Anyone got an Eric Johnson strat yet? [Archive]

fjs1962

04-19-2005, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by buddastrat
I have played some '56 relics that had thinnish necks too. Maybe they'll vary like every other Fender.

That's true, and it seems to me the 10/56 has grown over the recent years, at least the ones I've tried in the stores. The only thing is Fender is making such a big deal about the close tolerances of the EJ I wonder if they will vary much, at least at first.

Actually I can't really imagine I'll like a EJ better than my Suhrs with the 56 Big V necks, but being a Strat fan I still want to check one out.

OWENMUSTANG

04-19-2005, 02:08 PM

the only thing i'm not crazy about is 12 radius. a little flat if you ask me..

fjs1962

04-19-2005, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by OWENMUSTANG
the only thing i'm not crazy about is 12 radius. a little flat if you ask me..

I feel the same way. My Suhrs have 10-14, which is a nice blend of easy chording low and clean bending up high. I also like the straight 10" on my PRSs. I have a Anderson with 12-14, and it feels a little flat to me for chords, although it's not terrible.

buddastrat

04-20-2005, 10:56 AM

You're pro'lly right about the tolerance being stricter on the EJ's. But you never know 'till ya try.

I think a 9.5" or 10" or 12" radius is the ultimate blend of feel and playability. Gibson is 12" and it doesn't feel too flat for me.

I really like the old Hamer Daytona USA strats and they had a 14". That was pretty flat feeling but I got along with it. But that's pushing it, and every time I play it, it feels a little uncomfortable for chords and lead. I like the curve for leads too.

I'm reading these are showing up and I gotta read some reviews from people. Anyone got one??? I WANT my EJ dammit!!!!!! I'm gonna explode with GAS!

fjs1962

04-20-2005, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by buddastrat
Gibson is 12" and it doesn't feel too flat for me.

The funny thing is 12" doesn't bother me so much on a Gibson. I guess it is the shorter scale length or something.

OWENMUSTANG

04-21-2005, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by fjs1962
The funny thing is 12" doesn't bother me so much on a Gibson. I guess it is the shorter scale length or something.

I agree. with strats i seem to be happy with either 9.5 or 10
might be a mental thing or something:confused:

buddastrat

04-22-2005, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by fjs1962
I was pretty excited about them until I heard the neck carve is slimmer like the 57RI instead of the fat 10/56 Fender neck I like.

Hey bro', I just read a review by a guy who got his black EJ strat. He said you better like fat necks. Says it's as fat as his R8! That's fat.

fjs1962

04-22-2005, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by buddastrat
Hey bro', I just read a review by a guy who got his black EJ strat. He said you better like fat necks. Says it's as fat as his R8! That's fat.

That sounds promising! The couple of guys I talked to who got to play the EJ at NAMM said they had the 57RI V neck carve. I have a friend who writes a gear column for one of the trade papers and he's supposed to have a EJ coming to review, so I'll get to try one in the next month or so.

buddastrat

04-22-2005, 08:36 PM

Yeah the guy that wrote the review has a 57 and says it's way thicker like a gibby reissue. He warned that many might be turned off by it. I was like, bring it on!!

buddastrat

04-22-2005, 08:38 PM

I have a sunburst one coming to me early next week. I'll let you know how it feels. I also have an R8 and a Nocaster. No punk necks here!:D

tuna

04-22-2005, 09:01 PM

Here is where you can find his review

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=486822

KLB

04-23-2005, 07:44 AM

The thing about necks is that you can have a really thick neck -- I mean 1" continuous from the 1st fret to the 12th -- but if the nut width is 1.63-1.65" and the sides are tapered enough, you don't notice the bigness. Meanwhile, you will have a really stable and good sounding piece of wood.

I play a Morgaine Mintage '57 with a neck like I described above. I would never thought I would like it so much, but I do. I've owned a really big neck Jeff Beck Strat in the past. The Morgaine neck is actually thicker, but the narrower nut width and soft "V" shape make it much more playable. Very comfortable, in fact. I never could bond with the JB neck because it had too much shoulder that got in the way, along with the 1-11/16" nut width.

I look forward to trying the EJ strat, preferably in Candy Apple Red.

Cheers,
Ken

fjs1962

04-23-2005, 07:56 AM

Originally posted by KLB
if the nut width is 1.63-1.65" and the sides are tapered enough, you don't notice the bigness.

That's what I've found as well. I like the PRS wide/fats on my McCartys, but I also like the SUhr 56 Big V, which is deeper but not as wide at the nut, and also has a nice soft V shape. I tried a Suhr with the Even C Huge neck, which is the same depth as the Big V but in a C shape, and it was too clubby for me. I also have a R7 Les Paul and the neck on it is pretty clubby to me, but it sounds so good I don't mind fighting it a little :)

I want to try a EJ Strat, and I may have to have one if the neck isn't too slim. I think I want a black one since I already have a 2 color burst Suhr.

KLB

04-23-2005, 08:20 AM

I just got off the phone with Musician's Friend.
A Black EJ Strat is coming my way next week.
I will report back here after getting it.

Black isn't my first choice in color, but I reasoned that it will have a thinner finish than on the CAR and Sunburst guitars. Plus since they can choose the wood strictly for tone, they don't have to worry about how the wood grain looks as with the Sunburst and Blonde finishes. Maybe that's why Black ones are available first?

Candy Apple red has multiple, heavier finish coats, so should give the most muted tone of all.

The pickups really have me tweaked! Here is the Fender description included in a note in the guitar case:

"Each pickup is unique in structure and performance. The neck pickup is based on the 54 strat pickup with oversize Alnico 3 magnets. The middle pickup is based on a 63 strat pickup, uses specially treated alnico magnets and is wound for hum cancellation when used with the neck or bridge pickup. The bridge pickup uses alnico 5 magnets and is specially voiced to be hotter without sacrificing sparkle."

Except for early studio stuff from Seven Worlds, I have not heard EJ use the middle pickup in combination with neck or bridge. Even nowadays, I think he rarely uses the middle by itself.

I better stop thinking about this baby now or I'll get real gas!

Cheers,
Ken

fjs1962

04-23-2005, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by KLB
Maybe that's why Black ones are available first?

I was thinking the other colors had already been gobbled up by pre-orders? I know Sweetwater has (or did have) a sunburst and a CAR in stock.

Be sure to report back when you get it. I'm going to hold off until I hear more about the necks.

KLB

04-23-2005, 09:15 AM

It looks like I made an incorrect assumption about the black color being available first. Thanks for pointing that out. The guy who wrote the review on the Fender Forum has #669, so there must be a bunch of various colors in circulation already.

- Ken

pfrischmann

04-23-2005, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by KLB
I just got off the phone with Musician's Friend.
A Black EJ Strat is coming my way next week.
I will report back here after getting it.

Black isn't my first choice in color, but I reasoned that it will have a thinner finish than on the CAR and Sunburst guitars. Plus since they can choose the wood strictly for tone, they don't have to worry about how the wood grain looks as with the Sunburst and Blonde finishes. Maybe that's why Black ones are available first?

Candy Apple red has multiple, heavier finish coats, so should give the most muted tone of all.

The pickups really have me tweaked! Here is the Fender description included in a note in the guitar case:

"Each pickup is unique in structure and performance. The neck pickup is based on the 54 strat pickup with oversize Alnico 3 magnets. The middle pickup is based on a 63 strat pickup, uses specially treated alnico magnets and is wound for hum cancellation when used with the neck or bridge pickup. The bridge pickup uses alnico 5 magnets and is specially voiced to be hotter without sacrificing sparkle."

Except for early studio stuff from Seven Worlds, I have not heard EJ use the middle pickup in combination with neck or bridge. Even nowadays, I think he rarely uses the middle by itself.

I better stop thinking about this baby now or I'll get real gas!

Cheers,
Ken

Awww Ken, You're killin' me!!

