Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster (2-Color Sunburst) Reviews

4.9/5.0 based on 10 customer reviews

Sweetwater Advice

Robert Williams

This guitar is great right out of the case, nothing to improve on. With most instruments I'll change pickups or tuners or add switches to get it more in the way I think it should be. Here there's none of that needed, just strap it on and play. The body contours and neck carve make the guitar comfortable to hold with very playable with easy access to the upper frets. Staggered tuners eliminate the need for string trees or the non-vintage tone locking systems. Better tonewoods result in a more resonant, acoustically lively instrument. The bridge tone control is great for smoothing out overdrive pedals and distorted amps. Great option regardless of whether you're an EJ fan.

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Customer Reviews

James Calabro
from Forest Hills, NY
January 6, 2013

One Stunning Strat

For over 20 years I've been a loyal Gibson player. My collection includes a few LP’s, SG’s, and a J-45. I've never owned a Fender guitar. Throughout the years I've had my hands on many Tele’s and Strat’s but they never sat right with me.

Recently, while browsing through a local shop I came across the 2-tone sunburst EJ Strat. It looked absolutely fantastic, so I played it. Once I got my hands on it, I was dumbfounded. This guitar played and sounded like a dream. I could not believe it. The neck is unreal. Since receiving this guitar I have been playing it non-stop. It’s impossible to put down.

This was my first guitar purchase through Sweetwater – the reviews were great so I had to give them a shot. I could not have been happier – flawless guitar, fast and safe shipping, and amazing customer service.

I would recommend this to guitar and Sweetwater to anyone without hesitation.

Colonel (Retired) TW Williams
from Fairfax Station Virginia
May 12, 2010Music Background:
Pro Musician

Awespme Guitar

For over 45 years I have played the guitar. I own a Gibson LP Custom, Gibson L4 CES (Custom Shop), Gibson RD 77 Artist, and now the Fender EJ. I love them all but I must admit the RJ has blown me away. It is all that its advertised to be. I have played all the Strats and it is my opinion that the EJ is the best. I purchased the White Blonde to contrast with my sunburst Gibsons and Ash White Custom LP and the blend is fabulous and the sound is flat awesome. Welcome to the family EJ.

Colonel (ret)
TW Williams

Tony Caldarelli
from Pittsburgh, PA
August 26, 2009Music Background:
Working part time professional musician

This sounds like frying bacon smells.

This guitar sounds and plays exactly how I want it to. I do believe that 90% of your tone comes from your hands but this plank will get you that last 10%. My band was playing a festival and one of the sound company guys was on stage setting the mics and after he asked me to play a bit he yelled out to the guy mixing the front of the house to see if the guitar was loud enough and the FOH guy yelled back "Yeah, and it f#*@ing sounds great!" Enough said. My only very slight complaint is that I play with my action fairly high and occasionally the high E string will pop out of the nut slot as there is no string tree to retain it.

A.B.
from Hillsboro, OR USA
July 28, 2008Music Background:
Hobbyist

Such a lovely toy!

This guitar is so beautiful in all appearance and sound. I got 2-tone sunburst one. Everything is absolutely perfect. I own Gibson LP standard with 60s neck and Fender American Deluxe QMT HSS, but I like EJ the most. I love the neck and body very much. It is very hard to put it down once you start playing it.

Aaron
from Nashville, TN
April 4, 2007Music Background:
Pro Musician

Yes...

In short, the best strat I've ever played... I had a 50's tele re-issue that I thought was a pretty decent guitar and when I got the EJ home, it just blew away the tele. The tele is cool, but I have a new #1 axe.. and I've been playing that tele for the last 5 years too. The breath of this guitar is just amazing... I was able to play 5 different EJ's and selected the one that most suited me. Be aware, there ARE differences between individual guitars.. I played one with hotter pickups then the others.. One that just didn't have the same amount of resonance, another that just didn't play "quite" as good to my hands... etc.
The thickly painted tele almost seemed more dead and dull sounding next to the clarity and sonic-width of this guitar...

I'm not an EJ fan by any means, just don't really know his music much.. but this is a quality vintage style guitar, period.

Danny McFarlin
from Monticello, IL
March 31, 2012Music Background:
30+ year hobbyist

Very Nice Guiar

I played a lot of strats before buying this guitar. The only one that I felt played as well as this one was the '62 reissue strat (did not play a custom strat --looked into it but $3000+! Have a Martin D18 GE that cost $3000. Not my best decision ever.) Anyway, this is a great guitar. The neck action is excellent. I wasn't sure I would like the thicker neck but it plays very nicely. A little sticky but I'll get that worn away. I like the sound. I've read reviews that suggest that this guitar doesn't sound like a strat...OK, whatever. Play one and see what you think. Personally I want a guitar that plays well. Pickups are replaceable. I won't be changing these. Thanks EJ!

Dave Turner
from Spokane, WA
August 1, 2005

OK I bought it!

This is now my number 1 guitar. Custom shop quality without the pricetag. Excellent workmanship. Stunning to look at. Sounds awesome, well balanced tonally - love the pickups. Plays excellent. Everything works well. Wasn't sure I'd like the V neck profile but it felt familiar from the get-go. Love the lack of string tree(s) as this leaves one less place for the strings to hangup and go out of tune. Well thought out and made guitar. Eric Johnson, I'd say you designed a guitar player's guitar. I've drolled for years over the custom shop 50's and 60's reissues and with this guitar I get a 1957 based strat with new features while still very much retaining the vintage vibe. Highly recommended. You have to see it and play it to appreciate it fully (duh). Drop dead sexy!

Terry
from Michigan
August 1, 2005

e j strat

I own an Am Std strat, PRS, Gibson. Played an EJ strat. Sweet. Played it with a Clapton model. Two Erics, no waiting. The EJ blew the EC away (unless it was just a bad EC and since I'm now waiting on my 3rd set of Vintage Noiseless pickups (defective), that is possible). I didn't want to put the EJ down. The only question I had is the location of the truss rod adjustment. What do you have to do, remove the pick guard to adjust it? And quality. Don't know why you have to spend more money to get good quality from Fender and Gibson. The PRS I bought from Sweetwater was spot on out of the box. Other than that, I'll have to sell my Am Std and get the Eric Johnson. Now, do I want the candy apple red or the two tone....

Terry
from Michigan
August 1, 2005

EJ bridges, falling down...

I guess I should have bought that first EJ I reviewed earlier. It was perfect. I prefereed it to my Am Std or the Clapton Strat I played. But,I played two other EJs at Guitar Center recently. They both had defective bridges. One was totally missalligned. The other had a crooked screw and the high E string was almost off the fretboard. Unacceptable. I can't believe Fender let these two out of the plant. PRS would have cut them in half. I wonder if the perfectionist Mr. Johnson is aware of the quality issues with his "signature" axe? No wonder the Fender website has no "contact us" option. Come on, Fender. When even a US made "artist" strat is hit and miss, it's time to hire some QC guys. Fix it, Fender!

Dave Turner
from Spoakne, WA
June 1, 2005

Nice one!

I played this model at the local shop. This is a well thought out strat. It feels solid and playable and sounds great. Has the cosmetic appointments of a 50's model (strat that is). It really resonated with me and now I must have one.