Clapton on a Special

[bramley]

Searched the forum before posting, couldn't find any prior threads or reference to this pic. Correct me if it's been posted already.

"Cream,London debut at The Marquee. August 16, 1966. Eric playing a double cutaway Les Paul Special borrowed from Eddie Clayton of The Clayton Squares"

 

[fernieite]

Cool photo! This was because of the stolen Beano burst at Cream's rehearsals, I gather?

I'd be great to hear a recording of that first gig!

 

[EXPLRGAB]

What is the deal with Jack Bruce playing....that......baritone ? guitar....I saw this guitar in a lip synch of Strange Brew.

 

[Cream Fan]

That's the Fender Bass VI that was later given a psychedelic paint job by The Fool, along with Clapton's '64 SG.

 

[bramley]

Cool photo! This was because of the stolen Beano burst at Cream's rehearsals, I gather?

I'd be great to hear a recording of that first gig!

I'm sure it was the reason , he played with a few borrowed guitars after his was nicked. I can't find a pic of the Claytons with that guitar, they were a Liverpool band originally . It would be interesting to know the connection.

 

[Joshabr1]

Wow. What a moment captured right there. The genesis of a world changing band.

 

[Bruce R]

This reminds me of a b & w photo I saw of Mark Knopfler, taken around 1976, onstage playing a guitar identical to this one. Considering there just weren't all that many of these floating around the UK at that time I really wonder if it was the same guitar? Sure looks like Van Morrison singing. doesn't it!

 

[Ed Driscoll]

Searched the forum before posting, couldn't find any prior threads or reference to this pic. Correct me if it's been posted already.

"Cream,London debut at The Marquee. August 16, 1966. Eric playing a double cutaway Les Paul Special borrowed from Eddie Clayton of The Clayton Squares"

Did he have a 'Burst at the same gig? Certainly looks like he's wearing the exact same stage clothes in the photo below:

 

[seafood]

wow!!!! great pics!!!! i love this period of time!!!! that had to sound incredible! and those marshalls too!!!!!!!!wow!.....thanks.

 

[fakejake]

Did he have a 'Burst at the same gig? Certainly looks like he's wearing the exact same stage clothes in the photo below:

Doesn't look like he's got the ring on the middle finger as in the photo above...also, no amp head on the cabinet in this photo.

 

[brandtkronholm]

Searched the forum before posting, couldn't find any prior threads or reference to this pic. Correct me if it's been posted already.

"Cream,London debut at The Marquee. August 16, 1966. Eric playing a double cutaway Les Paul Special borrowed from Eddie Clayton of The Clayton Squares"

I wonder if there's a (bootleg) recording of this show. It would be educational to hear his tone with the Les Paul Special.

 

[bramley]

This reminds me of a b & w photo I saw of Mark Knopfler, taken around 1976, onstage playing a guitar identical to this one. Considering there just weren't all that many of these floating around the UK at that time I really wonder if it was the same guitar? Sure looks like Van Morrison singing. doesn't it!

View attachment 13905

It could be, according to Denny Alexander from the Claytons the guitar was sold to Sound City on Shaftesbury Ave ., so it was definitely in circulation.

D/C juniors and specials were around , although as you say not in great numbers. When I worked at Top Gear in Denmark St '72-74 there were 50's D/C juniors and specials on the wall. They were mostly sold to us by guys like Marriott and Ralphs who regularly brought stuff back to sell after American tours .Dan Armstrong was another " supplier", he sold us the Special Bob Marley bought..

Must have been hot, no jacket or shoes in this one . ( Also the band's short lived gorilla mascot !)

More here.

https://www.claptonlivehistory.com/book-only/

 

[Joshabr1]

Did he have a 'Burst at the same gig? Certainly looks like he's wearing the exact same stage clothes in the photo below:

I don’t see the head setting on top of the 4/12 in this pic. Could be that he wore that outfit on more than just that occasion.

 

[goldtop0]

That paisley jacket was what he wore at their first gigs in '66..............not seen after that.

 

[bramley]

In case this got buried in my post above, the pics are from this book.

Home - Eric Clapton Live History

Limited edition photographic book on the Live career of Eric Clapton. 85% unpublished live photos covering 1963-2019.

www.claptonlivehistory.com

 

[bramley]

Also found a clip of the guitar in action at the Cavern in Liverpool, before the Claytons moved to London. starts at 2.26

 

[Tim]

Did he have a 'Burst at the same gig? Certainly looks like he's wearing the exact same stage clothes in the photo below:

It looks like his hair was shorter in this pic.

 

[Bruce R]

Also found a clip of the guitar in action at the Cavern in Liverpool, before the Claytons moved to London. starts at 2.26

Holy cow... I have never seen a guitarist hold his instrument so high!

 

[Amp360]

What's the deal with the pickups in the Bass VI?

 

[Hamerfan]

This reminds me of a b & w photo I saw of Mark Knopfler, taken around 1976, onstage playing a guitar identical to this one. Considering there just weren't all that many of these floating around the UK at that time I really wonder if it was the same guitar? Sure looks like Van Morrison singing. doesn't it!

View attachment 13905

Bruce, you are at something: Look at the tone pot of the neck pickup. Both guitars miss the metal cap of the knob. To me these guitars are identical.