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Post subject: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 11:08 am
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That's a big title, hope I can live up to it. :D

I bought a Clapton Neck from a big ebay seller at a good price, and while waiting for the delivery, started dreaming about a Clapton Strat Restoration.

Read on and give me your best advice. :shock:


I was alright with a bit of honest "play wear" but specifically asked the seller:

"You list the frets as "excellent", are they really?

It's hard to tell from pictures sometimes.

If the indentations have been sanded/filed out, I'd hate to find out AFTER it got to my door.."


He replied:

"The frets are in great shape. They look to have been dressed in the past, but they don't have any signs of sanding on them, or indents. There looks to be markings on the board, which is why I say it looks like they were dressed at some point. "

Unfortunately, the Frets have been filed shamelessly. Many indents still visible up to the 7th fret, multiple striation marks from the file right where a strings would fall up to the 5th fret, some higher, and what looks like a previous dressing.

The 1st fret treble side is .032" high and the rest range within a few hundredths.

Is that enough to dress again or will it need to be refretted?

A Refret would be costly and make this NOT such a good deal!

See last pic below although it's hard for me to get close enough to capture "striations".


Back to the Clapton Strat Restoration;

I didn't want a Urethane Finish, so I imagined a USA 2TSB Nitro body with the deep '57 contours and Vintage bridge would be authentic.

In standard production it seems only the "Eric Johnson", a "Reissue" or "Vintage 50's Hot Rod" (which may BE a Reissue & has the 2 point bridge) fits that bill. Am I wrong?

Maybe I should drop ten and punt!




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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 11:24 am
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I was going to say that would take a fret dress until I noticed the treble side of the first fret. I'd get those replaced with stainless. I had my number 1 Strat done last week and it's just transformed it completely.

It's difficult to get a reliable estimate of fret wear, especially from a pro seller and especially on ebay. Some people don't mind (or even notice) worn frets, other people get them dressed or replaced as soon as they get even slightly marked up. Some people would class those frets as having "play wear", others would want them dressed. Unless the seller is willing to give really detailed photos and a measurement of the highest and lowest points of the worn frets then it's a subjective statement. I don't really think you have much comeback.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:14 pm
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GilgaFrank wrote:
I was going to say that would take a fret dress until I noticed the treble side of the first fret. I'd get those replaced with stainless. I had my number 1 Strat done last week and it's just transformed it completely.

It's difficult to get a reliable estimate of fret wear, especially from a pro seller and especially on ebay. Some people don't mind (or even notice) worn frets, other people get them dressed or replaced as soon as they get even slightly marked up. Some people would class those frets as having "play wear", others would want them dressed. Unless the seller is willing to give really detailed photos and a measurement of the highest and lowest points of the worn frets then it's a subjective statement. I don't really think you have much comeback.

Thanks Frank,

I guess I'll have a pro luthier take it in hand and inspect it.

You're cynically right about many "pro sellers" but I did ask specifically about indentations and filing over ebay's system.

For the time being he shall remain nameless!

I feel fairly certain that I can get a refund. Depends upon the luthier's answer.


Best pic I can get still doesn't show the file marks that are visible to the naked eye......


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:19 pm
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See, I've changed my mind now.

In that pic it really doesn't look bad at all apart from being low on the first fret. I'd set the guitar up and see how it plays, you could probably live with that for quite a while depending on how hard you use it.

Impossible to say for sure from pics though. If you like a lot of fret under your fingers then consider a refret, if the marks bother you and you can stand low frets (I can't) then get it dressed down. my revised opinion: stick with it, they look fairly serviceable to me.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:49 pm
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The neck looks waaay nice.
I'd try how it plays and go from there - everything in that neck just says it's been loved and played. If you usually play vintage frets, it most likely doesn't need a total refret (might need none, might be only 1st fret etc.). File marks that don't show on the pic... I'd forget them.
Unless you paid real high dollars in exchange for a mint condition neck.
IMHO, of course.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 6:51 am
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You're right jmattis, it is a nice neck, I love the feel of it and it's an '02 and not as starkly white as feared.

My concern is over the frets excessive play wear and obvious attempts to hide indents and possibly causing the need for a refret. Big ebay seller with over thousands of feedback shouldn't resort to lying in answer to a direct question.

I know a few luthiers in the area who can give me an honest answer.

How about the 2nd part of the question, the best body to use :?:

danagos wrote:
Back to the Clapton Strat Restoration;

I didn't want a Urethane Finish, so I imagined a USA 2TSB Nitro body with the deep '57 contours and a Vintage bridge would be authentic.

In standard production it seems only the "Eric Johnson", a "Reissue" or "Vintage 50's Hot Rod" (which may BE a Reissue & has the 2 point bridge) fits that bill. Am I wrong?


I didn't mention the possibility of using (without modifying the body) a Clapton Mid-Boost. :lol:

Something like this 2TSB Eric Johnson Nitro body.

Is there room for a mid-boost circuit board under the pots?


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 4:49 am
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danagos wrote:
You're right jmattis, it is a nice neck, I love the feel of it and it's an '02 and not as starkly white as feared.

My concern is over the frets excessive play wear and obvious attempts to hide indents and possibly causing the need for a refret. Big ebay seller with over thousands of feedback shouldn't resort to lying in answer to a direct question.

I know a few luthiers in the area who can give me an honest answer.

