Eric Johnson Effects Part 1 of 2

In this multi part interview from 2007, legendary guitarist Eric Johnson discusses music, his guitars, amps, pedals and inspiration.

[@ddrumdude]

One of the few guitarists who can improvise and it will sound as good to me as a fully formed song.

[@thebackyardairgunner8776]

ain't that the truth! he could sell and album of him just improvising and noodling and it'd be great !

[@zakyokingco9599]

That clean tone.

[@themusic6808]

The short bit he does from 0:26 to 0:40 is a excellent showcase of Eric’s chordal knowledge. How he’s able to draw on so many different harmonic possibilities and that’s what gives his playing that tasty feel.

[@PyroShredder982]

I always forget just how incredible of a player Eric Johnson is. Then I hear him play and I remember

[@wookalar35]

this guy is amazing.

[@MrFrankeesh]

yup

[@TheBoondoggler]

One of the most beautiful instrumental sounds, electric or otherwise. I really like his spirit.

[@michaelwoods9005]

"I dont have anywhere near the talent and musical ability that he does, so i'll just trash and nitpick his tone and his mic placement". Good job guys!

[@joshmuz9018]

Clean tones are so heavenly, he never plays in your face like srv, but he does what he does and that style and tone is pretty unmatchable, just close eyes and ascend away.

[@niteboatermusic]

one of my favorite artists, unmistakable sound regardless of stomp boxes.

[@Wtfdawg321]

Such a great player, love his style of play. Always so clean

[@tolol3]

so sweettt, one of my favorite guitarist, mr. eric johnson

[@TheGuitarShawn]

Clean Rhythm: 0:27 Dirty Rhythm: 1:48 Dirty Ryhthm w/ Fuzz: 2:39 Lead: 3:34 Lead w/ Tube Driver: 4:13

[@patrickhale424]

Such a unique and phenomenal tone that just sounds like magic !!

[@artysanmobile]

That Fuzz Face is highly modded for his very recognizable creamy singing melody lead. I don’t think the stock unit offers so dark a tone.

[@RobertLongM]

This is the my favorite gear run down video ... kept it simple and to the point! And more information

[@artysanmobile]

He’s a full time writer. All of my favorite musicians are.

[@coffinshaker]

man, I've watched this video so many times over the years and I never get over how awesome that riff is starting at .44

[@ireignsupreme2355]

That’s my fave riff

[@dt1mdlara]

Unbelievably great guitarist! WOW!

[@Proctor8126]

This is a great video, really impressive lovely sound as always

[@anitavassar1]

I love this.

[@jhchapman5150]

Thing is, if you were standing in the studio with him you'd hear something completely different... it sounds amazing right there in the room with him, take it from me ;).

[@digitalsketchguy]

The guy is phenomenal !

[@deadrise100]

OMG the volume swells from 5:25-5:35 are godly. Fuck...

[@jimmydriveway]

That crunch rhythm is dreamy. I could get away doing everything I do with just that tone.

[@michaelspencer2688]

3:34-3:44 is the best sound known to man

[@DiegoVT91]

In my very personal opinion, Eric has the best guitar tone of all time.

[@cmcken1]

Ah, he does post FX. I was wondering about that. He does what I do. Same type of setup. I used to feed the mic signals into an FX rack and then to rack mount units into a super warm power amp and then into cabs. I later used load boxes and dummy loads for ease of setup and a more consistent tone. Awesome video here. Great guy too. seems so easy going.

[@derekstocker6661]

Pure MAGIC!

[@luisgoregonzalez7394]

Amazing

[@EliecerIzquierdo]

my god,.. that tone!

[@TheBlackCrayon77]

Eric had the wildest setup pedalboard during this time. It actually became part of his mojo. I het he's found much easier gear to get his tones or put his board together.

[@MrApint4me]

Omg That clean, ethereal tone!

[@SaxyCalzone]

“Sounds.....kinda like a horn.” “Thanks.”

[@VortexGuitarBr]

@ 5:15 its great

[@deathscythekim729]

So my man EJ has put a spell on you?..sophisticated

[@steveh6733]

such a basic setup but so effective. it's all in the hands!

[@monolithgeometry3221]

Esp the picking one

[@idcraw]

Eric come to Vancouver Island

[@RickyLandi]

That bending at 3:48

[@cmcken1]

I like these tones better than the Roland Modeling amp that he was demoing as well. To my ears, there is no comparison of the tones he is getting here and the Roland EJ Tone Module. The tones here.. are fantastic. At times, a little muddy but, for this type of setup where, all the FX are pre amp vs post amp into a power amp, he is making it work brilliantly. He gets it to work old school into the front end of the amp.

[@artysanmobile]

Eric’s ‘muddy’ is a beautiful, signature sound for him. He’s not making a lot of noise when he solos so the melody frequencies are everything. Best way to get those melody freqs is to remove everything else. I find that tone refreshing.

[@fredaxtpor]

What noise gate are you using? Eric Johnson: Yes

[@EnergyMaxWh]

Ok. I can see why pros are from another planet from most of us.

