Fender Eric Clapton Strat

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:30 pm

Sorry about my strat threads lately, I'm still GASing after one.

I have a question:
50s Strat VS Clapton Strat ?

Why such stupid question? Well, there is really little amount of options to buy a guitar over here. So today I was going to go and order Fiesta Red maple neck 50s strat, but before going to bed yesterday I checked local classifieds board again. And there it is - White clapton strat. I know this will call huge amounts of clapton HAET, but please be objective. I myself am not a fan of the clapton dude.

What can you say about artist series VS MIM guitars quality-wise?

The 50s strat would've cost me about $830 and three weeks wait, and this clapton strat goes for just under $1k. Other differences - the clapton strat had a refret, has locking tuners installed, the neck was lacquered (I believe the stock neck doesn't have any kind of finish), fender vintage noiseless pickups and an active onboard preamp with midboost. Also for another $120 the seller will also include a Strat PG fully loaded with Lindy Fralins.

I'm not a fan of midboost and active preamp thingy, especially considering that it won't work without a battery. But clear advantage to me is that the clapton strat already has noiseless pickups which I would've put in anyway, most likely. And probably it's in great shape because it's been used in a studio most of the time. The drawback is that although I like the white very much, my favorite is still fiesta red.

Thanks for reading.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:38 pm

hold out for the fiesta red one. clapton strats are gay with all the onboard goofy shit, and while that's not a bad price for one, it's not the one you're looking for.

get your red one, clapton is a dog.

avj · Post by **avj** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:51 pm

I have a '99 American Deluxe Strat (that I never play) with those Vintage Noiseless guys in them, and I have really grown to despise them. Because they're essentially a stacked-coil humbucker, they are very un-Strat-like -- so do keep that in mind.

If you end up hating the pickups on the Clapton, you'll have paid a higher price for a guitar in a color you don't truly love, only to have to replace the pickups and electronics that are what makes it more expensive in the first place.

I vote the 50s Fiesta.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:08 pm

I prefer the 50s for the glossy neck, less extreme V and classic Fendery pickups.

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:22 pm

Thanks for your opinions guys, really appreciated.

@avj: I know what stacked coils sound like. I have them in my mustang and I only noticed slight difference after the swap. But I hate noise, with all the interference in crummy flats (I live in one of these) it's a hell doing any recording.

I think, maybe I should get both, and then sell one which I like less? The three week wait is really the only thing that stops me from getting the 50s strat. If local shops had any of these I'd most likely already bought one.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:32 pm

You're getting twice the guitar for only a few extra dollars with the Clapton strat, plus they've got the nicest neck profile (if you like big necks, that is...). I'd buy the strat and the Fralins-loaded pickguard, take the noiseless pickups/mid-boost pickguard off and sell it. While it's off, spray it over Fiesta Red. Then, fit the Fralin loaded pickguard on there: bet you'll break even at less that the cost of the 50's.

dumb donnie · Post by **dumb donnie** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:56 pm

Hmm, that's a tough one. In general, the Clapton should be a better guitar than the MIM but I am not a fan of noiseless Strat pickups.

I have found that I always play better on a guitar that is exactly what I wanted. If you get a guitar that you are just settling for you may regret it.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:11 pm

Oh whoops, I didn't read this properly. I thought you were debating an AV '57 for 830 and Clapton for 1k... If it's an MIM classic we're talking about, Clapton all the way... 800 isn't great for a Classic 50s but 1k for a Clapton is pretty good.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:58 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote: while that's not a bad price for one, it's not the one you're looking for.
[/obiwan]

I see what you did there.

I prefer the 50s for the glossy neck, less extreme V and classic Fendery pickups.

+1

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:55 pm

Okay guys, thank you all very much.

As HotRod said it, I should go for that which I truly love. Dude, I can't say it better.

But... Sorry if I disappoint you. I bought the clapton strat

I'm still going to look out for Fiesta Red, and eventually I'll get one.

Considering price of this clapton, it will be easy to sell it when I decide it doesn't fit me (as I understang $1k is good even for the states). The thing sounds and plays super nice. The mid-boost-TBX thingy is kinda wonky, as I expected, but I should probably give it more detailed look. The neck is glossy! Not as thick as fender factory gloss, but very far from "satin finish". The sound is not super bright, as expected, but as stratty as can be. I also got the Fralins set from the guy. So I'll try swap them and have a listen when I'm bored.

Now let me tell you something about the seller - he's really cool dude.

The guy has a recording studio in his apartment in living house on seventh floor. (sorry for my english, hope you understand this bit

) Inside a room he built another "room" covered with sound damping materials inside and outside, on top of a wooden platform. He put a 4x12 cab there, with four different speakers. So he can really crank the amp and there will be no complaints from neighbors. His setup sounds really awesome. Although he mostly plays metal-stuff, the clean sounds he can get from his amp and cab are beautiful too. In another room of his flat he is going to build the same thing for a drum kit. Awesome.

It was a bit of revelation to me that you don't really need a basement or some special place to play or record, you just need good sound isolation and damping.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:08 pm

blacktaxi wrote: I bought the clapton strat I'm still going to look out for Fiesta Red, and eventually I'll get one.

Congrats, a good price.

It was a bit of revelation to me that you don't really need a basement or some special place to play or record, you just need good sound isolation and damping.

Yeah, and a place big enough to give up a room.