Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar 

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

Okay, despite owning and loving the regular "Line" Artist EC "Blackie" Strat, I decided to bite the bullet, splash out and see what all the fuss was about for the Custom Shop equivalent. A lot of people (and I mean a lot) question the difference between the 2 guitars and whether it is worth forking out the extra cash for the CS model. Well, here's the actual physical differences:

Line (Artist series):
Multiple piece spread (i.e., body is made from several pieces of wood glued together).
Hum, single, hum route in the body.
Different perimeter (body outline).
Different neck shape.
Rough shapes and contours are mostly done on a Computer Numeric Control machine, so automated shaping before final sanding.

Custom Shop:
Two-piece spread.
Tight 3 single control routing in the body (so less wood removed from the body).
Neck shapes and body contours are done by hand (roughed on an original pin-router like they were originally).

To expand (no pun intended) on the neck shapes, they are very similar in feel (soft V), except for the fact that with the CS neck you can definitely feel the difference behind the first 2 or 3 frets where the neck comes to a soft point rather than than the smoother feel of the Line model neck. Visually there is absolutely no difference; both guitars look identical except for the logos on the headstock. The pickups are the same (Vintage Noiseless) and in my opinion are some of the best that Fender make. The real advantage with these is that they are quiet in all positions, not just positions 2 and 4 of the pickup selector. Both guitars have the TBX tone control (upper tone knob) and the 25dB mid boost control (lower tone knob). The TBX (which stands for Treble Bass eXpander) tone control is a detented, stacked 250k/1 Meg control which enhances the tonal palette without the use of a battery. From 0 to 5, the TBX is your standard tone control, but once you pass 5 you start to decrease the resistance, which allows more bass, treble, presence and output to flow to your amp.
However, where both guitars achieve their superb versatility is not so much with the TBX tone control, but with the 25dB mid-boost circuit. When you get to the solo part of a song, you turn the pot up and you instantly have a superb humbucker sound, very similar to a typical Gibson Les Paul. I used to think that my American Standard strat always sounded a bit thin when it came to the solos, but the boost circuit on these guitars has completely changed all of that.
I believe the quality of an electric guitar can be heard unplugged, and acoustically, the CS strat definitely has more of a ring and sustain to it. Plugged in though, the sound difference between the Line and the CS is very difficult to distinguish. Frets on both guitars are identical (Vintage style) and are amongst the thinnest and lowest frets available, certainly smaller in all respects to Les Pauls or any of the PRS range.
I own Les Pauls and PRS's, but I always find myself coming back to this guitar, it is just so flexible and adaptable to whatever you play. If you need one guitar to get you through a gig, then this is it. One minute you're playing glassy, clean tones, and the next you're into overdrive with a meaty humbucker sound. In my opinion this is the most versatile strat you can buy. The neck shape (soft V) has to be one of the most comfortable neck shapes that Fender make which is so critical to the enjoyment of any guitar. Let's face it, if you don't like a neck when you first play a guitar, it will not feel any more comfortable later.
For CS vs Line, like so many things, when you pay twice as much for one item than something almost identical, you have to look beneath the surface to appreciate the associated nuances. In summary, the CS strat is a higher quality build, it sounds better acoustically, but is very hard to discriminate against the Line strat when plugged in. The neck shape is very slightly different but both necks are amzingly comfortable. Personally, there's very little to tangibly distinguish between the 2 guitars, which is a huge credit to the Line guitars which are also high quality products. Bottom line, if you have a CS EC strat, great, they don't get much better, but if you don't have the extra cash to splash, buy the Line model, you will equally love it and wonder why you didn't get one years ago.

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

Purchased the EC Fender over a year ago so I've had time to feel the difference between my other Fenders and Gibson Guitar. I rotate through all of them every couple of days and I'm still being blown away when I pick it up again. Custom Shop nailed this one..so smooth and fast. It has great tone. I have special pedal setting for the Clapton guitar because of the active pick ups. It's much hotter, so I have to turn down pedal setting. Best money I've spent. Get this one if you want a strat.

