More about Eric Johnson "Virginia" Strat®
In 1988 renowned tone savant Eric Johnson made his debut on Austin City Limits, delivering an electrifying performance that ultimately catapulted "Cliffs of Dover" to #5 on the Billboard Top 100. "Virginia", a rare, modified, sassafras-bodied 1954 Stratocaster (named after a label found inside the pickup routes) powered this career-defining moment. He also wielded it during the recording of the groundbreaking Tones and Ah Via Musicom albums that made him a star beyond guitarist circles.
Limited to 50 instruments worldwide and Masterbuilt by Carlos Lopez, the Eric Johnson "Virginia" Stratocaster is a 1:1 replica of this magnificent instrument, one that could only be born in the Dream Factory - the Fender Custom Shop. Every intricacy of Johnson's original was reproduced in painstaking detail by Lopez. From the single Graph Tech® String Saver saddle on the high E to the flat washer on the output jack and specially cut nut, he left no stone unturned in his quest - even going so far as to match the actual pot values and removing one spring from the rear cavity.
Featuring a Deluxe Closet Classic finish package, this guitar wears a lightly checked lacquer finish, matched to Closet Classic hardware, giving it a well-loved, slightly aged look. The offset-seam, two-piece body is crafted from tight-grained sassafrass, which adds a "round" note to the instrument's voice. The AAAA flame maple neck features a "V"-shaped profile that comfortably fills the hand and hosts a 12"-radius maple fingerboard with 21 jumbo frets. Custom, hand-wound "Virginia" neck and middle pickups, matched to a fat-sounding DiMarzio HS2 humbucking bridge pickup powers this guitar's voice. This trio of pickups are connected by custom wiring and a 5-way pickup switch which places the pickup pair in-phase in switch position two and out-of-phase in position four, unlocking his singing, violin-like tone for you to enjoy.
Other features include single-ply Eggshell pickguard, vintage-style EJ synchronized tremolo assembly, vintage-style tuning machines, American Vintage string tree with nylon spacer and as a special touch, a piece of masking tape inside the control route labelled "Virginia". Includes custom pure nickel string set for vintage-informed tone, deluxe hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.
Specs
| Model Name: | Eric Johnson "Virginia" Stratocaster®, Maple Fingerboard, 2-Color Sunburst |
| Model Number: | 9215002966 |
| Series: | Limited Edition |
| Color: | 2-Color Sunburst |
| Body Shape: | Stratocaster® |
| Body Material: | 2-Piece Offset Seam Sassafrass |
| Body Finish: | Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Neck Material: | 1-Piece 4A Flame Maple |
| Neck Shape: | 10/56 "V" |
| Scale Length: | 25.5" (64.77 cm) |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 12" (305 mm) |
| Number of Frets: | 21 |
| Fret Size: | Jumbo |
| String Nut: | Micarta |
| Nut Width: | 1.625" (41.3 mm) |
| Neck Finish: | Tinted Flash Coat Lacquer |
| Fingerboard: | 4A Flame Maple |
| Position Inlays: | Black Dot |
| Bridge Pickup: | DiMarzio® HS-2™ DP116 |
| Middle Pickup: | Custom Shop Hand-Wound EJ Virginia |
| Neck Pickup: | Custom Shop Hand-Wound EJ Virginia |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge/Middle Pickup) |
| Pickup Switching: | 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup (in phase), Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup (out of phase), Position 5. Neck Pickup |
| Pickup Configuration: | SSS |
| Bridge: | 6-Saddle Custom Shop EJ Synchronized Tremolo with High "E" Graph Tech® String Saver Saddle |
| Tuning Machines: | Vintage-Style |
| Orientation: | Left-Hand |
| Hardware Finish: | Chrome |
| Pickguard: | 1-Ply Eggshell |
| Control Knobs: | White |
| Strings: | Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges) |
| Included Accessories: | Deluxe Hardshell Case, Strap, Certificate of Authenticity |
Features and Specifications Subject to Change Without Notice