Skip to content
SKU FEN-LTD-CLAPTON-STRAT-JRN-BLK

Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary "Blackie" Stratocaster Guitar, Nitro Finish, Maple Fretboard, 7.6 lbs.

This product has been discontinued.

We have discontinued this product permanently. Please find alternative products from below section.
  • Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary Stratocaster
  • Black
  • Journeyman Relic
  • Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish
  • Maple Rift Sawn Neck - satin light relic nitro finish
  • Maple Fretboard
  • Custom Soft "V" Neck Profile
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • 22 Vintage Style Frets
  • Black Dot Inlays
  • Scale Length: 25 1/2"
  • Bone Nut : 1.650" ( 42mm )
  • 4-Bolt Special Limited Edition Neck Plate
  • Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat Pickups
  • Master Volume, Tone 1 (master tbx tone control), Tone 2 (master active mid boost)
  • Mid-Boost Kit
  • 5-Way Pickup Selector Switch
  • Nickel/Chrome Hardware
  • 6 Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
  • Fender Vintage Style Tuners
  • 1-Ply Parchment Pickguard
  • Custom Shop Deluxe Hardshell Case + Strap + Certificate of Authenticity
  • Instrument Weight: 7.6 lbs.
  • Serial #: CZ537111

Player's Perspective

Music Store Live is proud to present this Fender Custom Shop Eric Clapton 30th Anniversary "Blackie" Stratocaster!

Here's the deal folks - this is IT. The holy grail of Claptonian proportions, this Strat has "mojo" by the bucket. The body, the neck, the tone - you name it, it's perfectly dialed in and plays like a dream. From a player's perspective this guitar is clearly the result of a lavish effort from the Fender Custom Shop. They weren't about to just put out another Clapton guitar to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their partnership together. It really feels like a bit of extra care and attention went into this one.

Usually when you play a Custom Shop axe you immediately notice how nicely the edges are rolled and contoured and how they produce an extraordinarily comfortable playing experience. Well, this guitar melds into your body and hands like nothing else I've played from the Custom Shop and I mean that with particular regards towards the neck profile. This is hands down one of the very best necks I have ever played (and my job is to play different guitars all day long and describe them to you!) The body is exceptional feeling as well with perfectly countered edges and an immediate resonance that can be felt with every note. The guitar is set up, dare I say, perfectly. The neck has the proper relief, the action is set evenly and not too low and it plays in tune everywhere up and down the neck. This guitar has a wonderful and distinct voice that is as close to Clapton's tone as you are likely to ever hear again... Of course, the player is going to also dictate just how close to Clapton's tone you can get with this.

Whether you're a collector, a professional musician, a hobbyist, or some combination of both, this is the ultimate Clapton Strat for any collection.

Item Details

In 1987 Eric Clapton retired his famous Stratocaster, “Blackie”, and approached the Fender Custom Shop to craft a replacement designed to his specifications; in effect, he wanted a new pair of old shoes. Our artisans went to work, and the resulting instrument was the inaugural instrument in Fender’s Artist Series—the Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster. With the smooth feel and authentic sound of the original—along with a delicious new Journeyman Relic® finish—this special 30th Anniversary edition represents one of the finest instruments to ever come from the artisans of the Dream Factory. 2018 is the only year you’ll have the chance to add this unique Black lacquer Journeyman Relic finish, along with the feel and authentic sound of Clapton’s original signature model to your guitar collection.

The Journeyman Relic finish makes the select two-piece alder body look and feel like it’s seen countless gigs and lets the wood breathe with natural resonance. True to Clapton’s own model, the stable one-piece quartersawn maple neck with an ultra-comfortable custom “Soft V” neck profile lets your hand nestle perfectly, giving you the perfect platform for unleashing electric inspiration. The blocked six-screw American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge maintains rock-solid tuning no matter how hard or fast you play. The TBX tone control and Vintage Noiseless™ pickups offer hum-free vintage-style Strat tone, while the active mid boost gives your sound a +25dB kick in the pants for when you need to make your solo jump out in the mix.

Other features include a 9.5”-radius fingerboard with 22 vintage-size frets, 5-way switching, single-ply Parchment pickguard, vintage-style hardware, bone nut, wing string tree and Clapton’s signature on the headstock. Includes deluxe hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.

Overall Condition

Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for Fender Custom Shop. This Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Eric Clapton Stratocaster is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer's warranty. Once this one is sold, it will not be possible to get any more. Photos are of the exact guitar you'll receive.

Our in-house guitar tech will inspect, test, set up, and clean all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.