How about the 2nd part of the question, the best body to use :?:

danagos wrote:
Back to the Clapton Strat Restoration;

I didn't want a Urethane Finish, so I imagined a USA 2TSB Nitro body with the deep '57 contours and a Vintage bridge would be authentic.

In standard production it seems only the "Eric Johnson", a "Reissue" or "Vintage 50's Hot Rod" (which may BE a Reissue & has the 2 point bridge) fits that bill. Am I wrong?


I didn't mention the possibility of using (without modifying the body) a Clapton Mid-Boost. :lol:

Something like this 2TSB Eric Johnson Nitro body.

Is there room for a mid-boost circuit board under the pots?


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YES everything is possible! :D

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:07 am
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get it refretted with Stainless steel frets and call it a day... You won't have to worry about it again. However, I would ask for a bit of a refund from the seller since they were either ignorant or just flat out lied about the condition of the fretboard.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 6:35 am
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Thanks to all for your comments, that's what makes this a great community. :)

Progress to this point:

I have pointed out the defects to the seller who offered a complete refund. The price I paid is too low to consider asking for a refund.

Tuesday I'm looking forward to bringing all the "bits" to our fellow member martian for an evaluation and discussion on electronics. He's a great guy and beyond knowledgeable.

IF it gets re-fretted, I was considering SS6230 (Dunlop), a vintage size fret but taller than normal, .080 w x .043 h, rather than the .037 height of regular vintage frets. Giving a little more room under the finger for bends.

The body has arrived and it's beautiful, an understated, nearly perfect, 2 TSB Nitro finish. It comes with Hdwre including a numbered Neck Plate. :D

Here are some early snapshots and measurements:


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 10:05 am
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From what I see you're going to make a modernized version of "Brownie" rather than recreating the famous "T-Mobile" guitar! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 10:19 am
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...If you're still holding on that "no mods on the body", where's the mid boost battery gonna go..?
Just IMHO, better make a neat nest for it than just stick it between trem springs. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:24 am
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jmattis wrote:
...If you're still holding on that "no mods on the body", where's the mid boost battery gonna go..?
Just IMHO, better make a neat nest for it than just stick it between trem springs. :wink:

You're right jmattis, or perhaps nestled next to the 5 way switch. No Mods to the Body, No Relic-ing...except, perhaps refit for a 6 screw vintage Callaham bridge.

While researching the Clapton Brownie I came across this LOL explanation of a replica of the Brownie, by a Tokyo, Japan Co. who state "...We anarized from the lot of photos of Auction Catalog...".

Read it and weep...tears of laughter! :lol:

Sometimes, H.I.Guitars, Inc. builted for famous guitar player's Stratocasters possible to same as these speciafications.
This guitar is one of those guitars sample.
We called those guitars are "True-Replica"

The guitar is very famous Elic Clapton's "Brownie" futured on "LYLA" album.
Eric Clapton listed on "Clossroad Auction" in Jun 1999, and now display at the EMP musuim in Seattle.
We anarized from the lot of photos of Auction Catalog.

Based guitar is 1956 alder body refinsihed Stratocaster.
<Specification>
Neck: '56 original Maple neck (Relic working by H.I.Guitars, Inc.)
Body: '56 original Alder body (Refinished and Relic working by H.I.Guitars,Inc.)
Tuner's: Kluson "No Line" tuners
Knobs: 50s original Bakelite parts.
Pickups Cover: 60s original chose the color turned to "Cleam"
Pickguard: 70s Replacement part 1ply pickgurad which the sickness is a little bid thick than 50s original.
Tremolo Assy: 50s original parts chosed in our parts stock same as looking.
Pickups: 50s original Black bobbin set.
Pots & Switch: Beand-New CTS 250K and CRL 5Way-Switch.
Added Kluson tuner's screw at close position of neck pickups.
This time, we try to make the hardshell case.


Sounds better in Japanese, I'm Sure. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:34 am
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Next to the 5way switch, under the pickguard..?
That would make battery change a tad too complicated, don't you think. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:42 am
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chromeface wrote:
From what I see you're going to make a modernized version of "Brownie" rather than recreating the famous "T-Mobile" guitar! :lol:

That's about right chromeface.

I started out with a very comfortable 12 year old, well played, Clapton Artist Series Neck...

...and thought it needed a 2TSB Nitro finished body with '57 contours to look authentic to my imagination...

...maybe refret with Stainless Steel Vintage Tall frets...

...and a Mid-Boost...then ultra quiet stacked single coil 'buckers...DiMarzio Area 61, 58 & 67 set...used by Fender on their Custom Shop Fusion Classic (maybe a different set)

I have read numerous times that Clapton liked to put an older, favored neck on new bodies and experiment with pickups.

I like to think he'd approve of this project.

I hope you do, you've suggested adding that mid-boost since I first started posting here! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Strat Restoration
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:52 am
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jmattis wrote:
Next to the 5way switch, under the pickguard..?
That would make battery change a tad too complicated, don't you think. :lol:

It would be complicated on stage without a backup...or if you're the type to leave the guitar cable plugged in (I am).

Normally the battery would be checked and changed during string changes. (if I remember)

This is a lot of food for thought to bring to my meeting with martian.

The Mid-Boost unit showed up, a set of Schaller Strap Locks and an 8 hole eggshell pick guard is on the way.

The pick guard is Fender stock (without shielding?) from OverDrive/StratCat but he makes the most gorgeous 1/8" thick Acrylic PG's with rounded and polished edges, pricey but gorgeous.

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