Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Review - How is it Unique?

!±8± Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Review - How is it Unique?

The Eric Johnson Stratocaster is an unbeatable instrument at an attainable price.

Stories about Eric Johnson's ear for details are legendary. Honestly, how many people do you know who can hear the difference between various battery types used in effects pedals? Not many. This is a guy who's somewhat meticulous about his gear, to say the least.

When I learned that Fender would be bringing about an Artist Model Eric Johnson Stratocaster, I knew it was going to be superior because, quite frankly, Eric wouldn't attach his name to something that wasn't top notch.

Since Johnson prefers a 1957 Fender Stratocaster as his main guitar, the company used that as the basis for the Eric Johnson Stratocaster, where the talented Mr. Johnson would have ultimate say on everything from the screws to the pickguard.

Features
The Eric Johnson Stratocaster uses an alder body and a one-piece quartersawn maple neck with a 12" radius on its maple fretboard with 21 American Series style frets. A string tree is eliminated through the use of staggered machine heads. The electronics are custom designed single-coil pickups with a master volume, neck tone, and bridge tone control. A thin nitrocellulose finish allows the guitar to "breathe" better over time.

Performance
The first thing Eric wanted was a superb finish that didn't hurt the guitar's natural sonorousness, so Fender chose a super-thin nitrocellulose lacquer.

The neck is also a thing of beauty, since Johnson decided on a one-piece, quartersawn maple neck. The 12" radius results in terrific playability, and the thin-skinned glossy lacquer and vintage tint give the neck a gorgeous appearance.

The pickups bear the same level of detail and care. The Fender team (with Johnson's input) previewed nineteen kinds of pickups before settling on the final model. Though it took some time, the payoff was worth it in the end. These pickups are world-class and some of the most intriguing pickups we have heard.

Another move to meet EJ's attention to detail was the wiring configuration. Traditionally, Stratocaster wiring has the tone control affecting only the neck and middle pickups. Johnson's taste is to have the tone wired to affect the neck and bridge pickups, so his signature guitar reflects that preference.

The other "little" particulars ensure that you're getting a one-of-a-kind design. Not a fan of string trees, Johnson insisted that his signature guitar use staggered tuners instead, which increases tuning stability.

Though it seems like an odd request, EJ also insisted that the tremolo cavity not have a cover plate. Moreover, he wanted the cavity left paint-free, insisting that this helps the vibrant qualities of the instrument.

In the end, what you have is an instrument that reflects the class and virtuosity of its architect. While it has a vintage vibe, the Eric Johnson Stratocaster is well-suited for a wide variety of genres.

What we treasured the most, aside from the playability, were the pickups. They have a vibrancy, presence, and personality that make then some of the finest Strat pickups we've ever heard. It was hard not to pull off our best "Cliffs of Dover" riffs when we strapped on the EJ Strat.

The Bottom Line
When you throw in the classic vintage-styled case, you've got a package that is worthy of Mr. Johnson itself. The Eric Johnson Stratocaster is an unbeatable instrument at an attainable price. Well done, Fender!

Name of Gear: Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster
List Price: ,599.99
Manufacturer Info: Fender Musical Instruments; fender.com
Pros: Nice pickups; resonant body; very playable; versatile array of sounds
Cons: None

Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Review - How is it Unique?

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Carvin Bolt Review

!±8± Carvin Bolt Review

All in all, the Carvin Bolt-T is an amazing guitar, offering flexibility, world-class playability, and a wide range of sounds.

It seems like nearly every guitar company offers their take on the time-honored Stratocaster model. Indeed, such "Super-Strat" guitars are to be found everywhere. When a maker opts to make an entry into this already-crowded market, we have to ask if they really have anything unique to offer. With their Bolt and Bolt-T line of guitars, Carvin re-enters the bolt-on neck guitar market, and does so in a spectacular manner. As we'll soon show, the Carvin Bolt and Bolt-T would even make Leo Fender proud.

