Example 999: It's what you play, not what you play through.

[bud]

This just cracked me up. Eric Johnson demoing a G-DEC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCF267KHEPg

I love the "need 100 watt version" comment at the beginning.

[SonicGator]

So true that it's the player. There are so many factors that go into tone, including what you're actually playing, that overwhelmingly affect the sound. Eric uses some unique chord voicings and multi-octave triads (very piano-like) that really help provide him with that signature sound.

[pipedwho]

Once the gear has gotten you into the ballpark, the rest is definitely 'in the hands' so to speak.

The only think that amazed me was the amount of hum from his single coils - I would have assumed that he had some kind of humcancelling pickups in his guitars. But, obviously not!

Cliffs of Dover with a DTC loaded with SFs, now that's my idea of strat tone! ;)

[pluto]

I remember seeing Johnson play a few years ago. He played a SG throughout most of the concert, and he switched to a strat for a couple of songs, but Johnson sounded like he always does.

[huzits]

Dang. I was just about to buy one of those amps so I could play and sound like EJ. ;)

Yeah, I saw him back in Austin around 1988 close to when he came out with the Live in Austin, TX video. I was in the front row awestruck by his style and tone. I thought the notes were being "sucked" out of his amp. Very humbling experience for sure.