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Post subject: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:08 pm
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I have a 2010 Clapton Signature Strat. My local Guitar Center has a used older one with the Lace Sensor pickups and I went in to play it. I'm puzzled by what I found. It has the mid-boost and btx, but also has a 7.25 radius soft v neck instead of a 9.5 one. Plus, it has this blue Clapton autograph stamp with "94" on it. The serial no. dates it to 1989. Suspiciously, the Fender logo on the headstock has peeled off. Did the early model Claptons come with 7.25 necks?

Here our some pics.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128068542@N04/15756211947/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128068542@N04/15941954005/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128068542@N04/15754673260/

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:00 pm
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Only the 21-fret prototypes came with a 7.25'' radius.

When the design was finalized Clapton specified the 9.5'' radius as a standard feature on his guitars.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:11 pm
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Could this be a prototype then?

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 2:04 am
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If this guitar is signed by Eric himself as the signature in the back of the neck suggests, then it's possible the axe was previously owned by him.

IMO the guitar in question served as a backup for the 1992 US tour, though I'm not as 100% certain. We need a confirmation response from ZZDoc regarding its authenticity.

I don't think the neck has the vintage 7.25'' radius.

Only the MIJ ST54LS do sport the vintage neck radius AFAIK.

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Could this be a prototype then?


Not certain.

Clapton got three prototypes in Torino Red and Pewter which sported a vintage-radiused 21-fret neck, with the latter two being updated with modern-radius 22-fret necks crafted by Mike Stevens. One of the Pewter prototypes became Black during the 2nd half of 1990 after Eric's personal request for a modernized version of "Blackie".

This guitar dates from circa 1993/94 and not 2010.

Please bear in mind that Black was not offered as a colour option until 1991.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:26 pm
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[quote="chromeface"]If this guitar is signed by Eric himself as the signature in the back of the neck suggests, then it's possible the axe was previously owned by him.

EC's Signature on the back of the headstock means he autographed it, does NOT mean he possibly owned it! There is no evidence here for such a huge leap.

I have an autographed EC signature Stratocaster and EC Did NOT own the guitar. This guitar is simply another autographed guitar. A nice one to be sure, but that's it. My guess is it is a 9.5 inch radius neck too. There just is any evidence here that it is a prototype either. Those are suppositions, not facts, period.

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T2

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:37 pm
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chromeface wrote:
Please bear in mind that Black was not offered as a colour option until 1991.


I have an 89 EC Strat Blackie.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 7:34 pm
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ido1957 wrote:
chromeface wrote:
Please bear in mind that Black was not offered as a colour option until 1991.


I have an 89 EC Strat Blackie.


No, it's at least 1991 as that is the year the black ones came out. Fender used those "SE9xxxxx" serial numbers on Artist Signatures for 4-5 years (1989 to as late as 1994 on some models). You'll also find "SE9" serial numbers on both SRV and Richie Sambora signature models which didn't come out until 1992.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:43 am
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ido1957 wrote:
chromeface wrote:
Please bear in mind that Black was not offered as a colour option until 1991.


I have an 89 EC Strat Blackie.


Sorry, but not even Eric had an 'EC Strat' (as we now know it) 'blackie' until later in 1990.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:13 am
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For many of us knowing the story behind the "signature" Blackie, it was assembled with a black body crafted by J. W. Black and the Stevens flame neck from one of the two Pewter prototypes.

Image

The idea came as Eric changed his mind and opted for a modernized version of his trusty old workhorse.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 3:40 pm
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I could have been wrong about the neck radius of the used one since I didn't pull a new EC off the shelf to compare them. However, the neck on it seemed a lot smaller than my 2010 model. My 50th Anniversary Gold Strat has a 7.25 v-shaped neck and it seemed nearly identical in size to it.

I'm still puzzled at the blue signature and date on the back of the headstock. The GC salesman said he has seen those on a couple of EC Strats and he said nothing about it being an actual autograph. Plus, they would be asking a lot more money for it then they are if it was an autographed guitar.

I mainly wanted to compare the Lace Sensors to the Vintage Noiseless in my EC. I only played for a few minutes and at relatively low volumes, but didn't notice much of a difference. What's the big selling point of the old Lace Sensors?

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 5:12 pm
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LeftyElliot wrote:
ido1957 wrote:
chromeface wrote:
Please bear in mind that Black was not offered as a colour option until 1991.


I have an 89 EC Strat Blackie.


Sorry, but not even Eric had an 'EC Strat' (as we now know it) 'blackie' until later in 1990.

My mistake - it is not an 89.....

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:34 pm
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It's normal for a Clapton Strat made in 1993/94 to have a left-over serial number.

Black didn't came into surface until 1991 though Eric began using a modernized Blackie during the second half of 1990.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:14 am
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BadScooter wrote:
I could have been wrong about the neck radius of the used one since I didn't pull a new EC off the shelf to compare them. However, the neck on it seemed a lot smaller than my 2010 model. My 50th Anniversary Gold Strat has a 7.25 v-shaped neck and it seemed nearly identical in size to it.

I'm still puzzled at the blue signature and date on the back of the headstock. The GC salesman said he has seen those on a couple of EC Strats and he said nothing about it being an actual autograph. Plus, they would be asking a lot more money for it then they are if it was an autographed guitar.

I mainly wanted to compare the Lace Sensors to the Vintage Noiseless in my EC. I only played for a few minutes and at relatively low volumes, but didn't notice much of a difference. What's the big selling point of the old Lace Sensors?


BadScooter...I also have one of those 50th Anniversary Gold Strats and the neck shape is very similar to the soft V of the EC models, but the guitar pictured does look to have the standard 9.5 inch radius. Radius differences between the 7.25 and 9.5 are subtle, more of a feel thing and of course being able to bend a note further.

As to the Lace Sensors...it is purely a look and tone thing. Both are quiet, but I prefer the tone of the Lace Sensors (which are not offered anymore). I think the Lace's have a little bit better top end to em...at least to my ears.

T2

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:00 pm
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T2Stratman: I absolutely love the pickups in the Gold Strat. There's a percussive nature to them that the Vintage Noiseless in my EC lack. The things just pop. I got lucky and found the Gold Strat used in my local music shop for $450. It's a great guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton Signature Strat with a 7.25 radius neck???
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 9:56 pm
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BadScooter wrote:
T2Stratman: I absolutely love the pickups in the Gold Strat. There's a percussive nature to them that the Vintage Noiseless in my EC lack. The things just pop. I got lucky and found the Gold Strat used in my local music shop for $450. It's a great guitar.


Did you mean Gold Leaf Strat?

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