Eric Clapton’s famous ‘Blackie’ Stratocaster has quite the track record – it features not only on his version of Bob Marley’s ‘I Shot The Sheriff’, but other gems such as JJ Cale’s ‘Cocaine’, Bobby “Blue” Bland’s ‘Further On Up The Road’, and his own ‘Lay Down Sally' and ‘Wonderful Tonight’ – plus numerous other album tracks and live performances.
Original Blackie
The original Blackie was anything but original, pieced together from three different fifties Strats that Clapton had picked up cheap while on tour in the US. The guitar made its first public appearance onstage at the famous January ’73 Rainbow Concert in London, prior to recording the following year’s landmark 461 Ocean Boulevard album.
First ever Fender signature model
Blackie’s other big claim to fame is as the first ever Fender signature model. Released in 1988, and still in production today, total numbers are unknown, and though it would be interesting to discover just how many Blackies are out there, one thing for certain – there’s no other like this!
Fully American-built
A new Blackie has an Australian RRP of $3899, “discounted” anywhere from $2899 to $3299, (or $7k to over $50k for various Custom Shop versions), and that’s a regular Blackie, without a matching headstock, (see pics 2 & 6). Mark Emerson’s aftermarket artwork takes this outstanding Clapton signature model to a whole other level of desirability, but at an eminently reasonable price – specially for a fully American-built signature model. Bullet holes, the sheriff’s badge, the cold prison cell, all are stunningly detailed in black and shades of grey, hinting at our rasta man’s bleak future.
Features
Fully co-designed with Eric himself, this 1995 Blackie features a fast-playing modern-C profile neck, (usually more soft-V, but this is very nice); the original model’s superb Lace single-coil Strat pickups; and the highly useful TBX tone control, (via the middle knob). And while the EC signature model leaves the factory with the tremolo system blocked – the way Eric prefers it – our consignment customer has popped the block out here, allowing regular use of the whammy bar.
Condition
Complete with its original Fender deluxe hard shell case, the guitar is in Excellent+ condition, showing virtually no playwear, other than some light marks on the rear, on the plastic tremolo coverplate. Peel-off protective plastic remains on the artwork in what would be the pickguard area of a hollowbody or acoustic guitar. The Maple fingerboard and frets are perfect.
Free courier delivery
Your totally unique Blackie Strat comes with our FREE COURIER DELIVERY to any address in Australia – generally 1 - 2 days on the east coast, more distant areas slightly longer. $100 airfreight to New Zealand, (usually 2 days), and $175 to the US, Canada, UK and mainstream European countries, (3 - 5 days)
Weight: 8lb 2½ oz / 3.69kg
Just Guitars
