Eric Clapton History of his Guitars - Cream (part 2 or 3)

[@TheCream14]

The twelve string used on Dance the Night Away was a Fender XII 12 string.

[@flat9design]

I can't imagine how much research goes into these documentaries. It's endlessly fascinating and I truly appreciate all your hard work.

[@Chimp_6]

As I mentioned in the part 1 video, I was at the Filmore West (Winterland) when Cream recorded the live tracks for Wheels Of Fire. Eric was playing the 335.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for this - its been a while since I made this video but I will look into it as great to have first hand witnesses

[@SWLABR1967]

Strange, there is not a single photo of Clapton playing the ES-335 with Cream before the RAH gig.

[@stevegray2091]

I had the opportunity to see Cream in concert at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. It was either late 1967 or the spring of 1968 (when I was a student at Westmont High School). I was disappointed, because Clapton was playing the Firebird, which definitely did not have the "woman tone" that I was acquainted with from his recordings. Aside from that, the performance was sterling, and I'm glad that I got to experience them at the time. They emphasized the songs from the first two albums, but they had just released a single for "White Room", which was performed at the concert.

[@AntarblueGarneau]

I saw Cream live on my birthday in summer 1967 at Bill Graham's Fillmore Aud in SF. Clapton was playing the psychedelic painted SG. At one point Clapton broke a string. When the song ended he handed the guitar to a tech man stage left and the man handed him a Fender Strat with a similarly psychedelic paint job. Clapton played the Strat for just one song and switched back to the SG with the tech man. Makes me wonder about Clapton's big switch to Strats for the rest of his career. Was there ever a pitched endorsement deal with Gibson that didn't materialize? If there was I wager the Gibson probably regretted turning it down. Until just a few years ago if one saw music making live or on screen you could pretty much assume that there were Strats gonna be played. Fender must have sold a lot of them after 1970!

[@psychicgregorytheloveguru7123]

in each picture of Eric Clapton he looks completely different.

[@TheGuitarShow]

I know!

[@coaltrain4423]

Clapton never looked the same from one year to the next,even at this time in his life.He was noted for this for many years.

[@pabloperez4063]

@@coaltrain4423 why would he need to do that?

[@coaltrain4423]

@@pabloperez4063 Clapton didn't intentionally change his facial features,or appearance other than his length of hair or beard.It just happened,it's still that way today as an older gentleman.It's kind of spooky.

[@rdickinsondickinson]

Psychic Gregory He’s not a dullard

[@willpayne6249]

Eric Clapton is a big influence on me playing blues. And Gary Moore is a huge influence on me as well. I'm a 21 year old left handed Guitarist from the south Wales. Valleys.

[@putzengiler]

We were at the Hunter College gig in NYC spring '68, there is a website of pics of the majority of the live Cream gigs.from their whole career..

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Dan

[@ErGoyoTV]

Clapton mastered the Les Paul with the woman tone and the bridge pickup sound. On the video of his review of the red Lucy Les Paul reproduction he acknowledged he admired Freddy King, did not have a guitar like his, but actually liking the Les Pauls humbuckers, so seeing him with that (56?) Goldtop with the P90s is natural. This also explain his red ES335s.

[@TheGuitarShow]

very true

[@davidr6026]

Love ❤ Clapton. Love ❤ Cream. Saw them at one of the 2005 reunion concerts 🎉

[@TheGuitarShow]

Nice David! I'm sad to say I missed the reunion.

[@ShiatsuShinTaiInternational]

He bought the firebird at music city in Philadelphia when cream played at the electric factory. That guitar was hanging there for a long time. We all used to go there and try it out but none wanted to buy it. Clapton bought it for $175 and all the guitar players in philly were kicking themselves in the ass for a long time.

[@Rickvito]

That's right. He used it that night for the first time at their gig at the Electric Factory, which I attended. I have some pictures that I shot that night of him playing the Firebird. Compared to the sound of the SG, I remember thinking that the Firebird sounded kind of anemic!

[@ScrapwoodCity]

I love these video series! Great work!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks

[@fransvenrooy4760]

I just love those paint jobs on the SG guitars! This looks so damn great! Almost psychedelic!!And I have to thank you for all the great work you did researching all this!! Beautiful!!!

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure - yes amazing paint job!

[@derekclacton]

7:43 Hi, Ramon - watching Sky Arts Cream special yesterday, just before they covered the Cream reunion gigs at RAH, there was a short historical clip of Eric with a Tele. All you can see is the bridge behind his hand but he’s clearly playing something live. Don’t know if that’s from the film you mention, or maybe some live footage.

[@TheGuitarShow]

ah cool thanks Derek Ill try to catch that

[@kalebreiserguitarmusic5817]

Love these videos! Eagerly awaiting part 3!

[@stephenmain9726]

Mr. Clapton used the ES-335 some at the concert at Veterans Auditorium in Des Moines late fall fare well tour

[@karinmars7664]

Thank you .... part 1 was very informative too, just like this !! I really enjoy your channel !! Big thanks for everything you do, I know how much work there is behind each post !! 💗💗

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Karin!!!!

[@philipnunn4119]

woman tone is the tone rolled off not the volume

[@TheGuitarShow]

yes thats right

[@teresathomley3703]

I discovered woman tone before I knew what woman tone was. I had a Strat and wanted very badly for it to sound Gibson-esque. After fiddling about I put the toggle switch on the neck pickup and turned the tone knobs off. When I play a Strat I usually keep the toggle on neck or neck-middle with the tone down or slightly up. It doesn't sound exactly like a Gibson, but that configuration is as warm and bassy as I can get the Strat to sound. Wee!!

[@johnicester]

Volume @10 😁

[@tomford2859]

I saw Cream on November 3, 1968 at the Baltimore Civic Center (now called the Royal Farms Arena) During the entire 45 minute set he exclusively played a red Gibson ES 335.

[@billygoatgruff2554]

My very first gig was supporting The Yardbirds at the Uxbridge Show. Eric had his Red Telecaster. Also playing were The Birds, with Ron Wood playing a blonde Telecaster, and The Dissatisfied, with Jim Cregan playing a Hofner Verithin. Jim Cregan (Blossom Toes, Cockney Rebel, Rod Stewart band) simply blew everybody off the stage. He made Eric and Ronnie sound average by comparison. It's a funny old world innit.....

[@TheGuitarShow]

Wow thanks for the memories amazing thanks Billy

[@vmat1000]

Insanely great offering BGG. Vague memory JC in print. Guess i need to see what happened.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Recollections like that are the stuff that dreams are made of.

[@edpitman7035]

Wonderful memory - will be with you forever 😊

[@frankrusk6172]

he played in Family also

[@jordandangelo180]

Great video. Really liking these guitar history videos

[@TheGuitarShow]

Pleasure Jordan thanks for watching

[@joshg2350]

You should do one of these videos on Duane Allman.

[@TheGuitarShow]

coming next my friend

[@joshg2350]

The Guitar Show Sweet!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!

[@themikeaustin]

A couple of pickup makers, notably Kinman, have stated that the metal pickup covers attenuate the high frequencies. If true, removing the covers would certainly make the guitar sound more "aggressive". From personal experience, I took the pickup covers off my '71 SG Standard and it definitely improved the tone.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Agreed - I like the covers off

[@kingstumble]

I saw Cream at the Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival in 1966. I also saw them play a tiny pub in Hackney---Nag's Head? either a few days before or a few days after Windsor--I don't remember which! I'm pretty sure he was playing a Les Paul but I don't remember anything about it.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for the memories! It may have been the LP he obtained from Andy Summers or even the original Blues Breakers burst

[@captainhotbunz659]

“The woman tone with the volume rolled off” at 4:19 I don’t know what he’s talking about, but that’s not the woman tone!

[@aflbrwon]

I saw Clapton play the Firebird in Dallas and it was not the final tour. Then Cream played Dallas a second time ( I believe it to be the Farewell Tour) and he played a red 335. It brings in to question the idea that he bought it for his final performance at the Albert Hall, unless, as you said he owned another red 335 before that final performance. Pretty sure that second performance was the Farewell tour because they opened with White Room which I believe is on the Wheels of Fire album? He had cut his hair and was wearing tennis shoes (sneakers):)

[@TheGuitarShow]

Fantastic - I will revisit this in part III so this is invaluable information!!! Thanks Alfred!

[@john564holloway]

Howdy from Texas!...Splendid, Ramon! Love these vids & these axes. Couldn't subscribe fast enough.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Pleasure and thanks for subscribing John - I love Texas!

[@robertscottpurse1]

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Watched it twice 👍🏻

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks!

[@bentolleson8582]

I was watching jack pearson. He was getting this really cool sound out of duane Allman's gibson firebird. You use the bridge pickup and roll the tone knob to 0. It sounds bad ass

[@impala327]

I'm digging this. One question: at 8:47 in the video, you show a pic of Eric both holding and paying a Goldtop. That guitar is not the same mentioned a few seconds later at 8:52 as bing pictured at a show at Hunter College. The former pic was taken in '66 and the Hunter College photo was from '68. Cheers.

[@olddoggeleventy2718]

Wow, quite an affinity for Gibson Guitars early on will be interesting to see what motivated the switch to Fender as his predominate choice. Thank you again. Quite a chore keeping up with all the different guitars makes one head spin!

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure - I think Jimi had a big influence on him with the Strat thing - thanks!

[@SuperGlacierGirl]

I thought I had read somewhere that Eric liked the Strat because the neck was thinner than the Gibson. Said he had trouble with the larger necks.

[@tylerricherson1102]

EC realized Gibson is shit

[@tonypoore440]

@@tylerricherson1102 Thick necks, heavy as hell, not much in the higher range...

[@jamesfetherston1190]

One key part of the "woman tone", especially how it is used On SWLABR, is to use both pickups, with the tone on the bridge up and the tone on the neck down. It gives a little bit of a notch to the mids.

[@tp10488]

I was under the impression that Eric used a Fender Electric XII on Dance the Night Away.

[@crisslastname9417]

This was great! Love his SG!

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure Criss

[@joeypinter7264]

i have often thought of what Jack and Ginger thought when EC came to rehearsal with the doo. maybe they thought he got hit by lightning.

[@TheGuitarShow]

So true Joey!

[@shanetankey3340]

Pleasure to watch. Very informative , done with studious research . 'Nuff said.👍

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks - pleasure Shane!

[@willsn4344]

Liking these history of vids, nice one!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Pleasure Will

[@anotherheadlessdemo]

I saw Cream in Boston MA in April of 68. He only used the Fool SG on one song. The other being a sunburst Les Paul. I’m wondering which Les Paul that would have been?

[@humbucker1414]

Looking forward to part 3!

[@TheGuitarShow]

coming very soon, thanks!

[@humbucker1414]

@@TheGuitarShow what I would love to know is, after buying every Gibson in sight and using them to great success, why the sudden and complete switch to Strats? Was it because of Jimi's death?

[@TheGuitarShow]

I did hear Clapton once remark that he didnt feeel he could go near a strat while Jimi was alive @@humbucker1414

[@creme8338]

clicked in a nanosecond this time. keep em coming! :)

[@TheGuitarShow]

Pleasure!

[@std882]

Thanks for a wonderful video. First discovered it a few weeks ago watching my first one of George Harrison. I can't believe he had so many guitars. Hardly noticeable. Anyhow, it would be hell to do one on Steve Howe as he uses quite a bit on stage as well. One on Chet Atkins and Lenny Breau would be interesting too. No rush, take your time. Keep up the good work.

[@greg6L6GC]

I saw Clapton use the Firebird in Blind Faith July 13 1969.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Nice Greg

[@christopherlowry418]

Ran into Eric at a bar in Asheville NC in 2006. He was toting a Rainsong Acoustic made of graphite. Said it was his loudest acoustic.

[@peterpanassow7814]

Amazing channel. Please keep the videos coming. 👍

[@thevoxofreason8468]

One thing, he bought the SG in 67', but it's not from that year. It has the pre-66 neck joint and small pickgaurd. I believe it's been said that it was a 64'.

[@SWLABR1967]

Listen to 5:20. This is exactly what he said.

[@jjtaylor6380]

Eric used a Fender 12 string on Disraeli Gears.

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks!

[@Darkwell0071]

EC sure had many guitars but the les Paul theme plays through out. I thought perhaps he had played the335 more but it is what you show. At crossroads with BB playinga 335 and EC the strat you really hear the difference.

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks for watching - and agreed - big difference between the Gibsons and Fender Clapton sounds

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Andy Summers' autobiography 'One Train Later' is a seriously terrific read.

[@patrickmoore3538]

Agreed. I read it twice. Couldn't put it down.

[@dennismason3740]

@The Guitar Show - good show. The Les Paul Special was renamed the Les Paul Junior (double cutaway) for release by Gibz and I bought one in 74 for a hundred bucks then Keith buys a yellow one and it goes to 7 zillion dollars. The Woman Tone is TONE knob full off, not volume (which is cranked to the max) and with that configuration it sounds best high on the neck. That 335 looks like the Lennon/Mitchell/Keith/Eric Yer Blues guitar on the Rolling Stones R'n'R Circus t.v. show. I wept when Eric gave up Gibz for Strats. I still play Crossroads everyday on an Epi SG with a Doozie Whammy. I might have to skip part 3 though I quite like Let it Rain in 1970.

[@TheGuitarShow]

very cool - yes i made an error - volume off would me no volume at all lol - thanks for the info - your guitars sound great!

[@larrygeetar9309]

+Dennis Mason All the solid body Gibsons called Specials were two pickup guitars. SG and LP Specials always had two P-90's. A one pickup version is a Junior, true for both SG's and LP's. Sometimes you see a double cut LP labeled a Junior but in that case a neck pickup has been added later. Juniors were always a single P-90 in the bridge position. A friend of mine had one, a '59 LP Junior double cut to which he added a neck P-90.

[@Taylorxswifte]

Very well done 👍

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thank you!

[@robertbogdan7058]

The 12 string on Disraelii Gears was a Fender 12. Check out Classic albums where you'll see that.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

That borrowed Les Paul from the beginning of the video is definitely a spike through the heart of what I assumed to be Eric Clapton’s no-whammy rule. So is the Special. It’s outstanding to hear about the rich history that Clapton had with Andy Summers. I always knew that the two of them were part of the same burgeoning British blues circuit. Didn’t know they were directly in contact though. So Ramon - WHAT HAPPENED TO PART 3 - please?

[@TheGuitarShow]

Part 3 coming reallly soon I promise - Andy and Slowhand - 2 great players!!! Thanks

[@ewoe21]

Awesome video.

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure!

[@stevehughes1510]

First time I've seen EC using a '53 LP...........thanks.........that's cool!!

[@Jay-uv5xg]

great video very informative thanks

[@TheGuitarShow]

Pleasure

[@stevehughes1510]

The Summersburst is with Drew Berlin from what I've seen............with a changed violin style headstock.

[@TheAbcakl]

More! Do more!

[@CNCTEMATIC]

This is great stuff buddy, very much enjoying these vids! Great information. New subscriber. Maybe think about pacing your voice-overs just a little slower. In any case, keep them coming please!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Good point! Ill try that - and thanks for subscribing!

[@billygoatgruff2554]

CNCTEMATIC Y u p , h e ' l l do t h e m s l o w e r , n o w o r r I e s . . . .

[@lordjs9726]

My favorite Clapton guitar is the red Gibson ES 335.

