Other song he played ( Rockin chair) on a Gibby archtop
http://www.bbc.co.uk/later/#p00c0m6b
Didn't give any mention to guitars during the interview

Anyone know if he has a contract with Fender stating he can't use other electrics, specifically their biggest rival the Les Paul, on stage? Hope all is well in Fenderville with Eric.
MULLY

I myself wonder about the contract thing,
maybe a Fender rep can shed somelight is it
allright for artists with signature guitars to play
others (I would assume ther has to be exclusions)
for example his martin sig and also John mayer has
a martin but they are acoustics then again do
you see EC picking up ce220 or kingman sc to
do tears in heaven no way! also a few years back he
had a tribute ES 335 . On that same note I saw
him in tulsa in feb and before the show went up to
the stage and I was like 6 feet from his guitar rack
and I saw a real nice r9 les paul but he never
got around to pickin her up that night I kinda wished
he would have done one on it

_________________
1956 Gibson CS Lemon Les Paul
1957 Fender CS Aged Cherry Strat
1958 Gibson CS Pg 85 Les Paul
1960 Fender CS 3tsb Strat
1961 Gibson SG Wildwood Pelham blue
1966 Fender CS Firemist Metallic Silver Strat

I'm with Mully & Clem regarding Clapton, Signatures and contracts.

for sure Les Paul, the man, had a strict contract in the early going.

I watched that 'Later with Jools Holland' last night. As well as the archtop used for 'Rocking Chair' he used a 335 for 'Crossroads'.

I seem to recall reading of some fallout years back when he was pictured with a Rickenbacker. Being as though he's regularly seen playing Martin acoustics, I wouldn't read too much into it. It's more likely he got some freedom in his endorsement deal after the Ric incident.


I really wouldn't worry about it, at all. Of all the endorsed artists I think he's the one Fender can't afford to lose, and the Clap's making too much money from royalties to give it up.

_________________
No no and no

Yeah, I think with the number of Clapton sig. Fender has sold on his name, There is most likely some breathing room for EC in any contract he's into. After all, He started out playing Gibsons

the first song was terrible. is that off his new album or something?

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

it's definitely simple, but not impressive by any means. interesting to see him on an LP though.

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

of course he doesnt, it is Clapton, but the song is still weak, IMO.

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

In the first few bars, clapton does not seem very pleased with the relationship with that Les Paul.
As anyone who plays a strat for an extended time than switches to a Les Paul there is and adjustment period, I find that the angled neck to body configuration on the Les paul versus the strat's (virtually) flat body to neck is the most problematic. It seems for quite a while something is off-kilter.

As far as contractual obligations to only play Fenders, I doubt that is a valid clause, Clapton as a trademark is immense for sales, wether he is playing his acoustic Martin or Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul or even a 335 or an SG, all is a great marketing and free advertising for any of those company's.
I'm assuming that if any company would say to Clapton " we want you to only play our product ", that would be folly and the artist would have one of the many builders out there supply him with what he wanted.

I'm sure their relationship ( Fender, Clapton ) is great, you have to have a long term relationship with a company for them to back events as big as "the Crossroads " Concerts. each one of those concerts is in the Millions of dollars of expenditure to be succesful.

_________________
"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Quite frankly, I doubt Fender would have the cojones (or the desire) to even DARE to tell Clapton what kind of guitar he can or can't play. Clapton doesn't need Fender, Fender needs Clapton (his name on their guitars, anyway), he makes them a ton of money. I doubt very much there's any exclusivity clause in any kind of contract they have together.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD

Man you are going to love the video i found about Gibson les paul..talking about endorsements etc.

check it out:

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

Man you are going to love the video i found about Gibson les paul..talking about endorsements etc.

check it out:

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

I got agree with some fine points made by everyone who answered the thread after me as well.

As far signature series go, I believe there is a big difference between a Les Paul and a Stratocaster or Telecaster sig. series. From the beginning the Les Paul was just that, "Les Paul". Les Paul, the man, had to agree to conditions concerning what he could play on stage.
Watch this:
Gibson>Les Paul
Fender>Eric Clapton

The Fender is still a Stratocaster with a Clapton Signture Series.
Fender does not make a Fender Eric Clapton like Gibson makes Les Paul.
That may be the critical distinction that would warrant Clapton to be restricted to playing only a Fender, that is if Fender made an exclusive Eric Clapton line like Gibson's LP.

Though I am not necessarily a fan of signature guitars, I'll admit some are pretty nice. But I personally rather build my own signature guitar by means of my chosen combination of components. Of course, I'd have to be famous to have a signature sound that was all my own, me thinks.

signatures and falling outs an contracts....who cares?! He still sounds amazing no matter what guitar he's playing on! Long Live Clapton!

_________________


I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk...