I recently acquired a Clapton, Todd Krause Masterbuilt Strat.
This is an impressive instrument - should be for the $$$.
I wasn't blown away at first but over the past week I have appreciated this instrument more and more. Anything played, through any amp, sounds great.
The boost via the bottom tone control is damn handy.

Anybody else got one? Tips?

[/img]

No Archer I have an artist series that is a great ax but I was just reading about the master built. How about a run down on the specs and how it differs from an artist or custom if you played both of those.

Straycat - The builder, Todd Krause, was the main reason I chose this level - according to the dealer that I bought the guitar from, Cream City Music, he is the current builder of choice for Eric's tour guitars. So if you buy that, and I do, this is essentially the same guitar with the same level of finish and setup that Clapton gets from Fender.

There is no information on Fender's web site about this guitar/builder. I contacted Fender's customer service last week about this and they told me the information had been removed t make room for new web pages about new products - what? Ha?

Bottom line - this is a keeper with a finish level and tone quality of my Gibson Jimmy Page signature Les Pauls - that were thousands more. Yes the Fender is a bit more simple in design but it's how an instrument feels and sounds that really counts.

How do you like your strt?

here's some info:

http://www.fender.com/customshop/aboutus/profiles.php?csp=todd_krause

_________________
Regards

bluesdog88

Other than the detail oriented assembly, a standard tone control in the Masterbuilt, as opposed to a TBX should be the only difference electronically.

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

That lower tone control sure offers some serious boost - something is going on under the plastic!

Yep The tone control is the first one. The midboost is the lower pot. The circuit board for the preamp is located in a square rout just aft of the lower horn.

Welcome to Claptonland

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Pictures please ......

_________________
-------------------------------------
2008 American Standard Tele
1987 American Series Strat
198x G&L (for slide)
Super Champ XD
Roland Cube

zzdoc - no square rout on my guitar or any like it.

[img][img]http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj305/Archer993/Guitars.jpg[/img]

Unless Todd has created something unique, the traditional Clapton body routing situates the 'board', below the routing for the neck pickup. You need to lift the pickguard assembly to see it.

I trust that the guitar is in the foreground of your impressive collection. If so, I genuinely prefer that Gilmour "Black Strat' look to the conventional.

My version, unforutnately never photographed, was finished like an SRV Artist, with all black plastic and SCN pickups. I swapped it out for a Gilmour last October, and was told that the guitar was snapped up in short order.

Doc

I had acquired an '89 Pewter Clapton two months prior, the trade-off was not that great a loss. I had swapped out a '97 Blackie for that CS and was not quite satisfied with the way the neck turned out after two attempts. The '89 is perfect and being representative of the early first generation of that ilk I am quite satisfied.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Ahhhhh!. When I change the strings I'll pull the guard and peek. Thanks.
Yes, the black is very understated -- flies below the radar so to speak.

That's The Man himself with the now so called "triplets"(but that's another story)

Todd Krause is one of the two Masterbuilders of EC Strats.
I have one of the three but I don't know which one (same for the two others owners)

Todd Krause is one of the two Masterbuilders of EC Strats.
I have one of the three but I don't know which one (same for the two others owners)[/quote]


Very Cooooool!

Very Cooooool![/quote]

You weren't on board when we discussed the history of those three guitars. A very interesting build...they were, at that time,(2003) ordered....."as built for the artist".

Can't say to what extent his currrent production reflects what went into those, but Alain tells me that the neck is a tad bit more tapered in profile
than the 'standard' Clapton. It reflects what had been called a 4/96 profile, in reference to a change i9n specs Eric made about then.

Alain says that is is a great guitar.


Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"