Please let me know what you think. I've been waiting years for this one.

Impulse 101

04-23-2005, 11:02 AM

No offense but I'd fall over dead of shock if Fender selected the wood on a production instrument for anything more than the fact that it was a piece of wood.

JT

BPlexico

04-23-2005, 11:16 AM

Well, if nothing else they are certainly taking weight into account - my brother received his earlier this week (sunburst - s/n #36) from Wildwood Guitars - of the four sunburst models they received - all were within the 7.4 - 7.6 lb weight range....

As to Musician's Friend - they got the Black ones in first - their initial shipment of Sunbursts (25 total) were sent out to customers via UPS on Friday...

-- Barr

KLB

04-23-2005, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by Impulse 101
No offense but I'd fall over dead of shock if Fender selected the wood on a production instrument for anything more than the fact that it was a piece of wood.

JT

Perhaps you are right. EJ did specify a weight range, however.
Time will tell how consistent these are. I hate to buy sight unseen, but the early anticipation was more than I could stand, and I doubted I could get as good a price locally when the 8% sales tax is figured in. All online sellers seem to be giving a 30% discount, or about $1610 net.

There will no doubt be those who buy/sell lots of EJ Siggies looking for the ONE. Dealer cost is probably near $1100, so there will be some wiggle room on price eventually.

I've been a big EJ fan since April 1979 when I saw him, Billy Maddox and Kyle Brock open for the Dixie Dregs at the Georgia Tech Student Center Ballroom. Everyone in the group I was with was totally blown away. The Dregs were anticlimatic, if you can believe that. We left when they set off their stinky/noisy flashpots during "Cruise Control."

Cheers,
Ken

larrylover

04-24-2005, 01:36 PM

Ahhhhhhhh. I'll wait until next year when they will be giving them away...........

+1

tuna

04-24-2005, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by BPlexico
Well, if nothing else they are certainly taking weight into account - my brother received his earlier this week (sunburst - s/n #36) from Wildwood Guitars - of the four sunburst models they received - all were within the 7.4 - 7.6 lb weight range....
-- Barr

Over on the FDP in the same thread I linked earlier, one guy was saying that he spoke to Mike Eldred with the Custom Shop @ NAMM and the first 1000 of these were going to be assembled by the Custom Shop.

buddastrat

04-24-2005, 02:54 PM

"first 1000 assembled by CS." Oh boy, here comes an ebay marketing scam!

I was going with black too, but all I can think of is Clapton when I'm looking at it. Nothing wrong with that of course.

I'm getting the Sunburst on Tues.

fjs1962

04-24-2005, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by tuna
the first 1000 of these were going to be assembled by the Custom Shop.

From what I've heard the Custom Shop is just another assembly line these days anyway. Not like a Masterbuilt, where one builder follows the guitar from start to finish.

cswolfe

04-24-2005, 04:15 PM

It's funny (and great) that we all have such different preferences.

For me, I LOVE the less curvy neck radius (as the next time I buzz out on two step bend above the 12th on a strat I'm going to throw it through a window. ;) )

And I can handle about any size neck on feel (though prefer the sound of bigger necks). About the only thing I cannot handle (which differs from most peops) is even a *hint* of a "V."

I've had to pass on otherwise great guitars because of the shape of the neck.

Looking forward to the reviews.

best,

sterling
"the first 1000 of these were going to be assembled by the Custom Shop." LOL -- the key word there being of course "assembled."

Maybe that means the setup will be less than the TOTAL embarrassment my recent American Ash Strat HSS was, but it sure doesn't mean much more than that.

tuna

04-24-2005, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by cswolfe
"the first 1000 of these were going to be assembled by the Custom Shop." LOL -- the key word there being of course "assembled."

Definitely the key word. I have one on order in two tone sunburst. I had the opportunity to check one out briefly that was spoken for by Carter Gravitt of Carbon Leaf. It was a really nice guitar and after listening to Carter run it through its paces, I can't wait for it to show.

