Eric Clapton - History of his Guitars - Early years, Yardbirds and The Blues Breakers (part 1 of 3)

[@jimparker7778]

I saw Eric with Blind Faith in St Louis on August 3, 1969. He used the red 335 the whole show. That guitar has a very special sound.

[@paoloflorian44]

I swear Eric Clapton shapeshifts into a different person every 5 years

[@rickmark9625]

Yeah he always looks different he looks like a different person!

[@eddiemillichip]

if you think thats impressive, you should see john lennon!

[@tysonrinker5958]

Seriosuly i can't even recognize in old photos

[@terences1061]

It took me years to recognize his face...

[@telecomex]

HAHAHAHAHA! And I thought it was just ME! This is brilliant! You made my day. Tnx. ss

[@rdmkeytohwy]

When i bought the Beano record on cd i looked at all of the pictures of Clapton at the time and that Les Paul and i was just mesmerized. That was it......modern rock and blues guitar started right there. I know all of the artists in Chicago and other electric blues players like B.B. King influenced everybody. Chuck Berry, too. But a white English lad plugging in the Les Paul and putting a Marshall amp on 10 had not been done before to my knowledge. History was made with that sound and we still love it today. If that was all Clapton contributed that would have been significant enough but of course he has amazed us with his music and guitar playing for 50 years. Great video! You did your homework!

[@heathereibach5546]

A +

[@ozarkana]

Here's a true story of meeting Eric, and Ginger. I was pumping gas at a Standard oil station in Wilmette, Illinois when a Rolls Royce pulled in for gas. As I was cleaning the windshield, I tapped on the rear passenger window, and when it rolled down, I asked the man inside if he wanted me to check the oil. He scowled at me and said"I don't give a fuck what you do, mate." Then a tall red haired man came up to me, and I said "what's wrong with your friend"? He replied, "oh that's just Eric.. don't let him bother you". So I asked if they were in a band, and he replied "yeah.. we were playing in Chicago". I asked him what the name of the band was, and he answered, "we used to be called Cream, but now we're playing as Blind Faith". I realized he was Ginger Baker, the man in the car was Eric Clapton, and another man who had gone to the bathroom was Steve Winwood! That was my moment of history... true story!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Amazing story.. Thank you

[@midnightrambler6227]

I would have thought Ginger Baker would've said "I don't give a fuck". And where was Ric Grech, the bass player?

[@nagol6801]

Funny how Eric was rude and ginger was nice!

[@benallmark9671]

That’s a fucking awesome story ! The smile on face is ear hear to ear. Thanks for sharing.

[@Cream1968]

Holy shit that’s an amazing story! One to tell the grandkids lol From the way it started I for sure thought that the guy verbally accosted you would’ve been Ginger, he does have a history of sparring both physically and verbally Thanks again for the story!

[@Cream1968]

Great pictures of Eric, some I’ve never seen before and great intel of the best guitarist ever….😊🇬🇧

[@cafestudiosinc.1702]

Joe Bonammasa says he knows where Eric Clapton’s lost Les Paul is and that it’s been refinished, but he won’t disclose who has it. He said it in one of his videos.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for this, I heard this as well however I've also heard from some dealer friends here in the UK that the guitar still is in the UK

[@ErGoyoTV]

Being a tone chaser myself this is so interesting and I appreciate all the research you have done to put this together. You show clearly Clapton's progression to using the Les Paul with the Bluesbrakers, and that tone for which he became most famous initially. I am hooked on to this channel and this video series to see the rest of Clapton's journey to become a Strat player exclusively.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Pleasure bro more to come!

[@crsnmorton]

In the late Sixties, before Cream broke big in America, they played to a small audience at The Action House, a club on Long Island. I was already stealing licks from their first album and was excited to see them. As I said, the audience was quite small (that would change quickly enough later in the tour) and I imagined that they must have been somewhat disappointed. One of the songs they played was "Sweet Wine". In the middle section Clapton hits a big 1 chord (I think C in this case) while Bruce sings: "Sweet wine, hay making, sunshine day breaking. We can wait till tomorrow." Then he's supposed to hit a big 5 chord (G) w hen Bruce sings: "Car speed, road calling, bird freed, leaf falling. " then back to 1 (C) for "We can bide time." Only he was so distracted by the lackluster crowd (I wasn't lackluster) that instead of hitting the 5 chord, he hit the C chord again. He looked at Bruce and shrugged with an expression on his face which basically said: "Fuck it. There's no one here anyway." I look forward to part 2 and 3 (which don't seem to be available yet). When you get to the part where he buys the Strats in Nashville (where I live) I might have some helpful tidbits of information. Good job.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Hi Carson - I missed out the strat buying part - as I wanted to focus more on that in part 3 - but any info please let me know - thanks bro

[@crsnmorton]

I don't know what your timing is for part 3 of your series, but with a little time, if you like, I could go over and talk to George and try to get the definitive story. I can't find anything on line where someone specifically asks him about Sho-Bud. @@TheGuitarShow

[@G0K3001]

Very cool story, I saw him much later around the time of the Shangrila album, Charlie Daniel's Band opened. A great show- The highlight for me was mid set he did BADGE the middle guitar part was sound exaggerated plus, with the lightshow. A Five and Dime store called Neisners was where I purchased the Cream Veggie Album Greatest Hits w/ my own money I was a kid. Loved the back picture of them-

[@mikeyh1111]

I remember reading about Creams gig in 1966 at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester where Eric was playing a Fender Strat.

[@madddog6790]

You are spot on about the tone on the Beano album, and Steppin' Out in particular. Still gives me goosebumps when I hear it.

[@crisslastname9417]

That red 335 he used at the Cream concert looks like the one he used in the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus where he played with Lennon, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell. Oh, lets not forget Yoko! Ever see it?

