As a tribute to Eric, Fender Custom Shop issues an exact replica of Blackie. All characteristics and marks of EC's beloved guitar are faithfully reproduced. The dream comes true...
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Eric sold most of his guitars during the 1999 and 2004 Christie's Auction in New York, support of the Crossroads center in Antigua. Here are the masterpieces :
Commercialized models
First, the famous " Blackie ", one of the most succesful "signature" strat from Fender®.
More informations about the amps, effects, strings and picks used by Eric, here
'Blackie'
No introduction is needed for this one. That used to be the Clapton's MAIN guitar and trade mark for almost 15 years. Originally bought as three 1950's stratocaster in Nashville during the Blind Faith tour of 1969, it was put together by Eric himself, possibly using a '57 neck on a '56 black body. First seen on stage during the Rainbow Concert in 1973, it has been nearly the exclusive guitar he used until the '85 world tour. From 1986 and August sessions Eric switched to his own signature model prototypes.
Fender
stratocaster 'Over The Rainbow'
Used for the "Reptile" Tour, this stratocaster was built by the Fender Custom Shop by John Page. It features the same specifications as the E.C. signature strat but lace sensor pickups have been replaced by new Fender Noiseless Vintage. <br>
The wonderful "artwork" came from a friend of Eric who is an artist and was lacquered by courtesy of the Custom Shop. The idea of this paint grows up in Eric's mind after seeing Todd Rundgren on Conan Obrien playing with a psyche SG which reminded his own "Cream area". <br>
This guitar is used for the video clip of
"Ain't Gonna Stand For It".
Fender
stratocaster 'Crash 3'
The name of the Crash 3 comes from the fact that it's the 3rd guitar owned by Eric, painted by the new-yorker artist Crash. This guitar which has made its first appearance for the charity concert One Generation 4 Another, on 2004 March 15th at Royal Albert Hall of London, is a Fender Clapton signature strat built, as usually for each stratocasters for Eric, by the Custom Shop of the brand. Intensely used during the 2004 european and american tour, visible on the Sessions For Robert J. video, the Crash 3 has been played on stage for the last time on 2004 July 22nd, before being sold for $ 321,100 during the second auction for the Crossroads Center. The logo of the Crossroads Center Festival that can be view on the video of this event restates the design of this guitar.
Fender
stratocaster Custom Shop Noiseless .1
The specifications of this one are the same as the 'Over The Rainbow' with the new Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups with a 21 db mid-boost.
The color came from the Custom Shop with blue play of colors.
Eric use this guitar from the "Reptile" Tour, he also used it during the "Ridin' With The King" session with B.B. King. It appeared for the fisrt time at the "Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame 2000" for "Further on up the road" with Robbie Robertson.
Fender
stratocaster Custom Shop Noiseless .2
This is the same guitar as the Custom Shop .1 .
The Noiseless .2 with its Custom blue is as a matter of fact a relief-guitar for the shows and was only used once during the European tour.
Fender
Clapton signature model stratocaster, 'Gold Leaf'
Ordered by Eric as his version of a 50th Fender Anniversary Stratocaster and completed by Mark Kendrick of Fender custom shop who constructs all Clapton's new guitar. "Eric was looking for something that had an old world look, something that looked like it could be hang at the Louvre". Fender Custom Shop vice president John Page came up with the idea of trying a classic gold leaf, but it took to the Custom Shop artisan George Amicay three tries before they found just the right combination of finishes for the the two pieces alder body, contoures to feel like a mid '50's strat. This is strictly one-off EC signature stratocaster custom gold leaf finish coated with transparent laquer and 23 k gold platted hardware. The pickups are usual Lace Sensor but the double isolation of the electric system give a really special tone that we can hear for exemple on the "Rock me baby" studio recording with BB King on the album "Deuce Wild". "The most difficult thing was trying to guess what Eric would like says J.Page. But it appears that he was very pleased". It has been been his favored guitar trought most of 1997 including The Legends european tour, the Montserrat benefit concert in RAH and the Far East sojoum. It has also been used as the main electric guitar during the Pilgrim sessions.
Fender
Clapton signature Model stratocaster, black
The one Signature model that Eric did not auction off was this guitar made of a highly figured flame maple neck that Mike Stevens built in 1988 and a black body made by JW Black in 1990. The Steven's neck was originaly on a pewter signature modèle and when Eric moved on a new colour (black) the neck was taken of and put on a new black body. That was the main stage guitar from the 1990 RAH season until the 1993 Birmingham NEC concert.
Stratocaster
E.C. 'Classic'
During the recording of the Tribute to Jimi Hendrix "Stone free" in 1992, Eric wished to come back to a more "traditional" Fender tone. He asked the Custom shop to create a very special model based on a white Clapton signature strat (Lee Dickson used to call it "Whitey") but with the Texas special "plot pickups" (Cf SRV strat signature). That guitar had been probably used on several studio sessions but never on stage.
Eric said that he prefered lace sensor pickups.
1964
Gibson ES-335, Cherry Red
This is probably the guitar that Eric has owned the longest. First seen in public with the Yardbirds, it became one of the main stage guitars alongside the Firebird during the late part of Cream (cf "Crossroads" at Cream Fairewell Concert at the Royal Albert Hall). Its black case has "Cream" stensilled on it in huge letters. It was used on the studio recording of "Rita Mae" and made a major come back since in 1994 as the stage Gibson for playing blues, notably the Freddy King's numbers (cf "Tore Down" and "Have you ever loved a woman" at Hyde Park in 1996).
1950's
Gibson Byrdland, blond
Another blues guitar that was mainly used since From the cradle tour with a slack open C# tuning for the Elmor James numbers ("Blues before sunrise" and "It hurts me too"). Eric did auction two of his still valuable sunburst Byrdlands from the same area but kept that special one behind. According to 80's interview, he searched for a long time that model with that kind of alnico pickups first seen on a Chuck Berry LP cover. This maybe the same one used on stage durring the "Hail Hail Rock'n Roll" Chuck Berry concert.
L-5
Gibson 1&2
The Gibson L-5 is used for the "Reptile" song and for the encore "Over The Rainbow" during the tour for its jazzy song. No G open tuning here but the E classic tuning.
1960
Gibson Les Paul Standard, cherry sunburst
Eric's first Les Paul, that had been responsible for some of the finest guitar work of all the time during the John Mayall and the Bluesbraker period, was stolen during the rehearsal for the first Cream concert. Eric, speaking in 1989, described that Les Paul as the best one he ever had and that he could not find one as good as that one for a long time. That was until he found this plain top cherry sunburst '60. Its first public appearance may have been the New Castle concert in 1983. It saw some occasional use during '85 tour, '87 Prince's Trust ("While my guitar gently weeps" and once during the 93 RAH blues show after a string broke on the custom shop P-90 les Paul during a Freddy King number.
Bluesmaster
Eric Clapton
It's incredible but this guitar could be the "E.C. signature guitare".
This guitar "Bluesmaster E.C." was designed by Eric and a luthier from Memphis. An endorsement contract was signed but later felt through because of a disagreement with his management. So, the E.C. Model was short lived.
There is actually about 6 of these models built before production was halted and needless to say, they are priceless.
This assembly employs 2 single coil "E.C. II" tapped pickups contolled by "Push-Pull" volume & tone with 3 way pickup selector switch. The E.C. assembly explores the maximum single coil sounds with a minimum of feedback.
Martin
Style-45 auditorium (000)
This long serving guitar was first seen on the back cover of "461 Ocean Boulevard" and was probably used on "Let it grow" and "Please be with me". It was Eric's main stage acoustic during the "comeback" tour of '74. Appart from occasional re-appearance , notably at the encore of the 1983 ARMS concerts, it did not see regular stage use again until the 1993 RAH Blues Shows when it was used side by side with the Unplugged '39 000-42. It had been said that this guitar is a pre-war 000-28 wich was converted to pre-war Style 45 by the inlay artist and Martin historian, Mike Longworth. Prior to Eric's ownership and was possibly a gift from Stephen Stills. Martin's Clapton signature model, 000-42EC is a replica of this Style 45 guitar despite its Style 42 designation.
1939
Martin 000-42
This guitar, wich was featured on the cover of the "Unplugged" album, became one of the potent symbols of the "post-unplugged area". Since it major public appearance at Bray studio in january '92, it had been Eric's main stage steel-string acoustic right up to the first leg of the "Pilgrim" US tour in 1998. This pre war 14 fret Martin is extremely rare and valuable vintage guitar, only 113 were made, with the finest wood and craftsmanship of Martin golden area.
Late
40's/ early 50's Martin D-28
This vintage D-28 was used for the solo acoustic première of "Broken hearted" at Montserrat Concert in september '97.
Customised
wood-body dobro
The photograph from the 1976 "No reason to cry" recording session of Eric playing this wooden-bodied resonator guitar with the amazing inlay work is well known. He spoke of this guitar during his interview with Guitar Player magazine conducted during the mixing session for the album. He said that he had bought an old Dobro in need of repair from George Gruhn's shop in Nashville and had a Martin style replacement neck put on it by Randy Wood. Wood decorated the guitar with the vintage Martin style torch inlay on the headstock, style 45 abalone inlay on the body and a "tree of life" inlay on the fingerboard complete with Eric's name. 16 years later, this guitar made what was probably its first public appearance during the "Unplugged" session at Bray Studios and then became a stage regular for acoustic slide blues during the 90's blues period.
Lowden
0-38
Eric was seen playing " Change the world" with this modern acoustic guitar, built for him in Northen Ireland, at the Grammy ceremony in March 1997 with Babyface. According to Eric, that guitar is, with the vintage Martin 000-42, his favourite one for acoustic studio sessions.
Ramirez
classical
José Ramirez seems to be Eric's choice for classical guitars and they have been used on stage constantly since the "Unplugged" session. (cf "Tears in heaven" video clip).
sources : WE!, Guitar World
et Guitarist magazine.
All you ever wanted to know about Eric equipment: his guitars (electrics, acoustics, classicals & dobro), his amps, effects, strings & mediators
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No introduction is needed for this one. That used to be the Clapton's MAIN guitar and trade mark for almost 15 years. Originally bought as three 1950's stratocaster in Nashville during the Blind Faith tour of 1969, it was put together by Eric himself, possibly using a '57 neck on a '56 black body. First seen on stage during the Rainbow Concert in 1973, it has been nearly the exclusive guitar he used until the '85 world tour. From 1986 and August sessions Eric switched to his own signature model prototypes.
The name of the Crash 3 comes from the fact that it's the 3rd guitar owned by Eric, painted by the new-yorker artist Crash. This guitar which has made its first appearance for the charity concert One Generation 4 Another, on 2004 March 15th at Royal Albert Hall of London, is a Fender Clapton signature strat built, as usually for each stratocasters for Eric, by the Custom Shop of the brand. Intensely used during the 2004 european and american tour, visible on the Sessions For Robert J. video, the Crash 3 has been played on stage for the last time on 2004 July 22nd, before being sold for $ 321,100 during the second auction for the Crossroads Center. The logo of the Crossroads Center Festival that can be view on the video of this event restates the design of this guitar.
Ordered by Eric as his version of a 50th Fender Anniversary Stratocaster and completed by Mark Kendrick of Fender custom shop who constructs all Clapton's new guitar. "Eric was looking for something that had an old world look, something that looked like it could be hang at the Louvre". Fender Custom Shop vice president John Page came up with the idea of trying a classic gold leaf, but it took to the Custom Shop artisan George Amicay three tries before they found just the right combination of finishes for the the two pieces alder body, contoures to feel like a mid '50's strat. This is strictly one-off EC signature stratocaster custom gold leaf finish coated with transparent laquer and 23 k gold platted hardware. The pickups are usual Lace Sensor but the double isolation of the electric system give a really special tone that we can hear for exemple on the "Rock me baby" studio recording with BB King on the album "Deuce Wild". "The most difficult thing was trying to guess what Eric would like says J.Page. But it appears that he was very pleased". It has been been his favored guitar trought most of 1997 including The Legends european tour, the Montserrat benefit concert in RAH and the Far East sojoum. It has also been used as the main electric guitar during the Pilgrim sessions.
The one Signature model that Eric did not auction off was this guitar made of a highly figured flame maple neck that Mike Stevens built in 1988 and a black body made by JW Black in 1990. The Steven's neck was originaly on a pewter signature modèle and when Eric moved on a new colour (black) the neck was taken of and put on a new black body. That was the main stage guitar from the 1990 RAH season until the 1993 Birmingham NEC concert.
This is probably the guitar that Eric has owned the longest. First seen in public with the Yardbirds, it became one of the main stage guitars alongside the Firebird during the late part of Cream (cf "Crossroads" at Cream Fairewell Concert at the Royal Albert Hall). Its black case has "Cream" stensilled on it in huge letters. It was used on the studio recording of "Rita Mae" and made a major come back since in 1994 as the stage Gibson for playing blues, notably the Freddy King's numbers (cf "Tore Down" and "Have you ever loved a woman" at Hyde Park in 1996).
Eric's first Les Paul, that had been responsible for some of the finest guitar work of all the time during the John Mayall and the Bluesbraker period, was stolen during the rehearsal for the first Cream concert. Eric, speaking in 1989, described that Les Paul as the best one he ever had and that he could not find one as good as that one for a long time. That was until he found this plain top cherry sunburst '60. Its first public appearance may have been the New Castle concert in 1983. It saw some occasional use during '85 tour, '87 Prince's Trust ("While my guitar gently weeps" and once during the 93 RAH blues show after a string broke on the custom shop P-90 les Paul during a Freddy King number.
It's incredible but this guitar could be the "E.C. signature guitare". 
This long serving guitar was first seen on the back cover of "461 Ocean Boulevard" and was probably used on "Let it grow" and "Please be with me". It was Eric's main stage acoustic during the "comeback" tour of '74. Appart from occasional re-appearance , notably at the encore of the 1983 ARMS concerts, it did not see regular stage use again until the 1993 RAH Blues Shows when it was used side by side with the Unplugged '39 000-42. It had been said that this guitar is a pre-war 000-28 wich was converted to pre-war Style 45 by the inlay artist and Martin historian, Mike Longworth. Prior to Eric's ownership and was possibly a gift from Stephen Stills. Martin's Clapton signature model, 000-42EC is a replica of this Style 45 guitar despite its Style 42 designation.
Eric was seen playing " Change the world" with this modern acoustic guitar, built for him in Northen Ireland, at the Grammy ceremony in March 1997 with Babyface. According to Eric, that guitar is, with the vintage Martin 000-42, his favourite one for acoustic studio sessions.
