Fender Eric Johnson 1954 "Virginia" Stratocaster | Review & Demo
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 22. 03. 2020
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#fender #ericjohnson - Hudba
I would kill for this. Honestly I would kill for a squier right now. Became a single dad very suddenly, and I sold all of my gear to survive.
Hang in there man same here man. Semper fi god bless
Its been a while but iv been there, may not seem like it now but it will ,it does get better n better .
The fact that you knew your immediate priorities, shows the quality of person you are. Things will come back around.
That pedal Shmo-Just a note. The 2019 made in China classic vibe squiers, are about 400.00 and are amazing!
You made a big sacrifice-that shows a lot of integrity. Hang in there-good things come to those who do good things! Maybe you'll end up with a Vintage 1954 Strat.. you never know!
Here's a true story from "back in the day": In 1977, a new Strat cost $600 (they were all American made back then, and there were no "models" - a Strat was a Strat). There was a music shop near me that had a 1957 closet Strat - not a mark on it, looked brand-new, sunburst, for sale for $1,000. I thought "why would you pay more for an old guitar when you could get a new one cheaper?". Had the cash to buy it, but didn't - the One That Got Away!!!
đ
Hot tub time machine!!!
My dad has a chance to buy this apartment in London back in 1972. Same sort of thing.. Buckingham Mews.... I think it was 70,000 pounds... Well you know the rest of the story.... Also, i had enough money to get a loan to buy one of Jerry's guitars soon after he passed away. I could have swung it I think for like 1 million and I always think about that..... ugh.. Now I couldn't come close to that lol...
Yep..$602 at Manny's 48th Street Lefty I think it was 1980 including tax but they had good prices 45% off retail .The guitar my brother bought was Ash Sunburst I think 3 or 4 pieces of wood for the body..and it weight a TON.Undesireable for future collectors right but that was the greatest sounding rhythm guitar ever..and I have a real 65'. that thing was heavy but great sounding
A divine sounding Stratocaster! I've never been into possessing a guitar with another players name associated with it. This one is the only "signature" Fender I would ever consider buying.
Beautiful guitar. I hope Virginia is still alive to appreciate the shout out. Please play Ciffs of Dover.
It always amazes me how RJ can do the best gear reviews I've ever seen, on a consistent basis. Damn man, everything is perfect. Playing, editing, the cuts to talk about the specs, the closups, the humor. Right on, man. Amazing content, keep it up.
I got a 60th anniversary AVRI 1954 Stratocaster that I love!
Super detailed as always!! Sounds great in your hands!!
Absolutely fantastic review of this incredible guitar! Thanks!
12:09 this is key and a new revelation. i've had his strats in the past and the high E was always dangerously close to the edge of the fret. I even went so far as to swap the bridge for one with a contemporary spacing. but this makes sense. i can assure you his other models didnt have this treatment
Awesome demo of the tones on this guitar ! Thanks !
Thanks for the detailed review. You really have nailed the EJ tone with the delay, etc.
I just got one of these about three weeks ago. I have several decent guitars, but this one is different. It fits me. I have small hands, but the chunky neck is great. I do have to roll my thumb around a little, but there is something about it that makes it play so easily. It is inspiring. I have eight guitars (I know that's not very many compared to some), but when I have this on my strap, I want to keep playing and not stop. Kind of like my Music Man Armada. All the pickup positions sound great on my amps (Vox AC15 and the Vox MVX150C Nutube). The setup is interesting. With the 25.5 inch scale and increased string tension compared to other brands, I have to play more gently than on my American Standard Strat. I know it's expensive, but when I get home I look forward to playing this guitar. I love all my guitars, but when I see that tweed case, my eyes get a little wider and the volume knob gets turned up a little more than with some of the other things I have. Can't recommend this more. Play one, and you'll want to get one. It's worth it.
Congratulations! Lucky guy!
Tom, what is the best customshop? I'm planning to buy one
That part with the out of phase was particularly sweet with enormously good touch! Nice job! Great overview!
I always enjoy your videos, man!! Thanks so much and stay safe! Peace!
Great review and equally blown away with your knowledge of EJ and your playing.
I think you are a very rare reviewer who says what you really know and understand. Thanks for the great review!
Great Review...you covered everything and the superb playing really showed it at its best...Thank you.
Another great video and excellent Eric tones going on. As always suburb playing and very informative.
Great review!Great playing as well!Thanks for the details!!