Features
As is the case with all of their guitars and basses (except for the Cobalt series), Carvin's Bolt guitars can be purchased with a number of options, including customizations of wood, hardware, color, and pickups. There is no "standard" Bolt, so what follows was based on our preferences. The guitar we reviewed came with an alder body and a beautiful flamed maple top with crimson red finish. We ordered a humbucker in the bridge position and a black perloid pickguard. We left the single coils in the neck and middle positions, just so we could still get some realistic Strat-like sounds. We also ordered the Bolt with the Wilkinson vibrato bridge.

Performance
With respect to the guitar's electronics, it relies on a master volume and tone as well as a standard Stat-style five-way selector switch. It also has two mini-toggles. One allows you to add the bridge pickup in positions four and five while the other allows you to split the bridge humbucker. Obviously, the Carvin Bolt-T has a huge palette of sonic possibilities.

We tried as hard as we could, but we couldn't make the Wilkinson tremolo to go out of tune, even with some extreme "Van Halen" whammy action. Adding the optional Sperzel locking tuners didn't hurt the tuning, as you'd expect. When you add the fine Wilkinson bridge and the locking tuners with the Graphtech nut, you've got a recipe for perfect tuning!

If you've never played a Carvin guitar before, then you're missing out on some of the fastest guitars in the world. We opted to get our Bolt-T with 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets and an ebony fingerboard. We were completely blown away, as it was far better playing than instruments that cost two or three times as much! The neck's tung oil finish added to this silky smooth feel and playability.

When we opened the box, we were amazed that the Carvin guitar was actually tuned to pitch and didn't require any adjustments when we removed it from the light but bulletproof ABS case. Again, Carvin just amazed us with their attention to detail.

The Bolt-T has numerous selling points: a gorgeous finish, extreme playability, and wonderful sounds. Perhaps the most compelling reason to pick up a Bolt, though, is the price. You can get a custom-made instrument for less than ,000, including shipping and a hardshell case. Other major guitar-makers should stand up and notice.

The Bottom Line
All in all, the Carvin Bolt-T is an amazing guitar offering flexibility, world-class playability, and a wide range of sounds. If you want a guitar that gives you world-class sound and playability at a low price, the Carvin Bolt-T is sure to satisfy!

Name of Gear: Carvin Bolt-T
List Price: ,699.99
Manufacturer Info: Carvin Music; carvin.com
Pros: Very customizable; fast, comfortable neck; amazing value
Cons: None

Carvin Bolt Review

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PRS Mira Review - Read Before You Buy!

!±8± PRS Mira Review - Read Before You Buy!

The PRS Mira displays a well-thought out design in every aspect - aesthetics, playability, and comfort.

Whereas a lot of different guitar companies seem to introduce 100 "new" models every year, Paul Reed Smith takes the opposite approach: only introduce a new guitar when you've got something new to say. So, when they showed off the new PRS Mira, it was obvious that they had a worthy contribution to their lineup.

What's odd about the Mira, though, is that while it's one of the newest guitars in the PRS lineup, it has a vintage style and look about it. Let's take a look at the details.

Features
The guitar's top is a flat-top and made of mahogany. The Mira features exposed coil humbuckers, master volume and tone, and a 3-way pickup switch. A mini-toggle for coil-tapping is also standard. The Mira also has a mahogany set neck design with the popular wide/thin profile. The guitar is a 25" scale and sports a 10" fingerboard radius and 24 jumbo frets. The Mira has the Phase II low-mass locking tuners and a compensated stoptail bridge.

Performance
Like any PRS we've ever played, the fretwork is immaculate. Fast runs, bends, and chording all come easily. We've come to expect superior playability with PRS guitars, so this wasn't a great surprise. With the Mira, though, the little things do matter. For example, even the control knobs (translucent) let you know that they're striving for something a bit different.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the Mira is its vintage vibe. It has a look unlike other PRS guitars that sets it apart from the crowd. We tested one with a really cool Wild Mint finish and the optional bird inlays. The Mira has a simple class that gives it a feel all its own. Really, it's the little things that help set it apart, like a matching pickguard and truss rod cover. The cutaways are reminiscent of an old Gibson Les Paul Special. These "little" things show that the folks at PRS put a lot of thought into the Mira's design.

