Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton expressed his appreciation for the 1997 Fender Broadcaster Relic, noting his fondness for the concept of creating distressed instruments, as documented by Christie's.

During a VW-sponsored tour, a 1997 Fender Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster was frequently played backstage, often by bassist Nathan East. At the tour's conclusion, an unused guitar from this collection was gifted to Eric Clapton. This is documented by Christie's.

Serial No. 90697017, printed maker's label to interior Style: Wes Montgomery, Number: 90697017, is hereby GUARANTEED against... etc, in sunburst finish, with gold-plated metal parts, maple body with round cutaway, spruce top with f-holes, maple neck, twenty fret bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays, headstock facing with flowerpot inlay, single humbucking pickup, two rotary controls, two bound f-holes, metal bridge on ebony base, metal tailpiece engraved WES MONTGOMERY L5 and imitation tortoiseshell bound pickguard; and a brown hardshell contour case with dark pink plush lining with pink satin dust cover

Eric Clapton used this guitar during his tour of Japan in November/December 2003 for the song Can't Find My Way Home.

Serial No. 002098, in sunburst finish, with gold-plated hardware, bound mahogany body, ash top, mahogany neck, bound twenty-two fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot inlay and EC initials inlay, rosewood headstock facing with abalone vertical ROWAN inlays, metal tailpiece with six saddles, four Lace Sensor pickups set up as two humbuckers with metal surrounds, Musitech mid-range booster, three rotary controls and selector switch; and a tweed rectangular hardshell case with brown plush lining, with handwritten label with various inscriptions including Custom Handmade in Texas; accompanied by various documents including a maker's Certificate of Authenticity and manufacturer's warranty; signed by Eric Clapton on the back of the headstock in black felt pen.

This guitar was a gift to Eric Clapton from its maker, Terry McInturff.

in Amber Burst finish, with gold-plated metal parts, alder body with figured maple cap, maple bolt-on neck, twenty-four fret ebony fingerboard with split block inlays the lowest engraved ERIC CLAPTON, figured maple headstock facing with YAMAHA and Nathan East signature in black, brass tailpiece with five adjustable saddles, two double coil pickups, active circuit, five rotary controls, the back of the body signed and inscribed in black felt pen For Eric With Love Nathan East 1998; and a black Yamaha rectangular hardshell case with black plush lining containing various accessories including owner's manual and lead; and handwritten label with various inscriptions including Honeyburst 5 string from 'Nate'. This guitar was given to Eric Clapton by Nathan East.

Eric Clapton owns a 2000 Gibson SG Pete Townshend Signature Prototype, donated to him by Pete Townshend, as verified by Christie's auction listing.

Eric Clapton used the 2000 Martin OOO-42ECB guitar on several recordings, including his "Reptile" album, as verified by Christie's.

This re-issue model of the Fender Brownie Stratocaster is kept by Eric Clapton to this day.

Eric Clapton received the Gibson ES-335 EC001 as a gift from Gibson during his 2001 U.S. Tour, as documented by Bonhams.

in amber finish, Stratocaster 'style' ash body, maple neck, headstock with no tuners, twenty-two fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, one humbucking and two single coil pickups, one rotary control, selector switch, Speedloader tremolo/bridge tailblock with tremolo arm and black pickguard; and black Floyd Rose rectangular hardshell case with black plush lining; signed on the body by Eric Clapton in black felt pen

Eric Clapton owned a 2002 Ibanez Jem 7D, which was donated to him by Steve Vai, as noted in Christie's auction details.

Eric Clapton owns a 2003 Gibson B.B. King Lucille, which was donated by B.B. King and Gibson Guitars, as documented by Christie's.

Serial No. CS30483, in cherry red finish, with gold-plated metal parts, semi-hollow mahogany body with double cutaways, laminate maple top with f-holes, mahogany neck, twenty-two fret bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays, headstock facing with split diamond inlay, two humbucking pickups, four rotary controls, selector switch, metal bridge, stud tailpiece and black pickguard; and a black Gibson hardshell contour case with claret plush lining and handwritten label inscribed with various details

Eric Clapton's 2003 Gibson ES-335 Dot was donated by Otis Rush, as verified by Christie's auction listing.

This guitar, although part of Gibson's Historic Collection, is very unusual as a single pickup curved maple top Les Paul. No such model existed among the original Les Paul guitars in the 1950s. This guitar was one of a limited run that Dave's Guitar Shop in Wisconsin co-designed with Gibson. Clapton purchased this guitar himself from their stand at the first Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, August 2004.

This guitar was a gift to Eric Clapton from Martin's Chairman, Christopher Martin IV, in 2003.

This guitar was a gift to Eric Clapton from the maker during his 2004 US Tour. Michael Anderberg started building custom guitars in 1991 and is based in Florida. His model names are named after family members.

Eric Clapton's Fender Custom Shop SRV Tribute Stratocaster - Sunburst Heavy Relic was donated by Fender and Jimmie Vaughan, as noted in the Christie's auction listing.

This guitar was a prototype built for Eric Clapton's evaluation by Todd Krause at Fender Custom Shop.

This guitar was the third of four prototypes built for Eric Clapton 000-ECHF, designed in collaboration by Eric Clapton and the Japanese fashion designer and music producer, Hiroshi Fujiwara, was introduced as a limited edition guitar in 2006. Clapton appeared on NBC Television's The Today Show on 18 November 2005 and performed Back Home with this guitar or one of the other three Bellezza Bianca prototypes.

See footnote to lot 116. Gibson Manufactured and sold 245 of these 'Cream' Crossroads replicas. However, there were only five Artist Prototypes which were made and given to Clapton, of which this is one.

Eric Clapton is associated with a 2005 Zemaitis S22BP 3S electric guitar, as documented by Bonhams. Tony Zemaitis, the renowned English luthier, crafted guitars famously used by artists like Keith Richards and George Harrison. After his passing, Zemaitis Japan continued his legacy, producing guitars from his original templates.

Eric Clapton is connected to the Fender Jeff Beck Signature "Yardbirds" Tribute Esquire, which was part of a 2006 auction at Bonhams. The guitar, a Jeff Beck replica model, was generously donated by Nicolaus Springer and signed by Jeff Beck.

Eric Clapton performed at the Sazka Arena, Prague, Czech Republic on 20 July 2006. This guitar was given to Clapton in Prague during the visit. Peter Jurkovic wrote in 2010: "This guitar was made as a gift for Mr Clapton for the occasion of his performance in Prague, Czech Republic, in summer 2006....This guitar was designed by Mr Stefan Milkov, famous Czech sculptor. He designed also the Telecaster style guitar given to Mr Billy Gibbons in 1996 when ZZ Top were in Prague. The wood used is of the Czech origin, well naturally aged for more than 10 years. The guitar is total [sic] handmade, including the polishing of the finish...[in our] workshop situated in the little town Jilove near Prague. We make only custom guitars and basses, originals made according to proposals of customers."

Eric Clapton owned a 2006 Taylor T5 Custom Thinline, Serial No. 20060901515, as verified by Bonhams. This guitar features a 'honey sunburst' finish, a sapele body, a spruce top with f-holes, and a twenty-one fret bound ebony fingerboard with 'artist' mother-of-pearl inlays. It includes a sapele neck, gold tuners, a single lipstick pickup, three rotary controls, a selector switch, and an ebony pin bridge. The guitar comes with a black Taylor mock crocodile hardshell contour case lined with black plush and a handwritten label bearing various inscriptions, including "TAYLOR LTUITAR."

This guitar was a prototype built for Eric Clapton's evaluation by Todd Krause at Fender Custom Shop.

Eric Clapton's connection to the Fender Custom Shop Stevie Ray Vaughan Lenny Tribute Stratocaster is confirmed through its donation by Fender Musical Instrument Corps for a Bonhams auction in 2007.

This guitar was a prototype built for Eric Clapton's evaluation by Todd Krause at Fender Custom Shop.