Eric Clapton

This guitar was used at the Music For Montserrat concert at the Royal Albert Hall, 15th September, 1997 for a solo acoustic rendition of Brokenhearted, a song that was later included on the Pilgrim album. It was also featured in a photo session in 1998 which produced the cover photograph for The Times magazine and the cover for the c.d. single Pilgrim.

Lee Dickson recalled that this guitar was one of Clapton's two favourite acoustics before the development of his custom signature Martin in 1995. The Longworth has been regularly used by Eric Clapton on recordings, and the phrase 'Get me the Longworth' has been a regular request to Lee in the studio over the years.

Eric Clapton acquired this customised 1966 Martin 000-28 in Nashville in November 1970 whilst he was on his US Tour with the Dominos. He'd stopped there for filming the Johnny Cash show with Carl Perkins as his fellow guest. He used the guitar for recording sessions at Criteria Studios in Miami in the spring of 1974, which produced the album 461 Ocean Boulevard. Clapton was photographed playing the guitar in front of the house he'd rented at that address whilst he was recording that album, and the photo was used as the back cover of the record.

When Clapton went on tour to promote the album later that year, he used this guitar on stage to open the concerts in Scandinavia and the US with Charlie Chaplin's Smile, Let It Grow from 461 Ocean Boulevard and Easy Now from his first solo album. The guitar travelled with Clapton on his first tour of Japan in November 1974, and was used for the opening segment of concerts which consisted of Better Make It Through Today from the album There's One In Every Crowd in addition to Smile and Let It Grow.

This guitar seemed to have remained Clapton's main acoustic guitar throughout 1975/1976 until the 'Rodeo Man' 000-28 took its place on the 1976 tour. It made a brief appearance on stage again during the ARMS tour in the autumn of 1983 for the encore number Good Night Irene with Ronnie Lane. Nine years later, it was played by Andy Fairweather Low during the session for the MTV Unplugged at Bray Studios in 1992. It subsequently made a stage comeback when Clapton used it during the acoustic section of the Blues season at the Royal Albert Hall in 1993 alongside the vintage 000-42 [Lot 19] he used for the Unplugged session. From that point on, 'The Longworth' was regularly used for acoustic numbers on stage throughout the From The Cradle Tour until November 1995.

This guitar was the main instrument for Eric Clapton's MTV Unplugged appearance, one of the pivotal moments in his career. The picture of Clapton playing this guitar which appeared on the c.d. cover for the multi-million seller Unplugged album, has became one of the most enduring images of recent music history. Clapton used it to play the acoustic version of: Layla, Before You Accuse Me and Old Love, as well as early versions of My Father's Eyes and Lonely Stranger.

The guitar first appeared on stage at the first of the Blues only seasons at the Royal Albert Hall in February/March 1993, used in the opening acoustic segments of the show for pre-war Blues covers such as Alabama Women, How Long Blues and Four Until Late. It went on to serve as Clapton's main stage acoustic guitar between 1993 and 1995, mostly used in the opening acoustic segments of the Blues concerts for numbers such as Malted Milk.

When Martin was developing its first Eric Clapton signature model 000-42EC, Eric Clapton requested that the construction of that guitar should be based on the structure of this pre-war 000-42. A Martin publicity photograph at the time shows Clapton holding this guitar in one hand, and the new signature model in the other.

Although Clapton Signature Martin guitars with built-in pickups began to be used for larger concert venues from 1996 onwards, this guitar remained as the main stage acoustic guitar through the 1997 Far Eastern Tour and the first leg of the Pilgrim US Tour in 1998.

Eric Clapton used this guitar on MTV's Unplugged for the songs 'Alberta' and 'San Fransico Bay Blues' and he hasn't sold it yet in the public eye.

Eric Clapton's Gibson L-5P Premiere, circa 1948, has been utilized in the studio since the mid-1990s, primarily by Andy Fairweather Low on several blues albums. This information is documented by Christie's.

A 1931 Martin OM-28 was used by Clapton for the promotional shots of the sale of some of his guitar collection with Gruhn Guitars. It was in his personal collection from 2013 until 2016.

Eric Clapton owned a circa 1920 Gibson L-3 acoustic guitar, as noted in a listing by Christie's. This model connects to his admiration for blues legend Robert Johnson, who was famously photographed with a similar Gibson L-1.

Eric Clapton owned a 1928 Gibson L-3 guitar, which was gifted to him by a fellow Mississippi Blues enthusiast. According to Christie's, Clapton kept the guitar at his home for some time.

Eric Clapton remarked that this Gibson is "Important" and "very personal" to him. He has owned this guitar for a long time - at least twenty years. He said that he particularly loves it's sound and the look of it - its cello shape and round soundhole. Clapton kept this guitar for writing and playing on at home, rather than as a studio or road guitar.

Eric Clapton described this Martin as his chief guitar throughout the 1970s. He said that this guitar was "very important" to him, and that he was never separated from it during this period. Clapton used this guitar extensively for recording, writing and stage work and is pictured playing it on a number of occasions including a concert at The Hammersmith Odeon, April 1977. The lettering on the side of the guitar refers to the title of one of his favourite artists, Don Williams', songs.

Eric Clapton's band often utilized the 1985 Martin Shenandoah OOO-2832 guitar, primarily played by Andy Fairweather Low, as noted by Lee Dickson on Christie's.

Eric Clapton received a 1991 Taylor 955-C acoustic guitar as a gift from Richie Sambora in appreciation for Clapton's contribution to Sambora's album "Stranger In This Town," as detailed by Christie's.

The OM-ECHF Navy Blues is the third in a series of collaborations with Eric Clapton and Hiroshi Fujiwara. This OM edition incorporates the longer 25.4" scale for added string tension and tonal projection. The neck and body are lacquered and polished with a striking dark navy coloration combined with East Indian rosewood back and sides and a European spruce soundboard.

Eric Clapton purchased a 1935 Gibson L-75, as noted in Christie's auction records, primarily for his collection.

Eric Clapton used the 1935-1973 Martin F-7-28 Conversion by Matt Umanov during live performances from approximately 1993 to 1998, as documented by Christie's.

Eric Clapton said that he bought this guitar "..for nostalgic reasons.." It reminded him of "...one Paul Samwell Smith had in the Yardbirds although his was a Guild..."

Eric Clapton said that he has used this guitar for writing and recording. Lee Dickson recalls that Clapton has owned this guitar since the late 1970s.

Eric Clapton bought this guitar for collecting purposes from Westward Music in LA in 1995. Initially he used it a little in the studio.

Eric Clapton owned a 1929 Gibson L-5, which he acquired for his collection and primarily used as a "home guitar," as confirmed by Christie's.

Eric Clapton has remarked that the 1930s D'Angelico Excel was the first D'Angelico guitar he acquired. While he appreciates these guitars, he prefers Gibson archtops, noting, "I can't get my head around the idea of custom-made guitars—i.e., guitars made by one man." This information is detailed in a listing by Christie's.

Eric Clapton described this guitar as a "Hotel Room Guitar". He purchased it in Memphis and played it for quite a long time.

Eric Clapton describes this guitar as a 'front room guitar'. It has been played at home extensively, and also used on recordings.

Eric Clapton acquired a 1944 Martin OO-17 guitar, as noted in a Christie’s listing, citing nostalgic reasons for his purchase.

Eric Clapton mentioned that the 1952 Gibson Super 400C was difficult for him to play due to its size, stating, "I'm too small for that guitar," as noted in the Christie's listing.

Eric Clapton said that he found this guitar "..More practical to play.." than the Super 400 model.

Eric Clapton said that he played this guitar frequently and kept it around at home for writing and so on. Lee Dickson recalls that Clapton has had this guitar since the late 1970s.

Eric Clapton owned a 1960s Silvertone guitar, primarily for his collection rather than for playing, as confirmed by Christie's.

Co-designed by Eric Clapton with guitar maker Tony Zemaitis in late 1968/early 1969, this guitar was used by Clapton on the album Blind Faith, 1969, and remained in his collection until 2004. According to the guitar's maker, it was loaned to George Harrison in circa 1969/early 1970s, who apparently used it on the recording of My Sweet Lord, released in 1970. Dave Mason also borrowed Ivan on at least one occasion and is pictured playing it on stage with Eric Clapton at the Dr. Spock Concert, at the Lyceum in London, June 14th, 1970.

Eric Clapton appears to have kept this guitar as one of his "Home Guitars". He is photographed playing it at home in a shot taken by Pattie Clapton in 1984. This guitar was apparently custom built for Eric Clapton and loaned to Albert Lee for a period.

Eric Clapton purchased this guitar in Australia in November 1984.