Fender Masterbuilder Carlos Lopez created 50 of these. Eric Johnson's Virginia Stratocaster.
There is just no better Fender strat, none.

In 1988 renowned tone savant Eric Johnson made his debut on Austin City Limits, delivering an electrifying performance that ultimately catapulted “Cliffs of Dover” to #5 on the Billboard Top 100. “Virginia”, a rare, modified, sassafras-bodied 1954 Stratocaster (named after a label found inside the pickup routes) powered this career-defining moment. He also wielded it during the recording of the groundbreaking Tones and Ah Via Musicom albums that made him a star beyond guitarist circles.

Limited to 50 instruments worldwide and Masterbuilt by Carlos Lopez, the Eric Johnson “Virginia” Stratocaster is a 1:1 replica of this magnificent instrument, one that could only be born in the Dream Factory—the Fender Custom Shop. Every intricacy of Johnson’s original was reproduced in painstaking detail by Lopez. From the single Graph Tech® String Saver saddle on the high E to the flat washer on the output jack and specially cut nut, he left no stone unturned in his quest—even going so far as to match the actual pot values and removing one spring from the rear cavity.

Featuring a Deluxe Closet Classic finish package, this guitar wears a lightly checked lacquer finish, matched to Closet Classic hardware, giving it a well-loved, slightly aged look. The offset-seam, two-piece body is crafted from tight-grained sassafrass, which adds a “round” note to the instrument’s voice. The AAAA flame maple neck features a “V”-shaped profile that comfortably fills the hand and hosts a 12”-radius maple fingerboard with 21 jumbo frets. Custom, hand-wound “Virginia” neck and middle pickups, matched to a fat-sounding DiMarzio HS2 humbucking bridge pickup powers this guitar’s voice. This trio of pickups are connected by custom wiring and a 5-way pickup switch which places the pickup pair in-phase in switch position two and out-of-phase in position four, unlocking his singing, violin-like tone for you to enjoy.

Other features include single-ply Eggshell pickguard, vintage-style EJ synchronized tremolo assembly, vintage-style tuning machines, American Vintage string tree with nylon spacer and as a special touch, a piece of masking tape inside the control route labelled “Virginia”. Includes custom pure nickel string set for vintage-informed tone, deluxe hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.

The data in the full sheet traveler:

Here's all the data from this Fender Custom Shop guitar specification sheet, omitting empty fields:

General Information: • Model: Eric Johnson Virginia Strat MBCL • Base Model: 56 Strat • Finish Type: DLX Closet Classic • Case: FCS Strat/Tele Tweed • Sales Order: 123476900-00002 • Production Order: 102355980 • Material: 921500296G • Qty: 5.000 • Seq Number: 91131

Body Specifications: • Body Wood: Sassafras Sun 7716487 • Body Style: 56 Strat • Pickup Route: CS150402 • Neck Route: HW EJ Virginia NK CC (7717720100) • Neck P/U: HW EJ Virginia Mid CC (7717721100) • Middle P/U: Dimarzio HS-2 (7716510000) • Bridge P/U: Strat Modern Wiring (STR81 Mod) • Control: 56 Strat (CS150402) • P-Hole: 4 Bolt (7714067200) • Neck RFTG Holes: C/G Vint Strat Rel • Body Finish: WLS_Under • Body Finish Color Option: 2 Color Sunburst • Top Color: 02

Body Notes: • 2-Piece closet, Sassafrass • 56 Strat pickup route • 56 Contours • Drill for backplate holes

Neck Specifications: • Like: 56 Strat (7717228890) • Neck Finish: Med Tint Med_Tint • Neck Blank: Flame AAAA (008304700O) • Radius: Round Lam Stock • Fretboard Wood: None • Sort Fboard: KW • Truss Rod: 21 (7717812000) • No. of Frets: 21 • Tuning Keys: Vint W/Fender Logo Rel (008105260) • Mounting Style: 4 Bolt • Head Style: Small • Head Scoop: 56 • Head Thickness: 0.580" • Fret Wire: Jumbo / 6100 (008810000) • Face Dots: Micarta Black .250 (008001000) • Dot Spacing: Wide • Fret Board Radius: 12" Radius • Nut Width: 1.625" • Nut: 2.200" • Slot Shape: 10/56 "V" • Neck Spec: 1st • 12TH Fret: .860" • Neck Binding: No • Nut: STD FB Blank (008367500O) • Side Dots: Micarta Black 3/32" (005855000) • Headstock Binding: No • Decal: 54 - 60 Strat (001948500O)

Hardware: • Bridge: C/G Vint Strat Rel (7714067200) • Bridge Saddles: Vint Strat (005158600O) • Output: Eric Johnson (7718453000) • Rear Cover: E Johnson Pure Nickel • Strings: AM Vint 65+ Nylon SPR (009359010) • String Tree: No Strap Top Locks • Strap Lock: Vint Strat CC (001962140) • Trem Arm: White 65+ • Trem Arm Tip: AM Vint 54-58 .06 Eggshell (009424600O)

Electronics: • Control: Strat Modern Wiring (STRATMOD) • Selector Switch: Switch 5-Way Lever CRL (003829000) • Switch B: White REI (001955420O) • Tone Knob: Vint Closet, Tone WHT REL (009359210) • Volume Knob: Strat SM FT WHT REL (009359210) • Pots: 250K-10% Taper Split (001344600O) • Neck P/U: HW EJ Virginia NK CC (7717720100) • Middle P/U: HW EJ Virginia Mid CC (7717721100) • Bridge P/U: Dimarzio HS-2 (7716510000)

Hardware & Electronics Notes: • BR PUP - Only Coil Active in Phase in Pos 2 • Out of Phase in Pos 4 • Tone Pot 250K • Vol Pot 500K • 450K • 21 Springs • Claw Ground to Jack • Guitar Cord Saddle on High E • Flat Washer on Jack

Additional Information: • Dealer: Musicians Friend (DC) • Contact: Not Specified • Customer P.O.: P00540197 • Requested Delivery Date: 09/03/2020 • Date: 09/24/2020 • Masterbuilder: Carlos Lopez • Material: Chrome/Nickel Hardware CHR • Case: DLX Closet Classic • LOC: CS150402 • Plating: Left or Right: Right Hand

Notes: • Include backplate and screws • In case candy • Print Date: 07/21/2020 Print Time: 09:18:22 • Created By: J Stewart • Page 1 of 1

Weights approx 7lbs, 4oz.