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Fender Artist Series Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster (Maple, With Case)
U.S. made. Updated version.
"Clapton Strat - The Benchmark for Tone"
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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!
Desirability:
It's practical, durable, multi-functional and dependable.
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.
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.
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.
"This is a guitar that can do it all. Take your playing to a new level..."
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Quality:I bought the olympia white...
Desirability:
Buy one and have yourself a jolly ole time...
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...
"Great guitar, two concerns"
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
The pick guard conducts electricity from my fingers, creating a crackling static noise when my fingers hit the pick guard. It is fine when I begin to play, but seems to build the longer I play. My remedy has been to gently rub a piece of fabric softener (bounce, cling free) over the pickgaurd. This takes care of it until the next time I play. Fender recommended I tape a piece of fabric softener under the pick gaurd or purchase a different pickgaurd. It seems a bit pricey relative to other strat models, perhaps related to EC's name.
Otherwise I love it. The midrange booster, contrary to the reports of others, gives it a nice deep, rich tone. The v-shape is a perfect fit for my hand/style of play.
Eric Clapton Stratocaster Customer Review
I own this guitar and it sounds great! I'm not really a strat man more of a tele one but I hardly play my tele since I've owned this. It has so many different sounds and tones you can fit it to just about any song.
"4 years later and this is still my favorite."
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
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.
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.
Desirability:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Slowhand Boogie."
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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.
Desirability:
Definitely the most desirable strat I've ever come across.
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.
Support:
Have never had to deal with them.
Overall:
Completely satisfied. I'll never buy another strat after this one, unless it gets lost, stolen, or destroyed somehow.
"This is a keeper"
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
Desirability:
Great looking guitar too. Mine is White and I just love the way it looks
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.
Support:
Don't really know about support because it's never needed any
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
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
Desirability:
Great looking guitar too. Mine is White and I just love the way it looks
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.
Support:
Don't really know about support because it's never needed any
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
"The ultimate Blues - Blues/Rock Guitar."
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
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.
Desirability:
Can't beat Black with a maple neck.
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).
"A very clean sounding quality instrument."
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.
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.
Desirability:
It is shaped like a woman.
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.
Ease of Use:
Very easy to get great sounds even with a tiny amp.
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.
Overall:
I will probably cool my heels and enjoy this one for a year or two.
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.
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.
Desirability:
It is shaped like a woman.
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.
Ease of Use:
Very easy to get great sounds even with a tiny amp.
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.
Overall:
I will probably cool my heels and enjoy this one for a year or two.
"Eric rules"
Feature:
comes with hard case with it
Quality:
probably one of the best in the market
Value:
its worth buying
Desirability:
classic fender style
Sound:
It rocks
Support:
very easy to reach- called twice to ask some questions
Overall:
probably will not need to buy another electric guitar for years to come.
comes with hard case with it
Quality:
probably one of the best in the market
Value:
its worth buying
Desirability:
classic fender style
Sound:
It rocks
Support:
very easy to reach- called twice to ask some questions
Overall:
probably will not need to buy another electric guitar for years to come.
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