[@TheGuitarShow]

I did and I think you are right - we will include that in a later part! thankssss

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Puts me in mind of a photograph in the sleeve from The Cream of Clapton. It’s a photograph of Clapton playing that 335, in which he’s got longer hair than me and his classic beard, and there is a fender bass neck in the foreground almost obscuring him. Is that from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus era?

[@Head318Hunter]

8:23 I thing my personal favorite Gibson Les Paul tone that I've ever heard came from Mick Taylor during his Rolling Stones stint '68 - '73 ?? Anyone ? Basically from "Let it Bleed" to "Exile on Main Street". "Cant You Hear me Knocking" "Midnight Rambler" and most of all the entire "Get Your Ya Ya's Out" LIVE album. The entire band is so in sync with each other. It's truly a beautiful thing to experience.

[@Dubnot]

Comprehensive. Ive been up all night watching. I want to thank you for what you're doing. This is history in motion. Subscribed.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks

[@chocodiledundee1]

“Beano Burst” wow that’s amazing I love thick necks Gibson’s .... great info video thank you for your passion and enthusiasm doing it .

[@paulfahy4158]

From memory, Clapton’s autobiography explains that his first red 335 was left behind in a Greece after fleeing. This was after his first stint with Mayall.

[@MiMoassociate]

Eric's Kay Jazz 2 was passed through to Roger Pearce, The Grebbels , support band to The Yardbirds in 1964. Roger played it with The Yardbirds while "depping" for Eric during his family reunion in Germany, over Xmas 1963. Eventually, it got sold on & into oblivion! Photos exist of Roger playing the then revamped Black Kay.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for this info

[@edharmicar6227]

Really good posts.Dude knows guitars.Great combination of knowledge and doesn’t make you feel like you’re browsing through a guitar encyclopedia at the library.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Awwww thanks so much

[@rodparsons6719]

Clapton played on the second Bluebreakers album. Roger Dean was the guitarist on the first Bluesbreakers LP "John Mayall plays John Mayall " which was recorded at Klooks Kleek which was at the Railway Tavern in West Hampstead. This was a popular North London venue, where we saw, amongst others, the Bluesbreakers, the Graham Bond Organisation, the Nice featuring David O'List and Ten Years After, maybe the Birds too, but that might have been at the Marquee.

[@shanetankey3340]

I was 16 in 1985 and heavily into EVH. When I read about Ed being into Cream & 'BBreakers,thought I better check EC.I bought the'Beano' LP. Wow, totally blown away. I too,was a gasp at the LesPaul tone.I soon forgot about EVH. Total Clapton freak. As I've aged, I've became huge Peter Green fan. What my conclusion is, these guys were/are special. They make these instruments special, and the rest is history . Well done chaps.

[@shanetankey3340]

-sorry guys I forgot to give you 'thumbs up'.

[@vladjones2446]

Yes best LP tone ever, I’ve always thought that Robben Ford pays homage to it in part on Talk To Your Daughter (with expanded harmony). I can never get my head around how Clapton achieved what he did there, not just inventing rock/blues, but the whole virtuosity/shred thing too, paving the way for every one who came after but doing it in such a complete, definitive, sophisticated way. My favourite players are Jimi/Django/Holdsworth/Wes but what Clapton does on Steppin Out and Have You Heard has never been bettered in Blues Rock. Only Eric Johnson perhaps has come close to that quality.

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

I dunno, Clapton at this time sounds a lot like Freddie King. Not many can really burn up that style ( especially then) but I hear so much Freddie in Eric's playing

[@WV591]

Most gifted master blues guitarist of our time..nuff said

[@Chimp_6]

I was at the Filmore West (Winterland) when Cream recorded the live tracks for Wheels Of Fire. Eric was playing the 335.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks

[@michaelpaschalis3683]

regarding the beanoburst, there is a story about it as follows: Around 1965-66 Clapton with a couple of other musicians (Bernie Greenwood-sax & Jake Milton-drums) left England for a small on the road musical adventure in some European countries including Italy, Germany and Greece (my homeland).During his short passage from Athens he joined a local Greek group of that era "The juniors" (not to be confused with the American doo-wop group "Danny and the Juniors") and played some shows at the "Igloo club" a small underground joint in Athens downtown.When he decided to leave he left the guitar behind (possibly to the band drummer Makis Saliaris) in order to sell it at a good price (there were no Gibson dealers in Greece at the time) and have the money sent to him.Noone knows what happened after that or if that story is 100% accurate.You can find the relevant article for that story here: www.rockmachine.gr/2015/10/eric-clapton-1965.html (unfortunately is in Greek) but the highlight is a b&w picture of the "Juniors" performing live with Clapton holding his famous axe.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks id heard about his time in Greece but felt it was off topic but I'll check this out and see if I can include it in part two...thanks bro

[@michaelpaschalis3683]

@@TheGuitarShow I have another picture of the "Juniors" including EC & the guitar which is bigger and clearer than the one in the link, if you want it send me your email address and i will pass it to you

[@dent5]

Interesting story. The versions I have come across suggest EC managed to leave Greece with the guitar, but had to leave his amp behind...as you say, who knows!

[@TheGuitarShow]

@@michaelpaschalis3683 many many thanks it's [e-mail]

[@pabloperez4063]

These series IS fantastic!!! Keep It up

[@biglen957]

There's a story that Andy Summers (later with the Police) had bought 1 of 2 Les Pauls from a shop in London for 75 pounds (LPs were not a popular guitar at that time) Shortly after, Clapton had a play on Andy's guitar and promptly offered him 100 pounds for it. Seeing a chane to make a few quid Andy sold the guitar to Eric and next morning went back to the shop to buy the other Les Paul they had, only to discover Eric had been in 30minutes earlier and bought that one aswell.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Yes I included it in part 2 but thanks- seems like you know a lot about this subject thanks for watching bro

[@nikshmenga]

@@TheGuitarShow The "story" is from a book written by Summers!

