And get this: EJ has a different pedal chain that corresponds to each amp. He then uses one Marshall head (with cabs) for a “dirty rhythm” without swallowing up the sound and another Marshall for lead tones.
Although he has been known to switch between vintage Fender Twin amps and vintage Deluxe Reverb amps, these are actually used for a stereo rhythm set-up. Mind you, he doesn’t use them all at once he alternates their use during each song, as each amp serves a different purpose. He is also rumored to keep his treble as low as 2, if not 0.Īmplifiers: the last line of tone, and EJ uses more than one … or two. Johnson is known to use an overdrive (with gain and volume on the shy side) for his “break up” or “dirty” rhythm set-up and a vintage Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face, Maestro Echoplex and a modern octave fuzz on his third (and lead) amplifier.
He uses delay loops on his rhythm set up and then hops to another amp/tone while that original amp/tone is repeating and regenerating. This positioning allows you to strike strings on the upstroke easier and faster than jumping or “stringhopping” to strike alternate strings.Ĭonsensus is that EJ uses a stereo chorus and an old-school digital delay on his clean stereo set up.
CLIFFS OF DOVER GUITAR ERIC JOHNSON HOW TO
Hold the pick in your hand as you normally would-see How to Hold a Pick if you need a refresher-then angle your picking hand down, toward the floor, with the tip of your pick pointing slightly upward. READ MORE: Go With the Grain: The Many Benefits of a Quartersawn NeckĪ technique often employed by players including Marty Friedman and Yngwie Malmsteen, downward pickslanting is integral to Johnson's smooth dynamic sound. READ MORE: What Are Tuning Pegs and Why Are They so Important? READ MORE: C-V-U? Which Neck Shape Is for You? 050-is fairly close to what's available in Fender's Super 250RH Nickel-Plated Steel Strings. To counter this, the guitar’s headstock pitch was physically lowered, naturally descending the angle of the strings and maintaining the instrument’s natural (and uninterrupted) sustain, which is further enhanced by staggered tuners.įor strings, Johnson's gauge range-.010. Of course, this causes an “angle” problem in that the strings are less anchored in the nut slots. EJ felt the string tree messes with his guitar’s tone, so he had them removed. THE GUITAR: STRATS, STRATS AND MORE STRATSĪnyone who has the pleasure of playing or (even better) owning an Eric Johnson Artist model Fender Stratocaster will notice two distinct features: the ’57 hard “V” neck-refresh your knowledge of common neck shapes-and a headstock without string trees. Here, a quick primer to Johnson's gear, technique and particular brand of jaw-dropping je ne sais quoi.
Johnson’s techniques are not new, but they enamored millions of fans who made his 1990 album Ah Via Musicom go platinum. Though influences such as Hendrix and Beck are clear in his music, they “dissolve” rather than melt into his sound. Somehow, he weaves elements of these genres (and a few more) into his playing, rising above predictable pentatonic scales and, instead, sailing his melodic ship into uncharted waters. Although Johnson is known for his rock instrumental/experimental fretboard gymnastics, he is also proficient in blues, soul, new-age and jazz fusion. Few guitarists can say the name “Eric Johnson” without taking a deep breath and wondering aloud how the heck he gets his sound.
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