I'm watching Hard Rock Calling and it's showing some close ups and it looks like his trem is flush to the body. I wanna say I remember hearing/reading somewhere that he blocks them. Anyone out there know for sure. If so, How does he do it? With a piece of wood?

Yes, its just a piece of wood. Mine is blocked Thats how I got it, and I don't like it like that.

Your EC sig Strat came blocked? Did the factory do it any specail way or with any special wood?


If so, A pic would be great.

Haha, its not a EC sign, just a Japan strat. But yes, I heard from the guy I got it from that all EC's are factory blocked.

^^Taken from my FCS Clapton strat. that's why there is a battery slot. is there one in the regular sig?

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Is that alder for the block? I bet that CS Clapton sounds Gooood!

it sounds pretty awesome! not sure what the wood is. pretty sure it is indeed alder

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They are all blocked, now. Lotttts of sustain. The original Blackie was not blocked though.

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All claptons strats are blocked but he prefers to leave the trem system in place, he reckons thats what gives the guitar its sound, he had previous guitars from fender that had no trem and were solid string through the body like a tele but he didnt like them, if you look in the haynes manual for stratocasters it explains the whole thing, clapton doesnt have a custom set up either, he plays them the way they come from the factory.

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12 guitars 2 hands not fair!

Another interesting thing I found out about was when I was reading his autobiography. It was toward the end of his book when he was talking about his existing wife and the kids they have. He mentioned that she got him a MIM white strat (I think this is correct for the color and know its correct that it was made in Mexico. At least, this is what Eric says) that he thoroughly enjoys playing. So, that was kind of an eye-opening thing for him to say. I was just thinking that all his guitars would be specially made here in the USA.
Smiledoc

I heard this too. What I heard is wood and foam.

i don't understand, is the block screwed in somewhere or just wedged in place between the body cavity and the trem?

Yeah, its just pulled flush with the body, and they stick a piece of wood between the back of the inertia block and the back of the cavity. Allot of blues players use 4 or 5 springs, and set the bridge flush, but they're able to use the tremolo in the down motion only, essentially, by blocking it, you cannot use the tremolo at all, it turns the tremolo into a jury rigged hardtail. YOu can take the block out of a Clapton Artist series and use it as a a regual vintage tremolo if you want too.

Thanks for sharing that photo... very informative. Very straight froward as I had expected.

any time! I love helping ppl with their strats. and I highly enjoy seeing collections too! love the "Show your Strat" thread!

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