HHB

04-25-2005, 09:07 AM

did'nt plug it in but I did play one yesterday for just a minute, I've lost my GAS bigtime, I was expecting a much better nitro finish on the neck, it was nitro but applied in the fashion of 1977 poly, I did like the soft V neck and the weight was great, but the neck finish surprised me, I guess the relics and clostet classics have spoiled me, that and the Suhr classic that I played before the EJ.

fjs1962

04-25-2005, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by HHB
I guess the relics and clostet classics have spoiled me, that and the Suhr classic that I played before the EJ.

That's what I'm afraid of too. I like the idea of a Fender with the specs of the EJ, but I already have two nice Suhr Classics and it doesn't make sense for me to buy something not up to the same standards.

HHB

04-25-2005, 09:30 AM

if you need a killer strat, the EJ w/ some elbow grease and hand attention would be a fantastic strat, BUT , if you own 2 Suhrs nitro is the only "gain" and I just don't see it ( and I wanted to see it )

Mark

04-25-2005, 01:18 PM

HHB

04-25-2005, 07:49 PM

Mark, I've never tried the current AV57, I had an old 80's usa reissue 64 , should have kept it. I guess I just wasnt expecting the amount of neck finish, it seemed excessive and poorly applied, tacky like those mid 90 Gibsons, I know nitro can be applied smoothly, I own guitars w/ that type application. Maybe thats how the old guitars were when new and they wore down, I'm not THAT old LOL. You really need to try one for yourself, I'm looking to try another just to be sure , but I doubt I'll bite considering the Suhr I played, the Hamer Daytona I have coming and the old Schecter strat I own

OldSchool

04-25-2005, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by tuna
Here is where you can find his review

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=486822

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! I hit the link without looking at it and I saw TFF Baby crap yellow!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

Horrible flashback.............please post warnings next time...... :(

Thanks..............;)

BPlexico

04-26-2005, 10:09 PM

Hi -

Just got in my Eric Johnson Strat in Sunburst - low serial # < 50. It was ordered from MF in late March - I believe this was the first batch of Sunbursts they got in - which would have been around last Thursday.

Very nice case - and the guitar was surprisingly light weight. No scale handy so I have no idea what the actualy weight is.

The tremolo comes with five springs - though the fifth was lying on the bottom of the case - my brother reports the same with the one he received. Oddly the Fender website lists it as coming with four springs...

Nice setup on the guitar - I thought the guitar might be strung with nine's, but the Fender website states they are tens.

The neck on mine was not tacky - but the lacquer finish on the back did not seem as thin as the 54 Materbuilt I tried recently. Nor was my hand able to move as smoothly over it compared to the 54.

Unplugged it sounds lively with good resonance. As I just got home I have not yet had a chance to plug in the guitar and take it through its paces.

Very nice fretwork on mine - overall the setup is quite good. I will report further once I get a chance to spend more time with her.

-- Barr

BPlexico

04-26-2005, 11:56 PM

And some quick pictures if anyone is interested:

http://home.comcast.net/~bplexico/ej1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bplexico/ej2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bplexico/ej3.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bplexico/ej4.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bplexico/ej5.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bplexico/ej6.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bplexico/ej7.jpg

pfrischmann

04-27-2005, 05:36 AM

Originally posted by HHB
Mark, I've never tried the current AV57, I had an old 80's usa reissue 64 , should have kept it. I guess I just wasnt expecting the amount of neck finish, it seemed excessive and poorly applied, tacky like those mid 90 Gibsons, I know nitro can be applied smoothly, I own guitars w/ that type application. Maybe thats how the old guitars were when new and they wore down, I'm not THAT old LOL. You really need to try one for yourself, I'm looking to try another just to be sure , but I doubt I'll bite considering the Suhr I played, the Hamer Daytona I have coming and the old Schecter strat I own

American Schecters (new or old) don't get enoug credit IMHO

buddastrat

04-27-2005, 11:20 AM

Just got my two tone as well. Here's my take on it. Super lightweight two tone, and looks flawless in everyway. Perfect neck pocket fit. The quartersawn neck looks pretty wild, especially the fingerboard grain. It goes the opposite way from the usual.