Very nice review. I've had a Virginia Strat for a number of weeks now, close to when they were first released; I found a light one with tight grain at a known smaller store and went for it. It's definitely unique and I've been quite pleased.
One thing you didn't mention (so I mention it for other folks reading): what I immediately noticed and what continues to feel really unique compared to my other Strats, including a standard EJ model, is the narrower neck--specifically the 1.625 nut, and consequently the whole way up the neck is less wide (as opposed to 1.65 or most Strats; and by 'wide/narrow' I mean from one fret end to the other.) The strings as a result are considerably closer together and it makes the neck have a unique feel: it's certainly deep and sort of between a U and a V, like you say, but since it's less wide it's really comfortable; that is, the narrower neck makes the depth/thickness quite manageable. It just sits in the hand in a unique way. It doesn't look like much of a difference just looking at the numbers, but it was really noticeable, and I've now gotten used to it and like it (honestly it felt a bit like playing a mini guitar at first). And having smaller hands, I've found that less width and less string spacing really allows certain string to string fast runs to be easier. Eric mentions in one of the videos that it makes certain chord voicings easier to play, too. If you look up vintage 54 Strat specs a lot of them have these narrower necks.
Great demo. Might have to look into one of these
Nice review.. I always look forward to your videos.. Your lessons are great and iâm doing your 3 exercises every day. đž
Great to hear!
Great informative video. Thanks RJ
Fantastic in depth demo - I really dig your pointing out some of of the tech enhances, which many online demos don't come near touching upon -- Great job R.J.!
Bob DeKett 100% agree! I need to step up my game! RJ and Pete Thorn are two of the best!
Fantastic Review RJ! You are the best reviewer on CZcams!
Thanks Kevin!
So cool that a lifetime of playing habits and chance has taken form into this instrument. Inspiring!
Great demo, R.J., thanks!
Very cool. Excellent playing, nailed the EJ tone.
I just got one and was wondering about the 4th position. Not any more. Great review
website bookmarked and subscribed and rang the bell. Thank you Sir. CW
Great review, superb playing. Itâs some guitar allright maybe someday I will purchase one.
đđđ great demo RJ
Nice job RJ love the review. Long time EJ fan as well. Just saw him in Jan and heâs been playing the prototype since last year. No vintage guitars on tour past few years.
RJ, just one of the best electric guitar players around.. as well as articulate and informative in his explanations⊠good guy to listen to about music and gear. Thank you RJ
Wow, thanks!
Just got myself one last night!!! It's great!!
Great playing btw đđ»
The playing demo was awesome as is the guitar.
Nice demo!
Great review đ
Don't hear covers of Zap intro very often. Well done and appreciated
Great review ,thank you
Excellent video presentation! Learned a lot! Will keep an eye out for a Virginia definitely! I have the first series EJ. Am an EJ fan but am more into the ZZ Top sound (what I can playđ) so for me, the EJ Strat was just a great guitar to get. Great feel and great tone and look! Canât wait to try out a Virginia!
Really great review - thank you - Glad you said you knew he had other signature strats but only really felt like getting this one - I am guessing you played the others- I own one - it takes some getting used to. Thanks again
Just caught your facebook live today, and this guitar sounded amazing. now I want one
Hey RJ, you're not helping my Virginia GAS... If I wouldn't have just gotten a custom shop '61 335.
You nailed that EJ out of phase sound and overall. Pretty good stuff.
You're so versatile as a player. Inspiring!
Very nice. R.J. your guitar skills definitely do justice to this Strat. Subscribed. Cheers.
Great video! Love the little details on this guitar, without this video I would have just passed by thinking it's just another strat.
These are hands down the best sounding Strats that I've heard in pretty much ever. I don't know how much is the sassafras body and how much is the hardware and pickups. I know decking the tremolo really has a dramatic effect on them when compared to floating them. I remember the first really nice Strat I owned; a 62 AVHR, with a light body and thin finish. It came floating, but it was the first time I did my own full setup (I was being taught how to do some service jobs at a shop that I ended up working at for years after). He told me that the vintage tremolos were originally intended to sit flush and only go down on pitch, so I decided to try it like that.
It was just a completely different thing, it wasn't even just the sound (which is punchier and more muscular), but you can just feel EVERY vibration; in the tip of your fingers, on your ribs, against your stomach, etc. If I play sitting, I can feel it in my lap, I swear I could tell if it was out of tune even if I went deaf, just from how it feels.
