Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster , Maple Fingerboard, Black

Really enjoying my Clapton Strat! A couple things to note:1) The pickups are super hot! I've lowered mine quite a bit and they're still pretty spunky. 2) They really are noiseless. Hardly any hiss or hum that my ears can pick up. 3) The mid boost is wicked. It really darkens the tone and drives it deep into humbucker sounds pretty quickly. 4) The sounds are very Clapton-like, but not quite spanky and quacky like a traditional (non noiseless PU) Strat. Not a bad thing, but if you're looking for that Strat sound maybe look at something else. 5) Any drop in volume past 7ish will throw a blanket over your amp. She's pretty bright on 10 but the slope is steep once you get past 8. Overall really happy - the v-neck is great and the frets ared perfect.

The Eric Clapton Strat is a cool guitar to play / own. Note: The Tuners are made in Japan same as the SRV Model. The V neck's are absolute bliss on most models. Some can be kinda small but most are decent V size and feel very good. Something to look for if you desire this model, Just check a few and grab what feels right to you. Pickups are fine but can get a bit raspy at high gain such as live show's or louder amps. The Active boost is a cool option to have if you feel like a strat needs more options. The boost can clean up or get nasty with a few turns so that is a plus no matter what. The battery last is long life so no worry about changing a lot unless the guitar is left plugged in while not in use. Fact: If you desire a Blocked out Tremolo such as a hard-tale ... MoreThe Eric Clapton Strat is a cool guitar to play / own. Note: The Tuners are made in Japan same as the SRV Model. The V neck's are absolute bliss on most models. Some can be kinda small but most are decent V size and feel very good. Something to look for if you desire this model, Just check a few and grab what feels right to you. Pickups are fine but can get a bit raspy at high gain such as live show's or louder amps. The Active boost is a cool option to have if you feel like a strat needs more options. The boost can clean up or get nasty with a few turns so that is a plus no matter what. The battery last is long life so no worry about changing a lot unless the guitar is left plugged in while not in use. Fact: If you desire a Blocked out Tremolo such as a hard-tale strat sound this does work very well if your not a Tremolo user. This unit does appeal to hard-tale players and if you ever want to whammy your heart out simply remove the wood-block from the trem slot and rock out Dick Dale. I truly feel like this guitar is of Vintage play and feel as far as the 6 screw bridge / Vintage frets / Even the body is cut to only accommodate 3 single coil pickups just like an orignal 50's or 60's Strat was. So for us pure Fender guys these are the facts we have always liked about the Eric Clapton American Series.Note: We have noticed the necks are higher quality / better wood grains on the Clapton and Beck artist models when referenced with an American standard or other AM Vintage Fenders. "DICK DALE IS THE STRAT KING! SURF LIFE = FENDER LIFE! 1954 TO PRESENT DAY.

Okay so here's the deal, I'm convinced this here axe was crafted in the heavens and delivered back by the big guy himself! This guitar met and far exceeded my expectations from the moment I cracked open that sweet tweed case and this bright majestic orange sparkle grabbed my attention immediately. Oh the excitement I felt when my eyes locked with this magnificent Olympic White piece of art and I felt myself tremble, wondering if I should just pack it back up and return to sender. Feeling as though I was not worthy to wield such power and beauty. The amount of versatility this guitar has from its criminal smooth tones to its deep rockin roar, it will knock you right on your a**. But dont worry, once you've come to terms with the awesomeness this masterpiece holds, ... MoreOkay so here's the deal, I'm convinced this here axe was crafted in the heavens and delivered back by the big guy himself! This guitar met and far exceeded my expectations from the moment I cracked open that sweet tweed case and this bright majestic orange sparkle grabbed my attention immediately. Oh the excitement I felt when my eyes locked with this magnificent Olympic White piece of art and I felt myself tremble, wondering if I should just pack it back up and return to sender. Feeling as though I was not worthy to wield such power and beauty. The amount of versatility this guitar has from its criminal smooth tones to its deep rockin roar, it will knock you right on your a**. But dont worry, once you've come to terms with the awesomeness this masterpiece holds, you'll decide to wrap that strap around your head and grab the back of this smoothly crafted neck, you will feel its power rush straight through your veins wishing to never let go. Bringing this guitar to my collection really inspired me and I can never thank American Musical Supply enough for providing me with the option to have my instrument without paying the total amount up front with their awesome payment plans. I really recommend this guitar for any and all guitar players at any level. It has a truly unique one of a kind tone compared to ANY strat I've ever played and I'd have to say Fender did an amazing job as usual on this one here. And as always, if you're not shopping AMS for your musical needs then you're missing out!

