Fender Stratocaster Eric Clapton Crash Crossroads Edition

Eric Clapton
(1945)

Band: Cream
Main guitar: Fender Stratocaster
Must-hear track: Crossroads

More than just a musician, Clapton has become a global icon — undeniably the most well-known bluesman and guitarist to the general public, while still commanding respect from true connoisseurs. Young Eric’s role was instrumental in shaping a truly British blues sound and exporting it back to the United States.

Clapton first cut his teeth with The Yardbirds, a band blending Chicago blues with pop, playing his Telecaster through a Vox AC30. But after the release of the single *For Your Love* (1965), which he found too pop-oriented, he left to join a purist blues outfit: John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Though he stayed only a few months, this short stint was enough to record the now-legendary album *Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton* (1966). That record introduced the world to the devastating combo of a sunburst Les Paul — then an unpopular model — plugged into a Marshall combo. Countless rock stars would emulate that setup, but Clapton’s electrifying playing on the album has never truly been matched. He inspired an entire generation of British guitarists, earning the nickname “God” from his fans.

In 1966, he joined a new trio formed by drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce (also a former Bluesbreaker): Cream was born. This powerhouse trio reinvented electric blues, injecting the genre’s roots with a psychedelic urgency. Clapton’s guitars during this time included a wildly painted SG nicknamed “The Fool” and a Cherry Red ES-335. Cream eventually collapsed under the weight of the members’ egos, and Clapton moved on to form Blind Faith with Steve Winwood, where he played a Telecaster fitted with a Strat neck — the first sign of his growing love for customized Fender builds.

In 1970, Clapton released the brilliant *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* under the name Derek and the Dominos. Soon after, he fully embraced his solo career, starting with the self-titled *Eric Clapton* (1970), followed by *461 Ocean Boulevard* in 1974. He went on to release a string of albums — some more compelling than others — almost always featuring his signature Stratocaster tone, typically with *Blackie*, his black ‘50s Stratocaster built from various vintage parts.

The definitive album that catapulted Clapton even further came in 1992: *Unplugged*, an acoustic concert recorded for MTV that became a cultural phenomenon and dramatically revived sales for Martin guitars. The 000-28 became desirable once again. Since then, Clapton has released a tribute album to Robert Johnson, collaborated with B.B. King and J.J. Cale, hosted the phenomenal Crossroads Festivals, and auctioned off many of his guitars. Even now, more than half a century after his debut, his rare live performances remain monumental events in the guitar world.