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Fender Artist Series Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster (Maple, With Case)

U.S. made. Updated version.

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"4 years later and this is still my favorite." submitted August 9, 2008

By a customer from aol.com
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Musical Background: Hobbyist/Slightly Active musician going on 10 years
Music Style: Classic Rock, Alternative, Blues, Funk
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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW
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Sound: With Blackie you can get any sound you are looking for. The sound quality is superb assuming you know about the controls on the instrument and the dials on your amps. She sounds great clean, great in high gain, great in the middle. I love the way she sounds hooked up to a crybaby classic with the fassel, she makes you want to play "White Room" for the 1,000th time. My main amp that I use with this guitar is a Roland Cube 30x and I am blown away by how well they go together. She records well, plays live even better. I'd like to see a version with an ebony fretboard, no complaints on the maple by any means, its more of a curiosity thing. This guitar sounds like angels crying when she is played. Feature: The vintage noiseless pick-ups and the TBX system just blow me away. I had my doubts about them but wow, I gave them a chance and they didn't disappoint. I'm happy with the hard tweed case, looks special. I love the vintage turning machine heads. You can feel a big difference in tuning it versus a mexican strat. Ease of Use: Fast, smooth, and very capable of producing any sound in your head or on just about any recording. Easily modified to the sound I had been looking for. It is very easy to use with other amps, multi-effects pedals, wahs, etc. Quality: Very well made. It's the sexiest guitar I own. The finish is flawless. No loose parts or blemishes. It is my most reliable guitar. I keep a backup Mexican fender strat which I seem to play a bit more than the Clapton just because wow lets face it, she's a thing of beauty. Any instrument you use on the road will have wear and tear lets face it but I believe she is very durable and will last. This guitar will last my lifetime and I will be able to pass her down to my children. Value: Well when I bought this guitar it was already worth more than what it comes off the line. I caught a deal at the time and somehow I am the only owner this guitar had. Guess no one wanted to shell out for it. I would definitely buy the same year model if lost or stolen even though the price is definitely higher now. Manufacturer Support: I have never called Fender. Never needed to actually. So that is a plus. Haven't needed any repairs. My Blackie is a 2005 model and she looks like she just came off the line. The Wow Factor: Love the fact that my "Blackie" is a sexy black. It's a strat so hey it's feels like a woman, plays as fast and hard as YOU want her to =P I couldn't live without this guitar. When I first saw it I had to have it. Was definitely an impulse buy but for once my old lady didn't give me crap about it. Overall: I'll never need another fender strat. However, I bought a mexican strat to mess around with different tunings, set ups, etc as far as strats go. I would definitely buy this guitar over and over and over again if need be. I have no complaints with this instrument at all. This guitar helped me out of my playing rut that we all go through from time to time. Definitely the easiest guitar I own to play.
9 of 10 people (90%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"This is a guitar that can do it all. Take your playing to a new level..." submitted June 22, 2003

By a customer from aol.com
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Music Style: Mainly blues. Currently with the Black Cat Blues Band
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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW
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Sound: This guitar will sound like a les paul with the midrange boost up; it will sound like a strat with the midrange down...It's the only guitar I really need to play everynight...Although I like to give my other gals a little time now and then... Quality: I bought the olympia white... The Wow Factor: Buy one and have yourself a jolly ole time...
8 of 9 people (88.89%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Clapton Strat - The Benchmark for Tone" submitted October 22, 2004

