Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster

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The Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster is Clapton’s signature electric guitar and Fender’s first signature model. It grew from Clapton’s famous “Blackie” guitar and was released in 1988 with a classic Strat look but modern electronics for more tonal range. It has a solid alder body, a maple neck (rosewood fretboard was added for a rare 1991 run of 94 units), 22 frets, a 9.5" radius, and a blocked synchronized tremolo to keep tuning stable. It originally shipped with three Gold Lace Sensor pickups and an active mid-boost circuit (MDX) plus a TBX tone control to boost mids and shape gain.

Over the years, the pickups were changed to Fender Vintage Noiseless in 2001. The model came in several finishes, including Pewter and Torino Red from 1988, Candy Green (1988–2010), Black (from 1991), and Olympic White (from 1996), with many Custom Shop colors such as Mercedes Blue and Gold Leaf Metallic. Fender also released limited editions like the Gold Leaf Stratocaster (1996), the Crashocaster cars painted by artist Crash Matos, and Crossroads-themed guitars tied to Clapton’s Crossroads Centre charity in Antigua. A 2017 Journeyman Relic version uses ash and aged finishes, showing the line’s continued evolution while preserving Clapton’s signature sound.