Help me verify (or not) an Eric Johnson Thinline Strat

[ScottJPatrick]

Tried over at the Strat group but got no response so far.

I have been offered one of these as a trade for a Les Paul Junior but I'm not convinced, colour doesn't look quite right, (white blond was an option in 2018) pickguard not correct as they should be parchment single ply (easy to change, I know) and the ball ends are not flush to the trem block which was one of the specs on this guitar. Comes with a gig bag, no case. Not the best pics but all I have.

Serial number is EJ19328 which comes up as a sunburst model, EJ18328 does come up as white. Asking £950 for the Jr and have been offered a straight swop which is another red flag as the EJ is worth a fair bit more, any pointers/opinions?

 

[marc2211]

If you can verify that the neck and electrics are original, it's possible that the body was swapped out, with the rest of the parts being transferred over. I'd ask for the seller for a picture of the neck pocket, and if possible the body under the pickguard. I'd expect to see a Fender barcode or serial number which would determine if the body was genuine.

Searching around, there are surprisingly a lot of white thinline bodies around on ebay and the like. Is there also a serial number (signature etc) on the neck? As a worst case I'd guess it'd be possible that only the neck plate was original...

I'd say Caveat Emptor on this one, I'd not agree to anything without seeing the guitar in person and examining it. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

 

[marc2211]

Compared to the pick in the following link, the colours look very off - https://www.fender.com/pages/electr...-eric-johnson-signature-stratocaster-thinline

Regardless of the pickguard switch, specifically, I'd expect the pickup covers to match the tone/volume knobs. The knobs look to be parchment, but the pickup covers very cheap white. I'd not be surprised to see the PUs not being original. Also, to my eyes the pole pieces are different too.

Do you have any higher resolution pics?

 

[Nick Fanis]

Yes it is.
But someone changed the pickguard to this attrocity

 

[marc2211]

Yes it is.
But someone changed the pickguard to this attrocity

Just wondering how you explain the discrepancy in body color?

 

[NWinther]

^The camera can have a white balance configured for a cooler look...pictures never tells the whole story.

 

[marc2211]

^The camera can have a white balance configured for a cooler look...pictures never tells the whole story.

But the serial number says it should be a 2TS.

 

[StevesBoogie]

I'm afraid I am no help, other than saying I own a 2008 EJ Strat, and both the solid and thinline guitars get rave reviews.

Curiously, what year and color Gibson LPJ are you trading?

 

[NWinther]

Anyways...I think it should be avoided....

 

[BramptonRob1958]

Go with your gut, on this one....You know what you have in your Junior, The Strat might be authentic or you might be getting a EJ neck plate on a parts caster.

Hard Pass.

 

[ScottJPatrick]

Just wondering how you explain the discrepancy in body color?

There were two 'white' versions as well as the sunburst, blond and vintage white which is the more yellow tinged one you see more often. They only made the blond in 2018 but this one is from 2019. Here is a pic of the blond version with the parchment knobs and pickup covers.

 

[Killing Floor]

I’d call or email Fender customer service. They can confirm.

 

[marc2211]

There were two 'white' versions as well as the sunburst, blond and vintage white which is the more yellow tinged one you see more often. They only made the blond in 2018 but this one is from 2019. Here is a pic of the blond version with the parchment knobs and pickup covers.
View attachment 1123399

Yep, but I meant that the serial number says 2TSB. I generally find that Fender serial numbers are usually spot on - I'd say that something definitely 'happened' with the guitar.

For me it'd be a hard pass, unless I could examine in person and see the fender stamps.

 

[ScottJPatrick]

Yes, too many variables on this one, serial is correct for a blond but 1 year out, pickguard and pickup covers definitely not original, the base of the trem block should look like the one below with the ball ends almost flush...will let the guy know I'm going to pass.

 

[KokoTele]

That color does not look like white blonde, even accounting for white balance and lighting. The neck color doesn't look right either Besides, almost everyone is using their phones to take pictures these days, which do a good enough job of automatically setting the color temperature. And the other items in the photo don't like they have a significant blue shift. There doesn't appear to be enough of a mismatch to account for the color difference.

I think this is an assemblage of different parts. The serial number mismatch is an important clue. They may all be parts of different EJ guitars with a standard Fender bridge, but the only thing that looks right is the neck plate. Even if you got detailed pics to show that these are all EJ parts (except that trem block), I think I'd value this about 15% less than a typical EJ Strat.

(Also, this model was really great. I'm not a Strat guy, but I liked one at a GC well enough that I almost bought it.)

 

[kuch]

I've never seen a EJ strat in that color
neck/headstock looks correct-no string tree
tremolo should have 5 springs
neck plate is correct
one of the best features of the EJ are the pickups-you need to verify that they are original

here's some pics of mine, although it's the 2T sunburst, solid body

 

[ScottJPatrick]

Finding things like this online doesn't help much with my trust issues either....

https://www.dhgate.com/product/eric...C0BC6My0&resource_id=#s1-3-1;searl|1072693922

 

[dogmeat]

there is no cover over the trem springs on the EJ body, so it isn't drilled for the retaining screws. that looks good, the neck plate with the EJ logo looks good. Eric specified no paint between base plate and block... maybe a different block as I recall. didn't see the neck so I can't help there. it should be a 12" radius if its the same neck as my solid body burst

I'd be suspicious of the pickups unless they can be verified. in the USA they can be purchased for about 300 USD.

 

[willietheweirdo]

Without photos of cavities, tan lines, neck heel and electronics you might be able to say it's a fake (partscaster), but you won't be able to say it's not.