[@jackempson3044]

You can rewind those echo plex tapes with regular 1/4 inch tape. I have that model and an even older one.

[@michaelwoods9005]

8-track tape is better because it's lubricated and made for use in an endless-loop catridge.

[@artysanmobile]

I’ve done this with many echo machines. Even the best studio grade 1/4” tape is not made for the hundreds of plays an echo subjects its tape to. Try using the tape that was made for broadcast cartridges. The keyword here is “lubricated”. It is otherwise very hi spec 1/4” tape but made especially for hundreds of plays. I find it on eBay and still, it’s not easy but I’ve purchased it new there. The last one I bought was sold by Audiopak as ‘8 track cartridge tape.’ While you’re there, find the very thinnest splicing tape made. It will seem ridiculously expensive but it’s a must for a tape loop. If you have a pro splicing block always use the steepest angle cut possible.

[@jackempson3044]

@@artysanmobile I don't remember what I used but I used good quality tapes and they worked fine. I've done it many times myself. I still have it but haven't used it in 25 years or better. It needs tuned up. A reputable man in CA works on them. I need to send it to him. They had a limited ability but great sound. A little noisy but nobody noticed. Great for Zeppelin songs.

[@artysanmobile]

@@jackempson3044 Ahh, not the friendly advice type, are you?

[@jackempson3044]

@@artysanmobile No, I get what you're saying but I took care of that a long time ago. I've recorded live music and played in live bands for years. Your advice is good. I appreciate it. It's really not that serious to be upset over. . Have a good day.

[@BryanDenham]

I figured out what my main problem was. i was using a humbucker trying to get that single coil bell like tone DOH. i bought a Strat and its the tone ive been missing. i guess i just didnt realize that the two pups had such a different tone . the humbuckers get a little muddy when playing chords. these strat single coils have a bell like tone.

[@frost-80]

Bryan D So, why dont you split the humbucker pickup of your guitar? you can go back to the humbucker sounding just changing the selector position.

[@SaxyCalzone]

The magnet type makes a difference too. Try getting that clear crystal tone with a ceramic magnet.

[@toddmiller5046]

It's also his fingers and chord voicings ("bell tone"). He uses humbuckers sometimes. (Cliffs of Dover Gibson es-355)

[@BryanDenham]

​@@frost-80 i was thinking about doing that , but i ended up just going for a SSS strat to add to my guitar collection , TBH i feel like im more of a Strat kind of guy anyways and i didnt even know it. i really love how this Strat feels/plays and sounds, but i should say ive modded the hell out of my strat at this point. Texas special pups with bridge pup wired into the bottom tone control and the neck and middle share the first tone control ,Graphtrech saddles , TremolNO so i can set my trem floating/blocked/dive bomb only with the turn of three wingnuts . Also added lsr roller nut , and thinking of getting staggered locking tuners

[@monolithgeometry3221]

@@BryanDenham Everyone is a strat guy and doesn't know it . Well...except those that do heh!

[@monolithgeometry3221]

"Trying to be a man" haha without echo and delay, sooo funny and a fraction true !!

[@hashish68]

👍

[@adityapurwanegara8292]

Clean tone was amazing

[@Ledprostate]

Has he ever jammed with Mateus Asato? Asato reminds me a lot of Johnson. Both are beyond reason!

[@joshmuz9018]

Robert Schmitt they are not similar at all

[@artysanmobile]

Why would they ‘jam’? Honestly, neither is a jammer and for me, the last thing I want to hear is even more riffing. Eric is a fully mature player, a writer every time he plays.

[@NameCriativo]

I wish I were the camera man!

[@halidharis]

strange but beautifull chord

[@Eidosgod]

Can someone tell me how i stack effects like that for that violin sound?

[@viniciuspaciello]

As far as I have understood, its a full cranked-up fuzz face into the mid-overdriven channel of the marshall. Waiting for my new amp to try it. =D

[@Eidosgod]

Man i didnt like the fuzz at all before. Know i want to know if there is any lead pedal that make guitar sound not common. Almost as not a guitar. My multifx have some synths but it doesnt do well with chords (unless i get a bridge/plugin or piezo for that. Otherwise since chords are mixing the harmonics of all the notes and some of them are tuned well it intermodulate badly)

[@viniciuspaciello]

Devilisk its really few people who use fuzz this way, but actually it was designed to sound like that. About other pedals, I guess there is because nowadays we have pedals for everything but you will have to search for it because i dont know much about that. Good luck

[@artysanmobile]

The main thing is to roll off all high frequencies. The violin’s range he emulates is decidedly midrange and that’s what you want - nothing but mids. Use a warm overdrive (nothing crispy!) followed by a compressor pushed hard, then noise gate, then EQ to take out everything above 1kHz. This sound will make any following echo / reverb very audible. When the echo time matches your playing, it will create subtle harmonies. Have fun!

[@spider62able]

@fretbuzz59 I agree with you about the Fuzz Face being muddy! Although Bonnamasa uses one on one amp mixed with another that doesn't have it(his main amp is a Marshall Jubilee) and it has a much more subtle effect. Also Eric's amps never sound's as good on these videos when compared his live and recorded tone. Also his long delays also seem to be a bit "overwelming" on this video.

