Advice on purchasing an Eric Johnson 2015 Strat

A

aleiberman

Member
Messages
332
I played a 2016 Eric Johnson Strat at guitar center for about an hour yesterday and it was was terrific. The neck profile really fit me well. And I liked the pickups. Very clear and balanced.

However, to save some money, there are a few Eric Johnson 2015 strats i am looking at, in great shape. Anything good or bad about this year?

I currently have a 62 Vintage Hot Rod, with Large Neck, that i might end up selling if this is more comfortable for me. Maybe i'll keep it :)

Anything you could share on this subject would be great.

Thanks
 
Scott L

Scott L

Gold Supporting Member
Messages
2,362
The consensus is EJ Strats are difficult to date. The serial number on the back plate are not used sequentially. It seems that
they are just pulled from a box as needed. Then depending on the dealer's inventory system, especially the larger dealers, an EJ may have sat for a while. A local dealership had several sitting in his warehouse for at least 2 years.

Pulling the neck for the date stamp at the base is the only sure way to tell the year.
 
J

Jimbo123

Member
Messages
16
Recently purchased a 2016 EJ Strat. Called Fender Corp. and provided my serial number. The representative I talked to, after avery short wait, happily provided the month and year of manufacture of my EJ Strat. Mine was made in Septerber 2016. I guess you can still pull the neck to double verify. The call seemed like much easier way the get the info was was looking for.
 
daacrusher2001

daacrusher2001

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
7,149
I played a used one over the weekend at Alto Music in Middletown, NY. Priced at $1100 IIRC. Played great...neck perfect, no visible wear. No idea what year it is but if you're looking for one, it's a good one.
 
daacrusher2001

daacrusher2001

Silver Supporting Member
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7,149
Scott L said:
Never played a bad EJ....
Click to expand...
I actually have - a few recent models that I tried had very very sticky necks, and one had a nut problem - string way too close to edge of fretboard. I suspect it was the nut, may have been something else, but either way, the high e was not right.

I used to own one, btw, and it was a very good guitar. Probably the only guitar I've sold that I wish I'd kept. Not that I can't get another. That neck shape is just about perfect, and the pickups are really good.
 
Scott L

Scott L

Gold Supporting Member
Messages
2,362
Sticky neck is a sign of new Nitro - time and play solves it.

Bad nut possible, More likely the neck was torqued in the pocket and it needed a set up.
 
teleman1

teleman1

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
16,523
daacrusher2001 said:
I actually have - a few recent models that I tried had very very sticky necks, and one had a nut problem - string way too close to edge of fretboard. I suspect it was the nut, may have been something else, but either way, the high e was not right.

I used to own one, btw, and it was a very good guitar. Probably the only guitar I've sold that I wish I'd kept. Not that I can't get another. That neck shape is just about perfect, and the pickups are really good.
Click to expand...
Problems? Maybe. Sticky neck is curable and nut issues are easily correctable. Problems would be, twisted neck, cracked fretboard, 9 & 1/2lb strat, or the guitar came smelling like formaldehyde.
 
daacrusher2001

daacrusher2001

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
7,149
teleman1 said:
Problems? Maybe. Sticky neck is curable and nut issues are easily correctable. Problems would be, twisted neck, cracked fretboard, 9 & 1/2lb strat, or the guitar came smelling like formaldehyde.
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Nothing major, I know they can be resolved. The stickiness was way beyond any I've encountered. If I bought one and it had that issue I'd likely sand it to get rid of the stickiness. I don't want to have to do nut work on a brand new guitar.

Don't get me wrong - they are great guitars. But I've tried a few I didn't like very much.
 
teleman1

teleman1

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
16,523
daacrusher2001 said:
Nothing major, I know they can be resolved. The stickiness was way beyond any I've encountered. If I bought one and it had that issue I'd likely sand it to get rid of the stickiness. I don't want to have to do nut work on a brand new guitar.

Don't get me wrong - they are great guitars. But I've tried a few I didn't like very much.
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I have really never experienced a sticky that bothered me. But, I have tried baby arse smooth steel wool necks, they are nice too. I want what doesn't smother resonance and tone.
 
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Boomstick

Boomstick

Member
Messages
313
I would say buy that particular strat, but I played an American standard last summer and was pleasantly surprised by how good of a guitar it was. I played several more, and they were largely all just as good only a few could have used an improved setup. Finally, I found mine which was used so I got a good deal, and it was also setup nicely.

So see if you can play a few used ones and see if you like them as much. My experience with Fender is unlike some other large company, they are very consistent.
 
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