The Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard is a Fender amplifier. Close alternatives include the Fender Pro and the Carr Artemus Combo 1-12 Custom Tweed. It pairs well with the Marshall Guv'nor and the Greer Tomahawk.
Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard
Fender · amplifier
The Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard is a Fender Custom Shop pickup assembly featuring Eric Johnson signature pickups mounted and pre-wired on a Stratocaster pickguard for drop-in installation. Eric Johnson is widely regarded as one of the most tone-obsessed guitarists alive, and his signature pickups are voiced to his exacting specifications for the clear, singing sustain and vintage character he is known for. The pre-wired format simplifies installation and maintains authentic wiring.
What stands out
“Eric Johnson is widely regarded as one of the most tone-obsessed guitarists alive, and his signature pickups are voiced to his exacting specifications for the clear, singing sustain and vintage character he is known for”
— from the listing
“Players who want to replicate or approach the EJ clean Stratocaster tone choose this assembly as a direct and authentic route”
— from the community notes
“singing vintage stratocaster tone with exceptional harmonic content and sustain”
— from the community notes
“The EJ pickups are voiced for the clean, sustaining Stratocaster tone Johnson is associated with: excellent note-to-note clarity, strong harmonic content, and the vintage character that distinguishes properly voiced vintage-style pickups fr…”
— from the reviews
“The Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard is a Fender Custom Shop pickup assembly featuring Eric Johnson signature pickups mounted and pre-wired on a Stratocaster pickguard for drop-in installation”
— from the listing
- vintage
- clear
- clean
- singing
- ej tonal character
- harmonically rich
- harmonic
- singing sustain
Genres the Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
Pedals that stack with the Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
23% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Into a transparent tone, Marshall Guv'nor brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Greer Tomahawk
Greer
23% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → medium gain)
Greer Tomahawk's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying
Goes in front of the amp
Vemuram Jan Ray
Vemuram
22% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → medium gain)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Vemuram Jan Ray leans it toward medium gain to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive
Origin Effects
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive after Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard in the signal chain, clear of Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro
Pigtronix
9% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro's own mid-forward character is the real reason this is worth trying
Goes in front of the amp
Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb
pedal
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb in Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard's effects loop, clear of Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay in Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard's effects loop, clear of Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Tone City Dry Martini wants
Alternatives
Fender Pro
Fender
51% similarityShared character: vintage charm, clean
Carr Artemus Combo 1-12 Custom Tweed
Carr
50% similarityShared character: singing, alternative, clean
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo
Mesa Boogie
45% similarityShared character: singing, alternative, clean
Marshall AS50D
Marshall
44% similarityShared character: clean
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Reissue 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
42% similarityShared character: singing, clean
Marshall Mini Silver Jubilee 2525C 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp
Marshall
41% similarityShared character: vintage charm, clean
Traynor AM Studio
Traynor
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard?+
The closest matches in character are the Fender Pro, the Carr Artemus Combo 1-12 Custom Tweed, the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo.
What pairs well with the Fender Eric Johnson Signature Pre-Wired Stratocaster Pickguard?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Guv'nor, Greer Tomahawk, Vemuram Jan Ray — Into a transparent tone, Marshall Guv'nor brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing.