Slowhand
Wildwoodians, we don't have to tell you about all of Eric Clapton's achievements. We don't have to talk about how he was such a pioneer in the British blues scene that some called him a deity, or his membership in legendary outfits like Derek and the Dominos, The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith. We don't have to mention his pioneering solo career that spanned across multiple decades and genres. We don't have to point out that he's the only person to appear in The Who's Tommy
and Blues Brothers 2000 (okay, that one's a little bit obscure). The point is, if you're perusing a guitar website, you know Clapton. He's a member of the pantheon of rock gods who are identifiable with just one name, like Prince or Slash. But what you may not know is that his signature Stratocaster is one of the most versatile Fenders out there. So, let's take a deeper dive into what makes it special!
It's All In the Electronics
The magic starts with a set of vintage noiseless single-coil pickups. Naturally, these pickups have a delightfully bright, scooped Strat sound--plenty of sparkle, jangle, and quack (think Gilmour). However, when you engage the midboost, you suddenly get a warm, punchy, throaty Strat sound (think SRV or Hendrix). The midboost knob also boosts bass and midrange frequencies and decreases trebles the more you turn it up, giving you a wide variety of warm colors for your palette. And, the tone pot has a Treble Bass Expander (TBX) circuit. Basically, that means that the knob has a notch at five. From zero to the notch, it works like a normal tone pot. If you go clockwise from the notch, it brightens your tone and gives you more presence. If you go counterclockwise, it rolls off high frequencies. You can control all of this with this guitar's supremely intuitive, simple controls, allowing you to access all the subtle shades of Strat tone.
Feels Just Right
The Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster also has one heck of a neck! It sports a comfy soft V-shaped profile, and it has a nice blend of old and new specs. The modern 9.5" raidus allows for easy chording and string-bending, and the vintage-style frets allow you to "feel the wood" and have a tactile connection to the guitar. It makes for an expressive vintage-inspired playing experience, and we have no doubt you'll find the feel as addictive as the tone.
Sunshine of Our Love
Wildwoodians, we can truly say that the Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster basks in the sunshine of our love. We have no doubt that it'll steal your heart if you take for a test drive, too.
