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What makes the Fender Eric Johnson strat so special?

33K views 53 replies 31 participants last post by  robertkoa  
#1 ·
$2,792.00 for this strat?

Okay .. let's see what we have here ..

Maple Neck
Alder body
Custom Pickups
unique colour to the model
Nitro finish

Wow , over priced IMO!
 
#2 ·
Awesome, another thread about overpriced Fenders.

The regular EJ Strat still comes in over $200 cheaper than a 7VWH.

Maple neck
Alder body
non-custom pickups
non-unique color to the model
poly-finish


The Rosewood EJ is $100 cheaper than a 7VWH
 
#8 ·
Awesome, another thread about overpriced Fenders.

The regular EJ Strat still comes in over $200 cheaper than a 7VWH.

Maple neck
Alder body
non-custom pickups
non-unique color to the model
poly-finish

The Rosewood EJ is $100 cheaper than a 7VWH
Excellent :D.

Most people reckon the EJ Strat is the best playing Strat they've ever touched, including a lot of Custom Shop models. Just a great guitar, really.
 
#9 ·
I often ask myself this very question; not just for the EC sig but for a majority of Fender's sig guitars. John Mayer, EC, SRV. It seems that there are only minor differences between these sigs and the standard US strat. I think if memory serves the one that's the most "different" is the Eric Johnson sig.
And to be fair, I don't think a Jem is unique enough to be $1k more than an RG; but hey, that's just me.
 
#13 ·
Seriously that's not a bad price. The name makes it expensive but it's not that bad. You've got companies like Suhr that charge $4000 for anything and PRS who want a guitar to go from $2800 to $4300 just for a maple cap and the amount of flame or curl in it. Sure they're beautiful and I think they do sound different, but $1500 bucks difference? No way. That's a whole other guitar difference. I think $2800 is expensive, I'm not saying it's not, but as far as compared to the guitar market for high end gutiars it's pretty good.

Just this week I had big PRS GAS, I love the 513's concept and look but when I see a standard with a maple top is $4300 and then I play my RG, or an American standard strat that are sooooooo much less and realize they're not lacking by %200-%400 or in some cases like a private stock or 10 top %600-%1000 behind a PRS, Suhr or whatever. You can spend your money how you like and I'm sure guitars like that are great, but don't tell me you have to.

Then when I see things like the Eric Johnson Strat I think, well I can't buy it, but if it's a heck of a lot better of a deal than a lot of other companies' guitars. I know it's a good guitar.

The JEM too.

I think there is a way to complain about prices in general, gutiars have gotten very expensive over the years for sure. Everything is always increasing in price, inflation is a rampant problem. But if we look in context, there are a lot better things to complain abotu than a $2800 signature strat in the guitar industry.
 
#14 ·
don't forget, you can literally get the best playing, sounding and looking guitar on the planet but your out of tune bends will still be out of tune, you vibrato will still suck and you will STILL HAVE TO TUNE THE GODDAMN THING!
 
#25 ·
All I've heard is that the EJ strat is just 'better' in every way compared to other strats.

If I could afford it I would probably buy the yngwie strat. It's not like it is even that overpriced, you can get it for well under 2 grand.


I'm pretty sure gibson has an auto tune guitar or something :lol:
 
#15 ·
The editorial in this month's Guitarist says it well: the top American brands have consistently held their value far better than others over an extended period and in the short term. Investment value counts as well.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I don't own one BUT if someone is serious and wants a guitar that can take them a long,long way,( tonewise ) the EJ is a good bet.

Ordinarily most Artist Signature guitars are no big deal but this has been designed by some of the greatest ears and hands of all time(EJ).

The guitar and electronics have really been tweaked and EJ has been much more involved in the design and pickups than most Artists and their signature guitars.

He actually uses his sig. guitars.

The pickups,trem block, finish, neck wood , body weight, lack of string trees etc. all specced by EJ.

The guitar has gotten excellent to rave reviews by every pro reviewer I've read- proven track record.

You get to start looking for your tones on this thing if you get one- and you'll be right in the middle of some classic Strat tones and beyond -right off the bat.

The EJ Signature is one of the very few signature guitars(of ANY brand) widely regarded to be "better" by at least a notch or two than the "regular" models and something special tonewise.
 
#22 ·
LOL...seems to happen a bunch around these parts.

It's like the JEM. It's not that it's that better a guitar, it's the BLING factor!!! And if ya wanna play, you pay!

As I've gradually moved up to higher end guitars over the years, I've gotten spoiled. Now, I'm only interested in the top end stuff. I just buy it used, 'cause I'm on a budget...still, my next axe (a JEM for sure) will probably set me back about a grand. That's for a USED guitar!

That's just nuts. But I like it!
 
#32 ·
Best example is: 2008 Fender american deluxe $900, 2009 Fender american deluxe $1500.
Actually I think they were higher there last year for a while, closer to $1800. They have since climbed back down a little.
 
#35 ·
Just by design strats are the easiest guitars to build, they really should not be very expensive. I can see Les Pauls and some other guitars costing a little more, because they are more involved but the basic strat is bolt-on, front routed with very simple stamped pot metal parts and they were meant to be affordable guitars.
 
#37 ·
That is actually a good example. Even the low end RG's have an angled headstock, AANJ, 24 frets and a jack located on the side of the body. Pointy shapes are harder to route consistantly. The High end RG's have 5 piece necks and somewhat more modern and intracate hardware, particularly the bridges. High end strat's have better wood and finishing but that is about the only difference. I'm not saying they suck, just designed from the beginning to be easy to manufacture. It's part of what makes them so versatile.