[@deadlegs187]

These videos are excellent. Thank you.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

The only other guitar player to impact me on the same level as Eric Clapton was Chicago guitar player Terry Kath. To the best of my knowledge, Terry also had a Kay electric guitar. It could easily have been the same model that Clapton is seen holding in those early pictures.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Another cool player to check out - thanks for comment! Best R.

[@tomwoodley3744]

I saw Clapton play a 335 in Creams last gig in NYC at Madison Square Garden. This would predate the purchase of the Guitar used at the last show at Albert Hall, he must of had two of them.

[@dennismason3740]

My first guitar was borrowed. Archtop f-hole Harmony. The Harmony Company (Chicago) made Silvertones for Sears, Stellas, Kays and Harmony guitars. Eric and I started playing on a guitar from the same factory in Illinois. True story. I also met Ringo in 1990. I am not passionate about meeting the Mac.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Fabulous! Ringo seems a cool guy! Thanks bro

[@kenlieberman4215]

The same company owned Gibson - had since the 1920's. Different factories - and pickups. Harmony mostly used DeArmond pups.

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

J Bonamassa has said publicly that the Beano Burst is in a private collection in the East of US. I believe he said he’s seen but not played. He’s credible

[@bazzer124]

So THAT'S where Hoffa is!!!!!! Having owned the like of Amos, the Cajun and even the actual Hawaiian laptop from the opening of Warner Bros cartoons, I think JB is pretty goddam credible. Check out his Welcome to Nerdsville vid on y'alltube.....

[@TheGuitarShow]

I've heard through a few sources that it is in fact still in England

[@HereandThereWeGo]

The Holy Grail of all Les Pauls..even after 50 years, could EC still identify it if it did turn up? Given the confusion over the 335 year of purchase, maybe not so easy.

[@jimbradley727]

Firewood my guess After all it was a cold winter

[@masonhoward2099]

Supposedly the same collector that had Ed King's 59 burst has Clapton's burst...that collector is on the East Coast of the USA...the collector did a spread in the book "beauty of the burst" and that's how Ed King found his stolen burst...

[@vmat1000]

This is a great series, tho i have to borrow JH's 'bore you for 6 or 7 minutes' ;). I was born in '57 so a kid when this was starting. Actually knew of JB by name first via the single Heart Full Of Soul's 'b' side Steeled Blues. The BluesBreaker's 'Beano' and A Hard Road was stuff 'the big kids' listened to. Took Cream's "Sunshine..." to hook me. In '72 i bought a copy of John Mayall's Looking Back which has that great track "Stormy Monday". Flamingo Club, i think. Track still wipes me out. Finally bought the Beano disc in the late '90s. i know,,,,, 50th BD present was tix to see EC, '07, HPP Pavillion, last on the tour with Derek Trucks. Great show!! a little BTW, I read that EC said that '64 ES335 was the first good guitar he ever bought. Sorry, Jerry.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Fantastic thanks for your comment and thanks for watching!

[@vmat1000]

@@TheGuitarShow Thank You for what you're presenting here. I promise less content here out :)

[@TheGuitarShow]

Its great to hear from please keep in touch!@@vmat1000

[@dennismason3740]

Plus the burst Tele with the Strat neck at Hyde Park with Blind Faith. Hah!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I think he owned that one himself, unlike the red Tele he played during the Yardbirds.

[@kyluu9731]

@@Shred_The_Weapon From what I know that blind fate tele technically doesn't exist anymore. He disassembled the guitar and use the neck as a replacement neck for the Brownie stratocaster, not sure what happened to the rest of the guitar.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Oh man!

[@jeffreyschmoldt7798]

Very cool I learned why they called Eric slow hand.

[@garywordsworth9302]

Its a bit of an open secret in burst collecting circles where it is and who owns Beano the mysterious East coast collector is very secretive about what he currently has and does keep his collection locked away and people don't get to see it after he was caught previously owning a stolen Les Paul burst ( the Ed King 59 burst)after a photo of some his collection was leaked online and it was identified . As for the yardbirds 335 I do know Chris Dreja owned 2 separate 335s while in the yardbirds a block marker which was broken when a speaker cab toppled onto it and then his replacement which was a dot neck around December 64 and I do tend to believe Jerry Donahue that he sold Eric the 335 2 weeks before the albert hall farewell gig .

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for this - I've heard through some sources that its still in England and a few people know its whereabouts

[@TheGuitarShow]

the east coast collector - isnt that Time magazine owner? Or someone who owns a publishing empire.

[@garywordsworth9302]

@@TheGuitarShow Close he is a hedge fund manager and his grandfather and father were publishing magnates Who sold their magazine publishing house for 1.4 billion The grandson in question is worth an estimated 4+ billion And has owned over a 100 original les Paul bursts Who knows how many he currently has After he had to give Ed King his guitar back after it was stolen and then showed up in a photograph taken at his home ;) Google is definitely your friend here just look up the Ed King stolen burst incident and that will lead you to said collector. ;)

[@TheGuitarShow]

Right - from my sources who are 'in the know' here in London - I 've heard that they know the person who stole it in the 1960s and he still has it -. That's what they say here in London. @@garywordsworth9302

[@garywordsworth9302]

@@TheGuitarShow I've heard the story was stolen and painted black and was still owned by the original thief in London somewhere. There was a famous les paul that was stolen painted black to hide its identity and was owned by a music shop proprietor in London up until quite recently but that wasn't the beano. Whether this is true as I can't confirm it but was told by someone who might well be in a position to know that the beano was passed onto its current owner by dodgy Phil Harris, who was livid once he brokered the deal as he didn't recognise it was beano when it passed through his hands and only found out after the deal was done. Phil wasn't the owner he just acted as middle man between the seller in London to the buyer The wealthy American East Coast collector. I can't prove that as fact but I can well believe it and it came from a reliable person who saw Phil with the guitar and clocked that it was Claptons but said nothing.

