A Legacy of Tone

There are guitars built for everyday players, and then there are instruments born from a very particular kind of madness. 

The Fender Stories Collection Eric Johnson 1954 “Virginia” Stratocaster replicates the exact guitar behind Ah Via Musicom, Cliffs of Dover, Venus Isle, and beyond, offering tone chasers a faithful recreation of a legendary studio tool. 

The Sassafras Difference

Unlike the more standard alder strat, the two-piece sassafras body gives this model one of its most distinctive talking points. Paired with a gloss nitrocellulose finish, it has a noticeably open, lively response in hand, and is one of the details that makes the "Virginia" feel like more than a cosmetic tribute. 

Precision Electronics

The electronics are where Johnson's preferences really come into focus. The bridge position uses a DiMarzio HS-2 wired with only the top coil active, while the rest of the set stays rooted in vintage-style Strat territory. Between the pickup selection and the unusual phase relationships in the switching, this guitar reaches for the smoother, more vocal lead sounds and the wiry, chiming textures that players already associate with Johnson's recordings. 

Crafted for the Player

Just as importantly, this is not just a wall piece pretending to be an instrument. The soft V maple neck, flatter 12-inch radius, and medium jumbo frets push it closer to Johnson's preferred balance of vintage feel with modern control. And for the buyer that cares about originality as much as playability, the factory seal over the tremolo arm socket remains intact, meaning the arm itself has never been installed. 

It is the ultimate puzzle piece for the serious player, complete with its original tweed hardshell case.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop by, shoot us a message or give us a call!

As always, this guitar has been meticulously and professionally set up by our skilled luthiers at The Upper Bout. 

SPECS:

• Body Wood: 2-piece offset-seam sassafras

• Body Finish: Gloss lacquer

• Color: 2-Color Sunburst

• Body Shape: Stratocaster

• Neck Material: 1-piece maple

• Neck Profile: Soft “V”

• Neck Finish: Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer

• Fingerboard: Maple

• Fingerboard Radius: 12” (305 mm)

• Scale Length: 25.5” (64.77 cm)

• Frets: 21

• Nut Width: 1.625” (41.3 mm)

• Inlays: Black dot

• Truss Rod: Vintage-style butt adjust

• Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 (top coil active only)

• Middle Pickup: Fender Original ’57/’62 Single-Coil Strat

• Neck Pickup: Fender Original ’57/’62 Single-Coil Strat

• Pickup Configuration: SSS

• Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck Pickup), Tone 2 (Bridge Pickup)

• Pot Values: 375K volume, 250K tone

• Switching: 5-position blade switch

• Bridge: 6-saddle American Vintage synchronized tremolo

• Tuning Machines: Vintage-style

• Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome

• Pickguard: 1-ply eggshell

• Control Knobs: Aged white plastic

• Neck Plate: 4-bolt custom

• Weight: 7.8lb