A few years ago I bought a Fender "Blackie" strat. I think I paid around $1200 for it. Then I started hearing talk about E.C. "Artist" models, E.C. "Signature" models and E.C. "Custom" models. Are they one in the same? I no longer see "Blackie" in adds for Fender's Clapton Strats.

According to the 2010 Fender Frontline Catalog, starting with page 50,
1, Artist model, available in Olympic White, Black, Pewter, and Torino Red.
Have you checked the website(Fender) for Custom Shop / or Limited Edition versions? These generally have a different body color, or a birds-eye maple neck, special case, certification, limited edition numbering, ie; (Custom Shop).

There are basically 3 levels of EC Strat:

Production Line Artist Series EC Strat - built in the regular factory along side all of the other Fenders (American Standards, American Deluxes, American Vintage, etc.). I'm not sure if they still do but for many years the black ones also had an extra decal that said "Blackie" underneath the Clapton signature decal. The production model is called "Artist" or "Signature" interchangeably.

Custom Shop (or "Teambuilt") EC Strat - built in the Custom Shop; same specs as the production line guitar but using CS woods, etc. Except for black the CS models have their own colors (I'm remembering Mercedes Blue and a few other colors). For 2010 there are some "Limited Editions" in daphne blue and pewter. The CS models have the Clapton signature decal on the back of the headstock instead of the front.

Custom Shop Masterbuilt EC Strat - these are usually "commissioned" runs by a dealer or are a custom order one-off guitars. The Masterbuilts typically have a regular tone control instead of the TBX tone control found on the production line and Teambuilt CS models.

The 2010 Limited editions were available in Daphne Blue and EC Grey. Some might consider the EC Grey finish as Pewter, but it's very confusing and controversial. EC Grey looks pretty similar to Pewter, though it's a darker variant. Others simply called EC Grey as "Grigio Silverstone", "Grigio Grey" or "Dark Pewter".

The EC Grey was first introduced in 2006, with the Daphne Blue following three years later.

There are also Wildwood Custom Thinskin Nitro Special Lacquer EC Strats which are also available in the same colours actually found on the regular production models. These instruments have all the look and feel you've come to expect from Fender's Signature Artist Series, plus the singing sustain and chime you get with a thin nitrocellulose finish.

Where do marketing dream this nonsense up from? Even certain masterbuilders say it makes no difference.

Theres also the Tribute model which runs at anything between £11000 and £14000 at the moment.

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No no and no

Cool; I didn't know that - I thought "EC Grey" was just what the Fender CS was calling Pewter. I haven't seen one in person; just a Daphne Blue one and from the photos it looked pretty similar.

Thanks John C. I have the model with "Blackie" on the front of the headstock. It is a really good guitar. Don't see how any improvements can be made (except cosmetic) to a versatile work horse like Blackie. Good to see no nonsense replies. Even these set Fender apart from the pack.

Not sure about, but I want to see an exact replica of the signature "Blackie" used during the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction bash, the Riding With The King sessions with BB King and the Later shows with Bobby Whitlock 10 years ago. I believe this guitar was built by J.W. Black and regarded as the first Custom Shop Clapton Strat to be fitted with the Vintage Noiseless pickups (though the official change on the regular Artist Series occurred in 2001).

For those interested enough to reply to my question about how many different E.C. Strat models floating around out there, much thanks. It has been a source of confusion for many of us in the Big Sleazy. It may boil down to the fact that we drink way to much, but the confusion is real. I bought the E.C. Strat right after the realization hit that every "musical" thing I enjoyed was destroyed during Katrina in 2005 so it wasn't one of the current models. I actually waited a bit because hte Edge was kind enough to replace instruments for many local musicians (although I never figured out how it worked because I emailed every guitar manufacturer known to humankind to try to get at least one friggin guitar for free or at a discount - HA!). But I digress. My first guitar was a rip off tele, my second guitar was a rip off strat - so since I first picked one up in my early teens I became enthralled even with a Fender law suit guitar. I always hesitate to use the word "best" when it comes to bands, guitars, etc, but going out on a very sturdy limb, Fender guitars are the absolute BEST ones out there. Period! No comparison to the other "big" guitar co. with their sticky finishes and inflated prices. I was actually told by one G. dealer that the reason my neck felt "sticky" was because 1) it is superior to Fender's finish or 2) I did not allow the finish to "cure" properly once I brought it home 3) or it improves the playability because it forces you to think ahead/gives you the time to rationally choose the next note/chord voicing you will want to use. HUH? WHAT?? I am absolutely not kidding. Thanks to the gods for liberal return policies because, well, I didn't really need it because it wound up being exchanged for a Fender (usually the next day. So thanks again for the info y'all. Drink up. Light up. Whatever. prof

p.s. does anyone at Fender wanna give me a Rory Gallagher Strat?

For those interested enough to reply to my question about how many different E.C. Strat models floating around out there, much thanks. It has been a source of confusion for many of us in the Big Sleazy. It may boil down to the fact that we drink way to much, but the confusion is real. I bought the E.C. Strat right after the realization hit that every "musical" thing I enjoyed was destroyed during Katrina in 2005 so it wasn't one of the current models. I actually waited a bit because hte Edge was kind enough to replace instruments for many local musicians (although I never figured out how it worked because I emailed every guitar manufacturer known to humankind to try to get at least one friggin guitar for free or at a discount - HA!). But I digress. My first guitar was a rip off tele, my second guitar was a rip off strat - so since I first picked one up in my early teens I became enthralled even with a Fender law suit guitar. I always hesitate to use the word "best" when it comes to bands, guitars, etc, but going out on a very sturdy limb, Fender guitars are the absolute BEST ones out there. Period! No comparison to the other "big" guitar co. with their sticky finishes and inflated prices. I was actually told by one G. dealer that the reason my neck felt "sticky" was because 1) it is superior to Fender's finish or 2) I did not allow the finish to "cure" properly once I brought it home 3) or it improves the playability because it forces you to think ahead/gives you the time to rationally choose the next note/chord voicing you will want to use. HUH? WHAT?? I am absolutely not kidding. Thanks to the gods for liberal return policies because, well, I didn't really need it because it wound up being exchanged for a Fender (usually the next day. So thanks again for the info y'all. Drink up. Light up. Whatever. prof

p.s. does anyone at Fender wanna give me a Rory Gallagher Strat?