Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton acquired a 1975 Robert S. Ruck Classical Guitar, as listed by Christie's, primarily for his collection.

This guitar was bought for the rehearsals for the George Harrison Tribute concert, and has been used at home a little.

Eric Clapton received the 1865 William B. Tilton Grade Two guitar as a gift from his first wife, Patti. This instrument, featured on Christie's, has intrigued both Clapton and his guitar technician, Lee Dickson, sparking much interest and speculation.

Serial No. 79081864, stamped inside Takamine & Co EST. 1962 EF-375S, printed maker's label with Takamine SERIAL NUMBER 79081864, in natural finish, Brazilian rosewood body, spruce top, mahogany neck, twenty fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, bound headstock with Brazilian rosewood facing, ebony pin bridge and black pickguard, battery holder on interior neck block, slide controls on the side; and a black hardshell contour case with yellow plush lining containing a red, white and black machine-embroidered guitar strap, and handwritten label with various inscriptions including TAKAMINE....'D' SIZE ACOUSTIC

Serial No. GF6, printed maker's label to interior GERUNDINO/LUTHIER/Beunavista 4/El Quamendero /ALMERIA/ESPANA/ANO 1980 with GF6 handwritten sideways, in natural finish, Brazilian rosewood body, cedar top, marquetry inlaid soundhole, cedar neck, nineteen fret ebony fingerboard, carved headstock, rosewood headstock facing, rosewood tie bridge, rosewood friction pegs and transparent tap plates; and a black hardshell contour case with black plush lining and a guitar strap, with handwritten label inscribed with various details including GERUNDINO With 'Banjo' Pegs.

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 used this guitar for two slide numbers on the 1985 Behind The Sun Tour, the opening song Tulsa Time followed by Motherless Children.

Eric Clapton purchased this guitar in Australia in November 1984.

Eric Clapton played a concert at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis on 17 February 1983. Charles Lawing of Strings & Things went to see Clapton backstage to show him a pair of Bluesmaster guitars, and recalls: "After waiting back stage for an extremely long time, I decided to call it quits and go home. When exiting the rear door of the venue and rounding a parked tour bus, I physically run into Clapton. I introduced myself and asked Eric if he would like to see some guitars. Eric replied "I've heard about your store and would love to come by and see your guitars and your store." He asked if he could meet me in the morning at 8:00 am. I said of course.

At 8:00am the next morning, Clapton showed up in a taxi by himself. When Clapton first walked in the door his eye went to one of the Tele-Paul's (Bluesmaster) and said, (What is this?). I pulled it down and handed it to Clapton and he immediately fell in love with it.

When we asked Clapton what he thought of our guitars he asked if he could take one to play in St Louis that night. If he liked it he said he would come back to Memphis and buy a couple of them. He left with the guitar and returned the next day excited about owning one of them. He purchased two. We then talked to him about how we would like to build an Eric Clapton model of Bluesmaster, to be designed by him. He asked if we would build a three single coil pickup assembly, like his preferred Stratocaster setup. We said, of course we would build you two guitars.

According to Brian Halley of St. Blues Guitar Workshop, this guitar was the instrument that Clapton borrowed and took to St. Louis on the morning of 18 February 1983, played in concert at Kiel Auditorium that night and purchased the following day, 19 February. Clapton was photographed playing this guitar in concert.

Serial No. 1004, in sunburst finish, maple neck with skunk-stripe routing, black neckplate engraved MADE FOR ERIC CLAPTON 10/84 by Steve Ripley ser 1004, twenty-two fret fingerboard with dot inlays, three Bartolini multi-channel pickups, two large and six small rotary controls, four selector switches, tremolo/bridge tailblock and signal splitter box; and a black rectangular hardshell case with black plush lining containing a lead and two handwritten labels with various inscriptions including RIPLEY STEREO '6'; signed by Eric Clapton on the back of the headstock in black felt pen

Eric Clapton's Valley Arts Guitar Classic Pro, a circa 1984 model, was donated by Larry Carlton, as detailed in the listing by Christie's.

Serial No. 307884, printed maker's label to interior with serial number and model number, in natural finish, Lyrachord deep bowl body with single round cutaway, twenty-two fret ebony fingerboard, soundhole with foliate design inlays, control panel with switches and rotary control on side of the body; and a black Ovation hardshell contour case with lilac plush lining with two handwritten labels with various inscriptions including OVATION 'Nylon' Ser 307884 'Bowlback'; signed by Eric Clapton on the back of the headstock in black felt pen

Eric Clapton acquired the 1988 Guild GF-60NT Acoustic Guitar primarily for his collection, as noted by Christie's.

In the late 1980s, Guild presented Eric Clapton with a 1989 Guild F-46NT Acoustic as part of an effort to renew their endorsement relationship. This guitar is listed at Christie's, highlighting its connection to Clapton.

Eric Clapton is associated with a 1990 Fender Eric Clapton Master Built Stratocaster, as detailed in a Christie's listing. According to Lee Dickson, Clapton's guitar technician, the guitar was commissioned by Clapton after being shown an identical model post-concert in the U.S., although Clapton himself did not remember this event.

Eric Clapton describes this guitar as a "one-off". It has been set up for stage use and slide playing. Lee Dickson recalled that Clapton used this guitar on tour in the 1990s.

Eric Clapton's association with the Fender Stratocaster Eric Clapton Signature model, famously known as "Blackie," is highlighted in a Christie's auction listing, showing his 1991 Fender Stratocaster Eric Clapton "Blackie" Signature Model. Clapton humorously referred to it as "the guitar that made me give up smoking." His guitar technician, Lee Dickson, added that when requesting an Eric Clapton Strat in stores, customers would often specify, "Black," prompting the question, "Smoking or non-smoking, Sir?"

Eric Clapton used this guitar for a considerable amount of stage work and on several numbers including Can't Find My Way Home. After his 1990 tour, in a moment of fatigue, Clapton apparently said to Lee Dickson ..."I never want to see that guitar again - Get rid of it!...". He appears to have changed his mind however as the guitar has remained in his collection until now.

Eric Clapton received a 1990 James Trussart Steel Deville guitar from the luthier himself in Paris, as noted by Christie's.

Eric Clapton used the 1990 Vincente Sanchis Flamenco Model 41 guitar for recording, as documented by Christie's.

Eric Clapton received a late 1990s Danelectro DC3 as a gift from the manufacturer, as documented by Bonhams.

Eric Clapton said that he used this guitar on stage for a couple of numbers during the From The Cradle Tour 1994-5. Lee Dickson recalls that a fan appeared at a gig with this guitar and gave it to Eric who, to Lee's surprise, used it that night for two numbers.

Eric Clapton's use of the 1993 Fender Eric Clapton Aluminum Master Built Stratocaster is highlighted in a Christie's auction interview. The guitar is noted for its chambered body, enhancing resonance and reducing weight, and was praised for its sound during a studio session.

Eric Clapton said that he used this guitar for the number that opened the show on the 1994-5 From The Cradle Tour - Motherless Child.

This guitar was used by Clapton on the album From The Cradle and like its companion, the same model with different fingerboard inlays, [sold in Crossroads Auction at Christie's New York in June, 1999] for the opening song of the subsequent 1994/5 Nothing But The Blues Tour called Motherless Child. In the TV special From The Cradle which showed the Nothing But The Blues Tour rehearsal at Manhattan Center Studios, 28th September, 1994, this guitar was seen being used by Clapton to rehearse Motherless Child, but it suffers a broken string a little way into the song and gets replaced by its companion.

Eric Clapton owns a Martin J-40, which he purchased for his collection and has occasionally used in the studio, as documented by Christie's.

Eric Clapton purchased this guitar at a charity auction. He acquired it for collecting rather than playing purposes.

This guitar was a gift to Eric Clapton from Paul Brady. He used it at the 39th Grammy Awards ceremony at Madison Square Garden on the 26th February 1997 at which he received awards for the categories Record Of The Year and Male Pop Vocal for the song Change the World from the Phenomenon soundtrack. Clapton performed the song on this guitar in a duet with the track's producer Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds.

This guitar was sent to Eric Clapton by Gibson who sought his opinion on it.

Eric Clapton purchased this guitar from The New Kings Road Vintage Guitar Emporium in London, October 2003. He had played a similar guitar for a short period with the Yardbirds in 1963/4.

Eric Clapton told us ..."This guitar has a fabulous sound. I find it hard to part with this one...". Lee Dickson recalls that Clapton used this guitar on the recording sessions for the Pilgrim album.