Avoid this product. Very poor quality control.

My Clapton Signature Strat, which I waited 5 1/2 months for (because it was backordered), came with some significant manufacturing defects. When I removed the tremolo cover to replace the battery for the first time, I found double-drilled holes (12 holes instead of 6, one of which was put right through the edge of the body), as well as a battery cavity full of white battery acid (despite the fact that the battery inside was not leaking, meaning, a leaky battery was swapped out BEFORE it shipped, and they didn't bother to clean it out). Upon arrival, it also had an intermittent pick-up switch which shorts out (in the bridge position) unless you jiggle it (though that issue seems to have worked itself out since). Unfortunately I didn't discover the worst of these ... MoreMy Clapton Signature Strat, which I waited 5 1/2 months for (because it was backordered), came with some significant manufacturing defects. When I removed the tremolo cover to replace the battery for the first time, I found double-drilled holes (12 holes instead of 6, one of which was put right through the edge of the body), as well as a battery cavity full of white battery acid (despite the fact that the battery inside was not leaking, meaning, a leaky battery was swapped out BEFORE it shipped, and they didn't bother to clean it out). Upon arrival, it also had an intermittent pick-up switch which shorts out (in the bridge position) unless you jiggle it (though that issue seems to have worked itself out since). Unfortunately I didn't discover the worst of these defects (the 6 extra holes and battery acid) until after 45 days, and now the place where I purchased it wants nothing to do with it. After bringing it to a Fender authorized service center, Fender has agreed to replace the body under warranty. But this part alone is going to take 90-120 days to arrive! Then my new guitar will have to be completely disassembled and reassembled, all because Fender either failed to inspect it properly, or chose to try and sneak it through the channel despite the defects. And now I the customer have to deal with the consequences. I would expect much more from Fender, especially on a $2,000 guitar endorsed by Eric Clapton. Needless to say, I am extremely frustrated about this entire experience. FULL DISCLAIMER: I did NOT purchase via Guitar Center, I purchased it via another Fender-certified online retailer. Maybe Guitar Center would have replaced it for me even after 45 days.

Best Ever Strat

Overall:If your looking to buy the Very Best Strat that covers all bases, this Eric Clapton Strat truly does it all plus more.I’ve been playing for over 55 years and I really have played them all, from Vintage Strats, Teles, Gibson etc.So what does one look for in a Strat? Probably for as much as you can get out of one. Strat’s fit to my body like a glove, comfortable and easy to play, but one does always chase the tone, countless pickup changes, pedals etc.This Clapton Stratocaster nails the Clapton tone 100%. Since I was grew up on a Diet of Classic Rock I like a lot of different artists.This Clapton Strat also covers Skynyrd, AC/DC, Sabbath, ZZ Top, and just about any killer riffs you can dish out.Fenders Vintage Noiseless pickups are Silent by Deadly. Wisper ... MoreOverall:If your looking to buy the Very Best Strat that covers all bases, this Eric Clapton Strat truly does it all plus more.I’ve been playing for over 55 years and I really have played them all, from Vintage Strats, Teles, Gibson etc.So what does one look for in a Strat? Probably for as much as you can get out of one. Strat’s fit to my body like a glove, comfortable and easy to play, but one does always chase the tone, countless pickup changes, pedals etc.This Clapton Stratocaster nails the Clapton tone 100%. Since I was grew up on a Diet of Classic Rock I like a lot of different artists.This Clapton Strat also covers Skynyrd, AC/DC, Sabbath, ZZ Top, and just about any killer riffs you can dish out.Fenders Vintage Noiseless pickups are Silent by Deadly. Wisper Quite but packs serious mojo.The Mid Boost on this machine powers this guitar into Gibsons heavy hitting bliss. So while you can dish out the quack from Sultans of Swing, you can also unleash the beast when you need it.The neck Is flawless, smooth, true and the best neck one could possibly want in a Strat.There getting pricey but you get what you pay for Versatility, Tone, Playability and never goes out of tune. Yes the term is blocked but I don’t ever use it anyway.So if your thing of pulling the trigger on this exceptional strat don’t delay, your dream Strat is here. And thanks to zZounds for making it happen.