[@TheGuitarShow]

thats a beauty

[@thekitowl]

Nice work 👍

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks

[@mariussauer892]

fucking godness i love this Series! .. gorgeous pictures and back up Information!

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure!

[@vaneipontes3824]

Mr. Eric "Clapton is God" Patrick Clapton 🔥🎸😎

[@TheGuitarShow]

🙏🙏🙏

[@marksandman4346]

Eric stated in interviews the 62 tele neck ended up on Brownie.

[@marksandman4346]

On second thought the neck ended up on Blackie rather than Brownie.

[@masonhoward2099]

Brownies neck was on the Telecaster in Blind Faith...Blackie never had a rosewood neck...the neck in that pic doesn't look like a Strat neck to me but I could he wrong

[@JakobSeidl]

Great job, thanks a lot!

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure!

[@katylied8]

What about that Tele with the black scratchplate that says hand made by Malm something? He is seen with it on that Cream documentary

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for this - Ill check it out!

[@williampayne7678]

Eric Capton Is a Awesome Guitarist I own a Epiphone Les Paul a Kingfisher color Mexican Mexican Fender Sartacaster with a maple neck I also a cord Sartacaster with a maple neck I own A Dark blue Ibanze I own a Vintage SG Copy A lag with a Rosewood Neck and a Red Fashman Elolaetic Acoustic .

[@TheGuitarShow]

Nice guitars!

[@JakobSeidl]

Could you eventually do Pete Townshend?

[@TheGuitarShow]

I'll put that on the list!

[@promerops]

@@TheGuitarShow And Jan Ackerman, please.

[@atiostefony3760]

Great Videos, Hands Down... I´ve been having this quiastion for years and maybe this is the place to ask. Was Eric usin any pedal During the beano or the cream era? I´ve seen photos and the only pedal i see is the wah wah during the Cream years. His tone sounds thick and often distorted but not close to a fuzz tone . So it was just a Les paul , cranked to 10 in a Marshal Head? If anyone knows something,,

[@TheGuitarShow]

Beano - no pedal Cream - he used a wah, Leslie cabinet - no fuzz just amp distortion and saturation on the console when recording. thanks! R.

[@mrsoul4231]

Does anyone know what studio tracks Eric used the 335 on?

[@chuckyandandy7858]

He also used a white acoustic guitar that you see him with on the single cover of "White Room".

[@rickrocknrollliconti3729]

Saw them at msg felt forum nyc I remember es335

[@TheGuitarShow]

amazing!

[@kazalexander434]

Once again, highly informative & interesting re Clapton; & Cream were a great band.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Kaz x

[@toneyisaiah408]

I saw a picture of the young Eric Clapton with a Danelelectric guitar.

[@zdsminorz]

Amazing information!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks

[@TheAxzom]

what was the sg original color?

[@okgo8315]

Pretty sure it was cherry.

[@benthomas8290]

super interesting!! where's part 3?

[@petegilgan6217]

Mick Taylor joined the Bluesbreakers in '67 - not '66 as stated here.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Pete

[@alanohagan6999]

Is there a 3 of 3 in this series yet - can’t see it?

[@Dr_mvks]

Can you do Duane Allman? Loving the series!

[@TheGuitarShow]

yes I had him planned ! thanks!

[@calum66]

Great but where's part three?

[@TheGuitarShow]

coming - Im just on tour at the moment but ill be back in a week

[@hidenseek4889]

Disraeli Gears was a killer album back then !

[@marlon1171]

Anyone here own or has ever played a gibson 59 reissue lespaul 2019??

[@dawstep]

No. No one has.

[@archiguitarchi]

At 9:04: That is not a reverse Firebird. It's just a Firebird. I have to disagree what you said about the tone that guitar got. He's heard playing it on some live tracks and the tone was incredibly bad. I wonder what made him play that when he had much better sounding guitars.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for your comment - actually I was quoting Clapton about the firebird - tbh I prefer his Les Paul tones - thanks for watching!

[@pabcrane]

Yes the guitar is a regular original Firebird, however a couple of years later (65? 66?) Gibson flipped the design so it didn't look so sucked-sweet Explorer like and these were called 'non-reverse'. So by extrapolation the original design became known as 'reverse', despite being created first.

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks for the info Paul! @@pabcrane

[@GuitarlosCarlos]

I LIKE TO WATCH THIS STUFF I'VE PLAYED GUITAR & BASS SINCE MARCH 18, 1960 @ 10 THE CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT GOES INTO AN INSTRUMENT IS ALMOST A LOST ART TO US THANKS FOR YOUR POST CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure Carlos

[@B1B904]

The Red Les Paul called Lucy in the pictures in this video look like two different guitars to me.the one George Harrison is holding and the one Clapton is playing are not the same guitar.In the picture of Clapton playing the red lp you can see significant wear were the neck joints the body as well as other wear and tear and if he had it first and then gave it to George Harrison why is the one George is holding looks like a brand new guitar... anybody else notice that ? And a side note Gibson released a reproduction of Les Lucy and there is a KZbin video of Clapton giving it a stellar review and and talking about The original It’s worth a watch.

[@Goomer]

Didn't Todd Rundgren end up with the painted SG? (great vid series)

[@TheGuitarShow]

yes thats right - thanks for watching

[@cpk313]

I thought you reported that Mick Taylor got his Bigby Les Paul from Keith (rather Ian)

[@bobdarren5890]

But what guitars were used on wheels of fire??

[@bazzer124]

Where is part 3? Can't find it...

[@toneyisaiah408]

You should do a story on Larry Byrom from his bands T.I.M.E. & Steppenwolf.

[@willpayne6249]

Eric Clapton is a great Guitarist

[@barclay3160]

As for 12 string electric I recall Eric saying in an interview how he used to listen to the Byrds and that he used a Fender 12 electric on Dance the Night Away. I wonder which guitar he used on the live version of Crossroads. Maybe the Firebird ? IMO his greatest moments were on Gibsons. He inspired countless people to take up the guitar. There are countless better Strat players but on Gibson he was a giant.

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks for this info bro!

[@vmat1000]

As EC before launching into Stepping Out on Live Cream Vol II "Right you are " about the Fender. Also agree about his Greatest moments bit. I bought a Strat in '76 and with my red script Big Muff and a Cry Baby copped lots of Trower and Schenker. Felt i should finally buy Layla,,,,good songs but very little i wanted to jam with. From The Cradle has a mix. 5 Long Years is a Strat. I love that one!!

[@themikeaustin]

Everything I've read, including articles in "Guitar Player" states that Eric played his 335 on (almost) all the live Cream recordings. There are live Cream bootlegs here on YT and most of the live stuff comes from 2 concerts; one at Winterland and the other from a show in either LA or San Diego.

[@promerops]

@@vmat1000 Have you heard the version of "5 Long Years" on "Five Live Yardbirds"? I almost cried the first time I heard EC's soloing on this.

[@vmat1000]

@@promerops No. i haven't heard this before. Thanks for the rec!!

[@williamashford2057]

Eric Clapton is a guitar god.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Agreed

[@sufyanghani9022]

Where's part 3?

[@zurdoremi]

Hi, so what happened to the painted SG used with Cream?

[@superfuzzymomma]

In short - Apple artist, Beatles protege, Jackie Lomax ended up with it after Eric. If memory serves, it was George Harrison that gifted it to Lomax????The guitar was in rough playing shape when Todd Rundgren bought it from Lomax in the 70's. Todd said that the back of the neck near the headstock was so degraded it was like balsa wood, the apparent result of the Fool paint and years of soaked in players sweat. Todd used the guitar live and in the studio longer than any of its previous owners. Eventually he had the paint job conserved and or repaired and had` a sealer coat of lacquer applied. The Fool collective did not put a sealer coat over the paint job. Lastly, Todd had to have a new headstock grafted on because the wood in that area was so degraded. Rundgren sold the guitar several years ago, reputedly in the neighborhood of $500,000.00. He still uses a replica from time to time which a Japanese fan presented him.

