If You Play, You Gotta Get This

I'm a huge Clapton fan and always wanted a Blackie. I went down to buy one and the sales guy showed me a 1960 Custom Shop. It played great and I ended up going home with it. Next trip, I picked up Blackie again. Decided to get it and the same sales guy put a SRV in my hands. Showed me the features, gave me a great price. So the SRV came home. These are both great guitars but, not a Blackie! One more trip - same sales guy. This time (even though he showed me every high end strat in the store) I was taking a Blackie home! And, I did. Actually, I think it was a great sales guy. He knew I would not be happy until I had a Blackie and he must have figured he better sell me everything he could before I got one, since he knew it would be the last guitar I bought! Save yourself a ton of money and just get the Blackie first. There won't be any regrets! I own 10 high end guitars including 2 custom shops. If I had to give up all but one, Blackie would stay! I am not a great player but love to play. Blackie feels like an old friend and graciously makes up for my shortcomings. I play through a Fender Twin reissue and the sounds are nothing short of incredible. I use a Crossroads pedal, chorus pedal, Vox wah, and an Ibanez tube screamer (with the SRV modifications.) I don't think there is a sound you could not get. Simply put, one great axe!

Reviewed by MJJOHN2 on 10/27/2006 who plays Rock / blues.

Only Fender worth Buying

I haven't been playing especially long, but when I started I knew I wanted to at least start playing blues. I worked at GC at he time and must have played 50 guitars to try and find something that fit and I really wanted either a strat or a tele to be it. They all felt like garbage and I ended up with an Epiphone SG (I got lucky...sounds amazing unplugged and I re-did all of the electronics when I got it home). I played this strat and between the circuitry and the shape of the neck, I honestly believe it's the only fender I'll ever spend money on. I actually went that day to try and find a TC-90 or thinline tele with a neck closer to Gibson's shape and pulled this off the wall as a curiosity. It was amazing. I spent the next 2 hours playing it through an AC30 reissue. The sound is amazing...that beautiful glassy tube overdrive that's amazingly controllable with the TBX/mid-boost...the gorgeous neck...there's nothing not to like that matters. I'm going to buy one as soon as I get a chance to go in and play every one they have to see if one in particular speaks to me. Seriously, I've played strats from '56 to '07, from the $400 mexi standard strats to $30,000 vintage custom shop models and this is the only one I'd spend a dime on.

Reviewed by djguitarist on 4/10/2007 who plays Blues, Rock, Trance, Balearic House.

Wish List Guitar

One of My biggest Influences Is Eric Clapton. When i Tried this guitar, i couldnt help but instantly think i had to have this guitar. the action is perfect, the sound is warm/spikey, the neck fells so comfortable it isnt funny, and the response from the pickups, is just phenominal. i can say that when i get the money, im going to get this guitar in a heart beat.

Reviewed by Bluesplayer88 on 3/9/2007 who plays Blues, Blues/Rock, Country Blues, etc..

Blues Rock Clapton Classic!!

I bought mine used ( 1991 black model)with all the stock lace senors and mid boost and TBX. so i dont know as much about the vintage noiseless but i've played them before in store and they are nice, may have to switch out. before some post remarks about it not having this or not having that feature.. jumbo frets, s-1 switching, locking turners, cheap pickguard