Ok, so I know that Clapton's "Brownie" Strat was a June, 1956 2 color sunburst. But I've always wondered about the neck profile. I have a CS Time Machine '56 Strat relic from 2007 that I found in a store last year and just had to have it. The neck is the 10/56 shape and it's really thick. My understanding is that "10/56" is in reference to October of 1956, when Fender started using that particular profile. And I know that earlier neck profiles were probably more varied. So I'm wondering, does anybody have any information on what type of neck profile "Brownie" might have had?

Also, has anybody ever heard of a CS "Brownie" tribute? I've never heard of one and considering how popular the "Blackie" tributes were, I would say that if "Brownie" was ever "cloned" by the CS, it would recieve similar fanfare.

Talk around this question has found its way through many different threads. The best I can do for you is a comment by Eric which appears in the Christies '04 auction catalog in which he described the neck as 'thicker, clubbier', than the Blackie and refer to the Brownie as a 'more industrial guitar.'
By comparison, he describes the Blackie neck as having an 'extreme v' "It's the most extreme v on a maple neck that I've found''. Eric comments on the neck copied for the signature series guitar by saying..'They've done it with an element of safety." They've erred on the side of being functional." Dickson comments that a glass slide is used to roll the edges of that neck to simulate the 'rounding' which results from years of playing."

You likely know that the Brownie is in the collection of Paul Allen and has been on display at the EMP in Seattle. We have never be given any information, in all the years of this Forum's discussions, as to whether or not Fender has ever approached Allen about doing a replica of that guitar. The Holly guitar was the most recent intrigue and there was great speculation as to whether or not it would ever be done. The Mayer and Gilmour projects were far more up front as were the SRV, Clapton, and Malmsteen among others.

Doc

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Thanks Doc......dunno what exactly Eric meant be a "more industrial guitar" but I had never read that before and I appreciate the information.

Perhaps he was referring to a 'workhorse' instrument, as we use the term. He felt that what he created in the Blackie was more elegant. He really seems to have loved that neck.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Yeah maybe it was something like that. Have you....or anybody else on the forum....ever played one of the "Blackie" clones that the CS did?

[quote="Midniterambler]Yeah maybe it was something like that. Have you....or anybody else on the forum....ever played one of the "Blackie" clones that the CS did?[/quote]
Alainlafrance owns one. I don't know of anyone else on the Forums who does/did. I used to do business w/a GC employee of rank who attended all the 'yada yada' associated with that project back in '06. I have a photo of him holding 'the' guitar and another with its clone. Confidentiality issues prevent me from posting them here. However, we did discuss the neck and, curiously, he was of the impression that Blackies' neck felt more U-shaped than the V-shape of the Signature Model. I may have taken that matter up with Alain once. He owns several Clapton guitars of different genre including one of what has become known as 'The Triplets' a clutch of guitars which were built by TK in 2003 on special order. Alain has, in the past, posted a picture of Todd with those three guitars. He told me that the neck on his 1of3 is a tad sleeker than some of his other Claptons. I'll see if I can bring him into this discussion.

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"Another day in paradise!"