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Clapton's amps through the years

sikoniko

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Joined
Aug 28, 2012
Messages
675
has anyone compared his signature amps to the vintage counter-part? if so, how well do the compare?

I realize vintage amps can be tempermental on the road and Clapton probably prefers the convenience of new amps that are easily replaceable (that is just a guess), but are they worthy? Clapton's tone sounds good on the videos I've seen.
 

mistersnappy

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Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,321
has anyone compared his signature amps to the vintage counter-part? if so, how well do the compare?

I realize vintage amps can be tempermental on the road and Clapton probably prefers the convenience of new amps that are easily replaceable (that is just a guess), but are they worthy? Clapton's tone sounds good on the videos I've seen.

Thats probably it right there: no need to worry about temperamental vintage amps. Although, Keef does just fine with his old Twins and surely money isn't an issue for Clappo. He probably takes a journeyman's attitude (pun intended) that its all in the hands anyway...:hmm
 

goldtop0

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Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
His tone is generally excellent now isn't it........I particularly like his P90 gibby guitars with the tweed, he's done that from around '94.......20 years of good sound from the man:2cool
 

Triburst

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Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
4,353
Roadrunner -- Is Clapton playing high-power Tweed Twins, or low-power Tweed Twins?
 

Xpensive Wino

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Nov 3, 2012
Messages
6,079
I recall her being more of a strawberry blonde or redhead.

Very naughty, you are. :hee

The original cover was quite controversial at the time, which led to the alternate cover (below) being substituted in some markets:

Blindfaithalternate.jpg


Here's the photog with the original cover shot...


4059206731_5ed6d2e780.jpg




There's a Marshall visible in some versions...


1374949465_back.jpg

 

BIG Dave

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Aug 18, 2001
Messages
2,421

Pat Boyack

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Oct 19, 2011
Messages
4,510
.....oh, and let's not forget that Eric used a Cornell Custom 80 for awhile as well. :peace2
 

BIG Dave

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Joined
Aug 18, 2001
Messages
2,421
... the minute I see a pedal board in front of a guitar player, they're done... for me anyway.

Wow, I guess no Hendrix with his Fuzz Face and Wah. Or EVH with his Phase 90, Wah and Flanger. Or the Pete Cornish pedalboards owned by Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend, David Gilmour and Brian May. Or Eric Johnson's pedalboard...
 

Mark Kane

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jul 18, 2001
Messages
5,742
I know, it was a dark period for sure. I remember going to see EC, and a couple of other bands at that time, I think Warren Gaines was in one I saw, I think with Gregg Allman??... and everyone was playing thru those Soldano things. Sounded like bacon frying. Ugh.

Seriously , Warren makes a whole lot great noise. There's room for a whole lotta differs tones in this big old world!
 

jrock1

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Messages
438
Clapton's vintage low power tweed twin was retrofitted with a different transformer (not sure OT or PT) and 4 6L6s instead of the two found in stock low power tweed twins...and I'm not sure what was done to the dual rectifier setup stock to low power tweed twins.

There's info out on the web on this...
 

houndog31

Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
550
Clapton's vintage low power tweed twin was retrofitted with a different transformer (not sure OT or PT) and 4 6L6s instead of the two found in stock low power tweed twins...and I'm not sure what was done to the dual rectifier setup stock to low power tweed twins.

There's info out on the web on this...

Ritchie Fliegler explains Eric Clapton's Tweed Twin:

RF: ...Clapton’s amp was modified, like that means better than the way it was. That thing was a mess. The transformer set is like from a 1978 Super Twin, with two CTS speakers out of a 100 watt Bassman – a '73-74 type of thing. That was it. That’s Clapton’s amp. Clapton loves that amp. It’s one of those things that you’ll hear, “Hey, Clapton’s amp was modified." I guarantee you that if someone came to me and said, “Hey man, I want you to modify my amp,” and I say, “Great, I’ll put in this 1978 Super Twin transformer set and two speakers from this 100 watt silverface Bassman,” that’s not what they’re talking about. They want the full snake oil treatment. So when he wanted a spare for it because he absolutely loved the sound of that amp, we made him another one exactly like it. We found a used Super Twin and we took the transformer set out of it. We bought a 100-watt Bassman for $50 from someone who was about to throw it in the garbage. We cleaned the caps up and threw it in there and he said, “Yeah, that’s it – that’s great!”and we would all kind of laugh and send it on its merry way.

TQR: I was told by somebody that particular amplifier was a mid '50s Twin which had two rectifier tubes and two 6L6’s, and the two rectifier tubes were taken out of the socketry wiring and four 6L6’s were put in.

RF: That certainly sounds legit. I’ll buy that, but I don’t remember.
 

roadrunner

Active member
Joined
Aug 25, 2001
Messages
6,835
The key is to use pedals right. Most guys don't even know I use a pedal board.

True. I've heard two guitar players this past year that can do the pedal board thing and not sound generic... everyone else I've heard? They ALL sound the same.

Seriously , Warren makes a whole lot great noise. There's room for a whole lotta differs tones in this big old world!

Glad you're a fan!
 
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