By a customer from att.net
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Musical Background: Active Musician
Music Style: Blues, Rock, Christian
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Sound: Mine is a 1999 model with the lace sensor pickups. The TBX tone control is awesome. Roll to the bass side and treble is cut for bluesy or jazz sounds. Leave in the middle for circuit off lace sensor sounds aka strat. Roll to the treble side and cut the bass for bell like chime. Dial up the midrange booost(lower tone control) and let this baby sustain forever on either setting. With a 59 Bassman Reissue or other tube amp, it's an awesome combination. Add some good effects pedals or multi-effects and look out! Covers many sounds well. I prefer the "old" lace sensors like mine has over the noiseless but it's an easy swap to replace the noiseless pickups with lace sensors if that's your preference. Some reviews indicate the "old" pickups were best. Feature: This guitar has all the features you need to cover any style of music as long as you don't need a tremelo and understand all the adjustments you can make to the tone and volume of the guitar. I found many salespeople did not know how to use all the features with boost and TBX. Batteries can go dead if you leave it plugged in. Suggest you unplug when not playing. I get 1 year plus out of akalines. Some complain about the 1 ply pickguard but I find it adds more resonance due to the thinness. The pickups sort of float as you play. I changed my Mexican strat to a 1 ply and the tone also improved. Quality: Mine is a summer 1999 in olympic white and it was and is flawless in every way. I replaced the 5 way switch once just due to use. I play it live with no backup except a spare battery and a small screwdriver. Never breaks strings either. I use Fender Bullets 10-46 or Ernie Ball 10-46. Staysin tune except for temperature changes. Value: Mine was bought new in 1999 for $900 so I'm very pleased. Also, I think back then signature strats were built by a luthier and are now "team" built unless you get a custom shop version for big bucks! Manufacturer Support: Fender phone support has always answered my questions. They don't have an 800 so use a cell phone or unlimited long distance plan. I've called them about string guage when it was new. Tube amp specs and their website schematics and tech info is good. The Wow Factor: It's practical, durable, multi-functional and dependable. Overall: I hope to keep this one for as long as I can play. I don't play it live as much because a couple of other instruments have been damaged where I play.
12 of 14 people (85.71%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"This is a keeper" submitted February 26, 2004

By a customer from flmtgif.org
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Music Style: Country and Southern Gospel
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Sound: This guitar is probably the most versitle guitar I've ever played. I own a Gibson 57 Black Beauty and a Telecaster Elete, both nice guitars but the Eric Clapton Strat is my favorite. You can get any Strat sound imanginable out of this guitar and the neck has a nice feel to it. Great guitar I recomend it. Feature: Came with a deluxe tweed case and owners manual Quality: Very durable, never had any problems with it. The battery lasts a long time, so no problems there Value: Best guitar for the money, if you can only afford one guitar, this is the one Manufacturer Support: Don't really know about support because it's never needed any The Wow Factor: Great looking guitar too. Mine is White and I just love the way it looks Overall: This is one guitar I will keep forever. It's got that clssic Fender sound with modern electronics that are durable too. I love the guitar
5 of 6 people (83.33%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Blackie" submitted February 19, 2010

By a customer from gmail.com
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Musical Background: Started playing out @ 15, & I'm now 58.
Music Style: Blues, Country Rock, Classic Rock
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Sound: Mine is an '89 w/Gold Lace Sensors; sounds great - fine tone and sustain w/just a tad of noise. Feature: TBX is its main feature - as I use a tweed Fender w/th volume up there on the amp and low on the guitar, I don't often depend on it. Works as advertised, though. Ease of Use: Nice maple, good fret job - for what more can you ask insofar as ease of use goes? Quality: Minus a point (rarely does an instrument gain a '10' rating imho; the single-ply pickguard isn't too stable as it's warped a bit. Value: A bit nicer than the average American Strat, because of its exclusivity and above average neck. Manufacturer Support: Haven't used/needed it. The Wow Factor: I'm likin' it just fine. Overall: Does all I ask with a minimum of fuss/hassle.
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"The ultimate Blues - Blues/Rock Guitar." submitted July 6, 2003

By a customer from COMCAST.NET
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Music Style: BLUES - ROCK
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VERIFIED BUYER
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Sound: The sound is pure Stratocaster and then some. The quality of this instrument is second to none! It takes a little getting use to if you never played a guitar with low frets, but well worth adapting to. In addition to the 5 Fender tones the pickups are totally noiseless and the one tone knob is set up to be a midrange boost, that really kicks(sustains forever). Feature: This guitar is far superior to my American Standard Stratocaster, for which I also have no complaints. Even the tweed case with its ugly orange/gold interior is very well constructed. Quality: This is one guitar that I will not sell or trade in. This is a keeper! Value: Worth the extra bucks that it cost's compared to the American Standard Series Stratocasters. The Wow Factor: Can't beat Black with a maple neck.
3 of 4 people (75%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"A very clean sounding quality instrument." submitted March 23, 2008