The 2 and 4 positions are noise cancelling and the magnets have a pretty unique stagger. They are also very close to the strings.
String balls stick out a little because the holes are shallow on the trem block. Bone nut!

It's so lightweight, and has flawless finishing. The neck is really chunky and totally round. there is no V apparent on this one. It's FAT. Wide, flat frets. the fretboard is flat but doesn't feel flat. this is the lowest action on a strat I've played! It really feels like a Gibson historic neck on a strat! The neck is similar to my R8. Cool!

I mostly played the guitar acoustically. So I can't comment on the pickups much. But the guitar is extremely resonant and snappy. Tight sounding. Must be the quartersawn neck. I had a USA maple neck that was quartersawn and it was very bright sounding too. chick'n pick'n machine here. Harmonics leap off this thing too.

Trem has five springs and no holes drilled, like already stated in another review.

I do have a couple quirks about it. The finish seems real glossy and sorta nitro-sticky also very orangey vintage tint like the aftermarket Fender necks and MIM vintage. The other small complaint is the high E string, though it has lots of wraps still needs some more angle as it "sitars" a little in the nut. there is no string tree on these. It's still a smokin' machine and the resonance is a lot like a hard tail, though it has a trem.

I compared it to my 69 relic strat and the 69 is more woody sounding and also thicker with more low end (it's a bit heavier in weight too, though still on the light side). The EJ is very percussive, clear and chimey and very lightweight. both are two piece alder w/maple necks.

KLB

04-27-2005, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by buddastrat
(snip...)
The neck is really chunky and totally round. there is no V apparent on this one. It's FAT. Wide, flat frets.

(snip...)

The finish seems real glossy and sorta nitro-sticky also very orangey vintage tint like the aftermarket Fender necks and MIM vintage.

(snip...)

I compared it to my 69 relic strat and the 69 is more woody sounding and also thicker with more low end (it's a bit heavier in weight too, though still on the light side). The EJ is very percussive, clear and chimey and very lightweight. both are two piece alder w/maple necks.

No "V" on the neck? It should have. Others have said that theirs had a definite "V", progressing to a "C." You sample has me uneasy about normal Fender production QC, at least regarding their ability to build a guitar within spec.

As for the sticky nitro, leave it out of the case on a stand for several months -- when you are not playing it, of course. It will harden and continue to do so as it gets older. Later, you can smooth the neck backside even more using the special MicroMesh sandpaper that Stew-Mac sells.

Scott Petersen wrote up an excellent article a few months ago.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54369&highlight=stewmac

EJ's tone doesn't really have a lot of low bass, especiallly considering he uses those Nickel Rockers, gauged 10-13-18-26-38-50. His clean neck tone is shimmery, and his bridge tone has a wide midrange swing.

I've found that heavier guitars usually have more bottom and punch. Not necessarily better, just a tendency.

Thanks for the brief review. Now please plug that thang in and let us know how it rocks!

- Ken

04-27-2005, 01:02 PM

a historic sized neck on a strat has me ready to order right now!

04-27-2005, 02:28 PM

I wonder if the lack of trem cover is for ease of access, or if he actually hears a difference. While I would prefer one for aesthetic reasons, it doesn't bother me enough to not order one.

I haven't been this excited over a new guitar in a long time.

59burst

04-27-2005, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by Lou V
a historic sized neck on a strat has me ready to order right now!

Not to change the direction of this thread too much, but after going through a number of CS time machine reissues, I realized what I really wanted was an s-style with a neck like my Historic R8. I had Bill Nash build me one - an ash bodied, flame maple with slab brazilian board necked, nitro-finished, super lightweight, super toneful masterpiece. I spec'd it out exactly to my dreams and it cost significantly less than even a stock factory offering.