The Phase II tuners do a perfect job of keeping the guitar in tune, and the compensated bridge provided excellent intonation. The Mira also weighed in at about six and a half pounds, which, if you gig regularly, could be a real life-saver (well, back-saver at least).

The electronics are made especially for the Mira, and like all PRS pickups, are tightly matched to the guitar. The pickups are pretty hot, which gives them a wide range of tonal options. Both the highs and bottoms are clearly pronounced, and the mids are strong without being nasally. You can also engage some convincing Strat sounds by engaging the coil-tap switch. Though the Mira's pickups definitely favor the blues and rock and roll range, the tone controls and coil-tap provide a good deal of versatility.

We tested the Mira through a variety of amps - Marshall, Fender, Mesa Boogie - and the Mira sounded great through all of them, whether it was a clean, dirty, or fully distorted tone. It doesn't exactly look like a "shredder" guitar, but the Mira can definitely do some serious damage if need be. Again, it's a pretty versatile guitar.

The Bottom Line
Few guitar makers have mass manufacturing down to a science the way PRS does, and the Mira is just more proof of that. It displays a well-thought out design in every aspect - aesthetics, playability, and comfort. With the Mira, PRS offers a guitar with just a little different feel from the norm.

Name of Gear: PRS Mira
List Price: ,849.00
Manufacturer Info: Paul Reed Smith Guitars; prsguitars.com
Pros: Good value; very good action; perfect fretwork; wide array of sounds
Cons: None

PRS Mira Review - Read Before You Buy!

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Fender 62: American Vintage 62 Stratocaster Review

!±8± Fender 62: American Vintage 62 Stratocaster Review

Since the introduction of the American Vintage 57 Strat, Fender 62 has marked a significant point in the history of Fender. One of the most apparent changes, for instance, is the 3-ply pickguards in the '62 model instead of the single-ply pickguards in the earlier Strat.

The following is the review of the American Vintage 62 Stratocaster:

The bridge pickup has a chewy, grindy quality with suppressed bass and vibrant mid-range. At lower gain levels it's thin but not particularly brittle, while various levels of overdrive bring out successive layers of fatness and chunk that'll mask some of the treble. Some players would wire the bridge pickup to one of the tone controls to tame its edge. The harder you play, the brighter it sounds, giving an interactive experience.

The middle pickup has a hollow voice with more bass and less treble than the bridge pickup. Although many players consider the bridge pickup as the main pickup, some feel that the middle pickup is the default position. If you need more treble, simple flip to the bridge. Need something rounder and juicier, switch to the neck. The middle pickup is also good for Hendrix tones, clean and driven, and it seems to favor complex chords between the 5th and 12th frets.

The neck pickup has a great lively tone: it's fat, loud and articulate. Like the interactivity of the bridge pickup, you'll hear that classic Strat sound if you dig in hard here. Or you'll get a softer, rounder voice that sound great when played with fingerstyle.

The neck may take some getting used to. The rounded fretboard radius (7.25?) may not suit everyone. If you like the jumbo frets and flatter radii, you might find it even somewhat confronting.

There's a 60 cycle hum, although it's not really a bad thing. The control cavity is very well screened. The pickguard is completely backed with a sheet of metal to block out external interference. If the hiss is a problem you could upgrade the pickups, although many players prefer the subtle background noise that represents vintageness.

Features of this 62 Stratocaster:

* Alder body: finished with nitrocellulose lacquer allowing the wood to breathe and age elegantly
* Neck: features 21 small vintage frets with white pearloid postition markers
* 3 Fender American Vintage 57/62 Strat single-coil pickups
* Master volume pot and tone control for the neck and middle pickup with a 5-way switch
* Original strap and cable and the "ashtray" bridge cover

In conclusion, if the hum, the rounded fretboard radius and the nitro finish bother you, then look for something else. However, if you are attracted to the tone, vibe, nuance, construction, responsiveness and the interactive playability, then give this Fender 62 a try.

Fender 62: American Vintage 62 Stratocaster Review

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