I just saw an 88 pewter ec strat on consignment at my local guitar shop. It was only $1100, probably because the bridge and saddles looked like they were dipped in salt water? But rust aside, that is a desirable guitar. I can prove it because it was gone 5 days later.
I have always liked these things.

I bided my time, and might have paid a bit too much...$1850...but the guitar is in very good condition and has a 3 digit '89 serial number. One day I'll get the neck off the thing.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I have a question about the lace sensor clapton models produced in the late eighties.

Did they have the "universal" pickup route that is referred to as the swimming pool?

Couple of notes on the Clapton strat:

The battery is located inside the tremolo spring cavity. the cavity is routed to make space for the battery, but a standard tremolo plate covers it. There is a small pocket routed out behind the pickguard north of the 5-way for the pcb of the preamp.

If you're undecided about nitro vs. poly, nitro finishes let the body resonate more. Poly will shut the pores and in most cases kill the guitar's tone. Just play any guitar that looks like it has 100 coats of clear and you'll hear what I'm talking about. This will affect your tone.

I disagree about the mid boost preamp not giving you the vintage tone. Turned all the way down with the right setting on the tbx tone control will give you the crisp, clean but not overly bright sound of the pickups. I played the MIA through a Deluxe reverb amp and it sounded sweet.
This is not the type of guitar you would want to overprocess with effects, the simpler the setup, the more tone you'll get.

I think the latest Clapton models are more dynamic than the ones with the lace sensors.

[quote="gverdi1"]I have a question about the lace sensor clapton models produced in the late eighties.Did they have the "universal" pickup route that is referred to as the swimming pool?


The routing for the Clapton apparently evolved from the Elite. They appear to be nearly identical. The "swimming pool' was just that...a horrible rectangular loss of good wood.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"