[@williampayne7678]

Eric Capton Is a Awesome Guitarist.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Agreed

[@jubei7259]

A '63/4 335 in cherry, with the small block inlays & paf's is my dream guitar. I've got a '90 version but if I ever won the lottery, that'd be the guitar I'd go for

[@tigertigerpantherfox3714]

The Beano Les Paul is still around!!!! Joe Bonamassa has spoken about it somewhere online & it lives in California with a collector. Joe didn't divulge the persons name or address for obvious reasons. Be nice to see it back with slow hand.

[@ledflaplin2001]

Clapton also played a Gretsch Nashville 6120-60 in the yardbirds in 1963/64. There’s pictures of him playing it live too.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks I did see that but as he didnt own it I decided not to include it - I think he only used it once as far as I could see

[@021mr5]

The real hero in this guitar story is Clapton's grandma.

[@aaronpinson1640]

That's exactly right..

[@deepindercheema4917]

It seems Bernard has established a clear link to his 59 Les Paul to Beckett a band from Oop north. I think he paid £250 + a couple of guitars in 1974.

[@ZekaSpalcev]

The man knew how to choose a geetar that's for sure!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Absolutely

[@maximilianolopez5647]

I dont know if anyone said this already, but I'm almost sure I read somewhere that Joe Bonamassa said in an interview that he has seen the Beano Burst and that a collector in the US owns it now.

[@pabcrane]

Interesting vid. It was my understanding that Eric played a Jazzmaster before picking up the 335.

[@mybluesguitar]

Excellent video! The topic of the 335 (or 335s) is a hot one, for sure. It’s worth noting that the first pic (4:34) you show of that guitar could not be the one that was sold at auction, because the pic is dated to 20th January 1964, at which time, of course, the guitar would not have been made. I have seen your second pic (5:10) before, but do not have a date for it. The 335 that sold at Christies, serial no. 67473, is in the Gibson ledger dated May 20th, 1964 (four months after the first pic). So the first guitar is either another one of Chris Dreja’s (he had, of course, a dot-neck 335) or a borrowed guitar. There is no reason whatsoever to suspect that anyone involved in any of this is bending the truth and I am in no way suggesting that, but people do often remember details erroneously. I know that I myself do, and I cannot remember either the purchase or sale details of guitars I had in the 1970s and ‘80s. I, for one, totally believe Jerry Donohue’s account as fact. Surely, if one were a young guitarist working in a London store and one sold a guitar to the God of the electric blues guitar just before his biggest concert of the year, the occasion would be forever imprinted on the memory? If that is to be accepted, then there are two possibilities: (1) Eric bought a 335 sometime after May 1964 but did not use it from leaving the Yardbirds in March 1965 to Cream’s Farewell evening concert in November 1968, and when on several occasions during that period he found himself without a guitar he chose instead to borrow one, such as Keith Richards’ Les Paul and a Les Paul Special both in the summer of ’66 when the Beano LP was stolen, including the sessions for Fresh Cream, until he bought the 1960 Standard from Andy Summers. And then he bought the 335 from Jerry just before the Albert Hall in November 1968, and used one of the other of the two. Or, (2) That, like me, Eric has confused purchase dates of guitars from over fifty years ago, and did not actually own a 335 until the Jerry Donohue purchase. I am not favouring one over the other. There are a few recently found pics of an ES guitar with Cream, two showing its being handed to or taken from a roadie (was this Eric’s or a borrowed guitar?) and one which, however, is a 355, which was probably used for the opening number, White Room, at the Forum in October, 1968. One thing I do feel strongly about is that the Crown of the ‘Cream Guitar’ belongs to the Fool SG and certainly not the 335 (beautiful, fabulous-sounding instrument though it is). Looking forward to the next part. Great job!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Wow amazing thanks for this I'll mention this in part two

[@mybluesguitar]

@@TheGuitarShow Really glad to have discovered your channel! First-class content.

[@TheGuitarShow]

many thanks indeed pleasure to make your acquaintance bro @@mybluesguitar

[@thekitowl]

The Guitar Show it was Andy Summers who alerted Eric that the shop that sold him his LP had another, which Eric then purchased ( Beano ). When Beano was stolen Eric asked Andy if he would sell him his LP which he did & Andy took it to where Cream were rehearsing. 👍

[@Hiwatt100W1]

You know in the early day's of Clapton's career, his guitar tone always seemed to be good. Many would agree, however, that the combination of that particular Les Paul, the overdriven early Marshall combo amp with the KT tubes, and his excellent finger vibrato launched countless guitarists. It was a transformative period for the electric guitar and really revolutionized the single string solo.

[@kingstumble]

Bernie thinks the Les Paul that he has(The Beast)did belong to Eric but it isn't the Beano Burst. It was one he bought from Top Gear In 1966 and which he occasionally used with Cream(when he wasn't using the 335 or the SG).BTW I saw Eric with The Yardbirds in 63 playing a Tele but if I remember correctly it was a blonde one, definitely not red.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks for this - yes there was a blonde yardbirds Tele which Jimmy Page/Jeff Beck used

[@mariussauer892]

havent even watched it yet .. Bus yes yes yess! great Series! So much fun to watch .. Would be also interessting with drummers etc

[@TheGuitarShow]

Now thats a great idea thanks!

[@promerops]

I've read that EC also played a Jazzmaster and/or Jaguar during his time with The Yardbirds. I saw the group, on TV, playing at the Richmond Jazz and Blues Festival. I think this was summer 1964. As far as I could tell, EC and Chris Dreja were both playing "offsets" at that gig. I could, of course, be totally wrong about this - it was a long time ago. I do remember they both had the Ivy League haircuts that EC had picked up at a USAF base - he was quite a style setter in those days! Just a suggestion, have you tried approaching Chris Dreja for further information/corroboration? Thanks for the video.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Yes I read that also but I made the call to document guitars he actually owned rather that ones he borrowed for one gig or TV appearance such as the gretch in the Yardbirds - thanks for watching!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Id love to interview Chris - I know the original guitarist of the yardbirds but I dont like to bother these guys as they are elderely now - thanks!

