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Eric Johnson · Tones · 1986

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Eric's debut album showcases his clean Strat tone before the Cliffs of Dover era — a funky, articulate single-note line through the clean channel with precise attack and exceptional dynamic control. The 1986 tone has less studio polish than Ah Via Musicom but more character, capturing the raw clarity of his early approach.

Signal Chain

1Fender Stratocaster (1954 or similar, in-between pickup position)
2Dumble Overdrive Special (clean channel)
3Light chorus (Roland Dimension D or similar)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume3

Bass5

Mid7

Treble7

Reverb4

The Dumble clean channel — EJ is obsessive about his clean tone, and the Dumble's clean is the reference. The in-between pickup position (between bridge and middle) produces a quacky, funky quality ideal for the single-note lines.

Technique

How to Play It

Extremely precise right-hand attack with controlled dynamics — Eric Johnson is famous for his dynamic range, playing some notes at ff and others at pp within the same bar. This micro-dynamic control requires the pick to strike strings at precisely varying angles and force.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Stratocaster in-between position → Two-Rock or Carr amp clean channel → subtle chorus → practice alternating between very soft and very hard pick attacks within single-note runs to develop Eric's signature dynamic range.

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