Fender
With such a historic body of music to his credit, it’s an honor that so much of Eric Clapton’s most acclaimed and enduring work has been created with a Fender Stratocaster® guitar through a Fender amplifier. From “Layla” to “Wonderful Tonight” to “My Father’s Eyes” and more, the sound of Clapton with a Stratocaster in his hands is unmistakable.
Fender introduced the Eric Clapton Stratocaster guitar in 1988 as its first-ever artist signature model. EC Series amplifiers appeared in 2011 as Fender’s first-ever artist signature amplifiers. These historic collaborations, bearing Clapton’s name and personal touch, present the pinnacle of personally inspired guitar tone for stage and studio alike.
Fender has proudly supported Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival ever since the
first great benefit concert was held in Dallas in 2004. That year, Clapton auctioned
off his well-played “Blackie” Stratocaster to benefit his Caribbean treatment facility,
the Crossroads Centre Antigua. Two years later, the Fender Custom Shop produced
275 “Blackie” guitar replicas correct in every concert-worn detail right down to the
cigarette-burned headstock and “Duck Bros.” flight case, with portions of the proceeds
contributed to the Crossroads Centre.
Fender will be there once again for Clapton’s Madison Square Garden Crossroads Guitar
Festival in New York on April 12-13, 2013, and will unveil a very special project in
conjunction with the event.