By a customer from aol.com
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Musical Background: Hobby
Music Style: Blues, Jazz, Traditional
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Sound: The range of tone and the sound of this instrument actually surprized me at first. I own two other USA made Strats and I did not think this Strat would provide the range and quality of sound it produces. The more I play it, the more I enjoy it. I did have to replace the strings that came with it right away and adjusted the intonation a little, but I am quite pleased with it. I even enjoy the lack of the sixty cycle hum from the pick ups. Feature: I also own the VG Strat and enjoy it's versatility of being able to change tuning and sound. But it is an excellent Strat just the same. Ease of Use: Very easy to get great sounds even with a tiny amp. Quality: I believe this to be as durable as any other US made Strat which is excellent. Value: I think it is a fair price for a quality instrument. Manufacturer Support: I;ve had no problems to deal with them on, but I live near Scottsdale, AZ and know them to be an excellent company to their employees and in the community. The Wow Factor: It is shaped like a woman. Overall: I will probably cool my heels and enjoy this one for a year or two.
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Eric Clapton Stratocaster Customer Review submitted April 23, 2005

Overall
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Sound: I frankly was unimpressed with the noisless pickups. They sound very thin and too clean. I strongly prefer the Texas Specials for the true Strat sound. I do however love the neck and action.
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"Slowhand Boogie." submitted August 24, 2005

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Active Musician
Music Style: Blues, Rock, Jazz
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Sound: One of the most tonefully versatile guitars? Try, THE most tonefully versatile guitar EVER period. Piercing highs, to real bassy lows. This thing does it all. Classic strat sound, humbucker sound, you name it. I've heard a lot of complaints about the new noiseless pickups, though I have no gripes about them. If they're not your cup of tea, it's not hard to fit the guitar with whatever you prefer. No sense in going out of your way hunting for an older model just for pickups. Just buy the ones you prefer, they're like 70 bucks, big deal. Feature: I bought the Custom Shop version (Midnight Blue), which costs about $600 more than the factory model. I'm still not sure what the difference even is other than the color choices. Came with a vintage tweed case (really ugly interior). A vintage Fender strap (need a hole puncher for leather just to use it, unless you're 6'2", or a fatass), A guitar cable (only 3 feet long, not much use for anything other than fx pedals), a whammy bar, a chrome tremolo plate cover, a couple allen wrenches, a polishing cloth, the users manual, and a set of strap locks. The TBX control and mid-boost circuit are really what sets this baby above the rest. Far superior to the other strats I've played. Quality: The weird superglue laminate on the neck makes it seem a little cheap at first, but I suppose it's less likely to get filthy. Doesn't affect play at all. Pretty much the same deal with the 1-ply pickguard. It just looks cheesey, but again, not a big deal. Buy a new on if it's not your thing, though you'll probably have to adjust the action. I get a lot of buzz from the low E-string. Not sure how to remedy this either. Aside from that, I don't know. Strats are pretty much all made the same. Mix and match, customize however you see fit. Value: It's an amazing strat. In fact, probably the best of the bunch. But it is just that. I can't say it's a work of superior craftsmanship, as no strat is. You could probably build this yourself piece by piece for little more than $600 if you know where to look. Felt like I paid more for a name rather than the instrument as a whole, though I don't regret the purchase. Manufacturer Support: Have never had to deal with them. The Wow Factor: Definitely the most desirable strat I've ever come across. Overall: Completely satisfied. I'll never buy another strat after this one, unless it gets lost, stolen, or destroyed somehow.
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"Eric rules" submitted October 13, 2005

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: hobbyist
Music Style: Rock, Classic, Rock , Jazz
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Sound: It rocks Feature: comes with hard case with it Quality: probably one of the best in the market Value: its worth buying Manufacturer Support: very easy to reach- called twice to ask some questions The Wow Factor: classic fender style Overall: probably will not need to buy another electric guitar for years to come.
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"Disapointed. to say the least" submitted December 28, 2007

By a customer from bendbroadband.com
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Musical Background: Active
Music Style: Rock
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Sound: Sound is good when setup is rite. you must take this to lacal shop for setup1 Feature: Chezzy short strap, pick guard is one ply and makes noies and moves. large gaps at mounting points will not lay flat. Ease of Use: It is not playable. needs to go to a shop tobe setup at a cost $40-$60. the manual tells you to take it to a shop or do it your self Quality: No it has lumps on the body, big gaps at the point ware neck meets the body Value: Not close you can buy a American Strat for less then $800 Manufacturer Support: Support said this is the way we make this guitar and if you dont like it send it back at my cost. The Wow Factor: I seen this guitar and said this is awsome and then opened the box and down hill from their Overall: I got it for X-mas. Dec 25 and it will be sent back by Jan 2
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