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

The only thing to make this guitar any better, would be for Eric Clapton to sign it himself.THANKS to Eric any way.
I have a SRV strat , , a 60th.annaversidy of Fender, Strat. a Wayne Kramer strat.and the Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratacaster, Its the Best Strat I own..Plays great, sounds great,It inspires me to play.
Quality is ,its perfect .
Worth every penny.

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

I own an Eric Clapton Signature Strat from the Custom Shop. It is without a doubt the "best playing" "best sounding" guitar I've ever played.I am fortunate enough to be able to own pretty much any guitar I choose... I have PRS's, Yamaha "Limited Editions" and too many others to mention.But I ALWAYS wind up playing the Strat. The feel of the neck and the feel of the body just can't be beat.A little "pricey" to be sure, but worth every penny.For anyone who may think that an off-the-shelf Strat is anything at all like an EC Signature from the Custom Shop, you are GREATLY mistaken.Once you play it.... you'll never let it out of your hands.

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

This is a very good guitar for the money. It sounds amazing and the tone boost is a plus. This guitar takes a 9v battery for the tone boost which alot of people overlook and remember to change it after a couple months or so, depending on how often you play. Action is very smooth. Only downside I see is no gold hardware but the original has none so no big deal. Holds tune amazingly well. Overall a great guitar. Buy one if your wife lets you. Ha!

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

This guitar is out of this world, I own several other guitars, Les Paul, etc. Playing this guitar is a pleasure, no bussing once its set up correctly, Go a haed and pull the trigger and buy one already.

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

This is the best guitar that I have ever owned. I have the whole enchilada...Gibsons' PRS's, Martin's, and other Fender's. This is the most perfect axe imaginable. I have the Mercedes Blue model and the paint job is fabulous. The TBX boost gives me the punch to make it both a Les Paul vibe as well as the unmistakable Clapton tones. Run into the Digitech Crossroads pedal and you lose yourself in the tones. I wish that the case had been something a little more special than the stock G&G tweed one but that is a nitpicking thing, lol. This model is worth the money for the stick model or the Custom Shop one. I am glad that I got the Master Built Custon Shop one and, not only, have a special look but have the tone of a legend. Run through a Deluxe Reverb amp and you will never need anything else...ever.

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

I have had this guitar for 4 months now and I love it. I tried out 30 different strats at the music store I was at and there was no comparison. This guitar is amazing. The mid boost is perfect for getting distortion and volume during solos. GET THIS GUITAR!!!

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

I?ve owned my EC Strat since 1986. From the moment I tried it in the music store where I bought it, I knew it was an awesome guitar. I own almost every name brand guitar that?s out there from 2 Gibson Les Pauls, Gibson SG Doubleneck, Fender Telecaster, 2 Rics (one 12 and one JL model), Gretch Country Gentlemen, Hofner, Hamer, Ovation, Martin, 2 Guilds (one 12 and one 6 string) to mention a few. When I got the EC strat it came with the Fender Lace Pick-ups. I installed the new Noiseless Pick-ups and I couldn?t believe the difference. All I can say is ?night and day?. NO MORE HUM, the humbuckers really do the job. The guitar has a much warmer sound, more body and fullness and that?s before you engage the power booster. Of all my guitars, this is my favorite to play live. It has the most controllable sound and it?s so user friendly. Buy this guitar, you won?t regret it.

Comments about Fender Custom Shop Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar:

I have recently purchased a Gibson Les Paul Standard and I thought I had finally found the ultimate sound... UNTIL... I came across the Eric Clapton Signature. It is hands down the best guitar I have laid my hands on. The active mid-boost with the noiseless picks give you the option of having a hard bite for your blues/rock solos to having a very smooth laid back clean sound with just the turn of a knob. If you are considering purchasing this product, BUY IT NOW! RIGHT NOW! NOT LATER.... NOW!