Eric Johnson Signature model

[jgcable]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

The early Becks had huge necks on them (known as baseball bat necks). They also have the dualy lace sensor set up. The newer Becks have smaller profile necks.
Jim Shine can surely fill us all in. He is the resident Fender expert around here.
I have a 1987 Strat Plus in Surf Green which is serial #'d as a 1984 which is correct for 1st year Strat Plus's. It is basically a Clapton Strat 2 years before the Signature model was introduced. It is an amazing guitar in every respect. Its the subtle differences that make strats so appealing. A USA model and a Signature model may look the same but play, sound and feel completely different.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

I didn't care for the early Beck models--if I want a baseball bat, I'll go buy a Louisville Slugger!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

The best strat I ever played was one of those Strat Ultras from the early '90s with the flat radius, Lace pickups and ebony fretboard. That thing was a monster, and I wouldn't mind owning one.

[tigertailz]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

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I don't understand why there are so many signature strats when they're almost all the same. The only ones that have any real unique features (that I know of, I could very well be ignorant) are the Malmsteen and Blackmore strats.

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Eric Clapton's as well

[jgcable]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

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I don't understand why there are so many signature strats when they're almost all the same. The only ones that have any real unique features (that I know of, I could very well be ignorant) are the Malmsteen and Blackmore strats.

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Eric Clapton's as well

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What about the SRV strat or the Beck or the Dick Dale. They are totally unique signature strats.

[dinkyjacksonman]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

Don't forget Mr.Sambora.
Also Richie Kotzen has cool signature guitars in Japan as well.

By the way, the list price on this EJ looks lie $2299.99.
Just about couple hundred dollars more than Clapton model.

[thebisch]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

The Sig Strats all have unique features that are not avalible on any other Strat...

Like the Cray example above...
Hardtail '60 RI. That alone is a unique feature, plus the Mex has 9.5 radius and MJ frets and the CS Cray has IIRC 12" radius with vintage frets. The point is that there are no other vintage style Strats with a hardtail in the entire line.

Now on to the Clapton example...No, the Clapton is not a plus with a sig. It is a vintage style body/bridge with a 22 fret vintage V neck with 9.5" radius and MJ frets. Another unique feature set unless you want to go Mex.

As for buying a '57 reissue and swapping pickups? Well, if you are looking for a quarter sawn neck with some girth to it (vs. most '57s are skinny little necks, and no other Fender necks that I know of are quarter sawn) with a modern radius, then the '57 won't cut it. Currently a burst '57 RI lists for about $1900 and sells for about $1300 typically. If the list preice on EJ is the $2299 as stated that means that the selling will be about $1600 with out dickering. I'd say that if the feature set of the EJ is what you need, that $300 is not that much more.

What really bothers me, though (and I AM a Strat guy, I own 8 of them!) is how ANY Strat can be priced that much? Even the American Stds/Series are overpriced IMO. If you like skinnier necks the best deal going on Strats IMO are the beaten stepchild '83-'84 US Std 2 knob Strats and the first couple of years(came out in '87) of the American Standard which both usually go for about $500 on ebay.

[hippietim]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

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What really bothers me, though (and I AM a Strat guy, I own 8 of them!) is how ANY Strat can be priced that much? Even the American Stds/Series are overpriced IMO.

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Compared to what though? What other USA made guitar of similar quality costs less than a Fender American Standard Strat? They go for roughly $900 from MF which means with some dickering you can get one for $800 from a good local dealer.

[tigertailz]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

hank marvin's [img]/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif[/img] even if he is one of the worst
guitar players ever [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] if you see a guy around here doing
the club seen with a strat hank will cometh [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] run

[beaner]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

I'm interested in seeing how Fender makes this guitar sound like a goose straight from the factory. Never in my life have I heard a more god-awful squonking tone than on the intro to Cliffs of Dover. Yet he claims to be a tone master, so many people fall in line and believe it.

I wonder if it comes with a complimentary puffy shirt? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

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I'm interested in seeing how Fender makes this guitar sound like a goose straight from the factory. Never in my life have I heard a more god-awful squonking tone than on the intro to Cliffs of Dover. Yet he claims to be a tone master, so many people fall in line and believe it.

I wonder if it comes with a complimentary puffy shirt? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

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I think you might be in the minority regarding Eric's tone.
He gets one of the best all around strat tones I have ever heard. The best thing about it is that it is fairly unique which speaks volumes when you consider that he is playing basically a stock strat through a mix of stock amps. Clean or overdriven, it is as clean as clean can be.

[Endrik]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

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Never in my life have I heard a more god-awful squonking tone than on the intro to Cliffs of Dover. Yet he claims to be a tone master, so many people fall in line and believe it.


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What do you mean he? we (the listeners) claim that he is the tone master.

[Joe_Steeler]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

There is no question that FMIC issues Artist series to make a dollar or two.
Some of the "special" features some of these guitars have are marginal at best.
However there are some that are pretty cool:
The Malmsteen is unique.
The SRV is pretty cool as well.

I think the new EJ might be different and cool as well a 12" neck radius on a Strat may be fun to play. The neck goes from a soft V to a C down the neck, a cool feature.
Some of the other features are well.... ok, nitro paint, thinner headstock, etc. I don't know.
We'll see about his new pups.

[toejam]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

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Clapton is just a Plus with a signature on the headstock.

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The Clapton's trem is blocked with a piece of wood at the factory. Surely it's worth the extra $$$ for that block, no?!? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

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Clapton is just a Plus with a signature on the headstock.

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The Clapton's trem is blocked with a piece of wood at the factory. Surely it's worth the extra $$$ for that block, no?!? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

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Yea but that chunk of wood is from the Fender Custom Shop.

[Twisteramps]

Re: Eric Johnson Signature model

I guess this genius realizes that cliffs of dover was recorded with a GIBSON ES335, right?

Pete

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I'm interested in seeing how Fender makes this guitar sound like a goose straight from the factory. Never in my life have I heard a more god-awful squonking tone than on the intro to Cliffs of Dover. Yet he claims to be a tone master, so many people fall in line and believe it.

I wonder if it comes with a complimentary puffy shirt? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

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