It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:34 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 63 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:27 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:12 am
Posts: 8
My first post so hi to all.

I'll be very shortly looking around for a used EC Custom Shop Stratocaster (UK). Can anyone give me an idea of what is a fair price to pay for a lightly used mint example. I've seen a couple on Ebay recently and one was a 'buy it now' @ £1699 and the other was up for a starting bid of £1600. Both look in very good condition. Are these prices about the going rates?

My other question is in terms of tone and playability is the Custom Shop worth the extra expense over the Signature model.

Any thoughts appreciated,

Cheers,

Pete.

_________________
Check out my prog instrumental 'Latitude' here:- http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:19 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
The Masterbuilt Claptons are by far points the most expensive, IMHO.

Why not asking ZZDoc?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:50 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:12 am
Posts: 8
^^^

Unfortunately I can't afford the Masterbuilt. Just wondering what I should pay for a used Custom Shop here in the UK.

ZZ Doc???

_________________
Check out my prog instrumental 'Latitude' here:- http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:07 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:52 pm
Posts: 1129
Location: UK
I don't really know what the "going rate" is for a second hand Clapton, but £1699 BIN may well be fair. Many used Custom Shop guitars are in that ball park! I have bought items from that seller in the past and they are reliable, but they haven't put up many pics, and I would like to see that I was getting everything that came with the guitar when new!

OTOH, the Mercedes Blue one that hasn't had a bid yet is a most attractive guitar in a colour I like (if I were interested) and the pics show what appears to be all the case candy, etc with the guitar. I think I'd be tempted to put in a bid equal to the price of the other one and see what happened!

Whatever you decide, good luck! :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:24 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:12 am
Posts: 8
Many thanks Butterscotch.

I'm also liking the look of the Mercedes Blue one. Unfortunately my funds won't become available until the 1st week in August so I may be too late for that one. My main dilemma is whether to go for a new signature or used Custom Shop. Your advice re the price of the used Custom Shop is very helpful, thanks again.

_________________
Check out my prog instrumental 'Latitude' here:- http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:34 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:52 pm
Posts: 1129
Location: UK
There will be others! In the meantime, check out prices of secondhand Custom Shop guitars by looking at store websites and eBay and you'll get a good idea of what's fair, come the time! :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:40 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Mercedes Blue?

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:23 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:52 pm
Posts: 1129
Location: UK
chromeface wrote:
Mercedes Blue?

Image


Yes.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:20 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
The original Mercedes Blue Strat was hand-crafted by Mark Kendrick.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:09 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Once again we are indebted to Chromeface for his illustrative material, and to Butterscotch for his fiscal counsel. From his side of the pond I would trust his judgement in that regard. To borrow from another discussion on another Forum recently, I would order any new Custom Shop instrument directly from Fender and pay the import duty as opposed to buying directly from a retail vendor and be subjected to the markup. The disadvantage to buying used Custom Shop guitar is that the warranty does not transfer to the second owner nor do you enjoy all of the perks which are inherent to the Custom Care program. Also, never buy a CS shop instrument for which the owner cannot supply you with a Certificate of Authenticity aka COA.

Ebay will always carry the caveat emptor seal of approval and that market is always a matter of personal judgement. About 4 years ago this summer, I got very lucky on Ebay with a Pewter EC of 88/89 vintage which was in 8/10 condition. That's the ultimate Clapton guitar to my way of thinking.[ other than having Todd Krause build one for me to my spec which would be a 21 fret solid maple neck] I bought it to replace a '93 Blackie which I swapped out for a Teambuilt CS Strat which I ultimately swapped out for a Gilmour. Can't explain why there always seems to be a subtle difference of 'better' in these CS instruments but IMHO there is.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:44 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:08 am
Posts: 263
With regard to your second question I can only advise you to play both the factory and the CS model. These guitars have very distinctive neck profiles; the production line model has a modest V shaped neck and not so much taper. The CS model is much thinner overall and much more tapered, moreover it starts as a rather hard V while going up the neck it changes more to, what's IMHO, a thin shouldered C.

Overall I find the production line model to have a somewhat easier going neck, the CS neck (mainly because it's so thin and tapered) might not be for everyone. But then again, if you want a very thin V neck the CS Clapton the THE axe go for.

Is it worth the extra expense.... well, that depends much on your personal taste. Overall I find that the CS models are slightly better put together (deeper body contours, a tad lighter, very tight fitting neck pocket....). But if you like the production line model better, just wait arond until you find one that is just right for you...

PS: If you get the chance please DO try an older one with the Lace Sensor pups. They have a lot more punch than the more recent guitars equiped wit the Vintage Noiseless pups.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:35 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Taking it one step further, the Masterbuilt guitar is only one on the ladder of the three which is done 'as built for' meaning that it does not have a TBX but rather a conventional tone pot which is the way Clapton wants them.

In the matter of the Lace Sensors I am in agreement with Bobby. I feel they have a meatier, darker tone to them. They were OK with Clapton until Fender sent him the VN's to try.{ as they seem to be, so I am told by sources, always sending him gear to try] Apparently these were less 'muddy' to him as someone said so he swapped them out.

This is an aside. I've always had gut feeling that Fender was very interested in disconnecting themselves from the Actodyne Corporation which builds the Lace pickups. Given their experience with Bill Lawrence and the SCN's {which Fender maintained were spot on vintage tone]in the AmDeluxes of 2004, they were obviously able to design a stacked HB which gave them the tone they were hoping Clapton would go for. Buddy Guy's guitar was the last Stratocaster to have 'em and that guitar is no longer available.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:56 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:08 am
Posts: 263
ZZDoc wrote:
...

In the matter of the Lace Sensors I am in agreement with Bobby. I feel they have a meatier, darker tone to them. They were OK with Clapton until Fender sent him the VN's to try.{ as they seem to be, so I am told by sources, always sending him gear to try] Apparently these were less 'muddy' to him as someone said so he swapped them out.

This is an aside. I've always had gut feeling that Fender was very interested in disconnecting themselves from the Actodyne Corporation which builds the Lace pickups. Given their experience with Bill Lawrence and the SCN's {which Fender maintained were spot on vintage tone]in the AmDeluxes of 2004, they were obviously able to design a stacked HB which gave them the tone they were hoping Clapton would go for. Buddy Guy's guitar was the last Stratocaster to have 'em and that guitar is no longer available.


Hmm, interesting view on what might have spurred Fender to have Clapton to use their own product instead of the Lace's.

BTW, I personally find that the Lace's are considerably more trebly than the VN's. Overall I find that the Lace's are more tight sounding with much more definition in the sound. To my ear the VN's are the ones that I would qualify as muddy, especially when using the mid boost.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:43 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
[quote="].....BTW, I personally find that the Lace's are considerably more trebly than the VN's. Overall I find that the Lace's are more tight sounding with much more definition in the sound. To my ear the VN's are the ones that I would qualify as muddy, especially when using the mid boost.[/quote]
Interesting that you view is the direct opposite of Clapton's. The perception of tone is a psychological one. A series of three articles on this appears the 2010 Premier Guitar. You can search their archives on line for The Psychology of Tone.. The other thing we've never been priviledged to, and I've cited this numerous times in prior discussions is exactly how Clapton EQ's his sound system. That might account for his preference because the raw signal from the guitar has to be turned into something else by something else. Remember..he also works wireless most of the time.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:24 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:12 am
Posts: 8
Thanks for your thoughts and knowledge everyone.

After thinking it over for some time I've decided to go for a very nice new Signature in Olympic White. One thing that influenced my decision was that the guitar will be well used so if I 'ding' it then it won't be the end of the world. Also, Im not a collector or perfectionist, along with the fact that I'm also not a huge fan of Eric Clapton.

I do love the sound of these guitars with the mid-boost though and am a huge fan of the prog band Camel. Their main man and guitarist Andy Latimer has used a black signature (lace sensors) for many years and has an epic tone. Strange thing regarding the lace sensors v the Vintage noiseless. I had the opportunity to try out a 1988 Signature recently and to me the lace sensors sounded darker and more vintage than the Vintage noiseless. I liked both though and do really like the VN's as well.

Cheers,

T9.

_________________
Check out my prog instrumental 'Latitude' here:- http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 63 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: