Clapton with a Lester!!!

[mazman]

Now THIS is Clapton!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU1ks8mL9OM

[jads57]

I almost like his tone w/ the ES-335 on Tore Down the best! But I agree I really love Clapton when he plays Gibsons better.

[Donnie B.]

YES!

[ricoh]

Nice bite but I am so used to seeing the Stratocaster or the 335 that the LP looks weird on him. He does not seem as fluid either.

[JeffD]

I almost like his tone w/ the ES-335 on Tore Down the best! But I agree I really love Clapton when he plays Gibsons better.


Here's a link to EC doing Tore Down on a 335.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRAF_ph3TQ&feature=related

[Shnook]

EC with any Gibson is how it should be!

[gkoelling]

Here's a link to EC doing Tore Down on a 335.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRAF_ph3TQ&feature=related

Much better! The tone on the LP cut was nice but the song was so rushed, I'm half surprised they got through it all.

[newking70]

all is right with the universe.

[trickness]

gotta say, his tone and playing here is the best he's sounded in about 30 years. If only God hadn't invented noiseless single coils and Nathan East...

[CharAznable]

I'm not even remotely close to being a Les Paul guy, but Clapton is one. Despite being a Fender user and endorser for all this years, he will only be at home with a Les Paul in his hands.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Completely Awesome! What the heck is he doing with a Strat? :bong

[Rotten]

Wow! Les Paul, cranked tweed, no reverb, no effects, Eric Clapton. That was awesome.

[Rama]

Why o why o WHY in the HELL doesn't he go with this tone???!!!

With him it is the difference between being mediocre and killing...one is so much more natural to his phrasing and the way it can sing with his vibrato and blooms out with bends...he is going so much against the grain with the strat and that horrible mid boost and the Lace Sensors...it's well past time that he reclaimed his TONE.

[JB Eckl]

My spine just went into alignment.

What is it about him & Gibsons???

[Red Suede]

Well, I like him with Marshalls or Marshall Bluesbreaker amps with twelves as opposed to tens. Too much high end ping and not enough thickness to this tone for me.

[CDaughtry]

You contrast this tone to that crappy one he got on the Jay Leno show last night and it just sickens you.....:barf

[wingwalker]

That is a nice tone for sure!

[dk123123dk]

What amp is he plugged into? There is a small tweed amp, a larger one, and it appears two Marshall or SLO half stacks behind him?

dk

[boogieman90]

What amp is he usin?

[Brad Scott]

I thought the LP tone was great until I clicked on the 335 video . . . hoo wee! :bow

[Steve73]

Yeah, take your pick between the LP and the 335, Clapton and a Gibson always sounds great.

[Cody Anchor]

man, clapton is great! I love the simplicity of his tone.

[thegroover]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but I always liked this video of Clapton on 335 and Lennon on a Casino and Richards on bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-KVE5YrPUs

[JeffD]

And yet another EC/Gibson variation. With slide no less. Tell me this doesn't beat his strat tone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IPWwspngr8&feature=related

[HammyD]

That was great! I can't help but notice he was more animated (moving about) than I had seen him in years during a performance! He should stick to the Les Paul and the 335!

[JeffD]

And yet another EC/Gibson variation. With slide no less. Tell me this doesn't beat his strat tone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IPWwspngr8&feature=related

I'm quoting myself, which is terrible internet manners, but I just noticed that in the last second of the vid, EC turns down the volume on the larger tweed amp before unplugging. Seems to answer the question about what amp he's using, at least on this tune. Gibson and tweed....

[GuitarsFromMars]

Now THIS is Clapton!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU1ks8mL9OM



This is quite good. I prefer the Les Paul sound over the Strat sound.

It lends itself to the Freddy King style he has copped, and just sounds a great deal fatter than his Fender.

Also it doesn't sound that different. Still sounds like Eric.

:thud

[JeffD]

This is quite good. I prefer the Les Paul sound over the Strat sound.

It lends itself to the Freddy King style he has copped, and just sounds a great deal fatter than his Fender.

Also it doesn't sound that different. Still sounds like Eric.

:thud

I agree it's not that different, given how much he uses the mid-boost on the strat. But the Gibys sound more expressive, detailed and alive.

His slide tone on D&TD was great strat tone. But that's not what he does anymore either.

[KBR]

Gibsons or a strat with Good Tom Holmes HBers, he should try, or a tele with Tom Holmes or Lollar HBers.
junk the regular single coils!

[11Bravo]

Are those Silver Jubs in the backline?

[guitarman_1]

I agree with everyone,. The tone with the Lester is the best Ive heard from him in ages, and this was shot in 94.Whoever has sold him on his present day tones is either deaf or insane.He needs to go back to Marshall/Soldano's and Gibby's.Not that theres anything wrong with tweeds.I love them too.

[Brötthäst]

I´ve always thought that EC sounded so much better with a Gibson. when I listen to the Bluesbreakers and Cream records I can´t understand why he ditched that tone and never looked back. I guess Jimi Hendrix influenced him to convert to the strat?

[blood5150]

Tone increase +1,000,000

[Kyle vs. Guitar]

I'm not even remotely close to being a Les Paul guy, but Clapton is one. Despite being a Fender user and endorser for all this years, he will only be at home with a Les Paul in his hands.

Seconded. I'm not a huge Gibson fan but they just sound right with Clapton.

[Blue Light]

Well, then, you've got to revisit that golden oldie clip of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the 1980s with Eric putting his LP up against George Harrison's Strat and essentially says, "Don't go bringing that toothpick to a knife fight."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ITrQXES8kU

[Ocelot]

This same thread with the same video came up on another forum, with the same response. What on earth is Eric Clapton doing not playing a Les Paul.

[GuitarsFromMars]

I agree it's not that different, given how much he uses the mid-boost on the strat. But the Gibys sound more expressive, detailed and alive.

His slide tone on D&TD was great strat tone. But that's not what he does anymore either.


Maybe a little more detail.

He has never gotten close to Layla in any of his other efforts.

Sorry.

:hide

[michael.e]

If it has not been said before, look behind the Bassman. A pair of SLO's..

[C.SCAN3]

Is it me or does he seem more comfortable with the Paul? It seems like it is effortless with the Lester.

[karmadave]

Clapton has said in interviews that he's simply more comfortable playing Strats. I take him at his word. EC sounds like EC regardless of the guitar brand. Do I prefer his tone on a Gibson? Yes. Does it really matter that much to me? No...

-KD

[dohootowl]

Good gosh, is this the Gibson appreciation thread?? I tend to believe that Clapton's tone has been incredible with Strats as well. I will agree that certain tunes definitely shine with a LP or the 335, but many great Clapton songs would not have been as interesting without a Strat in his hands.

Also, my main guitar is a Strat plus with Lace Sensors, and I love my tone--so maybe I'm just tone deaf. I guess Steve Winwood is as well, as that's what he was playing at the Jammy's.

[58gasman]

I generally prefer Clapton with Gibsons, especially the 335, but I also liked a lot of the stuff he recorded with the original Blackie back in the 70s. It was definitely a thinner sound but his vibrato he could get a nice sweet tone.

I personally don't care for the noiseless boosted sound he gets out of his current setup but if the passion is there it's all good.

Ultimately it comes down to the man himself.

[HammyD]

Good gosh, is this the Gibson appreciation thread?? I tend to believe that Clapton's tone has been incredible with Strats as well. I will agree that certain tunes definitely shine with a LP or the 335, but many great Clapton songs would not have been as interesting without a Strat in his hands.

Also, my main guitar is a Strat plus with Lace Sensors, and I love my tone--so maybe I'm just tone deaf. I guess Steve Winwood is as well, as that's what he was playing at the Jammy's.


I love Clapton's Strat tone on Howlin Wolf London Sessions. To me it is the quintessential Strat tone. But for this song, the Lester rocks!

[Rotten]

He's said in the past that he switched to Fenders to get away from the "Clapton is God" thing. He also said he switched so he could play chords, which he couldn't do with the Gibsons. I say slap a BF Twin next to that tweed Twin and get a good old A/B box. He's also made his point with Fenders. Time to play Gibsons from here on out.

[StratManKudzu]

A song from my favorite Clapton strat era.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hkR2pcBRPs

Solo at 4:30 or so

[Mark C]

I'll join the majority here. That 335 clip was killin'. That's the sound that made people spray paint "Clapton is God" on the walls of London. But, it's his choice to play what he wishes - I'm just thankful for the recordings of him with that fire and tone that do exist.

[OldSchool]

EC with any Gibson is how it should be!

I don't agree........I think Eric sounded Killer here with his first signature strat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCJ15r-ny5Q

Way more fluid and bluesy sounding IMO. :dunno

[esoteric pete]

clapton on gibsons is perfect IMO. compliments him so much better.

[telelion]

Seeing Clapton in top form is indeed special. I agree he seemed more confident and animated than I see him with the Strat. Perfect natural blues tone on the ES. Would have been a good combo for the recent Cream gigs.

[dohootowl]

I love Clapton's Strat tone on Howlin Wolf London Sessions. To me it is the quintessential Strat tone. But for this song, the Lester rocks!

Yes, I agree. It definitely does! I just can't imagine what might have been had Clapton played Gibsons exclusively throughout his career. I happen to be a fan of both guitars, but many here seem to dis the Strat completely.

[Seegs]

you can't compare his LesPaul vs. his 335 tone based on those two videos...too many variables at work...

do like his LP/335 better though...

Chow,
Seegs

[guitgator]

Much better! The tone on the LP cut was nice but the song was so rushed, I'm half surprised they got through it all.

yeah...that tempo was ridiculous....maybe the drummer was amp'd up when he counted off.

[bluesjunior]

Here's some more Clapton + ES335 clips from the unreleased Nothing but the Blues documentary. His tone in these clips is vintage Clapton. He could play a banjo for me, I have seen him live in concert 17 times over the years and he is the best by far. When Eric is "on", no one comes close and I think this is why he gets all the respect from true guitar legends, never mind TGP members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CITLWfcGUyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wX1wn-0go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hGMgyhNgzI

[-Analog-]

WHY didn't he use this rig for the cream reunion tour...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IPWwspngr8&feature=related

Facepalm, Eric please dump teh blackie and whip out the lesters....

[Steve_2020]

Here's some more Clapton + ES335 clips from the unreleased Nothing but the Blues documentary. His tone in these clips is vintage Clapton. He could play a banjo for me, I have seen him live in concert 17 times over the years and he is the best by far. When Eric is "on", no one comes close and I think this is why he gets all the respect from true guitar legends, never mind TGP members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CITLWfcGUyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wX1wn-0go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hGMgyhNgzI

I saw this concert the night before Scorsese filmed it for the movie/special, the last night of the All blues tour. I've never seen EC play better than that night. Like a lot of folks on TGP I've seen Eric Clapton live many, many times, including Derek and the Dominos (too young for cream live, Damn).

I agree with bluejunior: The all blues concert was tops. EC played several guitars that night, taking us on a tour of early acoustic blues then into post war Chicago electric blues styles of the some of that era's influential players.

He ramped things up and started into the home stretch (approx the last 45 mins) by putting on the 335 for a few songs, playing with some nods to Freddy King and then flat out doing 'Eric Clapton.' It was great to hear him playing a gibson again doing his style...didn't seem like it could get any better.

But it did.

He took things over the top when he put on his white sig strat for the final 4 or 5 songs. It was at least as good as any of his gibson stuff, even the 'cream' red 335. He had the mid boost turned down on it and it was Righteous Blues Tone. As good, in it's way, as any of the Gibson tones. That strat, cranked loud through the PA was freakin magical. It translates ok on the vid but it killed live.

The Nothing But the Blues film doesn't show the songs and guitars in sequence, but thats the way it came down. Acoustics into some gibson hollowbody electrics for the older chicago stuff, then sounding wonderful on the red 335, and finally burning on the EC sig strat to peak the concert and take things to the encores- which he also played on the strat.

If I ever wonderred why the hell Eric Clapton switched to playing strats, my question was answered that night.

All the electric stuff, all night long was played through the (Suhr) Fender Low Power Tweed Twin repros he'd begun using a couple years before. Same amps he apparently uses today and pretty much the same strat, though these days he cranks the mid boost more often and it gets a bit woofy/overdriven sometimes.. You (or at least I) don't notice the overdrive so much when I hear EC's guitar nice and loud in concert. It's more noticeble on vids played back at home at 'normal' volumes..

If I had my choice, sure I'd prefer to hear Clapton on a mix of Gibsons and on the strat probably with less boost than he sometimes uses. But even when he cranks his sig strat into quite a bit of distortion, it's still Eric Clapton and the playing is always very good to great.

But. let's face it. Clapton's not going to play gibsons or low gain strats into his twins on a regular basis -just as he's never going to use cranked Marshall stacks with SGs or Les Pauls again.

When EC put away his cream era gibsons and cranked marshall stacks and began playing strats into thin toned fenders in 1970, it pretty much broke my heart. I was a kid who'd learned lead guitar by listening to live cream records. I remember thinking, "ah hell, Hendirx is dead and Clapton's tuned down! What next??" ...Jeff Beck doing jazz fusion? just kidding..:)..

I've long since gotten over EC's switching guitars and amp tones. Had no choice if I was going to enjoy alll the other fine guitar playing Eric Clapton has given us over the 40 years since he decided to end his guitar god days in cream.

EC is always going to play well and he's always going to play whatever guitar he wants into whatever amp he wants....Which seems to be mainly sig strats into fender tweed twins over the last 18 or so years. On recent tours he's generally killed with this rig. I could almost feel Jimi smiling down when he and Winwood stretched out long and Loud on Voodoo Chile at the concert I saw in June..

I'm glad for all the great cream recordings and vids of him using other stuff. A couple or more times a year I go on a live Cream and Beano binge on the iPod to refresh and recharge, and I'll watch the older and newer vids occasionally. The recent Winwood/EC vid has been watched more than ocasionally lately.

And when I go see Eric Clapton live (he's back on my Just Go list after the last 2 fine tours) I don't expect anything but a strat and EC's licks, his great taste, phrasing, dynamics....all the stuff that makes going to see and hear him a joy and a master class blues guitar lesson all at once.

imo, ymmv.

[Ricky_Rockhardo]

You've got to wonder what memories are flowing through his head and hands when he plays the Gibsons. Some of the best R&R, R&B, Blues on the planet where his when he used those guitars nightly. He even looks more inspired when you see him these days when he's Stratless. Makes you wonder what the bandmates think about the Strat tone vs. the LP tone........

[Jazzydave]

I'm not even remotely close to being a Les Paul guy, but Clapton is one. Despite being a Fender user and endorser for all this years, he will only be at home with a Les Paul in his hands.

I agree with this...always loved Clapton with a Gibson over a Fender. Although he can get some of the fattest tones I've heard with a Strat, they still don't compare to what he built his reputation on in the early years (NOT talking about the brief period with a Tele!).

[chinstrap]

The strat with tweed he played on the Creem reunion DVD was painful to listen to. Someone get the man a Marhall and a Lester!

[Flyin' Brian]

I've always thought that his best Strat tone was with the Soldando.

[Red Suede]

He's said in the past that he switched to Fenders to get away from the "Clapton is God" thing. He also said he switched so he could play chords, which he couldn't do with the Gibsons. I say slap a BF Twin next to that tweed Twin and get a good old A/B box. He's also made his point with Fenders. Time to play Gibsons from here on out.

There was an article some years ago where they were interviewing Caesar Diaz and he talked about servicing some of Clapton's amps and Clapton fired one of them up and started wailing! Caesar asked him why dosen't play like that anymore and he told him "I already did that". I can understand because i'll sometimes use a different sound for whatever the gig demands. I can understand why my favorite players will switch it up after years of going around the world with the same tone, good or bad.

[tiptone]

You've got to wonder what memories are flowing through his head and hands when he plays the Gibsons. Some of the best R&R, R&B, Blues on the planet where his when he used those guitars nightly. He even looks more inspired when you see him these days when he's Stratless. Makes you wonder what the bandmates think about the Strat tone vs. the LP tone........

In my head it goes something like, "Holy crap, I can't believe I'm playing with Clapton, I can't believe I'm playing with Clapton, I can't believe I'm playing with Clapton...". :)

[Zelmo]

Just throwing this one out there as well. I'm a big fan of Lowell Fulson, Reconsider Baby, and the tone coming out of this 335:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CITLWfcGUyg&feature=related

[Reverb]

Here's a link to EC doing Tore Down on a 335.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRAF_ph3TQ&feature=related

Inpsired and great tone, makes the LP clip sound thin by comparison

[jzgtrguy]

Wow! The king does have clothes

[lamentation]

I don't agree........I think Eric sounded Killer here with his first signature strat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCJ15r-ny5Q

Way more fluid and bluesy sounding IMO. :dunno

Wow, never seen that one. I've never heard him play a gibson the way he plays there, that's the type stuff he's doing now, or was. That's just soaring freedom. You'll notice he pulls out the gibsons on the old "trying to be" stuff. I hate it when people try to be.

[gkoelling]

I don't agree........I think Eric sounded Killer here with his first signature strat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCJ15r-ny5Q

Way more fluid and bluesy sounding IMO. :dunno


Hittin' on all 8 that night!!!!!! :bow

[Scott Auld]

Here's a link to EC doing Tore Down on a 335.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRAF_ph3TQ&feature=related


This is as good as anything I've ever seen posted on the Gear Page.

[Scott Auld]

Wow, never seen that one. I've never heard him play a gibson the way he plays there, that's the type stuff he's doing now, or was. That's just soaring freedom. You'll notice he pulls out the gibsons on the old "trying to be" stuff. I hate it when people try to be.


That wacky Clapton ... always "trying to be" great. I mean, he's never accomplished anything, right?


:dunno

[Scott Auld]

Wow, never seen that one. I've never heard him play a gibson the way he plays there, that's the type stuff he's doing now, or was. That's just soaring freedom. You'll notice he pulls out the gibsons on the old "trying to be" stuff. I hate it when people try to be.


That wacky Clapton ... always "trying to be" great. I mean, he's never accomplished anything, right?


:dunno

[lamentation]

That wacky Clapton ... always "trying to be" great. I mean, he's never accomplished anything, right?


:dunno

No, I mean trying to be Freddy King or any old black guy. Being Clapton is good enough. Clapton can play with anybody, love the riding with the king cd, he doesn't sound like a dry drunk. I'm tore down, five long years, lots of the cream stuff, he sounds like a dry drunk. No freedom, to me anyway. But everyone wants to hear their favorite song, then bitch about the tone.

[BadCat]

You contrast this tone to that crappy one he got on the Jay Leno show last night and it just sickens you.....:barfI agree, that was horrible.

[VintageKnob]

I love that video, not to say I play like EC or anything, but the tone of my R8 into my 5E3 and a tone tubby is very, very close to that same tone. Fat and screamin' - love it - great post.

BTW: not rushed at all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHKcbyJntyM&feature=related

- D

[Traintrack]

Eric Clapton, the Pat Boone of the blues.

Lost the story of the song and made everyone wait for the guitar solo...

His "Lite FM" sounding Strat is the worse tone I have ever heard. Like biting on a coke bottle with your teeth.

[blood5150]

I read an article where EVH said he stopped being "in" to Clapton when he stopped using Gibsons and Marshalls... he felt thats where Clapton did his best work....

FWIW....

[hurley3038]

More Clapton 335 love...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUpc0YNkkJ0&feature=related

[Scott Auld]

No, I mean trying to be Freddy King or any old black guy. Being Clapton is good enough. Clapton can play with anybody, love the riding with the king cd, he doesn't sound like a dry drunk. I'm tore down, five long years, lots of the cream stuff, he sounds like a dry drunk. No freedom, to me anyway. But everyone wants to hear their favorite song, then bitch about the tone.


To me, it is bordering on the edge of arrogance to presume to know what's going on inside someone else's head.

[Curly]

Those LP and 335 clips date back to the "Cradle" tour, when he pulled out the Gibsons on disc and tour for certain tunes to reproduce tone that approached the original tunes. He didn't really do stone covers, but kind of his own versions.

I'm actually surprised to see the LP -- on tour, he used the 335 for that tune. There was a video made of the rehearsals, which showed quite a few different amps and guitars, but I mainly remember seeing the tweed Twins made by the Fender custom shop when I saw him on tour.

