Fender Custom Shop: Clapton Blackie

Clapton's Beloved Guitar - Available as Part of Tribute Series from Fender® Custom Shop

CORONA, California, USA (October 16, 2006) - One of the world's most influential electric guitars, the Fender Stratocaster guitar once owned by Eric Clapton, affectionately known as BLACKIE®, will be recreated and made available to the public this November from Fender’s renowned Custom Shop. This iconic piece of rock’n’roll history commanded a record price of $959,500 in 2004 at a Christie’s auction that benefited the Crossroads Centre, Antigua-a charity founded by Clapton and which remains close to his heart-and this marks the first and only time that the guitar will ever be recreated.

BLACKIE®, a mid-1950s Fender Stratocaster guitar pieced together by Clapton himself from numerous individual guitars, was Clapton’s main instrument throughout the ’70s and ’80s. Clapton’s albums 461 Ocean Boulevard, Slowhand, No Reason To Cry and Just One Night among others, were all recorded with BLACKIE®. And in addition to memorable solo tours, Clapton and BLACKIE® shared the stage with the likes of Pete Townshend, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters and The Band.

This historic addition to the Custom Shop Tribute Series will replicate BLACKIE® down to the smallest of details — from the worn-to-the-wood body, to the neck re-shaped by Eric’s hand as he played a thousand heartfelt solos, to the unmistakable cigarette burns on the headstock.

Said Mike Eldred of Fender’s Custom Shop, “This is a dream come true, to work so closely with this magical piece of rock history. To hold BLACKIE® and to think about all it has been through and how much fantastic music has come out of it, it’s really an indescribable feeling. The Tribute Series BLACKIE® guitar is instantly collectable and we’re thrilled that it’s now available to Eric’s fans.”

Update: Limited Edition

Only 2 BLACKIES have been allocated for Australia. Contact Soundworks and Kosmic Sound for further information

For more information about the Crossroads Centre, Antigua, please visit crossroadsantigua.org