*One thing I learned from EJs setup that I LOVE: I had read in an old Dan Erlewine book that listed the setup of various famous guitars from years or talking with different guitar techs. With Eric Johnson's, he said that with whatever fret job that was on at the time he looked at it, it still has a relatively tight radius on the fretboard. When the refret was done, they put jumbos on it with the tighter radius, then did a compound on the fret itself, so the fretboard was probably around an 8" radius, but he flattened the jumbo fret to a 10" radius. Because of that, there was more meat on the edges of the fret relative to the board, and it made it easier to get a good purchase on the high E and B string for bends.
I had a guy who wanted a refret on a CS Tele that had a maple fretboard with a relic'd finish. He wanted a flatter radius on it, and I was fine doing that but wanted no part of redoing the finish on the fretboard. I'm not that most confident doing finishes on fretboards (honestly I don't usually do them anyway, I leave that part to someone else), let alone a relic'd finish. I suggested leaving them radius on the fretboard and flattening the fret, and he liked that idea.
When it was done, it was IMO the absolute best way of achieving that higher playability. It makes it so you can set a MUCH lower action that you normally would be able to if the fret and fretboard were to match. For my own guitars, due to the admittedly less than completely "correct" bending technique (where normally you bend the B string up and go under the G, but I just keep pushing the G), I have to set my action a bit higher for bends. I can set then much lower this way, without any increase in buzz or anything similar.
I really dig that bridge pickup! It has a special bite to it that sounds amazing.
The Hs-2 is unique, especially balanced with the 57-62 Pickups.. I always wondered if he tinkered or somebody else did it for him.. Funny thing, I think Dimarzio kind of moved on with their production of the pickups.. You can still buy one fairly cheap. Or at least you could before the custom shop release..lol..
Nice gitaar,beautiful sound,great video and i love this gitaar
the absolute best value in stratocasters, period in life.
Missing your tour Vlogs....nice playing!
Great review RJ!! More importantly, I need to learn that lick at 2:16-2:22!!
Omg my dream guitar!đđ¶đ”
Nice video man. Like you I always loved Virginia since I heard back in 1990. The closest I got was a Squier 50s CV ( old model ) and although is nowhere near your guitar I loved it just as much. Didn't know about the out of phase of the pickups. Loved your Yngwie shred. Greetings from Portugal.
Great Eric Johnson-like playing RJ!
That's a hell of a commercial for this guitar RJ! :-p You made it sound amazing!
RJ you are a gem. I think it was Steve Lukather that mentioned you in an interview as one of the new upcoming great players. You most certainly fulfill that role. We need to hear more of âyouââŠJ-E
Love that, "may this be love" lick. 08:11â€â€â€â€
What a great review RJ. It looks like Fender found the perfect person to to a review of the âVirginiaâ. You did such a great job, that Fender should offer the guitar to you as a gift, for the excellent review. Great job!
Its one of 15 guitars including prs, tom Anderson, valley arts, Gibson's, many more, yet, one of. My favorite guitars
This is really the only 50s strat ya need
Beautiful! I'm not as good with the narrow nut widths (1.62") like this one, but that extra mm or 2 on the high E nut makes a lot of sense.
Wow it really has his tone.
You're such a fucking good player with amazing feel.
Great stuff - I was on the fence about the EJ pickups, but you sold me - I know the set is different then the signature guitar - but likely similar in tone. Looking for strat pickups that can sing.. but soooooo many options, and until played in your own rig and setup, it's a gamble. I'll bet on EJ. Liked and subscribed - Thanks - Erik in Hawaii
I own this. Unbelievable
dude nice strat!!!!
Great , thanks for that R.J.....now I want one of those...lol
Thanks Rj........hope we cross paths one day....âźïžâ€ïž
New sub. here. Nice guitar, nice playing. Thank you.
Cool guitar and great review R.J.!
RJ is the OG! BAAAMM!
Nice guitar man! oh man! In 1961 I bought a 1956 Strat used for $150.00, I could hardly wait to sell it ,because it was used ;O/ Ouch! I like all the stories about single dads,I was one too. Now I'm 74 and that Strat lust never goes away.
I have a fender custom shop limited edition run its from the video he did on that guitar it's the first guitar he started with in the video for his Virginia guitar
I have the very first EJ signature series from 2005 in 2 tone sunburst and it's a super sweet strat,i can't be tempted to upgrade to the Virginia as i am so satisfied with what the original delivers and mine is super light too its below 7 pounds đ
there is no comparison. Virginia sounds just like Eric.