[@toneyisaiah408]

Different guitars through the years. various models.

[@davetaylor5119]

Just saw part 1 and part 2 popped up! Excellent! #first

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks Dave

[@stinkboneorien1270]

Clapton DID NOT, I REPEAT, NOT own an ES-335 until mid-November 1968 purchasing it from London's Selmer's Music as cogently documented by Gibson historian Tony Bacon. Eric's memory is faulty which it has been regarding other guitars and equipment from his Cream days. When EC purchased the 335 at Selmers Music, since he was STILL with Cream, the roadies and staff, of course, had to stencil "Cream" on the guitar case regardless of how long the band would stay together but the Burst Brothers sadly used that as an excuse to erroneously call it the "Crossroads Guitar" after they purchased it at the Christies auction.. Tony has proven that the block inlay 335 he was seen using on occasion with the Yardbirds was actually Chris Dreja's 335 which was destroyed later when a PA cabinet fell on it as described in an interview with Keith Relf years later. Chris Dreja replaced it with a DOT NECK 335 which is obviously NOT the block inlay 335 Clapton used during the Royal Albert Hall farewell that Bacon referred to as the "Albert Hall Block Inlay 335". There are NO other photos in existence that definitively prove EC ever used a block inlay 335 during Cream before the RAH farewell concerts. There is one photo of Clapton using an ES-355 custom, the fancy gold hardware, ebony finger board endowed ES that he was either borrowing or purchased while playing the second show at the LA Forum during the US Farewell tour but he used his Reverse Firebird for the Goodbye Live tracks at the LA Forum. EC primarily used only one Les Paul standard and a Firebird during the US Farewell Tour. His primary axe was 95% the SG standard "Fool" he used throughout the long US Disraeli Gears tour including all the live Winterland & Fillmore tracks recorded for "Wheels of Fire", "Live Cream", and parts of "Live Cream II". The only existing images of Clapton playing his ES-335 in public, are the BBC movie of the RAH concert and the pre-show publicity shots during their rehearsal. The entire 335 MYTH was created and promulgated by the Burst Brothers who wanted to hype it so as to boost sales when they contracted Gibson to produce a limited run special -re-issue of the 335. Bacon has used serial numbers to prove that the 335 Dreja had, both of them, are NOT the one EC used at the RAH farewell show which verified what Bacon found, that Jerry Donahue, the sales clerk at Selmers Music, sold the 335 to Clapton in mid November 1968 and even recalls that EC invited him to the RAH farewell shows but Donahue already had tickets. You also need to correct the Firebird story, I know FOR A FACT, that Clapton purchased his Gibson Reverse Firebird during their three day April 68 weekend gig at Philadelphia's Electric Factory where I saw them on the April 19th. It was an amazing performance and EC was still playing his SG "Fool". On April 20, he purchased his Reverse Firebird at Philly's 8th street Music then used if that night (Saturday) for the first time in public. On the final Sunday, April 21 show, Clapton went back to his SG.I interviewed the sales clerk who sold the Firebird to Clapton and his entourage on Saturday afternoon April 20th, 1968. Please make the appropriate corrections. Also, Clapton rarely used the Les Paul custom during the latter part of the long Disraeli Gears tour. He mostly still used his SG but by late April starting switching to his new Firebird and occasionally his backup Gold Top Les Paul.

[@TheGuitarShow]

wow thanks!

[@jacktyler6475]

@@TheGuitarShow I agree 100%. There are various forums on the internet with comments by guitarists that were at the Fillmore show when "Crossroads" was recorded that state Eric used the Gibson SG to play that song that was on the "Wheels of Fire" album, NOT a 335!

[@TheGuitarShow]

@@jacktyler6475 I'd love it if it were true - I think his SG tone was as good as the Bluesbreaker Les Paul tone

[@tardis5179]

The title says part 2 or 3 just so you know

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks I need to change it!!!!

[@ivi7792]

ginger was the man