Fender Eric Johnson 1954 'Virginia' Stratocaster | Review & Demo

🎸 Buy the Fender Eric Johnson 1954 Virginia Stratocaster...
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#fender #ericjohnson

[Josbornevonosborne]

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.

[joaoaugustofreire]

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.

[DisabilityExams]

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!!!

[johnsavchak]

I got a 60th anniversary AVRI 1954 Stratocaster that I love!

[thomasmorrison]

Beautiful guitar. I hope Virginia is still alive to appreciate the shout out. Please play Ciffs of Dover.

[digiwaves]

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.

[tomcrehore]

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.

[MrJMatch]

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.

[geezberry]

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

[vikramjitbanerjeetuki]

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 🙂

[ilikemykids]

I think you are a very rare reviewer who says what you really know and understand. Thanks for the great review!

[bobdekett]

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.!

[ksgtrpkr]

Fantastic Review RJ! You are the best reviewer on YouTube!

[carsgunsandguitars]

I just picked mine up today in the parking lot of Austin vintage guitars, mine was signed by Eric with photos of him singing it!
It's incredible!!!

[timwhite]

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.

[joefive]

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

[robocoptickmusick]

the absolute best value in stratocasters, period in life.

[cwness]

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

[AlmostGrewMyHair]

So cool that a lifetime of playing habits and chance has taken form into this instrument. Inspiring!

[twisantigo]

Just got myself one last night!!! It's great!!