If all commercial breaks on tv would be that interesting I'd be sitting in front of the tube a lot more.

I read this the other day, and forgot to thank the OP for posting it. Great interview for a change, thanks OP

That's why celebrities can command the salaries they do......all because of shaving cream.......and T-Mobile devices w/sunburst finishes.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Well what can I say about Eric as he has been one of the most important players in my life. What I would like to know is what kind of addict goes to Crossroads as it looks like it must cost 25K a week there.

Certainly can't deny his place in contemporary music, the fact that he outlived or perhaps overcame his demons, and is giving back. From what I understand, they handle a variety of substance abuse issues not only from abroad but locally and there's a significant charitable component to their work for those in need and without economic means. If you haven't read his autobiography, its' a must mate.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I was kind of expecting EC to have a similar finished strat to accompany the phone on his US last tour, you know, something like the J Black with the flame top body that was auctioned off to benefit the Crossroads Center. Now THAT would have been a commercial break.

thanks, great article. Clapton is my biggest influence, he was the reason I played strats since 1977. I wish I could find a few of my old guitars, miss them. I have a strong bond with the three guitars I own now. Bought used, I bonded with them, within the first ten minutes of playing. I've played hundreds of used guitars at various shops over the years, bonding with very few. Some guitar just seem to have a great feel and sound/tone to me, usually when I don't have money in my pockets. I like to think its mojo/magic that attracts me to some of these instruments. In hopes that it rubs off on my playing. Great article, got me thinking of how I look and treat my guitars.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Buddy Holly was ours. That'll give you an idea of what my timeline was. The first Strat in our band was a '58 purchased new in November of that year. It came to me the year the Fender Jaguar was released, a gleam in the eye of my bandmate who had to have it and a new Dual Showman. I adopted the Strat and his Concert amp both of which I held for at least thirty years. The story of that guitar and what CBS-Fender did to it over 40 years ago has been told in these pages elsewhere. Thus, I have great empathy for your losses. There are at least four, in my life, which I wish I had not let out of my sight, among them that Strat, a Dano, and a TelePlus.

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"Another day in paradise!"

The rest of it was co-incidently waiting in the mail for me on returning home that evening. I started reading that promo narrative, so typically syntaxed I wanted to use the paper for the purpose in the surroundings within which is was being read.

Happenstance reunion my a--. They had the guitar there for the GC April promo along with the Crossroads Concert, because Clapton was performing with Beck in NYC at the time, and to remind us again how they paid top dollar for his Strat and then recouped part of the investment by selling over 250 replicas at #25K a pop.

I hope I live long enough to see the day they put it up for auction. I have no doubt it will come unless they install it in Cleveland for posterity, and take a whopping tax deduction for the priviledge.

Money talks...BS walks. The trick is to see the trees as well as the forest in these things and remain underwhelmed.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Hmm, s'pose I need some time for reflection......

very cool thx

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I can't find the Crossroads, my GPS must be broke....


2001 Fender Highway One, 2004 Fender SE Ash, 2011 Fender 200 SCE '99 Washburn WR120Pro, Amps: Fender Stage 160, Vox Valvetronix 30, Peavey 212 400 watt, Ibanez 50 watt Toneblaster