing Eric wanted was a quality finish that | | | | leave us with an instrument as engaging as the artist |
| didn't hurt the guitar's natural resonance, so Fender | | | | who inspired it. Though it pays homage to Fender's |
| chose a super-thin nitrocellulose lacquer. | | | | vintage history, it notwithstanding is a thoroughly |
| The neck is also a thing of beauty, since Johnson | | | | modern instrument in many ways. |
| decided on a one-piece, quartersawn maple neck. The | | | | The pickups have a chime, punch, and bounce that |
| 12" radius results in terrific playability, and the | | | | rank them, again, as some of the best Strat pickups |
| thin-skinned glossy lacquer and vintage tint give the | | | | we've ever heard. The playability is first rate as well, |
| neck a beautiful appearance. | | | | so don't hold back in trying some of your "Cliffs of |
| The pickups bear the same level of detail and | | | | Dover" licks. |
| attention. The Fender team (with Johnson's input) | | | | Coupled with the vintage-style case, you're left with a |
| previewed nineteen varieties of pickups before settling | | | | world-class instrument that bears the mark of its |
| on the ultimate model. Though it took some time, the | | | | world-class designer. You can't go wrong with an Eric |
| payoff was worth it in the end. These pickups are | | | | Johnson Stratocaster! |