So every time I've played a Clapton strat, my hands had little mini hand-orgasms - THAT'S how much I love the necks on those guitars. But I've absolutely never wanted anything to do with the active electronics that those guitars feature. I've just wanted one with the neck, the sort of built-in hardtail with the block of wood and I'm assuming a setup to go with that solid bridge.
I didn't want the hassles associated with keeping a backplate on to hold a battery in place, of having to unplug every time I'm finished playing to avoid running down the battery. And just tonally, even if I really dug the mid-boost and TBX, I'm really happy and comfortable with the basic strat controls - even have my own way of modding them that works for me (two no-load tone pots, one wired to the neck and bridge pickups, one to the middle). So I'm just not interested in that stuff. Clapton designed it that way so he'd have one guitar that can sound like a strat AND a Les Paul - I only want it to sound like a strat...
Well anyway, I was browsing through Guitar Center's used inventory this morning. Checking out some Silver Skys and some American Original Strats - I love my Robert Cray but I'm not against trying a higher end instrument to see if I really like it. And I look on the page(s) of used Claptons, all generally in the $1000-1200 range. And I see a 2015 model for $750, says it's modded. So I call the store and talk to the guy about it. The backplate was off and there's no battery or associated wires for a mid-boost back there, both tone knobs just run 1-10 like normal - no detente at 5 as the TBX control has. So it sounds like the previous owner did the mods I'd have wanted to do and then took a righteous hit on trading it in because it was modified. The guy says the neck is perfect, the frets are pretty much brand new, a couple of minor dings on the body, spec noiseless pickups, etc. So I ordered it.
Worst case, it sucks and I'm only out the return shipping cost. Best case maybe this is my ultimate strat for a price I don't even have to think twice about. It's got a high bar to get over - my Cray needs NOTHING. But I've always lusted after a Clapton and if this works out, I'm golden. Hell, I'm golden either way...
-Ray
I didn't want the hassles associated with keeping a backplate on to hold a battery in place, of having to unplug every time I'm finished playing to avoid running down the battery. And just tonally, even if I really dug the mid-boost and TBX, I'm really happy and comfortable with the basic strat controls - even have my own way of modding them that works for me (two no-load tone pots, one wired to the neck and bridge pickups, one to the middle). So I'm just not interested in that stuff. Clapton designed it that way so he'd have one guitar that can sound like a strat AND a Les Paul - I only want it to sound like a strat...
Well anyway, I was browsing through Guitar Center's used inventory this morning. Checking out some Silver Skys and some American Original Strats - I love my Robert Cray but I'm not against trying a higher end instrument to see if I really like it. And I look on the page(s) of used Claptons, all generally in the $1000-1200 range. And I see a 2015 model for $750, says it's modded. So I call the store and talk to the guy about it. The backplate was off and there's no battery or associated wires for a mid-boost back there, both tone knobs just run 1-10 like normal - no detente at 5 as the TBX control has. So it sounds like the previous owner did the mods I'd have wanted to do and then took a righteous hit on trading it in because it was modified. The guy says the neck is perfect, the frets are pretty much brand new, a couple of minor dings on the body, spec noiseless pickups, etc. So I ordered it.
Worst case, it sucks and I'm only out the return shipping cost. Best case maybe this is my ultimate strat for a price I don't even have to think twice about. It's got a high bar to get over - my Cray needs NOTHING. But I've always lusted after a Clapton and if this works out, I'm golden. Hell, I'm golden either way...
-Ray
