The EJ Rosewood - definitely an improvement of sorts

[1973Marshall]

Just tried the Eric Johnson Rosewood Strat. It feels smoother, not as sticky, and plays more buttery. The edges are really sweet on the neck thanks to the binding, which is perfectly done and non-obtrusive.

Has a sweet sound, and better "feel' for those that had complains with the maples. It does still hint of the plingy-ness, but even that is lessened a lot. I kinda think I would put Duncan SSL1s or Fender Fat 50s in if I had one.

I wasn't thrilled with the 2 color choices - that baby powder-y blue and the gold kinda color.

[Phil M]

I posted about this yesterday, too. I really dug this guitar and thought it was great player right out of the box. The tropical turqoise finish wasn't too bad either, but not having it in candy apple red is a shame.

As for the pickups, I was OK with the neck but I think all Strat bridge pickups need something beefier.

Both EJs are worth owning. Watch the used markets over the coming months. Pow!

[1973Marshall]

How are the pups different again?

[Bluestar]

I know some have complained about EJ neck stickiness, but that was just never an issue with my 2005 EJ.

Re the pickups - the spec blurbs on the Fender website today are not of much help - for the (1) Maple neck model: "3 Special Design Eric Johnson Pickups with Countersunk Mounting Screws (Neck/Middle/Bridge);" and for (2) the Rosewood neck model: "3 Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil Pickups with Countersunk Mounting Screws (Neck/Middle/Bridge)."

But this is from the spec sheet that came with my EJ: "The pickups are three special design Custom Shop Eric Johnson models, which consist of a ’54 style model with oversized Alnico 3 magnets in the neck position, a ’63 style model with Alnico 3 magnets in the middle position (which is reverse-wound for hum cancellation in the two and four positions on the five-way pickup selector switch), and an Alnico 5 model in the bridge position which is slightly over-wound to provide hotter output without sacrificing top end response."

I'll assume a spec sheet came with a Rosewood neck EJ, and perhaps someone who owns one could post that info.

[lakehaus]

Originally Posted by Bluestar

I know some have complained about EJ neck stickiness, but that was just never an issue with my 2005 EJ.

Ditto on that... and I'm still waiting for it to gunk up.

[Redfish]

Originally Posted by lakehaus

Ditto on that... and I'm still waiting for it to gunk up.

Wow, you guys are lucky. Mine felt like a gym floor for a year and I finally gave up on it. I sanded, micro-meshed, naptha'd, you name it. Unplayable.

[KazJY]

Originally Posted by Redfish

Wow, you guys are lucky. Mine felt like a gym floor for a year and I finally gave up on it. I sanded, micro-meshed, naptha'd, you name it. Unplayable.

yeah, I was a rosewood guy, but wanted a maple EJ - couldn't get past the gym floor.

I have a RW now, and I have to remind myself that it is a finished neck - no problems with stickiness whatsoever.

I wonder if the necks being made months ago have something to do with this. ? Just a pondering...

[Phil M]

I've had that turqoise one on the brain since Sat. Can't stop thinking about it...

[Joe Boy]

They were a big blip on the in coming radar, but after seeing them and hearing HIS remarks at this years Namn, although a bit humorious, I think fendre, "missed it by that much".

[bullet69]

what comments are you referring to

[jpage]

There are so few nitro production strats in the < $2000 market--I still wonder "why?" the decision to throw binding on a perfectly shaped RW strat neck and increase the $ along with it.

IMO, it is looks as wrong as a maple neck Les Paul.

[Redfish]

Originally Posted by jpage

There are so few nitro production strats in the < $2000 market--I still wonder "why?" the decision to throw binding on a perfectly shaped RW strat neck and increase the $ along with it.

IMO, it is looks as wrong as a maple neck Les Paul.

I agree. It just looks wierd. We all screamed for a rosewood fretboard on these things and they had to do that to it. I put a Warmoth neck on mine and never looked back.

[lakehaus]

I don't care for the binding, but I played one at a GC while I was on a business trip this week (goldish color) and I have to say the neck felt sweet... kinda Gibson-y.

[robertkoa]

You guys that played the rosewood; was the guitar deeper and fatter sounding than the maple and how was the unplugged resonance compared to the maple? Thanks.