Whatever, he had great tone, and a lot of people were happy to see him get back to basic blues.

However, it didn't take long till he was back to just the strat.

[lamentation]

"Bordering on the edge of arrogance", that's actually kind of you. Been called much worse. To me the whole point of music is getting some feeling of what's going on in someone else's head (or heart, soul, whatever you would call it), whether you are right or wrong about it, just some feeling. TO ME, it feels like there are things he tries to do anymore, then there is all this other stuff he just does. He's effing clapton after all.

You ever hear Jimi try to play Purple Haze post '69? I didn't. He played it, but what's in his head (or whatever) is right there, and to me it's kinda like witnessing someone getting read the riot act by their wife in the airport (audience) or someone else's kid throwing a major fit in public (Jimi).

but hey, no hard feelings. I also hate it in movies when they go way over the top trying to make you cry. If the dog dying isn't sad enough, then don't bother with the strings and reminiscing.

[Twangdaddy]

IMO. a bit of a thicker tone, but the same old licks. I give Clapton his props but I'm not really a fan boy. YMMV

[defcrew]

Recently I've been listening to Last Man Standing by Jerry Lee Lewis and Clapton is on one of the songs. the odd thing is he has the worst tone to me of anyone on the record. It just sounds real processed. That LP clip reminds me that the guy can be kind of exceptional. LP have an edgier sound than a 335 to me though I like and own both. I can understand him finding a strat easier to play although I don't. I can barely play one but once you become accustomed to them I can see why you would prefer to play them over most other guitars. they have a real unique ergonomic quality.

[stratocaster]

Definately much improved tone with the LP, if he'd just get rid of the wimpy Fender amps and get back to a Marshall....then he'd be really cookin'

YMMV etc etc.

[dohootowl]

Eric Clapton, the Pat Boone of the blues.

Lost the story of the song and made everyone wait for the guitar solo...

His "Lite FM" sounding Strat is the worse tone I have ever heard. Like biting on a coke bottle with your teeth.

Song example? I honestly can't think of a Clapton tune with bad tone. Some mediocre tones maybe, but never bad.

[dohootowl]

I read an article where EVH said he stopped being "in" to Clapton when he stopped using Gibsons and Marshalls... he felt thats where Clapton did his best work....

FWIW....

That's OK, I stopped being "in" to EVH when he started playing crap like "Dancing in the Streets" and "Jump". OK, not really, but I really don't give a s--- what EVH thinks. To quote the Frank Zappa album title, "Shut up and play yer guitar".

[franksguitar]

Yes he played a Les Paul refreshing and definitely better tone and at the end you see his tech hand him a strat

[waltkh5]

What a bunch of bull$hit responses. As far as I am concerned Eric can play on any freaking guitar he wants to. The guy set the tone bar for Les Paul/Marshall combo and lead guitar for decades after and he still continues to make great music to this day. The man has chosen to play on a Fender Strat for decades. He still prefers to play on a Strat.

His guitar playing is still relevant and he seems to be following his own heart and soul. His Strat playing is as valid as anything he did with a Gibson Les Paul or ES-335. His success and longevity speaks for itself.

[blood5150]

That's OK, I stopped being "in" to EVH when he started playing crap like "Dancing in the Streets" and "Jump". OK, not really, but I really don't give a s--- what EVH thinks. To quote the Frank Zappa album title, "Shut up and play yer guitar".


Uh ok....


Just passing along a quote I read... I didnt say it.


http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4018/hulkavl3.jpg

[dohootowl]

Uh ok....


Just passing along a quote I read... I didnt say it.


http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4018/hulkavl3.jpg

OK, but if you touch me...! Seriously, that was aimed at Ed, not you, really. He's basically making the quote that latter-era Clapton didn't turn him on and that's OK. But I'm not going to take that quote and say, "you know, he's right! Clapton sucks with a Strat and Fender amps." I'll second another poster's comment that Clapton is greatness with ANY guitar in his hands. There are certainly Clapton tunes that I don't care for, but it has nothing to do with his gear. As for me, chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear.