Eric Johnson

5/2005 - An Interview with Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson has enthralled fans for quite some time with his master class guitar playing, his ability to create new sonic textures with guitar. Eric has the same passion that many of us have for quality guitar gear and the need to explore new sonic territory with it. SSS was lucky enough to have Eric answer just a few of our most burning questions.

SSS: Eric, what can you tell us about your upcoming album?

Eric Johnson: It contains 16 songs of various styles some of which are a bit different than anything I've put on record before.


SSS: Who would you most like to collaborate with for an album?

Eric Johnson: Open minded, high energy artists and producers that collectively, we could make better music.

SSS: Now that Fender has made the Eric Johnson Signature Strat, will it become your new #1 or do you plan to stick with the old ones?

Eric Johnson: I'll use both!

SSS: When you switched to George L cables, what difference did it make to your overall tone and ability to hear the dynamics of your playing in more detail?

Eric Johnson: You can use more feet of it without degradation.

SSS: Which brand(s) of fuzz do you currently use? Is it the Fulltone '69 as stated on the Fulltone website?

Eric Johnson: No, I use old Fuzz Faces.

SSS: How's the Fulton-Webb Scruptious Monkey signature amp working for you? Do you use it for live or studio stuff? Also, what happened to the Dumble?

Eric Johnson: I'm using the Fulton Webb Viola. It's a 4 tube 50 watt amp. I like it a lot.

SSS: If you could only have one of each of the following what would they be? First off...guitar (one electric and one acoustic).

Eric Johnson: Strat and a Martin.

SSS:Amp?

Eric Johnson: Twin Reverb.

SSS:Modulation/Time effect?

Eric Johson: Echoplex.

SSS: Distortion/OD effect?

Eric Johnson: Fuzz Face.

SSS: What happened to the Long Path Meadow project? Is it still in the works?

Eric Johnson: That was the very original title for Venus Isle. Although I still have a song called that.

SSS: Who are your main jazz, rock, and blues influences?

Eric Johnson: John McLaughlin, Wes Montgomery, Hendrix, Clapton and B.B. King.

SSS: Is there any possibility there will be a European Tour soon?

Eric Johnson: I hope so!

SSS: Some people hold the ideal of developing their skills in various fields of expertise. Have you become an expert in anything outside of music?

Eric Johnson: I'm a pretty good water skier, but I could be better at it.

To learn more about Eric Johnson, please visit www.ericjohnson.com