Hi LeftyElliot: all I know is what was written on the card beside the guitar: made by Mark Kendrick for the Cream reunion shows in 2005.

There were at least two black Strats made by Todd Krause in the collection, mentioned on page three of this thread. And there were also some other black Strats which you can see in the background in some of the photos but I didn't note who the makers of those ones were. One was in a glass case, covered in people's signatures and was used at one of the Crossroads fundraiser gigs. 'Fraid I didn't get a close-up of that - sorry.

I only had an hour and a half in there: I was furiously taking photos and notes, but as soon as I got them uploaded on the 'puter I realised how much I'd missed. I forgot to note how much the Sonic Blue RAH Strat was, for example. Or the Soldano stage rig. (They're only auction "estimate" prices, after all.) Oh well, a reason to order the catalog as soon as it comes out - a few weeks, they said.

Cheers - C

_________________

I've had a bit of a hunt for those pictures but can't see them. Be so glad if someone knows and can link to them: the controversy about that Gold Sparkle Strat has been kicking around for long enough now I'd like to finally see the evidence!

Bonamassa told the guy standing next to me that he wouldn't come back to Fender if they asked him. From what you say of ME's feelings on the subject they ain't likely to be asking him anytime soon!

Ah well: it's all good clean fun...

Cheers - C

_________________

Not the one were looking for but check these out, the one at the bottom of the page then the one top left, Oops same guitar seller must be kicking herself
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-CUSTOM-SHO ... 3a607e0aaf

then pop over to youtube thread for Joe on His sparkly

Good grief - well that surely can't be what the fuss is about - can it? Nobody could mistake that for an uncredited JB Sig. It doesn't even have a rosewood 'board!

The plot thickens.

Cheers Rip - C

_________________

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

I was about to say the same thing ! apart from the Maple board, its gold sparkle an quite a lighter shade of gold sparkle ! Looks nothing like JB'S
Thanks for the links an pics !

_________________
Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

The lack of sameness is pretty much what Mike was alluding to in his remarks as he begged us to compare the two guitars. He also made reference to Dick Dale's guitar. Thus, the argument can be made that JB hold no exclusivity to having a gold leaf Stratocaster as a stage guitar. Neither can Eric. IMHO, JB's done rather well with Gibson, and the LP's look good on him. Seems he's found his niche.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

No no, we're all talking about different guitars now. The one with the maple fingerboard is definitely not what Joe is all steamed up about.

Slightly long route to finding it, but I've at last seen the ME thread previously mentioned. Here's the beginning of it (for those as are interested):

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=43910

And here are the photos:

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=43910&start=60

Not sure that much is added, but to summarise seven pages: Mike is essentially pointing out that Joe doesn't personally own the Gold Flake vibe and Fender are allowed to make guitars that look that way. Further, that the flake on the Fender ones is a different, smaller size than the unusual one Joe has (which is what people notice and like about his guitar, after all). So it's not like they've done an exact copy (which is what some of the posters on Joe's website seem to think).

And for anyone who still isn't quite following (and cares, which is likely not many ): Bonamassa's compliant is that when that Gold Flake, rosewood '60s neck Strat look became popular it was because he'd made it so, by playing a guitar with those specs in many shows and several videos. So folks were suddenly interested to buy a Strat that looked like that - they wanted a Joe Bonamassa Strat. Which is true.

He claims (claims) that Fender responded to that customer demand by issuing a model that looked similar - though as we see in that photo, not the same. So they cashed in on the look he'd made popular but didn't offer him an endorsement deal so's he could have his name on the guitar. And indeed (he says) a few years earlier in 2001 his management had approached them about an endorsement deal and been turned down because he wasn't well known enough. Which to be frank he wasn't, at that time.

He further claims (and this is where we still don't have evidence to judge) that they'd had his Gold Flake Strat in for servicing and had copied the exact wear on the neck in future relic models, again without credit. Which may or may not be true: some hint that it might be is given by Mike himself:



In other words, if you handle well worn guitars all day you take inspiration from them when you have to replicate wear on new ones. Nothing wrong with that.

And nothing wrong with any of the rest of it either. Fender make guitars to answer customer demand - that's their job. If people want to buy Gold Flake Strats that's what they'll make. They're allowed.

Ultimately, this is the story of a player who it is plain to see would have dearly loved a Sig Strat with his name on and has got it into his head that he's been dissed instead. ...I guess life on the road gives you plenty of long boring waiting around time to muse and obsess over such things and work up a huge sense of resentment where none needs to exist.

Which is beautifully, lip-smackingly ironic, because the first time most of us probably saw that Gold Flake Strat was Joe playing it on the Rockpalast DVD in a number called Taking The Hit. Which is exactly what he somehow hasn't been able to find it in himself to do...

Long, long post. Enough of that particular Strat by now, surely?

G'night all - C

_________________

How much are they going for? Amps and guitars.

_________________
You cant always get what you want

more the prices I was drawing your attention to Ceri, sold for £1,000 and back on weeks later at £1,595, and no, first seller doesn't have any other items
ps don't know how you found Doc's link

Thanks Ceri ! great read, JB's Gold Strat gets more interesting by the minute !!!

_________________
Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

No, he made me work for that one, to be sure!

And to Guitar squirrel: I noted as many prices as I had time. Many of them I posted with the pics. Tell me any you are curious about and I'll look back and see if I took a note. But it won't be many, I'm afraid: I already gave most of the ones I noticed.

The catalog is out in February and will have all the estimate prices in. Of course, they are just that: estimates. Naturally they pitch them so's they'll hopefully be comfortably exceeded. They want to be able to say; "Clapton 2005 black Strat estimated at $20,000 - 30,000. Actually went for $60,000!!!"

It kind of encourages everyone to think it's a rising market and so jump aboard...

This time really: good night all - C

_________________

We're the team to beat, that's for sure. Quite a final opinion writ. Game, set match I'd say.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Ok... now that the catalogue has been published (online) we have the answer to this - it's not actually THE Cream 2005 Black Strat that Eric used in the shows, it's a 2005 build by Mark Kendrick that was intended to be a 'backup' during those shows. It features the birdseye neck (Ceri's photo) and no tree due to staggered tuners. The actual Cream 2005 guitar used has regular tuners and the tree.

The old Supro and the JTM-45 look interesting...

I suspect , however, that neither one is in the best of shape.

As someone said before, everything looks like it came out of Clapton's "stuff I don't want anyway" closet...definite yard sale vibe.

If he was getting rid of any of his good stuff, his Wayne Henderson OM would be up for grabs.