Up for sale, a 2011 Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster "Blackie," in near-mint, 100% original condition, complete with a blonde G&G Deluxe/Fender hardshell case, COA, and all factory paperwork and case candy.  An exacting Custom Shop iteration of Eric's personal axe, this Strat features a special soft V neck shape, Vintage Noiseless pickups, active Mid-Boost circuitry, and a TBX Tone control. The guitar is acoustically resonant, with a snappy, chiming tone from the alder body that translates well though the Vintage Noiseless pickups. These single coils have a sparkling response and hum-free performance, and each position on the five-way switch yields a distinct tone, from bridge pickup bite to great warmth and bell-like chime in the neck position. The guitar weighs 8lbs, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 9-42 strings, low action and spot-on intonation.

The maple neck has a soft V-shaped profile carve with lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .835" deep at the 1st fret and .925" at the 12th. The 22 fret maple fretboard has a modern 9 1/2" radius, and the slender vintage-style frets have their full factory height and well-rounded crowns, showing no wear. The guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2" scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1.650" in width, and the headstock boasts both Kluson-style tuners and Clapton's signature on the back.

All of the electronics work as intended, and controls include a Master Volume knob, center detent TBX Tone control, and active 25dB Mid Boost control powered by a 9v battery. The factory wooden block is installed behind the tremolo block as per Clapton's specs, and the vibrato arm is included. The chrome plating on the hardware is gleaming, and plastics are near-mint as well. Wear on the gloss Black finish is limited to just one pinhead-sized ding on the lower belt on the back and a few faint finish scratches in the clear coat of the gloss. The finish on the neck profile is flawless.

A Fender G&G Deluxe blonde tolex hardshell case is included, along with the COA, hangtags, case candy and factory paperwork.