[@bazzer124]

Two of my major guitar influences are Clapton and Gilmore. To that end, I own (naturally) a couple of Strats. But Clapton's Cream era turned me on to the ES-335 because of the rich, wet tones on songs like "Crossroads." Got one of those too. Play what you like and like what you play....

[@DucksDeLucks]

He played several Gibsons during the Cream period: Les Paul, 335, Firebird, SG. All of them have that tone, pretty much, due to similar humbucking pickups. Differences may reflect control settings and the player more than the guitar. Duane Allman says that the way to tell him and Eric apart on Layla album is that Eric plays a Strat and Duane plays a Gibson. In other words, he thinks most people can tell the basic sound of a Strat from that of a Gibson. If I had my choice I'd probably choose a 335 though.

[@ezerlab1]

Thank you for the great work! Subscribed!

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks

[@guitarsofold100]

it has been pointed out to me that the cream bobbin PAF was missing three height adjustment screws if you look closely@8.38min this seems to correct !!

[@meshplates]

I saw the ex-Paul Kossoff/EC '55 LP Custom in the wood today.

[@johnw4659]

Very thorough and entertaining. Nice job.

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure bro!

[@bobcabo4509]

Eric owned the red Tele. It was returned to him and he used it with the Bluesbreakers. He has said it was the first guitar that he bought with his own money. The 335 was the first "new' guitar that he bought.....in late 1964, while in the Yardbirds. Donohue has also said the Eric bought the 335 while he in the Yardbirds. His story changes with the wind.

[@stuartpenney6829]

No guitar stores in Denmark Street in 1964. Eric bought his 335 and possibly his Beano Les Paul from Selmers guitar store in Charing Cross Road

[@markesquivelarvizu6942]

History of Jeff Beck's guitars would be awesome!

[@samturner8177]

love this mate, shame theres no claptons in the charts these days.. all my mates listen to shitey hip hop lol. keep these coming love them

[@TheGuitarShow]

I know - these are sad times Sam! Thanks for watching

[@samturner8177]

The Guitar Show One day, when Im in my band, I will change the charts and bring back rock n roll I promise you mate ahaha

[@TheGuitarShow]

please do Im gonna be your biggest fan! @@samturner8177

[@DucksDeLucks]

@@TheGuitarShow Guitar manufacturers have got to get together and promote the guitar and bring back music that features the guitar. There are a lot of guitars in jazz these days though most people don't listen to jazz.

[@erikmeyer2323]

EC.s Cream ES335 had plastic bridge saddles. These were not available before 1964. Other differences between the yardbirds and the cream guitar would have to be the nut width which was reduced to 1 9/16" in 1966 - 1967 from the original 1 3/4" ( or was it 1 11/16"). Check me on that .. But the width did change at about that time. There could be other reasons, however, for the plastic saddles ... Like he changed out the bridge at some time. The metal saddle bridges notoriously wore down and started to buzz after a long time of playing. Oddly, the plastic ones worked better because they never start to buzz as they wear. That's why Gibson started using them. My 1964 Epiphone Riviera had plastic bridge saddles which I changed out for chrome plated steel. The guitar sounded more gangly with the metal saddles. But it buzzes if you listen too close. The stop tailpiece is another anomaly. In 1968 a new ES335 would have had a trapeze tailpiece. E

[@nickvictor7398]

One thing that Eric Clapton used on The Beano album that influenced his tone was the Dallas rangemaster germanium treble booster. Maybe that's why you like that tone so much and why it does not sound like a regular Les Paul.

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Nick Victor nah, Joe Bonamassa disproved that. You can get the beano sound with just an lp and a bluesbreaker. Plus there’s no range master in any studio pictures from that time

[@nickvictor7398]

@@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer www.vintageguitar.com/20424/the-dallas-rangemaster/

[@bluefen]

@@nickvictor7398 'legend has it...'..mmm..

[@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.

[@garethparry4823]

Only just came across this channel, wow man there's some good stuff on here, (my kind of channel) great videos!

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks Gareth!

[@RepublicOfUs]

"Eric's mother--uh, grandmother....." Common mistake, that one.

[@TheGuitarShow]

yes sorry!

[@castleanthrax1833]

My thought as soon as he said it. I didn't think he'd get it wrong but then his thought's on where Eric's Les Paul were somewhere on earth or destroyed.

[@stringbender1]

I am of the opinion and liken the story of Donahue, that Clapton bought his ES-335 during his stint with Cream. And the pic of him with the ES-335 in his Yardbird days, he is actually holding Chris Dreja's newly purchased ES-335. There are a few other guitars to Clapton's history with the Yardbirds your story may have overlooked, a fender Jazzmaster with a "Slabboard Fingerboard" (1959-1962) and what looks like a 1963 Gretsch Double Cutaway Country Gentleman with a zero fret. I suspect there were actually two guitars owned by the Yardbirds' management (Giorgio Gomelsky), the Red Telecaster you mentioned and a Black Jazzmaster. There are many pics of both Clapton and Dreja using both of these guitars in early days of the Yardbirds. As to where the Gretsch fits in the history, well that has to be kind of interesting with the Mersey Beat sound influence at the time. Perhaps the Gretsch dates back to Clapton's time in the Rosters. Frankly, I don't think either of the Fender guitars worked very well for Clapton while he was in the Yardbirds. Putting that Fender single coil pickup arrangement straight into a very brightly EQed Vox AC30 surely left Clapton with a very thin sounding guitar, indeed. And the many of the Yardbirds recordings of the time reflect this, 5 Live Yardbirds especially. Whereas Clapton was more influenced with a heavy Chicago Blues tone to the likes of some old Valco Amp with 6V6 tubes cranked way up. I don't think he found the sound he was looking while he was in the Yardbirds. Now I have read some articles that allege that Clapton bought his ES-335 in 1964 and let Chris Derja use it. I think this is absolutely ludicrous. It makes no sense. Dreja used "his" ES-335 as his main guitar up until he switched over to playing the Bass in the band. There was also his use of a sunburst Jazzmaster in the early Beck days, but he mostly he used the ES-335 with Clapton and Beck after he acquired it. Otherwise, did Clapton get the guitar and loan it to Dreja for next three years? I bet Dreja still has it.

[@bpastorb]

I 100% agree on the ES-335, way more likely he had it since 1964. Two major reasons, firstly because that is what he has said himself, secondly because there is a photo to prove it. Other facts also point to the Jerry story being false or a misrepresentation. Major one being once CREAM started touring the states, he started buying up guitars left and right. If he did in fact buy a red es-335 from Jerry Donahue (which may well be true), it is most definitely a different one. Probably as a back up, or even to give away to a friend back home. American guitars were still relatively rare in the UK at the time and fetched a premium. What is known is that Eric bought a ton of guitars in that period of CREAM. The Bluesbreakers period is where it starts to get fishy, doesn't really seem like anything can be said for sure as a matter of fact. I haven't watched the rest of your series yet but I would argue that the Les Paul story is... not entirely accurate. It is definitely the most often told story, I will agree with that, but if you really want to be historical that story sounds like an oversimplified myth. Once you do a bit of research into his guitars of the period you will find out there was no 'one single' Les Paul, in fact he actually had a couple. That's all that is known for sure. His recollection (in his Autobiography) is that he bought them all before going to Greece, taking them all and leaving one behind. If that's the case, one would presume the 'beano burst' was the one he left behind and that one was the one that was stolen. There are also stories that the beano burst was just his favorite of the many he had at the time, it is possible he got rid of the rest of them. When it was stolen there is a story of him going out and buying another Les Paul to replace it (alledgely from andy summers of the police named 'summers burst'). So if he still had all these other Les Pauls why would he have to replace it? So as you can see that is why things are rather hazy, there are multiple different conflicting stories. The only thing that can be determined as a fact is that there were multiple different les pauls, and that being the case, how sure can you really be that he was always playing the same one. Really most people base it off pick up plastics color, if it has white in the front its the beano burst. It's just not necessarily true, it most likely is, but also may not be. There's a couple pictures of him playing one with a bigsby+pick-up covers still on, a much darker burst with black plastics on the front pickups almost looks like a tobacco burst. In fact even in the Beano studio pics that are available online, if you look heard enough you'll notice he's playing the for mentioned Les Paul in some of the pics, whereas in most of the pics he's using the 'beano burst'. In one of the shots where he is playing the darker burst, sitting beside a marshall in the corner of the room, you can see another guitar in the foreground but out of focus. Looks like Gibson tuner buttons though. I wouldn't doubt if he brought two for the session. You also missed the Jazzmaster during the Yardbirds days, but I don't really count that either since it was borrowed as well and I think there is only a single shot of him playing it. The most comprehensive list I have found on his guitars is: www.groundguitar.com/eric-clapton-gear/

[@felipecollazo-pagan9363]

You are missing the white SG custom and the flying V with the diamond inlays.

[@TheGuitarShow]

I willl check that guitar out thanks!

[@AntarblueGarneau]

I saw 2 different very old cherry red Gibson es-335 s at an Eric Clapton guitars exhibit at Guitar Center in San Diego in 2006 or 07. I assumed that Clapton was not really going without a 335 and that guitar exhibit moved around the Guitar Center chain. It seems to suggest that Clapton must bought a few of them during the course of hi career.

[@manjay49]

I saw Cream in September 1967. He was playing the Fool SG. It also sounded amazing. back then, all of us thought he was a "humbucker" type guy and Jimi a the "single coil" type guy. Even though, obviously, they could both play anything they put their hands to. Point: It's the driver. Not the car. It's the singer. Not the song. Peace.

[@imannonymous7707]

Ofcourse steppin out is the track that ascociates the essential beano sound along with the marshall/ paul combination. Its the stuff of legends , cool vid.

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks and glad we are in agreement over 'Steppin' Out' - thanks bro

[@imannonymous7707]

@@TheGuitarShow that track rocks ! whenever i hear reference to the beano tone...thats imediately what i hear....yw bro great job . Alot of cool pics ive never seen...thanks

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure bro! @@imannonymous7707

Very good information. I can tell you have amp knowledge as well! I just went to the NAMM 2019 show here in beautiful sunny California. Saw the new Gibson line, "Classics" 50's & 60's Les Paul's! Gibson is going to build them just like the originals as the classic line. There will also be a modern line. Saw also the Marshall amps!! New Vintage classic amp!! Killer!!

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks for the update of the Namm show - Ill do an amp video soon!

[@timswift1863]

@@TheGuitarShow I am reticent to quote anything said by someone unless I can also reveal where I heard it..... I somehow remember seeing this In Guitar Player Magazine......I somehow read that over the years many times Eric tried to replace the old Gibson Les Paul that was ripped off (,) ....he said that no other guitar had the sound , sustain , Fidelity ,feel or desirable ness that the affore mentioned guitar had ...... It's true that a long plank of any wood (per example -a twelve foot long eight quarter) piece of Honduras Mahogany will have certain sections that specifically will have the same structural strength as any other areas of the same piece of wood , though that certain section being sawed out will weigh as much as fifty percent less (!) -therefore a lightweight piece of wood will yield a more alive tone for the instrument. In addition to the possibility of the guitar having that unusual wood , I have understood that there were minor variations in quality control during the milling procedures and final profiling of the necks within the Gibson factory back in the fifties . and certain necks (once finished with the profiling and finish sanding) may have had a more comfortable feel to the human hand ....... Anyone in the know can weigh in -no pun intended , though living breathing warm blooded human beings actually did the final profiling , shaping and sanding of the necks (I wonder if Eric's guitar was built from that certain piece of wood ?)