[@mthartsock1070]

John Kendall I don’t agree with muddy. It’s dark, and fluid, but defined. But, it sounds like A Via Musicom era EJ tones (cliffs of Dover). Imagine that... it’s also cleaned up in the studio or on the live desk when he’s playing. He clearly says he uses post FX. If that’s muddy, I’d love to find me some mud too.

[@artysanmobile]

I prefer the word ‘creamy’ as the sound is unquestionably beautiful. Muddy certainly implies bad.

[@charliejamz.]

Does anybody know how to do the harmonics he did at 5:07??? Please let me know!

[@willsalamacha2673]

there are a few videos on youtube of him explaining and demonstrating his harmonics

[@SmoothCriimiinal]

search for "harp harmonics", tommy emmanuel is the god at those

[@michaelwoods9005]

@LiveOkie they aren't pinch harmonics, they're harp harmonics. I think Eric got the idea from Lenny Breau.

[@artysanmobile]

Serious skill!! It’s a slightly different version of pinch harmonics where the string is not deadened at all. I’ve always used my thumb to pick the string and first finger to choose the harmonic. To do it like Eric takes some major practice.

[@gerhodify]

1:19 min anybody knows this riff

[@BryanDenham]

why do i watch this video at least 3 times a day ....really tho its a lot more than 3 times 8(......i want this tone with my rig so bad im getting close but still somethings wrong

[@1acidwash]

fingers

[@sooparticular]

talent

[@Chillnote]

Maybe you are missing the echo

[@frylocdub]

man his tone is soo sick ... some times it was sounding like a violin

[@artysanmobile]

That’s a signature tone for him. Try not to spit up your coffee every time you see a commenter call it “muddy.”

[@jamestp]

LOL "I''m just trying to get a decent tone " Good grief ! LOL !

[@rubenreza]

Is his bridge completely flat/flush on the guitar?

[@billnorman1252]

That is what I am wondering as well. It is documented elsewhere that this is the case. And the EJ Strat comes stock with that configuration. Yet in this video EJ has a vibrato bar attached. What is up with that? If I try to use a vibrato bar on my EJ Strat with bridge flat to the body the bar bends and will probably fatigue over time. Anyone know how this is configured?

[@TheGuitarShawn]

Bill Norman you can have your trem set flat so it’s dive-only but still have a balance so your tremolo can still be used.

[@Fredmelott]

fuck me runnin

[@ireignsupreme2355]

5:29 dude that sound good effect is quite “Spatial”

[@tomvomton2371]

The humming would kill me

[@sanctuary8396]

Eric is considerably better playing and sounding live than he is on record.

[@heliobluesrock]

A stradivarius, no doubt!

[@stradivarius151]

You rang?

[@paulpugh5315]

When Eric plays some Jimi he sounds like Eric.....oh well.

[@artysanmobile]

Isn’t that the point?!?

[@bigstick5278]

I use that middle and bridge position to get the fat violin sound.

[@guitarman91887]

Even when EJ tries to sound like Hendrix, he still sounds like EJ

[@Fredmelott]

makes chicks want to cry..you got me laid dude!

[@nicolasv9509]

tono culiao weno xd

[@xSnoweyexp]

how can a chord be strange ? explain

[@lukemagiera3356]

xSnoweyexp diminished

[@waterbuffalo4225]

Alan Holdsworth. Check out his live playing

[@andydavid9]

His playing makes up for his bad cable management!

[@Hello_there_obi]

I always found his lead tones to sound too muffled. There’s too much of a contrast between how sparkling and clear his clean tone is compared to the lead tone. It’s like one moment he’s playing in the same room as you then, when he switches to his lead tone, he’s suddenly in the room next door.

[@PANICBLADE]

@@mikel5163 He rolls the treble pretty much all the way off on the amps he uses for dirt.

[@Fektthis]

I always loved his tone but so many miles of cable, ughhh.

[@anitavassar1]

You actually use 2 dirty rhythms. One is dirty. The other is really dirty.

[@zr24X4ROCKS]

my guitar just ended up in the fireplace , not , I have better than E.J, he is terrible, yup

[@TheLamesaint]

Those marshalls are mic'd like shit...

[@merkYouInCodLikeIBlinked]

beardogyup he’s saying the mic position was set poorly but I think that’s the camera mic

[@fretbuzz59]

Mud, indeed. I have a hard time even listening to his demos w/all the echo repeats; it's just much background noise. At around 1:50 he switches to a sound w/ just a little quiet echo. It's like a breath of fresh air...blood pressure lowers right away. And as bright as his clean tones are, his lead tones are pretty closed down. Can't say I care for the Fuzz Face. He talks a lot about pedals changing the direct sound, which I understand, except for the fact that his sound is SO processed.

[@IETCHX69]

sounds terribly muddy to me....mud

[@user-fq8xq7fb8u]

His echo and Clapton tone are as stale as a foghat concert