Today’s Clapton Auction: Drool-Worthy Items

And some oddballs….

As I type this, Bonham’s auction house is auctioning off a bunch of Eric Clapton-owned gear to benefit his Crossroads rehab center. Took a look at the online catalog, and here’s what caught my eye, starting with the coolest stuff:

1970 Marshall Cabs

Basket-weaves, greenbacks and Derek and the Dominos stenciled on them. How freakin’ cool is that?!

1965 Marshall JTM-45

“He played through an early Marshall JTM-45 head with a block logo, identical to this amp, through a white grille cloth 4×12 Marshall cabinet whilst on stage with John Mayall’s Blues Breakers as photographed here.”

Wonder whether this is what prompted EVH to peel the tolex off his #1 head?

Single P-90 Les Paul

Dang! I’ve wanted one of these ever since I first saw one played by Billy Gibbons. And this one was bought by Clapton himself:

“[It] was one of a limited run that Dave’s Guitar Shop in Wisconsin co-designed with Gibson. Clapton purchased this guitar himself from their stand at the first Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, August 2004.”

Amps

4 JCM800 Heads and 2 Cabs

A pair of JCM 800 Lead series 50W MKII amps: Serial #s SO3314 and SO3293; a pair of JCM 800 Lead series 100W MKII Super Lead: Serial #s SI5384 and SI5385; two 4×12 JCM 800 Lead speaker cabinets, top serial #15816, bottom serial #9387.

“Clapton went on to use these amplifiers for the 1984 Roger Waters Pros and Cons of Hitch-hiking Tour as well as Clapton’s subsequent tours from 1985 to 1987 including his appearance at The Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium on 13 July 1985.”

Late ’80s Soldano rig

Too much in this rig to note here but here are some cool tidbits:

> Michael Soldano was commissioned to build two of his SLO-100 amplifiers for Clapton in 1988. When interviewed in November 1988 for the Japanese Young Guitar magazine, Clapton commented that he had been using Fender Dual Showman amps when he heard Mark Knopfler at rehearsals and was impressed by his sound. He realised it was Knopfler’s amp rather than the guitar that was responsible for the sound character. Clapton tried Knopfler’s amp and liking its sound which he described as ‘warm’ and ’round’, immediately placed an order with Michael Soldano.

> Clapton’s guitar technician stated in an interview in 1994 Guitar Techniques magazine: “The Soldanos are the original amps that Mike Soldano built for us in a hurry. Of course we bought them, but because Mike dropped everything else he was doing, Eric gave him a signed Clapton Strat, which we thought was a fair deal. Eric said, “In return, why don’t you sign my amps?” so that’s what he did. We have two, one as a spare, but I like to alternate them so that valves are properly burnt in on both.”

’70s Music Man HD-130 Stack

Basically his ’79-’80 rig.

Lab Series L5

Supposedly the best-sounding solid state amp ever made, or at least one of the top two, this one is in great shape. Used by BB King, loved by Joe Bonamassa among a select few others.

Brown Soun 2×12 Cab

“Working with John Harrison at Brown Soun, the original Tone Tubbies installed in [Clapton’s] first Cornell amp were eventually replaced by a new hemp cone speaker with a lighter, copper-clad voice coil. This ‘Clapton coil,’ as we called it, made the speaker a bit brighter and dramatically enhanced sensitivity, which also eliminated the perceived drop out of certain notes when subtle, low-volume passages were played on stage, which Denis had previously noted among all the speakers tried.”

Guitars

2006 Fender Esquire Jeff Beck Replica Model

Many nice ones up for auction, this one stood out to me – maybe it’s the pic! – though apparently not owned by Clapton.

> This guitar is a highly detailed replica of Jeff Beck’s 1954 Esquire that the guitarist used in his days with The Yardbirds in the 1960s and subsequently gave to his friend Seymour Duncan.

> This guitar has been generously donated by Mr. Nicolaus Springer, and kindly signed by Jeff Beck for the auction.

Oddball Items

> Schon NS6, given to Clapton by Neal Schon. Don’t see these too often.

> Jay Turser Les Paul copy, given to Clapton by…Les Paul!

> Versace suit, I guess not that oddball because you couldn’t find Clapton without a suit on for a while.

Category: Eric Clapton, Fender, Jeff Beck, Lab Series, Les Paul, Marshall, Music Man, Neal Schon/Journey, Soldano