[@okgo8315]

I am pretty sure the new "Calssics" wont be anythin near as good as original genuine 1950s Les Pauls...i have a 1955 GoldTop which Bernie Marsden played in 1978 and he didn't own a Burst then. Peace🇬🇧

[@sfvisualarts6215]

@@timswift1863 I've owned and played many: 52, 53, 56,58,60,75 LPs and 61/74 Byrdlands etc and fender Nocaster, 69 tele, 59Strat and each guitar from each year is different from each other. From late fifties on I sat in guitar shops played vast numbers of the dream guitars I could never afford then and even as an amateur I could tell some were worthless dogs and others amazing resonant bells of harmonic vibration even with the same finish and model hardware of the same year. I would choose based upon that and I'm not a collector but have owned some of the holy grail. The 52 was magic in resonance but mechanically trying with fat neck and ridiculous tailpiece but magic tone. the 75s were new and I played ten before picking two, white customs all different in sound. Even assembly line Fenders varied from each other new telling me it's the wood variations not the year or model. had a 65 small block 335 red but oddly wasn't as good or musical as my 67 SG Special oddly enough. And to add to the treasure hunt I have found cheap solid body teles that are better than the greats or the custom shop bank breakers and I have no issue with making them amazing guitars and playing them live or recording instead of the 58s or the valuable ones, it's all about the inherent resonance and the mechanicals can be modified to make them physically more playable. They are ultimately tools to make music not collector items.

[@karinmars7664]

Hello !! Thanks for a great channel !! When will Eric Clapton 2 and 3 come ?? I have a facebook group about Clapton and the members loved this info !! Finally a fantastic channel for us who want to go a little further than just listening to the music !! ❤️❤️

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks for sharing - part two is coming tonight and part three tomorrow

[@karinmars7664]

The Guitar Show Thank you so much.... have a wonderful day !!❤️🎸🌹🎸

[@untilthesun7]

Please do the one on BB king especially the early years and Mike Bloomfield.

[@stevehughes1510]

Thanks for this video........it's a beauty!!

[@TheGuitarShow]

pleasure Steve

[@justinparkerthewildwolf6394]

Thanks for this mate. I used to wonder about that yard birds telecaster. I wondered if it was the one jimmy page played early in led zeppelin

[@TheGuitarShow]

No it wasnt Clapton brought the tele into the Bluesbreakers before he got his burst

[@justinparkerthewildwolf6394]

@@TheGuitarShow what about the brown tele that page played at the arms gigs ,is that the same one George played on the rooftop

[@davidbradshaw659]

Chris Dreja's 335 had a dot neck, must have been a different one than Eric's.

[@thanassisbabatsikos1303]

Clapton played in Greece , Autumn 1965 with "The Glands" renamed to "The Greek loon band" (to suit the Greek audience), supporting the Greek band "The Juniors". After a terrible car accident where members of the Juniors were sadly killed he was called by the Juniors manager and played with both the Juniors AND his band , a full 6 hours no break program, every day . I have a photo but cannt seem to be able to post it here with Clapton all in black far right. What is the guitar , ricken 325? 330? Sent you the photo in messenger.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

The Beano LP was a1960 and came with factory Grovers

[@paulmichaelsmith3207]

Having played the '59 Spinal Tap Burst at dozens of gigs and owned a '60 Standard as well, I would venture it was a '59; yet in speaking w some Gibson factory dudes from that era the late '59s had more of a slimmer '60s neck so coulda been '59 or '60, big deal. My '60 Standard was too thin for my hands. A crime I must always live with, as I sold it and replaced with a fat neck '54 GT.. If you visited the Gibson factory in those days you'd've been horrified; great craftsman but the place was like Joe's garage.

[@angrytroll27]

Can we please get a video like this on either Ritchie Blackmore or Toni Iommi?

[@TheGuitarShow]

Coming I promise

[@Bliggick]

Where's his black Fender Jazzmaster he had in the Yardbirds? I know of this because Keith Relf talks about Eric needing to tune it as he acquired it just that day while they were on stage at the Marquee club on the evening of August 7th, 1964. Keith says it's the only black Jazzmaster in the world and also mentions a speaker fell on Chris' Gibson and broke it in two earlier in the week! Maybe Eric didn't "bond" with it and returned it. He sure ripped on it though, if you hear the recording. It's on a CD called Live Blueswailing '64 as well as other releases. I've seen two photos of him playing this guitar.

[@tatethompson1234]

Joe Bonnamassa has confirmed he knows he owns the beano lp. It's a collector here in the states who he deals with.

[@TheGuitarShow]

I heard from ome good sources its still in London - the family of the person who stole it still have it

[@jgarcia9011]

@@TheGuitarShow If anyone knows where Beano is, please just let Eric have first dibs and decide it's fate.

[@olddoggeleventy2718]

Well done, you'have cleared up a lot of mystery for me. Looking forward to the rest. of your videos.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Pleasure!

[@afox7376]

The Gibson ES-335 that Chris Dreja played in the Yarbirds had dot inlays.

[@okgo8315]

You could try contacting Lee Dickson for some info, Erics tech for over 30 years. Peace🇬🇧

[@TheGuitarShow]

Good point

[@WarriorMigs24]

Awesome

[@Johnbays43]

Could you impress me with Duane Allmans guitars ? That would be greatly appreciated .

[@TheGuitarShow]

Coming very soon I promise its actually a big he played a lot!

[@peteryoungpeteryoung965]

Great video, it brings back memories.. I have actually witnessed Eric playing the Les Paul in person, around 1965 with The Bluesbreakers in a pub in London called "The Golders Green Refectory". Mayall anounced that they had just finished recording what turned out to be the "Beano" album and played all the tracks off it. Eric also used the 30 watt Marshall with the volume cranked to max, so as to get that sustain/feedback, it was almost unbearable in a small pub with about 50 people present but also fantastic. I also saw Cream doing their first ever live gig which was used as a rehearsal, also in a pub called "The Fishmongers Arms" in Brixton. Eric was using a red Gibson SG, which I think he later painted with a psychedelic design.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Many thanks for these amazing memories

[@billygoatgruff2554]

The Fishmongers Arms was In Wood Green. A very popular gig in those days. I played there once or twice. The first time we played there we were asked to stand in for Led Zeppelin (formerly The Yardbirds). They were booked to play but Peter Grant became their manager and told them 'you're not playing f*#%ing pubs' , so he pulled them out. He booked them into The Roundhouse in Chalk Farm instead. I know, I saw them there. They opened with Communication Breakdown and blew everybody away. We were all expecting Yardbirds numbers. Lol

[@peteryoungpeteryoung965]

@@billygoatgruff2554 Wood Green you say, I bow to your superior knowledge of London districts because I'm from Wales. My mate and I used to hitch to London to see bands. We bumped into Eric in the Portobello Road, he was buying an army guards tunic. He told us about the Fishmongers Arms gig, so we went along to watch. We also bought guards tunics, mine was blue and my mates was red. I got busted by the cops for wearing it back in Wales, under an ancient law, " wearing the Queens uniform without her permission" I said that if I knew I had to have her permission, I would have asked her. They fined me an extra quid for contempt.

[@b.rodclark7349]

I agree to the 2nd 335!

[@russianbot2397]

Wish i could one day discover that Beano burst. One thing is for sure, even though it's a 1960 transitional, it inherited the old dyes used on the 59 and 58. That is definitely Not a 1960 clown burst. So if it has ever been used after it was stolen, i expect it to look faded, as a 58 or 59 would appear now.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Great comment I agree about the burst colour

[@russianbot2397]

@@TheGuitarShow Thank you.

[@Johngonefishin]

Agreed, also it has the bonnet knobs and most 60's would have the new "vol. & tone" cap knobs along with the clownburst. It doesn't t appear to have any flame.

[@russianbot2397]

In order for the beano to resurface, someone would have to admit to theft in order to establish proper provenance. Otherwise it would just be another burst. Rare just on it's own, but without the Clapton provenance. In a way, it's better not to know where it is, and hope some one is playing it daily and not in some private underground collection behind glass.

[@TheGuitarShow]

That's true - I may have some more information in part 2

[@marmadukewinterbotham2599]

Although strictly speaking there is no statute of limitations covering theft here in the UK, in reality the Crown Prosecution Service would almost certainly deem it 'not in the public interest' to prosecute the theft of a guitar half a century ago, especially as the current owner's crime would probably be 'handling stolen property' - I suspect the actual thief sold it on PDQ. So the current owner's real fear would be potentially losing ownership of a very valuable item.

[@russianbot2397]

@@marmadukewinterbotham2599 yeah, losing ownership of a very valuable instrument they would reunite with Clapton. What's PDQ?

[@marmadukewinterbotham2599]

@@russianbot2397 Pretty Damn Quick!

[@russianbot2397]

@@marmadukewinterbotham2599 good one!

[@joki5346]

My favourite recording is the live version of "Stormy Monday", starting during Clapton´s solo, one of his best ever.

[@TheGuitarShow]

I agreed its amazing

[@dennismason3740]

@The Guitar Show - impeccable research I CAN'T WAIT (oops) for the Fool. Or jimi's Les Paul Special. Blues and Gibz oh what a match. Carry on, guv. Maybe a bird (female) stole the LP, one never knows. I met George Harrison in 77 long story.

[@TheGuitarShow]

That could be true about the bird! Nice about Harrison - Im a huge fan of his music! I'm glad you mentioned the Les Paul Special!!!! Thanks bro

[@malcolmlyndsell5009]

The sound he got on crossroads is classic

[@willeek3760]

where is the left hand stratocaster he bought for jimi hendrix ?. anyways nice video....

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thats interesting - let me know more! thanks! Did he buy it on the Cream US tours?

[@willeek3760]

@@TheGuitarShow eric claption has mentioned about it in interviews about him and jimi hendrix's death.

[@pabloperez4063]

@@TheGuitarShow i think he bought It just before Jimi died

[@tombradley4844]

Eric gave it to Jimi's Dad.

[@jackgrattan1447]

Kay actually thought that they could make archtops as good as Gibson or Epiphone (i.e. the Barney Kessel). They didn't care about anything else, just the archtops.

[@kazalexander434]

Highly informative - & very interesting, too.

[@TheGuitarShow]

thanks Kaz

[@mikeyh1111]

Chris Dreja's 335 was a dot neck and Erics was a block inlay

[@TheGuitarShow]

Thanks

[@a64tbird]

Great series!!

[@TheGuitarShow]

thank you

[@themikeaustin]

Eric reportedly used a 335 on the "Wheels of Fire" record and on that tour, so I don't know what that Donohue guy is talking about.

[@TheGuitarShow]

Yes I think you are right - thanks for watching bro

[@riffrobin474]

@@TheGuitarShow That is what i also heard over the years, but now there are disputes about that and some now believe that wheels of Fire (including the live version of Crossroads) was actually his psyco Gibson SG. Does anyone have a pic of Clapton playing a 335 in Cream before the farewell concert?

[@drallid3413]

Isnt the red tele from the yardbirds the same one as the natural finish tele he had when he first joined the Bluesbreakers?

[@ericfaley9019]

Joe Bonnamasa states in a printed interview he has seen and played the Beano burst. He stated it’s in a private collection.

[@johnquayle1874]

The Beano Burst, according to Eric, was stolen in Demark.

[@williamashford2057]

Eric capton is a guitar legend.

[@boyoboy1968]

Eric CLapton's not bad, either!