I'm looking for an EC signature guitar with lace sensors. I've seen one but I need your help to see the veracity.

The ad says that the serial number indicates that it is a 1988 model. However, it seems that after a research from the seller that she's actually a 1992 model and the paper work that comes with the guitar is marked 1992.

I've read that signature models used serial number SE8xxx and SE9xxx for some years(although they should be from 1988 or 1989). Is that correct?

I'm leaving some pics of the guitar I saw, the decal seems little weird too:

http://i.ebayimg.com/21/%21B%28BkwuQBmk%7E$%28KGrHgoOKjUEjlLmUhVfBK,LtGvev%21%7E%7E_3.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/12/!B%28Bk1dQCGk~$%28KGrHgoOKjIEjlLmYd13BK,LtTW,l!~~_3.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/20/%21B%28BkzHQBWk%7E$%28KGrHgoOKi8EjlLmZdNYBK,LtNEMiw%7E%7E_3.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/04/%21B%28Bk2eQ%212k%7E$%28KGrHgoOKiQEjlLmZ%2124BK,LtWosoQ%7E%7E_3.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/11/%21B%28Bk4%29g%212k%7E$%28KGrHgoOKj0EjlLmRc54BK,Ltd%28SDw%7E%7E_3.JPG


I appreciate any advice on this.

The decals on all the Clapton sigs look kinda weird so that`s ok. But ou may wanna ask the seller for some pics of the trem block and springs to see if it`s "blocked" and also to see the router area for the battery.

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No matter how much you pay for an instrument, in the wrong hands it will always sound "cheap."

Gear:
2007 MIM Stratocaster (Lace Sensor Golds)
Peavey Valveking 112
Behringer TU300, CS100, NR100
Dunlop Crybaby Classic
Marshall BB-2
Ibanez TS-9

I believe another forum user (maybe Frantic, cant remember) has a 92 clapstrat dated as a 88.

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No no and no

That is the main subject on a Custom Shop Forum hereunder

Ok, thanks for all your replies. I will be moving some questions to the Custom Shop Forum.

mine is a 89 SE 903937, i think what niki is talk about was some one was selling a 89 on ebay the Serial was SE 90XXXX but the neck pocket said 1994

i think the question is when was the signature series blackie released.
The first ones might of came out in the early 90s but that blackie says SE



Here's another one from ebay.... SE92xxxx pocket says October 1996
The way i know its real is that it was build by the same guy who build mine. (HECTOR MONTES) i guess if you want a 88 or 89 you would need to ask the seller to remove the neck from the body and show you the date in the pocket.


http://cgi.ebay.com/96-Fender-Eric-Clap ... 532wt_1165

Here's mine..........

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USA 1989 Clapton Signature Strat in 7up Green
USA Standard Telecaster all Blk w EMG 81/85
ESP Eclipse II w EMG 81/60
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier & Road king 4x12

Frantic, i hate to tell you this mate but ..... yours is SE8
Unless of course you have cleverly masked over the original number.

Anyhow thanks for clearing up my muddled memory. I knew i'd seen it somewhere, just not where or by who.
Cheers mate.

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No no and no

The bottom line remains the issue which has been running through several threads on multiple forums, and I must have asked the question more than once. ME replied, in one instance, that the neck and body numbers should not be more than a couple of months apart from each other yet here we have Frantic's guitar, which he's posted as an '89, I don't know how many times in past discussions, and the Blanda fiasco in which the 1999 Christies catalog was posted in which they sold two 1987 Claptons, one with an SE8**** and the other with an SE9****.

I just put to Mike, on the other thread posted by the OP, a reitteration of the same question I've asked before, to which there was not a definite response.

My guitar's neck # is a 3-digit SE 9, but I've not yet had the neck off. I'm awaiting some further clarification before I do so. Certainly not worth the squeeze until we've had this doped out for us.

Ach!! The minutiae we've devoted tomes to.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

Yeah, is this normal for Clapton Sigs? The shape of the headstock is a little weird too (like the first return to the small shape in the early '80s).

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I expect that Frantic will have a look at his, and I will check mine this evening when I return home as well as the Duchossoir cover which has the Pewter prototype on it which sold in 1999.

Problem here is that the CS has obviously made some subtle changes in keeping with the artist. Eric ulimately had his signature removed from the headstock, and it was is that spot, so I have to assume that coincides with the CS then putting the signature on the back alongside the CS logo.

If you have seen a current CS Clapton you will recognize that the signatures are different. (I trust that someone will post a pic of that forth with. The efficiency around here is terrific). Nevertheless, everything about the image about is consistent with what a 90's era "Blackie" would have on the face of the headstock.

I'm getting to the point of nuttiness in the past recent weeks trying to grab some sense of how Fender has handled these numberings. It's going beyond the point of bizarre to have 1987 guitars with SE8 and SE9 headstock numbers.

Find my post on pg 6 of the Blanda thread and go into the link that jk456 posted. You'll find a red strat with an SE9 number which the narrative says Fender gave to Clapton in 1987

Time for my Propofol.

More later.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

Here's more pictures of mine..

_________________

USA 1989 Clapton Signature Strat in 7up Green
USA Standard Telecaster all Blk w EMG 81/85
ESP Eclipse II w EMG 81/60
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier & Road king 4x12

[quote="frantic"]Here's more pictures of mine..



This appears consistent with others. The pewter prototype does not have a signed headstock.

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"Another day in paradise!"