« A lot of EJ fans »

I suppose there are enough Eric Johnson fans out there that want his fender Stratocaster guitar. Fender has produced a number of these in different models and colors. They are great guitars and not really any different that a standard Stratocaster. It has a signature print on it that changes but there really isn't anything to jump up and down about. you are going to sound like Eric Johnson with this guitar any more than you wouldn't with a standard Stratocaster.

I think there a four or five different colors to choose from and all sound exactly the same, a Strat.

UTILIZATION

Body: Alder
Body Shape: Stratocaster®
Body Finish:

Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Neck
Neck Shape: Soft "V" Shape
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays: Black Dot Position Inlays
Fretboard Radius: 12" Radius (305 mm)
Fretboard: Maple
Neck Material: 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Neck Plate: Custom 4 Bolt Neckplate
Truss Rod Nut: Original Vintage Style
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: S/S/S
Bridge Pickup: Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil Pickup with Countersunk Mounting Screws
Middle Pickup: Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil Pickup with Countersunk Mounting Screws
Neck Pickup: Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil Pickup with Countersunk Mounting Screws
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)

SOUNDS

These guitars are great guitars ad I suppose they are built a little better than a standard but you would need to A?B then to get a feel for that. The guitar has a great sound and a polished tone for blues and lead /rhythm playing. They work well with just about any amp that you have and especially well with a Fender amp of some kind. they also sound phenomenal with a Marshall or Bogner amp to which Eric Johnson has been know to play both amps. I guess I like it best with a good sounding Bogner XTC. Something about the dark qualities that make up the XTC really fit with this type of guitar shape and pickups.

OVERALL OPINION

At new you can find these guitars around the price of $1899, which isn't bad of a price but certainly not were paying an extra $$800-900 more for the signature guitar. I would save that extra money and put it towards some other piece of gear that you need. unless you are a die hard Johnson fan than this is a miss of a buy.

I would only recommend this guitar to the Eric Johnson fanboy out their who wants anything he has his name behind. You are going to pay more for that name and that better count for your extra money.