A legend with his '64 Cherry...

[toxpert]

The master ... I always wonder what became of his guitars after he died...

Freddie King - Have You Ever Loved a Woman

 

[funkyC]

thanks for posting the Gary Moore clip! First time ive seen him play the 335. Back in 2001 he released the cd "Back to the Blues" the cover photo had him strumming the Cherry red 335 at a railway station. Great cd by the way.

 

[tooold]

I still like the version of "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" off the EC was Here LP...

 

[djdersh]

I think Clapton switched to Strats, in the late 60's early 70's, because he was tired of playing 'balls to the wall' Blues/Rock and was going for a more layed back sound. Thus the Strat seemed to fit his style better. Over time he just seemed more comfortable, playing a Strat, and the mid-boost and TBX controls, on his sig guitar, give him the mid-range thickness of a humbucker guitar. Regardless of what guitar Clapton plays he's still one of my favs and always seems to put his heart and soul into every note. I saw him that last time he tour (with Derek Truck in his band) and it was one of the most memorable shows ever!

 

[DEVILBAT]

Aren't you guys amused when other forum members call Eric "overrated?"
He can burn anyone, anywhere at will.

 

[Blues Bird]

IMHO Gary Moore ruins almost every blues tune with overplaying. Plenty of notes, but no soul...

 

[Elliot Easton]

Eric sounds so much better playing a Gibson IMO. Of course, when he plays a Strat he's still great, but the tone is so much less unique. He just sounds more "himself" on the Gibson, although he'd probably disagree. I remember when I saw him at the ARMS concert at Albert Hall in '83, he mostly played Blackie, but when he strapped on his Explorer for "Have You Ever Loved A Woman", the difference was night and day. More fire and passion seemed to come through, and his tone and playing seemed to pick up right where the "Beano" album left off!

 

[WordMan]

Eric sounds so much better playing a Gibson IMO. Of course, when he plays a Strat he's still great, but the tone is so much less unique. He just sounds more "himself" on the Gibson, although he'd probably disagree. I remember when I saw him at the ARMS concert at Albert Hall in '83, he mostly played Blackie, but when he strapped on his Explorer for "Have You Ever Loved A Woman", the difference was night and day. More fire and passion seemed to come through, and his tone and playing seemed to pick up right where the "Beano" album left off!

Great observation - I wonder if it is because Clapton's attack is so "gentle" - he doesn't have an aggressive pick attack at all, as that famous video from the Cream days shows when he is discussing playing angry and demonstrates on The Fool SG - still a relatively gentle attack.

I wonder if Gibson/humbucker just responds better to that approach vs. Fender/single coil? SRV extracted tons of tone from his Strat - but beat the ever-lovin' crap out of it in terms of pick attack - the opposite of Slowhand...

 

[eddie101]

Eric sounds so much better playing a Gibson IMO. Of course, when he plays a Strat he's still great, but the tone is so much less unique. He just sounds more "himself" on the Gibson, although he'd probably disagree. I remember when I saw him at the ARMS concert at Albert Hall in '83, he mostly played Blackie, but when he strapped on his Explorer for "Have You Ever Loved A Woman", the difference was night and day. More fire and passion seemed to come through, and his tone and playing seemed to pick up right where the "Beano" album left off!

Well, here you go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lVCYaKxCrw


Btw, Mr. EE, do you not play Strats anymore? I thought you sounded FAB with CCR when you used your Customshop Strat.

 

[Elliot Easton]

Btw, Mr. EE, do you not play Strats anymore? I thought you sounded FAB with CCR when you used your Customshop Strat.

I do occasionally play Fenders, but it's usually a Tele. I still love Strats, but I favor the Telecaster.

 

[Stumbler]

....but when he strapped on his Explorer for "Have You Ever Loved A Woman", the difference was night and day. More fire and passion seemed to come through, and his tone and playing seemed to pick up right where the "Beano" album left off!

I felt the same way when he came out on this last tour with Doyle and Derek Trucks and strapped on that 60-ish sunburst dotneck 335 and did Little Queen of Spades ... my my - we weren't in Kansas anymore :jim It sounded so good.