BTW, I also briefly played the EJ strat at NAMM (there was a red one, IIRC), and it was great. I recall the neck had a very slight V and was very comfortable.:dude

Mark C

04-27-2005, 04:31 PM

Originally posted by 59burst
Not to change the direction of this thread too much, but after going through a number of CS time machine reissues, I realized what I really wanted was an s-style with a neck like my Historic R8. I had Bill Nash build me one - an ash bodied, flame maple with slab brazilian board necked, nitro-finished, super lightweight, super toneful masterpiece. I spec'd it out exactly to my dreams and it cost significantly less than even a stock factory offering.

BTW, I also briefly played the EJ strat at NAMM (there was a red one, IIRC), and it was great. I recall the neck had a very slight V and was very comfortable.:dude

I just did the same and ordered parts from USA custom. Got two big necks with 10" radius on the way for a strat and a tele. Good prices, great customer service and if they live up to half the hype I've heard about the USACG products, I'll be a happy man!

59burst

04-27-2005, 04:39 PM

The body and neck for mine came from USA Custom, and they turned out superb. I was very impressed with both USACG and Nash.

buddastrat

04-27-2005, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by KLB
No "V" on the neck? It should have. Others have said that theirs had a definite "V", progressing to a "C." You sample has me uneasy about normal Fender production QC, at least regarding their ability to build a guitar within spec.

As for the sticky nitro, leave it out of the case on a stand for several months -- when you are not playing it, of course. It will harden and continue to do so as it gets older. Later, you can smooth the neck backside even more using the special MicroMesh sandpaper that Stew-Mac sells.

Scott Petersen wrote up an excellent article a few months ago.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54369&highlight=stewmac

EJ's tone doesn't really have a lot of low bass, especiallly considering he uses those Nickel Rockers, gauged 10-13-18-26-38-50. His clean neck tone is shimmery, and his bridge tone has a wide midrange swing.

I've found that heavier guitars usually have more bottom and punch. Not necessarily better, just a tendency.

Thanks for the brief review. Now please plug that thang in and let us know how it rocks!

- Ken

No V at all! I hate V feel and this has none. Not even slight. It's a real full C all the way. I agree with heavier guitars usually have a fuller bottom. Also about Eric's tone.

It sounds like Eric's clean tone even while I play it acoustically!!!!!!!!

the neck isn't really sticky (as in not cured), it's just too much gloss sorta thing. I like raw, oiled necks and if I keep this, it will get the sandpaper treatment! I'm not kidding. No micro mesh, 200 up to 600 grit!

johnc

04-28-2005, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by HHB
did'nt plug it in but I did play one yesterday for just a minute, I've lost my GAS bigtime, I was expecting a much better nitro finish on the neck, it was nitro but applied in the fashion of 1977 poly, I did like the soft V neck and the weight was great, but the neck finish surprised me, I guess the relics and clostet classics have spoiled me, that and the Suhr classic that I played before the EJ.

I saw the same guitar that HHB is speaking of and I concur 100% with his thoughts. I was sort of disappointed too. The neck finish seemed pretty thick and I didn't really like that fake orangey colored stain that Fender used to make the neck look old.

My Suhr strat feels and resonates so much better than the EJ strat.

Keep in mind I didn't get a chance to plug this guitar in. So there's a chance it might be OK. But, based on it's natural acoustics and the look and feel of the neck, I sort of lost my GAS too.

buddastrat

04-28-2005, 10:34 AM

Johnc, I agree with the neck observations. The particular EJ I have here will vibrate right off yer leg though. It's crazy resonant and while I've played a tone of high end strats from every make, this one is the most resonant of any. It's unreal.

While craftsmanship is so important, it really comes down to the particular piece of woods, another EJ could be quite different.

johnc

04-28-2005, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by buddastrat
While craftsmanship is so important, it really comes down to the particular piece of woods, another EJ could be quite different.

Agreed.

I haven't totally written off getting an EJ; I've just slipped a little more into the try-it-before-you-buy-it mode. I guess with MF's return policy I would only be out the shipping charges if I shouldn't like it.

I still wish they would have used a more natural looking stain on the neck or maybe no stain at all.