Clapton Strat review after a few years of use gigging

Overall:This is my second review. I’ve owned three Clapton Stratocasters. I’ve been gigging quite a bit with them. I play classic rock, country, some heavier stuff GNR and stuff like that. I tried to use this guitar for these extensive cover bands. I’ve done maybe 50 shows with the Clapton Stratocaster. I’ve learned a few important things. Here’s some pros and cons: The mid boost really pushes an amp. I mean it pushes. This guitar comes in hotter than my Gibson Les Paul classic and my 2016 standard. You need almost no gain to get break up with this guitar. This is very important to know if you are considering this guitar. The mid boost is always active even when turned down, so the guitar is really hot. That being said, the mid boost compliments certain drives and ... MoreOverall:This is my second review. I’ve owned three Clapton Stratocasters. I’ve been gigging quite a bit with them. I play classic rock, country, some heavier stuff GNR and stuff like that. I tried to use this guitar for these extensive cover bands. I’ve done maybe 50 shows with the Clapton Stratocaster. I’ve learned a few important things. Here’s some pros and cons: The mid boost really pushes an amp. I mean it pushes. This guitar comes in hotter than my Gibson Les Paul classic and my 2016 standard. You need almost no gain to get break up with this guitar. This is very important to know if you are considering this guitar. The mid boost is always active even when turned down, so the guitar is really hot. That being said, the mid boost compliments certain drives and distortions amazingly well. I’d have to say that’s my favorite thing about the guitar. The mid boost makes most gain channels sound really amazing. I was so hooked on this guitars overdriven sound that I initially bought 3 of these guitars and dropped all my old gear. You could almost use it for Van Halen type sounds. Just be careful because it will push it until it gets muddy depending on your rig. Here’s some real important cons:The mid boost is 25 decibels. That’s a lot. I find that if I have it all the way up the rhythm sounds awesome , but then I cant go any higher in volume for leads without a boost and then you’re getting way too much break up. Of course you call roll off the mid boost for your rhythm but that causes so many inconsistencies in your volume during a show that it gets cumbersome. I mean you cant tell if your knob is at 3, 5 or 7 when on stage in the lights and All that. On top of that, if you don’t roll that mid boost down before you go back to your clean channel, you better watch out because you’ll blast everyone with so much volume it ain’t funny. You can’t get a good clean sound without turning the mid boost down. Basically you have to think that Clapton does not use pedals or clean/ dirty channels. He is using a dimed amp and just this mid boost knob. For most of us pedal users and channel switchers this doesn’t really fit our needs. Be aware ! Here’s my biggest complaint:The volume pot on two of my three Strats went to complete crap within the first 6 months. I mean the volume pot is junk. Do not overturn it or even try to use use it. It will start popping and cracking and no amount of cleaning will fix it. Trust me this is a serious issue that has seriously made me not want to play this guitar anymore. Again if you watch Clapton you’ll see that he doesn’t really use the volume knob so he probably doesn’t notice. The high strings above the 12th fret area can’t be bent very much without fretting out. Especially the first string. If you watch current Clapton live enough just look when he bends really high, you’ll see that it won’t sustain. This is probably due to vintage small fret wire combined with the radius. Similarly the high E string is likely to break if bent to a full bend. On top of that, the high E string is so close to the edge it slips off the neck a lot , and you’ll find your self pushing the saddle in as far as you can. Seriously the high E string is almost useless on this guitar.

Great neck for small hands. Sounds awesome too.

I've been playing guitar for 25+ years, but not very seriously until very recently, and mainly on acoustics. I haven't played much electric due to my small hands and stubby fingers. I can play decent rhythm electric and a few pentatonic blues riffs.I've owned several electrics over the years, including a Custom Shop Strat. I currently own a Telecaster Thinline with twin humbuckers. It sounds decent for a Squire, but, as usual, my hands/fingers/thumb doesn't fit the neck...I've never played an electric guitar that has been comfortable.Not long ago, I heard Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter and thought I'd try to learn the into from YouTube. I was very disappointed when I saw that the song requires you roll your thumb over the top and fret the low E string, something ... MoreI've been playing guitar for 25+ years, but not very seriously until very recently, and mainly on acoustics. I haven't played much electric due to my small hands and stubby fingers. I can play decent rhythm electric and a few pentatonic blues riffs.I've owned several electrics over the years, including a Custom Shop Strat. I currently own a Telecaster Thinline with twin humbuckers. It sounds decent for a Squire, but, as usual, my hands/fingers/thumb doesn't fit the neck...I've never played an electric guitar that has been comfortable.Not long ago, I heard Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter and thought I'd try to learn the into from YouTube. I was very disappointed when I saw that the song requires you roll your thumb over the top and fret the low E string, something I've never been able to do.I finally decided to invest the time to find a guitar that would fit my hand. I posted my dilemma on a message board, and several people recommended the soft V neck, and specifically the Clapton Signature Series. I was pretty concerned however that the description stated that the neck "...is suited for larger hands". The people on the message board reassured me. Also there aren't many strats with this neck shape.Surprisingly, my local GC had one in stock. I didn't even plug it in, I just tried rolling my thumb over the top while fretting a C shape with my other fingers. I was astonished to hear all the strings ring out, without any muffled notes! You barely have to touch the low E to cleanly fret it.Once I did plug it into a Fender Blues Deluxe (the same amp I have at home), and I was sold. The clean tone is beautiful, way better than any guitar I've ever played, including the CS.Best of all, the neck really fits my hand perfectly, something I never thought I'd never find. String bending is a bit stiff, but overly so.Love this guitar so far, and look forward to getting to know it better.

Greatest Strat Ever Made!

I have used Fender Strats since 1970. A new 1970 Strat was my first. I have owned a 1955 Strat, a 1961, 2 1964 Strats and various 1990s Strats and probably 20 Eric Clapton Strat because they are the very best Strat I have ever played, in every single category. I have purchased 3 Clapton Strats from Guitar Center. I've swapped and sold a few because I am down to the 3 Clapton Strats that I use the most on Stage, in The Studio and in practices. I bought the first EC Strat in 1993 and for the last 30 years the EC Strat has been my go to Strat because they are the best electric guitars ever made.

Major Quality Issues. AVOID!

Sound:This guitar sounds and feels fantastic. The active TBX tone control is pretty amazing and versatile.Features:Maintaining a battery is not ideal, especially when it requires removing 6 screws each time (and in my case, discovering a major manufacturing defect in the process).Ease of Use:It's very easy to get a good sound. Just watch that TBX control, as it boosts the mids and lows quite a bit!Quality:This product is NOT well made at all. It came with a ton of battery acid in the battery compartment that someone at Fender failed to clean up when replacing (as the battery that shipped was not leaking). It also came with 6 extra holes for the tremolo cover, one of which was drilled right through the side of the body! It also had a flaky pick-up selector ... MoreSound:This guitar sounds and feels fantastic. The active TBX tone control is pretty amazing and versatile.Features:Maintaining a battery is not ideal, especially when it requires removing 6 screws each time (and in my case, discovering a major manufacturing defect in the process).Ease of Use:It's very easy to get a good sound. Just watch that TBX control, as it boosts the mids and lows quite a bit!Quality:This product is NOT well made at all. It came with a ton of battery acid in the battery compartment that someone at Fender failed to clean up when replacing (as the battery that shipped was not leaking). It also came with 6 extra holes for the tremolo cover, one of which was drilled right through the side of the body! It also had a flaky pick-up selector switch that shorted out unless you jiggled it (though that seemed to go away eventually).Value:It would TOTALLY be worth the money if it didn't come with manufacturer defects. I would have been 100% happy if it weren't for these MAJOR quality issues.Manufacturer Support:Fender won't help you via phone or via their website. You MUST bring it in to a Fender shop. When you do so, expect to wait for 30+ minutes as the technician is put on hold with Fender. Then expect Fender to agree to the minimal support possible, such as offering to replace the body (instead of the whole guitar) with a 90-120 day wait on the part. Not acceptable for a $2,000 guitar!The Wow Factor:Very appealing product. The red and chrome are HOT!Overall:My Clapton Signature Strat, which I waited 5 1/2 months for (because it was backordered), came with some significant manufacturing defects. When I removed the tremolo cover to replace the battery for the first time, I found double-drilled holes (12 holes instead of 6, one of which was put right through the edge of the body), as well as a battery cavity full of white battery acid (despite the fact that the battery inside was not leaking, meaning, a leaky battery was swapped out BEFORE it shipped, and they didn't bother to clean it out). Upon arrival, it also had an intermittent pick-up switch which shorts out (in the bridge position) unless you jiggle it (though that issue seems to have worked itself out since). Unfortunately I didn't discover the worst of these defects (the 6 extra holes and battery acid) until after 45 days, and now zZounds wants nothing to do with it. After bringing it to a Fender authorized service center, Fender has agreed to replace the body under warranty. But this part alone is going to take 90-120 days to arrive! Then my new guitar will have to be completely disassembled and reassembled, all because Fender either failed to inspect it properly, or chose to try and sneak it through the channel despite the defects. And now I the customer have to deal with the consequences. I would expect MUCH more from Fender, especially on a $2,000 guitar endorsed by Eric Clapton. Needless to say, I am extremely frustrated about this entire experience.