You can hear said magic moment about at 5:00 of this Youtube of the Raleigh show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS7lQM7Y0fE

 

[Elliot Easton]

I'm a huge Clapton fan, but except for maybe the odd moment on Layla, it almost always seems to be his playing on Gibsons that really moves me, and in my opinion makes him a legendary guitarist. I mean, between the Mayall Album, Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears and Wheels Of Fire-it's no contest regarding the Gibson period vs. his Strat period. Of course, his choice of guitar is not the only factor, but it just seems like his ability to make ones hair stand on end all comes from the earlier Gibson era. And like I said earlier, even today when he does strap on a Gibson, a lot of the old fire seems to be more evident in his playing. I'm sure we all agree that different guitars bring out different aspects of our musical personality and Eric is obviously no exception to that rule.

 

[Stumbler]

I'm a huge Clapton fan, but except for maybe the odd moment on Layla, it almost always seems to be his playing on Gibsons that really moves me, and in my opinion makes him a legendary guitarist. I mean, between the Mayall Album, Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears and Wheels Of Fire-it's no contest regarding the Gibson period vs. his Strat period. Of course, his choice of guitar is not the only factor, but it just seems like his ability to make ones hair stand on end all comes from the earlier Gibson era. And like I said earlier, even today when he does strap on a Gibson, a lot of the old fire seems to be more evident in his playing. I'm sure we all agree that different guitars bring out different aspects of our musical personality and Eric is obviously no exception to that rule.

Elliot. I know what you mean having followed him intently from 1967. For goosebumps from the "modern era" ... even though playing the Strat ... I heartily recommend My Father's Eyes and River of Tears from the One More Car, One More Driver DVD or CD he did 4-5 years ago in concert in LA. It is monumental. Steve Gadd, Nathan East, and Billy Preston help just a little bit too ... It's just GREAT Clapton.

 

[Beano Geno]

Actually it was Christie's there at Rockefeller Center in NYC. Hammer price for the 64 335 was $750k and with the buyer's premium, GC had to pay $847,500. Biggest fish of the auction until Blackie went last at $959,500.

I always post these in these discussions. (Where's Waldo?)

Hey Al!! So you were actually at that auction? That looks a lot like you behind that 335!!:hmm :salude

 

[Mike McLenison]

I've never liked Clapton's overdriven Strat tone. I think the Strat ruined his original style. It's evident to me even when he plays a Gibson these days. What ever happened to that perfect-sweet vibrato off a bended note???? It all ended with Cream in my opinion. I think Gary Moore ran with Clapton's old style and kept that British-blues magic alive.

 

[avs3259]

+1 Mike McLenison

 

[rabbit]

Unfortunately, Eric just simply does not "get it" about the greatness, the sheer magnificance of his early days playing a Gibson through a Marshall (the Marshall amp is also virtually essential to THAT sound.) He once said in an interview that he felt like he didn't find his own style until he picked up the Strat.
I'm afraid the inane and infamous "master of the blues cliche" remark by Jon Landau in Rolling Stone magazine during the height of Cream had a profound effect on Eric. He even mentioned it once again in a recent interview ( although he didn't know the guy's name.) I believe that this ultimately played at least partly a role in his decision to make the Fender his main guitar. He certainly equated the Gibson with Cream. He has said so in a Guitar World interview.
The Gibson/Marshall sound, which he pioneered, set a heckuva lot of us on fire. It only lasted a few short years, but during that time, Eric played the greatest ( and with the most glorious tone ) he ever has. I love the guy; I'm just telling what, in my opinion, is the truth. Yeah, it's all subjective, but ...... all you gotta do is listen.
If E.C. hasn't gotten it by now, well, I seriously doubt he ever will. And, I know that he could just as easily tell me that I don't get it (about the Strat.)

 

[mmcquain]

Actually it was Christie's there at Rockefeller Center in NYC. Hammer price for the 64 335 was $750k and with the buyer's premium, GC had to pay $847,500. Biggest fish of the auction until Blackie went last at $959,500.

Here's some of the Holy Grails of guitardom...

 

[Blues Bird]

Here's some of the Holy Grails of guitardom...

Funny, but they do look like just guitars...