Fender Stories Collection Eric Johnson 1954 Virginia Stratocaster

Virginia is For Lovers

Wildwoodians, we are proud to present the Eric Johnson 1954 "Virginia" Stratocaster, an instrument that pays tribute to one of the most legendary guitars in all of rock and roll: the 1954 Stratocaster that Eric Johnson used to record Ah Via Musicom and Tones. Johnson's '54--nicknamed "Virginia" after a label he and his tech found in one of the control cavities--was one of the rare handful of Strats made from sassafras in the fifties. This different tonewood imparts a bit more punch and snap, sort of like walnut, but with a bit more natural compression. So, it doesn't sound like any other Strat out there, which is super exciting!

The sassafras body works beautifully in tandem with the electronics. The DiMarzio HS-2 in the bridge position and the two '57/'62 single-coils in the neck and middle give you a whole host of tones to work with--position four is even wired out-of-phase, just like Eric's actual '54, so you can get those awesome singing tones that sound like they came from a 300-pound violin.

It also comes equipped with all the classic Eric Johnson neck specs: an insanely-comfortable soft V profile, a 12" radius to facilitate low setups and easy bending, and medium jumbo frets for buttery feel. As a result, this neck is a joy to play on!

We're proud to showcase the Stories Collection Eric Johnson 1954 Virginia Stratocaster. It's a fitting tribute to one of the coolest guitars in rock history, and we know it will inspire you to no end!