Most Versatile Strat?

Arrived in great shape. So far, I love this guitar, and despite all the videos I watched and reviews I'd read, I was still amazed at the sheer number of tones you can get out of it. With the mid and treble boosts, you can really go from "typical strat" tones to get incredible sustain and hit the front of the amp quite hard to get good breakup.Pros:- American Strat quality, fit and finish is good, rolled fret board, etc.- The electronics - endless variety of tones. Not great for modern metal or hard rock, but anything else will work.Cons:- This would be a hard guitar to work into a live venue if you play with other guitars as well. It is LOUD, so much louder than my Les Paul or anything else I own that I have to play with the levels and EQ on the amp. In my house, no ... MoreArrived in great shape. So far, I love this guitar, and despite all the videos I watched and reviews I'd read, I was still amazed at the sheer number of tones you can get out of it. With the mid and treble boosts, you can really go from "typical strat" tones to get incredible sustain and hit the front of the amp quite hard to get good breakup.Pros:- American Strat quality, fit and finish is good, rolled fret board, etc.- The electronics - endless variety of tones. Not great for modern metal or hard rock, but anything else will work.Cons:- This would be a hard guitar to work into a live venue if you play with other guitars as well. It is LOUD, so much louder than my Les Paul or anything else I own that I have to play with the levels and EQ on the amp. In my house, no big deal. At a gig, that may be tough. That said, I don't own other guitars with active electronics, so maybe other active pickups are also this much louder?- Requires you to unscrew the back plate to change the battery. I'm sure this keeps costs down, but on my active basses it's a lot easier to open the battery compartment without screws. Make sure you have a full battery before a gig.- I was surprised at the amount of set-up I had to do to get rid of fret buzz. Given the amount of distance in shipping, time in warehouses, temperature/humidity differences, etc. my guess is that it was probably fine when it left the factory, but it's the first guitar I've bought online that had so many strings/frets buzzing. Luckily a couple turns on the saddle screws fixed it all without appreciably raising action.Neither good nor bad: - The neck profile is unique to the Clapton. It feels like "a more playable vintage profile" to me. It's definitely not a modern profile. You'll either like it or you won't :) I found it really easy to adjust to, and it seems to work great for "thumb over"- The bridge is similarly vintage, and comes blocked. If you really want the newer Fender bridge, you are out of luck. Given my set-up experience (above), I'm not convinced I could just "remove the block" and have it playable without additional set-up.- Tweed case looks amazing, but is not form fitting like the new TSA case that comes with other American Fenders. I wanted a tweed case, and I don't fly with my guitar, so not a big deal to me.Overall I feel like I made the right choice in buying a Strat, and I can't put it down. If your goal is to make Clapton sounds (or any other great Blues/Rock sounds) - this is a fantastic guitar.