One of his actual original old strats was for sale at Gruhns in Nashville awhile back
Eric actually has 4 trem springs and removes the 2nd from the right (so 2nd closest to the high E string) source - James Santiago at 9.57min in Tim Pierce vid "Treasure for $200 at Norms Rare Guitars"
I just took off the back plate, and yes it comes setup with 4 springs
I saw that too!
My strat is setup like tha t not because of what Eric did but because of some bridge, tuning strangeness...
STRIKE @2:17 that open E đđđ susmaryosep!
"Shreddier!" LOL!!! đđđ
The decoupled HS1 has â40% les humâ by Johnson's estimation.
Also, EJ on,y uses tremolo springs. He takes out the second from bottom âG-Bâspring in the back. He likes the balance better.
Your tone is excellent. What amplifier are you using if I may ask.
Great thorough review video. Thanks.
Just saw a video by Tim Pierce where Tim is talking with James Santiago who has a '56 Strat that Eric Johnson told him remove the second from bottom spring on the back as that is how Eric has his Strat.
I saw that, i'm gonna try it.
That corona joke at the beginning LOL
I found one that only weighs 7lb 6oz, arriving tomorrow...was thinking about getting one from the time they first introduced it, your review definitely helped make the decision to purchase one. Thanks for another great review R.J.
Thanks RJ, I thought that "Virginia" was the state where Eric bought his strat ! A friend of mine has a 2012 EJ signature strat, very nice but the neck's too fat for me, I prefer my '71 !
nice
Amazing reproduction of his guitar.. How they got there is interesting.. Sassafras wood, The sum of the parts really..That tone is burned into my soul..
I saw Johnson at a place called the caboose in Dallas in 1981...Maybe 150 people there.. He showed me then what a guitar could do, places where it can go.. I waited until Tones in 1986 and he delivered.. Amazing musician! And this a true to form reproduction of his Virginia!
Great review and can I congratulate u on actually spending sometime on the neck and including visual side view of neck . The neck is Half if not a bit more of the guitar to me . If I don't like the neck it's pretty much a deal breaker . So thanks
Update from previous comment: I now have a nicotine white 2018 thinline EJ strat that is by far the best strat I've ever played. Bought used for not all that much too ($1100). It has staggered tuner heights and no string tree. Very light, resonant, and a brilliant 'slightly chunky' neck carve. Zero plans to ever sell it.
Something to consider if you are in the market for a Strat.
"That little bit extra on the nut for the high E" I won't buy a Strat without it R.J.
It's actually less, the high E is moved toward the B to keep the string away from the fret edge.
Holy crap, Iâm getting an HS-2
You should get back with Ben Coombs he is so good at thinking like we watchers and knows what to bring up that you usually have a fresh slant on.
From a reliable source i'm told Eric has 4 springs in the back and it's not the middle one he removes but the 4th on the bass side, reckons you get better tone, no idea myself but there you go !
Hahaha, reliable source?? Thereâs literally a video of him (EJ) detailing this guitar and he talks about it.
Hi R.J. How was the action of the guitar when you first got it? I recently bought one and the action is very high compared to what I am used to. Not sure if just adjusting the saddles would do the trick for me. Anyway, I feer that setting up this guitar is something that I shouldn't do myself. I am just afraid that I will mess up, since the truss rod is a vintage style setup.
I played two serial numbers and procurred one. Two observations:
On both the bridge pickup to me is not as loud as a stock Fender bridge single coil, it almost caught me off guard. I suppose the strength of the bridge pickup is the tone for driving pedals and the evenness.
As received with the trem not floating the action is stiff. Performing bends at the 12th fret felt like playing a guitar with .012's on it.
Just looked at the spec on Sweetwater, nut is plastic??! Great playing btw
Sounds so good!!! All you!!
I am curious. Have you checked out the Lincoln Brewster Strat? Based on all that I have heard from you, it would seem you would dig it?
Looks interesting!
Tim's video says Eric runs 4 springs. One specific spring is removed for tonal reasons.
Thanks for great review...love nerding our on guitar and gear specifics. I have a modem custom strat with a roller nut which I really like, but Iâm modifying my original early 90âs MexiStrat and would like more detail on the EJ 1-2mm nut mod you ref. Is the perpendicular slot cust straight up and down (just 1-2mm toward B string), or was the whole enlarged from an original nut. Hope this ? Makes sense! Thx for the vids! ...and being awesome.
Is the trem functional from the factory setup or did they have the claw pinned and locked in place?