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Post subject: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:36 am
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I have read the forums and searched the web. Everything is either not descriptive enough or it contradicts something else.

So, here I am, one final place, asking this question:


I found on craigslist,
a yuppie son that wouldn't know a g string if it twanged in his face, trying to sell off his dead father's useless and waste of time music junk.
an Eric Clapton Strat.
http://images.craigslist.org/00p0p_1WwNFxkSacF_600x450.jpg
It is not an internet deal, I will get the opportunity to see it in person. But only after a two hour drive on the highway.


For all I know, it could be the son saying eric clapton strat because he saw a music video for a Tom Cruise movie and that's what Eric played in it.
Or it could be an Eric Clapton Strat.

The picture is crap. The description is crap. The son knows nothing and is no help. All we know is that mom said dad had paid $2k for it.

At that price, to me, based on what I found online, if it is a Clapton model, it sounds like the Artist Series. But, with dad gone, it could have been $5k (signature series) and he only told the wife $2k so she wouldn't flip out at him. Or it could be a $200 chinese version and he told the wife it was $2000 because he had a wild night of cocaine and hookers with the other $1800. And then I see things that talk about limited editions and anniversary issues and guitars that were changed after a few years of production.

I don't know. That's why I am here. Asking you. The guru's of Fender knowledge.


When I get it in my hands. What do I look for to distinguish:
real or fake
cheap or expensive
one series vs another

Does Fender have a serial number checker?
Not a cross reference page. I do not want to read if it starts with c and ends in 9 it was made in...... I want to punch the code in and have it spit out all of the data.



All answers are appreciated. But, please, if you reply, please specify if you are describing all Eric Clapton models or one particular model.


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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:38 am
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** the original image wasn't pixelated, but was also smaller.
i don't know what happened


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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:45 am
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Based on the lackluster photo documentation and the ignorance of the seller, you'll need to make that drive and inspect the instrument personally if you're really interested. The neck appears to have the correct 22-fret configuration and I can just make out some type of illegible scrawl where EC's signature decal should rightly be. But the gold anodized pickguard is not original to the instrument and of course with no rear view of the body, it's impossible to ascertain that it has the battery compartment for the onboard pre-amp.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:17 am
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Pull the trem cover on the back of the body to see if there is a battery. Pull the pickguard to see if there is a circuit board. Check the functionality of the tone controls. One should be a midrange boost, the other a TBX.

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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:53 am
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Hi Pianoguy,
We don't have a serial checker online (yet), but if you shoot me a PM with the serial number I can check it and see what its Supposed to be. Disclaimer......the data only goes back to about 93-94 so I'll do my best.

All the best,
rob

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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 3:15 pm
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If there is a signature on the face of the headstock, then it's an artist series.

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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 3:24 am
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Unless it is a partscaster.
Neck from the EC model and nothing else.

I pull the neck and the pickguard and compare dates etc.

The suggestion to look for the battery for the boost is a good one.


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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 5:28 am
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Seem to have all the fine details accounted for save these thoughts, based upon what the OP provided...and for his information....

-the serial number off the headstock is not necessarily a good indicator....the neck end date and neck pocket date in the body should be ascertained as well as the numbers off the pots.

-if it's Masterbuilt,[highly unlikely] there's no TBX, just a standard tone pot, the luthier's signature would be on the back of the headstock, along with the Custom Shop Logo. I don't know if they put Clapton's signature on the Masterbuilt guitars in that Eric hasn't had it that way for years.

-a Custom Shop Signature Series Clapton is signed on the back of the headstock and the signature is completely different from the one on the face of the Artist Series guitars.

-The Artist series guitars are usually three piece body woods as opposed to two piece body woods on the higher end builds.

These little tidbits are some of what we've gleaned here courtesy of Mike Eldred over the past six years of some very intense and detailed discussions about the EC guitars.

Keep us posted on what you find. And beaucoup thanks to Rob for stepping up to the plate out of the on deck circle once again.

George Orwell would be pleased. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Eric Clapton Stratocaster
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:17 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
a Custom Shop Signature Series Clapton is signed on the back of the headstock and the signature is completely different from the one on the face of the Artist Series guitars.


Not necessarily.

A very few Masterbuilt and Teambuilt EC Customs were featured with slowhand's signature on the front.


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