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Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster - Black with Maple Fingerboard

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Alder Body, Maple Neck, Maple Fingerboard, and 3 Vintage Noiseless Strat Pickups - Black
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Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster - Black with Maple Fingerboard
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Yes, Now You Can Own and Play Slowhand's Guitar

There's no bigger name in the entire guitar world than Eric Clapton! The man is a legend with a career that spans over 40 years! So, as you can imagine, this is one musician that can play any instrument he chooses - and he chooses the Fender Eric Clapton Artist Series Strat. That's right, the same guitar you can own (though his comes with a custom paint job these days).

First introduced in the 1980s, today's Eric Clapton Strat has been updated with three Vintage Noiseless pickups, which work in conjunction with both a powerful active midrange boost and Fender TBX tone circuitry to create on of the most versatile guitars in the Fender catalog.

Eric Clapton Artist Series Stratocaster at a Glance:
  • Just like Eric's own guitar
  • Vintage tones plus midrange boost
  • Fast-playing maple neck with soft V shape
Just like Eric's own guitar

You might think that a famous guitarist like Eric Clapton would pick some amazingly figured maple and ash, but in truth, other than the custom paint jobs, this is Eric's guitar. And once you play it, you'll see why he never asked for anything more. You start with a lightweight alder body with a black polyurethane finish and single-ply white pickguard (the same as Clapton's famed Blackie guitar). Thanks to the active 25dB midrange boost and TBX circuitry, you can go from crystal clear tone to a full-throated growl with the simple spin of a knob. Combine that with three of the latest versions of fender's Vintage Noiseless pickups and Eric's personal choice of a blocked American vintage synchronized tremolo, and you have the makings of a truly soulful instrument that sounds as great in the studio as it does onstage!

Vintage tones plus midrange boost

The original Strat had three single-coil pickups, so it was able to produce sounds that no other guitar could deliver - particularly once players discovered they could lodge the 3-position blade switch in those in between positions to access different pickup combinations. These were often erroneously referred to as the out-of-phase settings. The Eric Clapton Strat comes standard with a modern 5-way blade switch, making it easy to access all the pickup combinations. But then it adds a special active 25dB midrange boost on one tone control to give this guitar the extra meat you might expect from a humbucker. In addition, the second tone knob functions as a standard Fender TBX master tone control, which can smoothly go from bright and glossy to dark and smoky by rolling off the highs!

Fast-playing maple neck with soft V shape

Leo Fender wasn't afraid to think outside the box when it came to guitar designs - after all, he was an engineer, not a guitar player. In the 1950s and well into the 1970s, the blonde natural maple neck became almost synonymous with Fender guitars. The Eric Clapton Stratocaster comes with a 1-piece maple neck and fingerboard with 22 vintage-style frets and Eric's personal favorite soft V shape. In keeping with contemporary player preferences, the fast-playing neck is finished in a smooth satin polyurethane.

Fender Eric Capton Strat Features:
  • Black color with polyurethane finish
  • Maple neck with soft V shape and 9.5" radius
  • Solid alder body
  • Fender/Gotoh vintage-style tuners
  • Maple fingerboard
  • 22 frets
  • Dot inlays
  • 3 Vintage Noiseless Strat pickups
  • Blocked vintage-style synchronized tremolo
  • 5-position blade for pickup switching
  • Chrome hardware
  • Vintage Tweed case included
  • 25.5" scale length

NOTE: This product is available in the United States only - no international sales.

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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Solidbody
  • Body Shape Eric Clapton Stratocaster
  • Body Material Alder
  • Body Finish Gloss Polyurethane
  • Color Black
  • Neck
  • Neck Material Maple
  • Neck Shape Soft V
  • Neck Joint Bolt-on
  • Radius 9.5"
  • Fingerboard Material Maple
  • Fingerboard Inlay Black Dots
  • Number of Frets 22, Vintage
  • Scale Length 25.5"
  • Nut Width 1.650"
  • Nut Material Synthetic Bone
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece 6-Saddle Synchronized Tremolo
  • Tuners Vintage Style
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup Vintage Noiseless Single-coil
  • Middle Pickup Vintage Noiseless Single-coil
  • Bridge Pickup Vintage Noiseless Single-coil
  • Controls 1 x master volume, 2 x tone
  • Switching 5-way blade pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings Fender, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig Bag Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 0117602806

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

The Real Deal!

I have other Strats, including a PRS Silver Sky, and a 2003 MIM Strat. This one blows them away. The boost is great, I have mine going into a Deluxe Reverb amp. Adding some treble and cranking the boost gives creamy Strat tones, ideal for blues and blues rock. This guitar is a game changer. This is my new go to single coil blues machine!
Rated 5/5

Great Blackie redux

Great Blackie. I didn't even have to cannibalize three Strats to get this. Much better battery access than the David Gilmour loaded Strat pickguard. I also love the V maple neck. I'm a thumb over player, so I prefer the V necks (also have the Eric Johnson with the sticky gym floor tint).
i wish Fender made replacement necks with the V carve PLUS the modern twin pin holes to accommodate modern locking tuners. But, I digress….
Anyway, this is a great guitar. Great tones and playability. You can bring a vintage Strat AND LP, or, just bring THIS.
Music background: Gigging lead guitar
Rated 5/5

Killer guitar with Clapton is God Tone!

Beautiful strat with unreal tone and beautiful craftsmanship. Definitely a great unique strat unlike any other guitar. If your into Clapton or Rock or Blues this is what you need. Highly recommend it. Mine will be my go to guitar for many years to come.
Rated 5/5

I'm amazed!

The guitar is flawless (I doubt it was even played). I got it home and plugged it in and it blows my Gibson away. Everything about it is top notch.
Rated 5/5

I was on the fence between a Gibson or a Fender

Honest review, I looked at the Gibson's and Fender's for a long time , I've played some American Fenders and seemed really nice, I and played some Gibsons also really nice, but wanted a little more since quality control can be an issue with the Gibsons, I decided on the EC Fender since Eric is a great player and love his sound.... I've never played it before receiving it, once plugged in, it played like both Gibson and Fender American Guitars but with a really big punch, I was really surprised on the overall sound this thing puts out, it was exactly what I was looking for, smoothest neck I've ever played, weight is great, I am really happy with the guitar, the case is not as nice as I expected but it will work for now. Also the vintage tuners are good and stays in tune . Honestly this is the best Guitar I've held in my hands and is a great value for the money and would buy it again.

Customer service is good, but arrived late, they did waive the 80.00. shipping fee ,

It’s impossible to imagine a world without Fender guitars, and if you’re like many of the guitarists at Sweetwater, then Fender not only made the first guitar you ever bought " they made the last one too! From building the first mass-produced solidbody electric guitars and basses in the 1950s to creating some of the most influential amplifier designs in history, it’s no wonder why Fender is one of the biggest names in the business. As one of the world’s largest Fender dealers, we have countless guitars, basses, amps, effects pedals, and accessories in stock and ready to ship, whenever you need them. We’re always getting our hands on their latest creations, and there’s nothing we love more than to tell our customers all about them! So, whether you’re looking for your first axe or a Custom Shop creation, make sure to give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.

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