E.Johnson's Ear for tone has always impressed me...

[crwnedblasphemy]

He can frickin talk about cloth wiring and washers by the input jack how they make tone difference. I love listening to him and in a way what a burden to have that finicky of ears...

 

[SpiderWars]

Very interesting, esp the Sassafras.

 

[Rdodson]

I've been obsessed with EJ since I was at this clinic (on the YT clip below) in '85, where he had the mighty Steel String Singer #005 AND another Dumble for lead (in addition to two vintage Twins). Like EVH in '78, he sounded SO different, and had that warm blanket of tone. I know many don't care for his sound, but man I have always loved it.

 

[Norton666]

While I appreciate his playing , AND HE IS A MONSTER GUITAR PLAYER , I have never been able to hop on the EJ obsession train. While I acknowledge that he is a billion times the technical guitar player , I have always equated him the shredder version of The Edge from U2. Buried in effects . The effects seem to be as important to his music as the playing itself. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that , it’s just not for me.

 

[Rick Lee]

Love EJ to pieces and love his tone. But he can make any guitar sound like him. That Strat is cool, but it's obviously running through his very personalized rig (minus the Marshall). Not too many people out there will get that kind of tone, no matter what guitar they use.

 

[legend71]

I've been obsessed with EJ since I was at this clinic (on the YT clip below) in '85, where he had the mighty Steel String Singer #005 AND another Dumble for lead (in addition to two vintage Twins). Like EVH in '78, he sounded SO different, and had that warm blanket of tone. I know many don't care for his sound, but man I have always loved it.

Nice vid and thanks for posting. Never knew he used Dumbles at one point. Killer player and I dig his style as he is different a bit than most guys. TO me it is more important to have your own voice and style vs aping what everyone else digs - but we all have our favs for our own reasons. I recall when I bought his first album. I was young and could appreciate it for what it was. I only liked "Zap." hahah. But I was in my teens.

 

[Mailman1971]

Think the only thing I know by him is Cliffs of Dover.
And yes. His tone stood out to me. Like someone mentioned how EVH brought a new tone.
That’s what I felt when I heard this song years back. Just sings.

 

[SpiderWars]

From what I gathered, that guitar he's playing in the video lists for $9k...and his was hand-picked. The non-CS models list for $2k5 (pre-order) on Sweetwater.

Also, fwiw neither Warmoth nor Musikraft show a Sassafras option for bodies (or anything). I expect that will change pronto.

His live clean tone is tremendous.

 

[Rdodson]

Although his clean tone has always been '65-'67 Fender Twins with JBL D120s, and his "violin" tone the BK Butler Tube Driver into a late 60's Marshall, to me his signature sound is Tube Screamer or Fuzz Face into a Dumble Steel String Singer. That was THE sound that was SO very different. He had that Dumble from '84 or so until the OT crapped out ~ '96. He made the mistake of letting somebody other than HAD work on it and I think they got crossways for a bit.

Anyway, that is the sound of Righteous, Trademark, Camel's Night Out, All About You, Zap (also a Dumble ODS used). The slew of the note, the attack, is so unique and his later tone sounds nothing like it. An exact copy of that amp (SN005) is made by Brandon at Bludotone. Watch at the link below how that amp (most people think it is clean only, it is not - that's the John Mayer/SRV voicing SN002 & 004) breaks up nicely (sorry no preview because I've linked to the exact part of the video

https://youtu.be/Y95zbzaOfT0?t=620

I've been obsessed with EJ since I was at this clinic (on the YT clip below) in '85, where he had the mighty Steel String Singer #005 AND another Dumble for lead (in addition to two vintage Twins). Like EVH in '78, he sounded SO different, and had that warm blanket of tone. I know many don't care for his sound, but man I have always loved it.

Nice vid and thanks for posting. Never knew he used Dumbles at one point. Killer player and I dig his style as he is different a bit than most guys. TO me it is more important to have your own voice and style vs aping what everyone else digs - but we all have our favs for our own reasons. I recall when I bought his first album. I was young and could appreciate it for what it was. I only liked "Zap." hahah. But I was in my teens.

 

[SpiderWars]

I was always puzzled when I heard his tone with the Strat switch in the #2 position, now it makes sense.

I often don't know what he's playing (other than the clean and 300-pound-violin tones) but always assumed some of the tones from the ACL Western Flyer were the SSS. One of those tones I call the 'angry Woolly Mammoth' tone. Just sick tones imo

 

[Rdodson]

What a great tune and tone smorgasbord!

The riff is the Marshall, the more nasally sound is the Tube Screamer or FF into the SSS on the lead pickup, and a lot of the soloing is FuzzFace into the SSS in the 2nd position. The 2nd vs 1st position (in addition to the obvious tone difference) has a much different impedance which really alters how the FF reacts). Watch the Bludotone video I linked and you can hear the SSS tonality.

 

[shredhead7]

I love Eric Johnson. I didn't really get him until about 6 years ago. When I was younger I always thought, he just plays pentatonics. After I watched his Austin City Limits, wow, that was different. What I love most about his style is that while it's pentatonic based, his note choices and his way of taking the pentatonic scale and essentially making it modal are uniquely him. He has such a great melodic sense. The solos to Lonely in the Night and Desert Rose are just statements to perfection.

Live, watch out. His improv is just other worldly, not to mention his massive technique. Not just his blazing solos, but his finger picking, harp harmonics, and his chordal playing. In a lot of ways, he is like Allan Holdsworth, just not quite outside.

As for tone, I don't really care for his rhythm tone (the fuzz face), it's okay, but his lead on clean tone are both amazing.

 

[tripstan]

What a great tune and tone smorgasbord!

The riff is the Marshall, the more nasally sound is the Tube Screamer or FF into the SSS on the lead pickup, and a lot of the soloing is FuzzFace into the SSS in the 2nd position. The 2nd vs 1st position (in addition to the obvious tone difference) has a much different impedance which really alters how the FF reacts). Watch the Bludotone video I linked and you can hear the SSS tonality.

You've always been one of my favorites doods on here. Thanks for always being inciteful. I knew he played Dumble's but not to that extent. I thought I heard in an interview he sold the Dumbles when his tinnitus faired up. And now he regrets it. But your story sounds more accurate.

 

[reverymike]

What a great tune and tone smorgasbord!

The riff is the Marshall, the more nasally sound is the Tube Screamer or FF into the SSS on the lead pickup, and a lot of the soloing is FuzzFace into the SSS in the 2nd position. The 2nd vs 1st position (in addition to the obvious tone difference) has a much different impedance which really alters how the FF reacts). Watch the Bludotone video I linked and you can hear the SSS tonality.

Tube Driver, I believe. . not Tube Screamer. I've always loved his tones - absolutely stunning.

 

[SpiderWars]

What a great tune and tone smorgasbord!

The riff is the Marshall, the more nasally sound is the Tube Screamer or FF into the SSS on the lead pickup, and a lot of the soloing is FuzzFace into the SSS in the 2nd position. The 2nd vs 1st position (in addition to the obvious tone difference) has a much different impedance which really alters how the FF reacts). Watch the Bludotone video I linked and you can hear the SSS tonality.

Tube Driver, I believe. . not Tube Screamer. I've always loved his tones - absolutely stunning.

He used both but the Tube Driver is more well known. And the TD+Marshall is the 300-pound-violin tone.