Song Rig

Ah Via Musicom

Eric Johnson · Ah Via Musicom · 1990

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

The album title track — a cleaner, more acoustic-flavored guitar piece that reveals the jazz and classical influences beneath Johnson's rock exterior. The tone is acoustic-like in its clarity, with a semi-hollow warmth that suggests he used an archtop or jazzmaster-style instrument for portions of the piece. A showcase for his fingerpicking vocabulary.

Signal Chain

1Stratocaster or semi-hollow guitar (clean, neck pickup)
2Fender clean amp
3chorus and reverb (subtle)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume2

Bass5

Mid6

Treble6

Reverb5

Very clean — the cleanest setting of the Ah Via Musicom album. The acoustic influence requires a completely clean canvas. Chorus subtle for shimmer. Reverb more prominent than on the rock tracks, creating an acoustic-hall spaciousness.

Technique

How to Play It

Fingerpicking and hybrid picking in a jazz-influenced melodic style — arpeggiated chord melody with improvised runs. Requires both pick and finger independence. The classical guitar influence shows in the arpeggiated chord voicings.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Stratocaster neck pickup or semi-hollow guitar → clean amp with reverb → Boss CE-2 chorus (very subtle). The technique is the most challenging element.

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