Hi, picked up an interesting Clapton Signature "Blackie". It has an SN7 serial no. and has seen some action in it's life, particularly having been somewhere humid/wet at some point as the fingerboard has expanded a tiny bit either side of the frets and the laquer has some crazing. Most interesting are the electronics, it is fitted with the usual TBX and mid-boost but has Vintage Noiseless PuPs. It all looks original wiring and contemporary with the rest of the Strat. The pickguardguard has a tape sticker with 5-27-98 and the initials DA on the underside. It does not have 'CLAPTON' stamped in the neck pickup cavity or any of the usual stickers, but the body is definitely as it left the factory. The guy I bought it from says it was amongst a number of guitars shown to EC but picked up and used by a friend of his (well respected guitarist) on the 1998 Pilgrim tour. Taken with a pinch of salt, and didn't affect the price, but would be interested in other opinions about the electronics.

_________________
Standard Stratocaster w/mid-boost & Lace Sensors
Am. Standard Stratocaster FSR Daphne Blue
Tele-bration Mahogany Telecaster
Fender Pro Junior w/custom 2x10 tweed cab - nice!
Koch Twintone 2
The odd Parker and PRS

Years ago, tales like this were a proven ploy for jacking up the price and speeding up the sale of a given piece. As you know, nowadays, unless there is thorough, irrefutable proof, complete with documentation and detailed photos to back it all up, such claims are unilaterally dismissed by the majority. Clearly, this is why the price you paid was unaffected. Evidently, they still chose to give it a try, nonetheless.

Obviously and for the most part, anonymously, the electronics were altered post-factory with the installation of the VNs. So, in accordance with my above paragraph, the initials "DA" underneath represent nothing more than this task being, "Done Afterwards" where any postulating of whom the actual person is or was, is not worth dwelling on.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

_________________
You dig?

Hey Martian, you are of course absolutely right. I am generous enough to not think it a sales ploy as the price was quite reasonable, even for a slightly worn, not quite original EC Strat. It does makes a good tale when dinnering/beering with friends.

What I do however have is a very nice 'Blackie' which sounds and feels great, it cost only marginally more than an equivalent US Standard so I am quite content.

(It never hurts to ask if you have found the golden egg!)

_________________
Standard Stratocaster w/mid-boost & Lace Sensors
Am. Standard Stratocaster FSR Daphne Blue
Tele-bration Mahogany Telecaster
Fender Pro Junior w/custom 2x10 tweed cab - nice!
Koch Twintone 2
The odd Parker and PRS

As you've said, the most important thing is you have a very nice Strat which you are happy with. Enjoy and lots of luck with it for many years to come!

_________________
You dig?

Some pictures would be nice. Sounds like you got a guitar you really love.

I really love my EC Strat.

_________________
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

Eldred tells us that the Vintage Noiseless pickups were offered to Eric to try out against the Lace Sensors in use then. Apparently he preferred them and they ultimately found their way into his stage instruments and eventually, the signature series. The Crossroads Auction Catalog describes the Larry Brooks-built Lace Sensor equipped guitar sold as lot #69 as having been used by Eric through December 1999. It was one of several guitars built for the period 1993-1999 and did not have his signature on the headstock at his request. The first guitar in the catalog with VN's was built by Todd Krause in 2000 and finished in a special autopaint called Chromalusion[Lot 85] and the narrative states that he used it in the Reptile tour in 2001 for a couple of songs. The next one offered with the same pups was the '04 Krause/Kendrick Crashocaster[Lot 87] which was played on tour that year and then offered for sale. So beyond knowing more substantiated and validated details such as what precisely might the test bed guitars have been that Clapton used, their so called 'happenings to them' and their ultimate whereabouts, I would likely have to side with Martian who expertise and knowledge base carries considerable weight in these pages.

In the end, the guitar is a player and, feeling that you've paid a fair price for it, find time to enjoy it.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"