I'm thinking of buying the EC strat. Someone told me to change the battery you must take off the pick guard. Can someone tell me if that is true, and if so, is it a hassle?

i'd imagine its like most active pickup guitars and you can change them through the plate on the back of the guitar, but thats just a guess

You remove the trem cover ...six screws and there is a small compartment for the battery next to the springs
Dom L

^ thats what i assumed it would be, i don't think they would make it so difficult to change the battery that you need to remove the pickguard

You don't have to remove the pick guard on an Eric Clapton Strat to access the battery. The battery is replaceable from the back of the guitar via a plastic door.

thanks for the responses. The salesguy at the store told me the pickguard had to be lifted. One response below indicated that the tremolo cover had to be removed and one response below indicated the plate on the back of the guitar had to be removed. I don't have ready access to one of the EC models to look at, so I'm a bit confused by all the different responses. Can someone who has one of these guitars (hopefully a recent model) please confirm? Thanks very much.

I remove the 'trem spring cover' on the BACK of the guitar to change the battery.

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I own an Eric Clapton Strat. I wasn't very clear before but , the battery is accessed by removing the tremolo spring cover on the BACK of the guitar, and the battery is on the side underneath the spring cover. The circuit for the mid boost is underneath the lower part of the pickguard in a routed out cavity. The battery lasts a long time so you won't have to replace the 9 volt battery too often. It should last for months.
Unplug the guitar during breaks and when it is not being played and use a good alkaline battery. For guitars that have after market EMG pick ups installed the battery is usually placed under the controls on the pick guard. You only have to replace the battery every six months and you only have to remove three screws around the controls and gently lift that section of the pickguard to slide out and replace the battery. I have worked as a guitar tech for several stores.

Mine is in the back cavity. I have changed the battery every 6 months just to make sure its always running correctly...

thanks everyone, I appreciate the feedback. Now, do you recommend I get one vs. the regular american strat?

^ i think a regular strat should be just fine, but play both, see if you think the EC strat warrants the price increase over the american strat

There is something about the EC strat that sounds so much different than a normal strat. When I first put it in my hands, I noticed the difference right away and wanted one. Got a new one on ebay at a stupid price. It is even different than my American Deluxe, everone who hears when I am just strumming loves the sounds that it makes more than nay other guitar I own. It is the keystone of my collection!

Heres a quick story for you

I wanted a humbucker so i dropped $2300 on a gibson 339

Beautiful but probably one of the most uncomfortable playing guitars ever.

I didn't buy a start again because i wanted that hum bucker sound.

I had the 339 for a week, and hated it.

Went back returned it and bought an EC strat!

OMG!! sounds nothing like a regular start. The mid boost is awesome. It has also made me fall in love with several amps all over again like the fender champ 600.

Deluxe start with V/N pickups is great my roommate has one. But the EC sounds totally different.
Well worth the money.

Try and both and see what sound you like better.Both are beautiful and i will never be with out a start again. You just can't beat them

p.s batter is on the back under tremolo cover

Stop saying "start"

I own one with the Gold Lace Sensors and I love it better than any other Strat on the market.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus