Bill Carson's 1959 Stratocaster to be Auctioned

Bill Carson's Fiesta Red '59 Stratocaster will be on the block as part of Christie's October 13, 2006, Musical Instruments auction that takes place at their New York City office. The auction includes several interesting guitars, among which are two other Stratocasters: a 1963 Custom Color (originality of finish is not stated in the auction description as of this writing) and a 1962 Strat.

Some of you may recall that this guitar was previously sold by George Gruhn.

The full auction story is on the news desk.

1985 Stevie Ray Vaughan Interview

Modern Guitars has published a 1985 Stevie Ray Vaughan interview (link) by Steven Rosen. This is the first time the interview has been published in its entirety - Rosen recalls that a small portion of it may have been published in a Japanese magazine, most likely Player. A number of also previously unpublished performance photos of SRV by W.A. Williams accompany the article.

In the interview, Vaughan talks about his then newly released album, Soul To Soul, the music gear he uses, his connection with Jimi Hendrix, the progress of his career, and more. A "must read" for SRV fans.

2006 Summer NAMM Show

For those willing to endure an attack of summer GAS, Modern Guitars Magazine will present coverage from each day of the 2006 Summer NAMM Show in Austin, Texas, that kicks off today and runs through Sunday, July 16.

They have already published the following NAMM sneak peeks:

Taylor Guitars (in an interview with Bob Taylor)
Peavey Guitars

And this morning published photos from last night's pre-NAMM Show kick-off party at the Austin Convention Center. Coverage from day one of the show should be available either late tonight or tomorrow morning.

Update

Photos from day one of the 2006 Summer NAMM are now on Modern Guitars:

2006 Summer NAMM Photo Gallery: Day One

One page is from the Fender/Gretsch/Guild booth:

2006 Summer NAMM Photo Gallery: Day One, Page Two

Much more to come, including photos from the Jimmie Vaughan show that took place after the first day of the show.

World's Most Expensive Guitar

The world's most expensive guitar is still a Stratocaster, but it's no longer Eric Clapton's Blackie. The title of most expensive now belongs to a new Strat recently sold at auction for $2.7 million USD in Doha, Qatar. The instrument was signed by a number of music celebrities, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus and Malcolm Young from AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard, and, Bryan Adams, but that's about as far as its celebrity connection goes (though it was Bryan Adams who organized the procurement and signing of the Strat).

It was sold to benefit a tsunami charity, Reach Out to Asia, and was bought by the royal family of Qatar, who had donated the instrument to the auction (they bought it at a previous charity auction for over a million).

The event was conducted by Sotheby's Henry Wyndham, who said, ""I have auctioned many items for charity in my life but never have I witnessed the levels we achieved tonight. This will stay in my memory for a very long time indeed."

Link to photo and more information: $2.7 million dollar Strat.

Jimi Hendrix Woodstock Strat Clone to Be Auctioned

On November 2, 2005, Christie's office at South Kensington, London, will auction a Fender Custom Shop Jimi Hendrix Woodstock Stratocaster Clone, which is #1 of only four produced and the only one that's been made available to the public (of the other three, one was presented to the Hendrix Estate, one was kept by Fender, and one was presented to the Experience Music Project).

You'll find links below that lead to more information about this instrument, but, in a nutshell, the story is this: Mike Eldred of the Custom Shop was given access to the original 1968 Fender Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock. Eldred spec'd it out and then built four "clones". And by "clones", Fender meant exactly that - not replicas, not something "close", but an actual "clone" of the '68 Hendrix Strat right down to scratches and pickup outputs.

Here's a photo of the Woodstock Clone that will be auctioned at Christie's:

And more information about the Woodstock Clone:

Lot details from the upcoming November 2, 2005 Christie's auction

Seven Fender Stratocaster Models That Pay Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

Story related to the 2003 auction of this guitar

Fender Custom Shop: Reverse Proto Stratocaster; Pamelina H: Bettie Page Strat

Last year I wrote an article titled Seven Fender Stratocaster Models That Pay Tribute to Jimi Hendrix in which I talked about a 1980 reverse headstock Stratocaster with a front-side belly-cut contour. As far as I could tell from my research, only four protoypes of this model were made, though John Page recalls that 25 may have been subsequently produced for marketing representative Mudge Miller.

Since that article was published, I've been unable to find one of the 25 discussed above, or anyone that claims to have owned one. I have, however, been contacted by the owner of the fourth prototype, who in fact bought it in Japan where it had once been owned by a collector. Seems there were only four prototypes made and each has been accounted for.

Also of interest, the Fender Custom Shop has announced a limited edition (100 pieces) called the "Reverse Proto Stratocaster Closet Classic" that, guess what, has the word "Proto" stamped on the back of the headstock. In other words, it's a tribute to the 1980 prototype I spoke about in last year's story. I suppose that I now have to update last year's article and make it Eight Fender Stratocaster Models That Pay Tribute to Jimi Hendrix. This new limited edition run includes a DVD that features an interview with Master Builder Dennis Galuszka.

Here's a photo of the new Proto:

New Creation from Pamelina H

Pamelina H recently completed a Bettie Page Stratocaster that Pamelina will offer for sale at ComicCon (July 14 - July 17 at the San Diego Convention Center. Visit the event website for more information). In 1955, Page won the title, Miss Pin-up Girl of the World and was the centerfold in Playboy's January issue. For more information about Bettie Page, please visit www.bettiepage.com. Pamelina's tribute Strat will be autographed by Bettie Page. The image below is Pamelina's conceptual artwork for the guitar.

Cream Reunion Concerts

What's new in the Strat world? Easy: the Cream reunion concerts and Eric Clapton's use of a Fender Stratocaster and Fender Tweed Twins. Many were expecting Eric to revert to Gibsons and Marshalls for the concert series, but rumor has it that while he began the Cream rehearsals with both, he abandoned them during the rehearsals in favor of the rig with which he's become more comfortable.

Saiichi Sugiyama, who will attend all four of the reunion concerts, has filed reviews of the first three on Modern Guitars Magazine (and will file the fourth when possible - he's playing his own gig after tonight's final reunion concert).

Reviews of the Cream reunion concerts by Saiichi Sugiyama

Cream Reunion Concert: The 3rd Night

Cream Reunion Concert: Day 2

First Cream Reunion Concert, May 2, 2005

Paul Olsen has also filed a review of the second night reunion concert:

My Take on the Second Cream Reunion Concert at the RAH

Jimi Hendrix Auction ... Pamelina H ... Dallas Guitar Show

Cooper Owen Jimi Hendrix Auction

Yesterday's Cooper Owen auction of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia saw the sale of an Olympic White 1965 Hendrix-owned Stratocaster for 100,000 GBP, approximately $189,160 USD, which does not include the buyer's auction premium or VAT (Value Added Tax). This was Lot #319. The winning bidder, who participated in the auction via telephone, requested anonymity.

Two other Hendrix guitars, Lot #318 and Lot #320, went unsold. Cooper Owen has posted the results on their website.

See also: Auction to Feature Three Fender Stratocasters Owned by Jimi Hendrix

Pamelina H

Artist Pamelina H, famous for her work on many prized Fender Custom Shop Art Guitars, has recently redesigned her website: www.pamelina.com. Well worth a visit.

28th Annual Dallas Guitar Show to Be Held April 9 and 10

The yearly show no collector wants to miss will be held again at the Dallas Market Hall. More information.

Jimi Hendrix Auction; Hendrix Book; Trout Strat

Upcoming auction of three Jimi Hendrix Stratocasters

Although apparently not yet posted on their website as of this writing, yesterday the Cooper Owen auction house in London alerted media that on February 16, 2005, three Hendrix-owned Stratocasters would be auctioned, one of which the auction house believes is the only left-handed guitar owned by Hendrix. The auction of these three Strats will be in conjunction with part two of the Cooper Owen Hendrix memorabilia auction series. Awaiting further information from Cooper Owen.

More Fender Images from Winter NAMM 2005

Todd Krause's "mystery Strat" has been unveiled, a new model of the Krause, Thorn and Lawrence, Koi-caster we marvelled at awhile back (see earlier model). Our photographer went back to the Fender booth and captured a few more images, such as the back of the Koi-caster and Tat Strat.

Fender at NAMM 2005: Day One

Once again, Fender's Custom Shop displays a variety of Art Guitars designed to entertain the eye as well as the ear. From the beautifully inlaid "Koi-caster" to a leather-bound Telecaster, it's guitar art gone wild.

New at NAMM: CS Mary Kaye Tribute Stratocaster and Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster

Fender has introduced two new Stratocasters to the lineup: A limited edition Custom Shop Mary Kaye Tribute Stratocaster and an artist series production model Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster. An MSRP has not yet been set for either instrument.

John Page...CRASH Stratocaster

Former Fender Custom Shop manager (and Custom Shop co-founder), John Page is presenting a journal on Modern Guitars Magazine. John talks about life after Fender and has said he is willing to answer questions left by readers. A must read for any Strat or Custom Shop fan.

Apparently, Fender will not have any of the CRASH Stratocasters on display at NAMM. All 50 are sold. That doesn't mean they've all been bought by the public, but that they've been bought by various Fender dealers (Huber and Breese, for example, have three on order).

I do know of one CRASH Stratocaster that has made it into the hands of a Strat collector (body #5) and the gentlemen who bought it was kind enough to send photos. Very beautiful. Hopefully, CRASH will publish a couple of the images in his journal).

While we won't be seeing any CRASH Strats at NAMM, I was assured yesterday by Fender that Strat fans won't be disappointed by what will be on display. The show opens tomorrow.

Specs of the Fender CRASH Stratocasters

BACKGROUND: The Fender "CRASH" Stratocasters are crafted in Fender's Custom Shop by Senior Master Builder Todd Krause. The unfinished bodies are sent to CRASH (interview) (weblog) who paints a unique design on each one (both the front and back of the body are painted by CRASH). The painted bodies are then sent back to Fender's Custom Shop and the instrument is finished by Todd Krause. Only 50 of these special instruments will be made.

SPECS: Alder Body (1960-style routing); 21 Vintage Frets; 9.5" Fingerboard Radius; Custom Black Anodized Control Plate; Black Anodized Tremolo Cover; 3-Ply Custom Painted Pickguard; 3 Ceramic Noiseless Pickups w/Passive Circuit; Black Pickup Covers; Black Knobs and Switch Tip; Vintage Tremolo; Straight-Grain Maple Neck (Custom ''V'' Shape); Special Engraved Neckplate; and, each guitar comes with a Special Certificate signed by ''CRASH'' and Todd Krause.

Countdown to NAMM...Vintage Strat Collecting

Winter NAMM

Less than a week away to this year's winter NAMM. Had hoped to attend, but my wife's pregnancy has intervened. Next year, for sure.

We will have a writer and photographer there and hope to start publishing info and images from day one of the show. Although Fender's been a little tight-lipped about what we can anticipate, a lucky few have already received their copy of the 2005 Frontline and word has it we'll see the new Eric Johnson Signature Series Strat (production artist series guitar, not Custom Shop); a Custom Shop Mary Kaye Tribute Strat (we can guess what that will look like); a '66 Strat (not sure if this will be a CS Time Machine offering, but probably); a CS '59 Esquire; and a Yurly Shishkov '63 Telecaster. No idea when I'll get my hands on the 2005 Frontline. Not until someone who attends NAMM sends one to me. Are the Trower Strats in there?

And of course, many others will be displayed at NAMM - special one-offs (I hear that Pamelina H and John Cruz have something hot in the works) and hopefully Todd Krause will be there with a couple of CRASH Stratocasters and the "mystery Strat" I mentioned in the last column. A lot to look forward to.

Collecting Vintage Stratocasters

Shame on you if you haven't read George Gruhn's recent article on the News Desk: State of the Vintage Stratocaster, 2005, by George Gruhn. If you take anything away from his article it should be how difficult it is to spot a fake, semi-fake, replica parts, etc. I know luthiers that can make a vintage replica that would fool most "pros". That's what I like about Gruhn's mention of a "certificate of authenticity".

I've seen vintage pros look at "an old guitar". It really is detective work when trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. In my guitar trading days I would take a pro with me to inspect a "vintage" piece on site before purchasing - and I mean have him tear the puppy down and inspect. We passed on more than we bought. Often, the seller was innocent. He would be selling the guitar in the condition in which he bought it, sincerely believing it to be 100% original - who knows where in the chain of ownership the refin was done, the frets changed, parts replaced, etc. Although I spent most waking hours dealing with guitars, a true vintage pro knows things you only glean from a vast amount of experience inspecting vintage instruments.

Those interested in the vintage guitar market might also find this article interesting Alternative investments: Collecting vintage guitars.

New Online Guitar Publication; CRASH Stratocasters; 2005 Winter NAMM

Modern Guitars Magazine (www.modernguitars.com) has recently launched its online publication. It offers current news briefs and in-depth feature articles. Expect to see an interesting interview with John 5 within the next few days.

Another feature of the site are blogs by people in and around the guitar world. The magazine bloggers, to-date, include artist CRASH, Billy Morrison (of Doheny Music and Camp Freddy), and Paul Olsen (the artist known for his Robin Trower album covers and who will soon be painting a limited edition of Strats featuring that art work). Many more are on the way (including Pamelina H).

Speaking of CRASH, anyone interested in the limited edition CRASH Stratocasters should keep an eye on CRASH's blog on Modern Guitars. He's documenting the process of painting the 50 instruments. Below is a photo from CRASH of the first completed body of the series.

While most of our NAMM coverage (we will have a journalist and photographer there) this year will appear on the Modern Guitars Magazine site, we will provide a close look at the Fender booth on Strat Collector News. Expect a good number of incredible new instruments from Fender this year - and some exciting pieces from the folks at the Custom Shop.

Senior Master Builder Todd Krause, in addition to his work on the CRASH Stratocasters and many other instruments, is planning something special to display at the show. He won't supply details yet, but did tell me that inlay artist Ron Thorn is involved, so we can expect another spectacular one-off Strat at NAMM.

An image of Todd Krause's "mystery NAMM Strat" before it was sent to Ron Thorn.

Strat Collecting on Turkey Day

For an American expat living in Portugal, Thanksgiving is a non-event. On the upside, it means a break from the daily email-a-thon with US contacts and a chance to give some thought to the stories that will probably finish up the year.

Guitar manufacturers enter a hectic period getting ready for the January NAMM Show and the introduction, sales and shipping of new models that result. Instrument retailers hope things will be hectic with holiday sales and between now and Sunday eBay sellers will flood the market with used guitars hoping to cash-in on seasonal buying. Everybody in the business is busy.

Journalists are no exception. They're busy thinking back over the year and preparing their contribution to the upcoming deluge of "Year-At-A-Glance" stories.

I'm no different, but luckily the 2004 Strat collecting story of the year is a no-brainer: The Clapton Crossroads auction. With "Blackie" setting a new auction record for the sale of an electric guitar, or the auction sale of any guitar for that matter, the rest of the year pales, despite the fact that "Blackie" beat the prior record by only $2,000. That's right, a mere two grand separates the sale of "Blackie" ($959,500) from the 2002 Guernsey's auction that brought $957,500 for Jerry Garcia's "Tiger". Surprised about the Garcia guitar? In the same 2002 Guernsey auction Garcia's "Wolf" fetched $789,500. If you're not familiar with "Tiger" or "Wolf", pay a visit to their builder, Dan Irwin's, website. Amazing instruments.

So, having filed my "Year-At-A-Glance" story, what's there to think about on Turkey Day in Portugal? The future, both near and down the road.

The near future is another no-brainer. According to leaks and rumors, some great guitars will be unveiled at the upcoming NAMM Show and although my just-pregnant wife and I can't attend, we'll have a journalist and photographer there to show and tell.

But what really interests me today is the down-the-road effect the Clapton auction may have on the collectible guitar market. Was tempted to send an email to my friends who actively buy and sell for their impression, but it's a good day to take an email break.

Jimi Hendrix 1966 Fender Mustang Doesn't Sell

The auction results from Bonham & Butterfield's "The Collector's Auction" have been posted. While the suits worn by the Beatles on their first album cover (Please, Please Me) sold for $110,000 USD (Lot 6762), it appears that the 1966 Fender Mustang (Lot 6781) used by Hendrix in the recording of two albums didn't sell. What's not known is whether the guitar was withdrawn from the auction, no bids were made, or bidding failed to reach a reserve or minimum. View auction results. Original story.

Bonhams & Butterfields to Auction Hendrix Guitar November 22, 2004

The Los Angeles office of Bonhams auction house, Bonhams & Butterfields, will auction a 1966 Dakota Red Fender Mustang that, according to an affidavit included with the sale from Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer John "Mitch" Mitchell, was used by Hendrix at the Olympic Studio in London on the recording of Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland. The auction value estimate is $80,0000 - $100,000, which, if the sale approaches that range, would probably make this the most expensive Fender Mustang ever sold at auction.

The Mustang is Lot 6781. The auction also features other interesting pieces of music memorabilia such as the suits worn by the Beatles on their first album cover, a guitar presented to Ricky Nelson by Buck Owens, a Prince custom made one-piece Cloud guitar, and a Fender Stratocaster used in the movie Wayne's World.

The auction is set to begin at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 22, 2004, at the Bonhams & Butterfields office at 7601 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. You can call +323 850-7500 for information and directions.

Empty Cigarette Packs Owned by Jimi Hendrix Sell for $331.51, Hendrix Strat Fetches Over $128,000

November 20/21, 2004. The date this story takes place depends upon where you live. I'm watching the Cooper Owen "Jimi Hendrix Part I" auction from Portugal where, as Lot 153 comes up it's almost 1:30 AM on the 21st. Not a bad time of day if you're watching the auction from Los Angeles where it's only 5:30 PM and still the 20th.

Started watching the auction via eBay Live about two-and-a-half hours ago. Want to see what happens with Lot 195, the Hendrix Stratocaster.

Meanwhile, quite a bit of music festival memorabilia has come up for sale, and a number of photographs of Hendrix. A few of the photos are very dramatic.

But what's really caught my eye is Lot 173 that will be up in just a few minutes. Here's the description from Cooper Owen:

Lot 173
Two empty packs of 'Salem' cigarettes originally form [sic] the collection of Hendrix' friend Sharon Lawrence

The lot is accompanied by a typed signed letter from Lawrence reading 'My friend Jimi Hendrix smoked the cigarettes in these empty Salem packets during 1970. The empty packs were found in a bag of his belongings he gave me to store for him during that year.

US$440-580 [Cooper Owen estimate of the lot's value]

***

That's right, two empty packs of cigarettes. See for youself: Lot 173.

Here comes Lot 173 now...

- the Salem cigarette packs go for 180 GBP, or about $331.51 USD. A bit short of the value estimate, but not bad for two empty celebrity owned cigarette packs.

A little more time to kill before the Hendrix Strat comes up. There goes a pair of Noel Redding's eyeglasses...close to $600.

The auction's taking place in London at the Marquee Club, but thanks to modern technology, anyone can watch the bidding action (and bid if so inclined) via eBay Live.

Lot 195...

The Hendrix Strat sells for 70,000 GBP, approximately $128,919 USD. Five bids, all from the auction floor at the Marquee.

Robin Trower Tribute Stratocaster

Expected for release at the upcoming Winter NAMM Show in January, guitar retailer Bananas At Large has a new Fender Custom Shop Robin Trower Tribute Stratocaster on display now. Specs: Arctic White, bullet truss rod, vintage hardware, '69 "U" shape neck, 7.25" radius, one piece maple neck, Custom '50s neck pickup, Custom '50s reverse wound/reverse polarity mid pick up, Tex Mex bridge pickup, white/black/white pickguard.

Guitar Radio Now Broadcasting

It's one thing to read about Fender Stratocasters and quite another to hear them in action. Strat Collector News is pleased to introduce Guitar Radio, a 24/7 online stereo broadcast of royalty free guitar oriented music recorded by guitarists from around the world.

Guitar Radio

If you would like to submit your mp3 for inclusion in the Guitar Radio playlist, drop us a line at radio@stratcollector.com.

Elsewhere...some articles of note...

Photo exhibit that includes shots from Woodstock and the Monterey Pop Festival

"World's largest exhibit of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia" unveiled...

History of the guitar...

Ex-CEO in Singapore collects guitars...

Fender Giveaway: Custom Shop 1966 Stratocaster Prototype

Feeling lucky? Click the link below and enter to win the prototype of the Custom Shop's 1966 Strat. The contest began July 13, 2004, and ends September 29, 2004. Unfortunately, it's open to United States residents only.

ENTER THE PROTOTYPE GIVEAWAY

From Fender...

Be the first on your block — and in the world — to own a Custom Shop Time Machine Series '66 Strat® guitar! This N.O.S., nitro-cellulose-lacquered, Teal Green Metallic beauty isn't just any Time Machine model either... It's a PROTOTYPE. Featuring era-correct body contouring, and a large "C"-shaped maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, pearloid dot markers and a large headstock with a gold transition logo — the '66 Strat guitar helped usher in a whole new generation of musicians! Win a piece of rock 'n' roll history.

[Images above and below are courtesy of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), © 2004, FMIC, all rights reserved.]

Eric Clapton Rolls in Hot to D.C.

by RICK LANDERS

Soaring guitar licks and bell bottom blues were driven down home by Eric “Slowhand” Clapton and his band at Washington, D.C.'s MCI Center on Monday, June 21, 2004.

But not before Robert Randolph and The Family Band blew everyone’s socks off in an electrifying set of numbers that kick started the night with a vicious instrumental rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” led by Randolph on his honking pedal steel guitar.

Midway through their set, the band members began to grab each others instruments and play like virtuosos and stomping their feet…not little stomps...these guys were lifting their legs up high in the air and S-T-O-M-P-I-N-G.

It was one of those, “You had to be there!” moments.

Walking into the Center, my friends and I talked about some guy who played pedal steel who was the opening act. We expected some pale skinny cowboy crooner or a chubby guy in a colorful aloha shirt playing some whiny dribble.

I mean, who else plays pedal steel guitar?

No one like New Jersey’s Robert Randolph.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band could have played all night and the crowd would have forgotten who they really came to see - and I love Clapton!

After the RRFB waved aloha to the crowd, Clapton and pals strolled onto the stage cranking out a crowd pleasing, “Let it Rain” from his debut solo album.

Okay, we quickly forgot Randolph and his close-knit family - but, only for awhile.

At the age of 59, Clapton has paid his dues and still rules. Strapped to his wild Crash-3-painted graffiti guitar, Eric held back and let young Doyle Bramhall II take the first solo somewhere near the next planet. This is a guitar force to be watched. Bramhall, a lefty, tossed out some clean, fast licks with his beat-up sunburst Stratocaster.

Clapton, dressed in jeans, a short sleeve blue shirt, and bright brand new sneakers, rolled in hot. Cranking out tunes like Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff”, later he had the crowd singing and dancing to “Badge”.

Clapton, Doyle and the bass player found some chairs and paid tribute to Robert Johnson with an unplugged set that included, “Me and the Devil Blues”, “They’re Red Hot”, and Milk-cow’s Calf Blues” from his recently released CD, “Me and Mr. Johnson."

Then, Eric laid some rubber with the opening licks of “Layla” and the crowd roared and proved that some, but definitely not all, baby boomers can still dance without too much embarrassment.

Clapton and his troupe did the obligatory exit and encore re-entry, bringing with them the inimitable Robert Randolph in a hard driving “Sunshine of Your Love”.

Enter the blue moon lead (you never noticed that??) led by Eric and then taken to atmospheric heights by Randolph’s blazing steel pedal work.

A gracious rocker, Clapton was obviously amazed along with everyone else at this young guy’s virtuosity, laughing and nodding and giving Randolph a bear hug at the end of the evening’s show.

Yeah, it really was Eric Clapton’s show but he had some hot young buck pedal steel guitarist matching him lick for lick.

2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction: Complete Results

Below are the sale results of all 88 Lots sold at the June 24, 2004, Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction at Christie's in New York. Please note: "Estimate" and "Final Price" are in U.S. dollars and the final auction price includes the buyer's premium.

Related Articles

2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction: the Auction, the Burst Brothers, and Lee Dickson

Eric Clapton Stratocaster "Blackie" Becomes Most Expensive Guitar Sold at Auction

Countdown to the 2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Auction

Michael Stevens Comments On Two Instruments to be Sold in the Upcoming Eric Clapton Crossroads Auction

Stevie Ray Vaughan's Fender Stratocaster, "Lenny", Added to the Eric Clapton Crossroads Auction

Sale of the Generation: Saiichi Sugiyama on the 1999 Eric Clapton Christie's Crossroads Auction

Eric Clapton's 2004 U.S. Tour Itinerary

Eric Clapton Turns 59

Eric Clapton's Fender Stratocaster, Crash-3: Interview with Artist John "CRASH" Matos

Eric Clapton Guitar Auction, June 24, 2004: More Information and Images

Eric Clapton to Auction 56 Guitars in June, 2004, Including "Blackie"

Eric Clapton and Rory Gallagher

Eric Clapton

Today's the big day - Christie's Eric Clapton Crossroads Auction. We will have a representative on hand and will bring you the results as soon as they're available. The auction starts at 6 pm EDT.

88 items will be auctioned, including a large number of acoustic guitars, various electrics, stage-worn suits, one vintage Fender amplifier, and two Versace guitar straps. Strat Collector will host a permanent page listing all 88 Lots, with information about each Lot. Meanwhile, a table has been provided below that lists all of the Lots with a brief description and Christie's auction estimate.

Of special interest are three electric guitars: "Blackie", the 1964 Gibson ES-335 Clapton used during his time with CREAM, and Stevie Ray Vaughan's Stratocaster named "Lenny". Many expect Blackie to set a new electric guitar auction record.

Rick Landers, a new and welcome addition to the News Desk staff, filed an excellent story about tomorrow's auction: Countdown to the 2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Auction.

Rory Gallagher

Strat Collector News contributor, Patrick Kennedy, recently finished a Rory Gallagher article titled, The Rory Gallagher Tribute Stratocaster: An Interview with John Cruz and Mike Eldred, which is the third in a three-part series about Gallagher. The other two articles are: Rory's Fender Strat, by Donal Gallagher; and, Rory Gallagher: He Lived, Loved, and Died with the Blues, by Patrick Kennedy.

Patrick Kennedy, who produced the three-part Gallagher series, has been a long-time Gallagher fan. Though he now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, Patrick grew up in Ireland and first heard Rory Gallagher's music in 1971 when Patrick was 13, and attended his first Gallagher concert in 1975. He was fortunate enough to see Gallagher play on 47 different occassions and meet him numerous times. Patrick describes Rory Gallagher as having been quite shy and humble.

Rumor has it that Patrick played an important role in Fender's decision to produce the Rory Gallagher Tribute Stratocaster. Congratulations to Patrick and Fender for their efforts in maintaining and spreading the Rory Gallagher legacy, and many thanks to Patrick for his work in writing and producing the three-part Gallagher series for Strat Collector News.

Pictured below: Rory Gallagher (left) and Patrick Kennedy (right) in 1981. Photo courtesy of Patrick Kennedy.

Instrument Review: 2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

by Douglas J. Rathbun

Introduction

Before I begin discussing this amazing guitar, let me put my review in perspective. I have been playing guitar for almost 35 years; mostly acoustic guitar. The guitar with which I started was a Strat-style 1963 Hofner which I sold many years ago. It has only been in the last six years that I have been playing an electric seriously. To start the exploration, I bought a Korean Squier Stratocaster at a pawn shop for $200 Cdn. When the new 2004 models arrived, I just had to have one so I ordered an American Deluxe Stratocaster, three-colour sunburst with a maple fretboard at the beginning of February. After a long-suffering wait, I received the guitar on June 1.

The American Deluxe

The features of the 2004 American Deluxe Stratocaster (010-1200 010-1202) are:

· three single coil Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups

· S1 switching

· deluxe staggered Schaller locking tuning machines

· strap locks

· abalone fret markers

· deluxe polished chrome bridge with two point synchronized tremolo

· snap in tremolo arm

· maple or rosewood 9.5” radius fretboard

· 22 medium jumbo frets

· 50th Anniversary logo neck plate

· C – shaped maple or rosewood neck with rolled edges

· select alder body

The American Deluxe (SSS) is available in:

· 3-Color Sunburst (mint green pickguard)

· Amber (brown shell pickguard)

· Montego Black (beveled gold vinyl pickguard)

· Candy Tangerine (aged white pickguard)

· Chrome Silver (black shell pickguard)

The SCN Pups with S1 Switching

The SCN pickups and the S1 switch are probably the most talked about features of the new Strats. Let's look at the Samarium Cobalt pickups. The first thing you will notice when you plug these puppies in is they are dead quiet! It is a remarkable feat of engineering to get pickups that sound like single coils and yet are completely noiseless. The pickup covers are as discrete with the logo as they are with their noiseless operation. The "SCN" letters are stamped into the pickup covers with no paint inlay; almost invisible.

The pickup wiring has changed since the first 2004 American Deluxes rolled off the assembly line in Corona. The first ones engaged the middle pickup in series with the special capacitor (no tone control) while the S1 switch was down. After playing this for a while, the folks at Fender decided there were not enough variations in sounds and they changed the wiring to engage all three pups with the switch in position three and the S1 switch in the down position. This produces a very full, deep sound. The guitar arrives with an updated diagram detailing the change in wiring. The Fender website has yet to be updated to reflect the change.

I wish Fender had updated the supplied manual to include pickup height specifications for the SCNs. I used the Vintage Noiseless settings but I’ve heard from others that you can treat these pickups like Lace Sensors and bring them as close as you wish to the strings. I am unconvinced of this. Experimentation might solve the dilemma.

You can obtain an amazing array of sounds with this guitar. Put your tone controls and your amp settings into the mix and you will be lost for days in exploration. With the flick of a switch you can go from a snappy, sparkling clean tone, to a creamy, throaty sound which I particularly enjoy. The S1 switch does seem to pop however, when engaging it in the 3rd position.

The Finish

The craftsmanship on this guitar is exactly what you would expect from a guitar at this price point from a fine guitar maker like Fender. The finish is polyurethane, with a glossy, deep, flawless clearcoat on the body and the headstock, which is adorned with a delicate silver Fender “spaghetti logo”. The neck has a silky, smooth, satin finish. All the hardware is polished chrome. The locking tuners are smooth and easy to use. The guitar comes from the Corona factory in a standard setup and in tune.

I immediately tightened the tremolo so the bridge was almost flush with the body and recalibrated the setup to factory specs. The Strat is shipped with .42 - .09 Fender Bullets installed. The plain strings G, B and E, tended to ping while tuning. A little WD40 on the nut solved that problem. The shorter than standard, snap-in tremolo arm is a nice feature, although mine seems to take a great deal of effort to get in and, especially, out. It is also very loose when snapped in place. I’ve played other American Deluxe Strats with the snap-in arm where the fit is snug; keeping the arm in the position you leave it. I have to reach for mine once I let go. Maybe a bit of chewing gum might help.

The pickguard and tremolo cover, as is normal, arrives with a translucent plastic film attached. The film comes off easily enough around the pickguard screws as the film is enlarge to slip over them, but the pickup adjustment screws sit on top of the film, leaving myriad small strands of film dangling from the screws. Tweezers and patience are required to remove the remnants.

The Neck

With all the talk about the S1 switch and the SCN pickups, the most amazing element of this guitar is being overlooked; the neck. I do not think I have held a more comfortable guitar in my hands. The Stratocaster is already the most ergonomically designed electric guitar on the planet. Add this magnificently sculpted neck, with the new contoured heel, and the guitar is a dream to hold and play. You just want to caress it! The 22 medium jumbo frets are well dressed and polished. The abalone fret markers on the C-shape maple neck with a three-color sunburst finish make this guitar sight to behold. When I am not playing it, I am admiring it sitting in the tweed case with red poodle interior I purchased especially for my new baby!

The Accessories

The accessories provided with the American Deluxe are:

· Fender logo standard molded case (two keys)

· Fender logo 9’ guitar cable

· Fender logo leather guitar strap

· Sample (28ml) Meguiar’s Mist & Wipe Finish Enhancer

· Allen wrenches for setup

The accessories are quite generous. The guitar strap and cable are good quality. My quarrel is with the standard molded case. Fender should be delivering the Deluxe Strats in the deluxe cases - especially for the 50th Anniversary year. When you pay $1425 Cdn. for a Strat, it should come with a better case than the standard issue for made-in-Mexico Strats worth a few hundred dollars.

My Appraisal

How do I feel about this guitar? Elated is not descriptive enough! It is worth every penny of the $1425 (Cdn) I paid for it. The Korean Squier is a toy compared to the finish, quality and tone of this guitar. I am fully of the opinion that a quality instrument will immediately improve the playing of any guitarist, regardless of their level of expertise.

I spent a great deal of time playing many American Strats in five stores around my city. I found I could tell the quality guitars from the dogs by playing them unplugged first. If it felt “sexy” in my hands and vibrated through me when played unplugged, it was a guitar with a soul. Plugged in, the SCN pickups are startling in their clarity and noiseless “Strattiness”. I am sure Leo would have approved of these new pickups.

The S1 switch will keep you from second guessing yourself as to whether you should have purchased an HSS Strat instead. The variety of tone you can squeeze out of this instrument will keep you happy for many, many years. This guitar will never be a closet classic on eBay in 2025! It will be played, and played. I cannot guarantee the quality of the playing, but I can guarantee the quality of this beautiful guitar by Fender.

50th Anniversary American Deluxe Stratocaster

Recommended Links

Official Fender 2004 American Deluxe Stratocaster Specifications

Mr. Gearhead Stratocaster Setup Guide (pdf)

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Clinics and Concert Update

Eric Clapton has announced that Jeff Beck will join him on stage at the Crossroads Guitar Festival to be held in Dallas June 4- 6, 2004.

CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CONCERT AND CLINIC, AN SBC PRESENTATION

TALENT LINE-UP

Friday, June 4, the Guitar Center Village, located on the grounds of Fair Park, will open to the public at 4:00pm. Guitar clinics and concert performances are as follows:

Saturday, June 5, the Guitar Center Village will open to the public at 10:00am. The day's events include guitar clinics and live performances on the fairgrounds:

Sunday, June 6, the Guitar Center Village will open to the public at 10:00am and remain open through the remainder of the day, followed that afternoon by the spectacular culmination of the festival with an 11-hour concert at the Cotton Bowl:

NOTE: This is a preliminary artist and performance schedule and is subject to change. For more information, please visit www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com.

Related Articles

2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction: the Auction, the Burst Brothers, and Lee Dickson

Sale of the Generation: Saiichi Sugiyama on the 1999 Eric Clapton Christie's Crossroads Auction

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Eric Clapton's Fender Stratocaster, Crash-3: Interview with Artist John "CRASH" Matos

Eric Clapton Guitar Auction, June 24, 2004: More Information and Images

Rory Gallagher and the Fender Stratocaster

Strat Collector News is very pleased to publish the first of three articles in a series about Rory Gallagher and his Fender Stratocaster. This first article, by Rory's brother, Dónal, is titled "Rory's Fender Strat" and gives us an intimate glimpse of how the infamous 1961 Sunburst Stratocaster came into Rory's life and what it meant to him.

The next two articles, by Patrick Kennedy, offer a detailed look at the Fender Custom Shop Rory Gallagher Tribute Stratocaster (including an interivew with Master Builder John Cruz) and an article about his life and life-long love affair with the Blues.

Strat Player of the Year Competition

Fender Europe Ltd., recently announced its "Strat Player of the Year, 2004" competition, the winner of which will receive:

*A limited edition American Deluxe 50th Anniversary Stratocaster
*A Custom Series '57 Twin Amp
* Backstage access to Fender Europe's Strat concert at Wembley
*The chance to play at Arundel Castle in front of 2,500 people
*A special winner's trophy

Competition begins by the submission of a five-minute or shorter performance recorded on CD and sent, along with a completed entry form, to Fender Europe Ltd. The next level of the competition includes a live performance of the piece previously submitted on CD.

While there is no age restriction, eligible contestants must be a citizen of the European Union.

For further information, please visit Fender Europe's "Strat Player of the Year" web page.

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Concert Line-up

A preliminary performance schedule for the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Concert series to be held during this summer's Crossroads Guitar Festival has been announced. The Festival will take place June 4-6 at the Fair Park and the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Please note, the line-ups below are "preliminary" and subject to change. For further information, visit the Festival website.

Friday, June 4
The Guitar Center Village, located on the grounds of Fair Park, will open to the public at 4:00pm followed by a Blues Guitar Clinic and a Metal Clinic headed by Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) and George Lynch (Dokken/Lynch Mob). A live performance, to be announced, is set to follow later in the evening.

Saturday, June 5
The Guitar Center Village will open to the public at 10:00am. The day's events include live performances on the fairgrounds by Neal Schon/Jonathan Cain (Journey), Tommy Shaw/James Young (Styx), Del Castillo, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Jonny Lang, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Johnson, Dan Tyminski, J.J. Cale, John Mayer, Robert Randolph and an All-Star Blues Jam beginning at 9:00pm. An Acoustic Guitar and Shredders Clinic along with additional artist performances and open Q&A forums continue through the day.

Sunday, June 6
The Guitar Center Village will open to the public at 10:00am followed by the Picker's Corner Clinic featuring James Burton (Elvis Presley) and Marty Stuart. The festival will conclude with a concert at the Cotton Bowl Stadium beginning at 12:00pm. Artists scheduled to perform include Neal Schon, Steve Vai, Larry Carlton, Sonny Landreth, Vince Gill, Pat Metheny, Brian May, Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan & Hubert Sumlin with Booker T, Bo Diddley, David Hidalgo, Joe Walsh, John McLaughlin, James Taylor, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan & BB King, Carlos Santana, ZZ Top and Eric Clapton.

Related Articles

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Clinics and Concert Update

Eric Clapton's 2004 U.S. Tour Itinerary

Sale of the Generation: Saiichi Sugiyama on the 1999 Eric Clapton Christie's Crossroads Auction

Eric Clapton's 2004 U.S. Tour Itinerary

Eric Clapton Turns 59

Eric Clapton's Fender Stratocaster, Crash-3: Interview with Artist John "CRASH" Matos

Eric Clapton Guitar Auction, June 24, 2004: More Information and Images

The Michael Perry Stratocaster Collection Is on the Market

Strat collector Michael Perry has decided to sell his collection. It includes some very significant pieces with respect to Fender history, such as the first two 1979 25th Silver Anniversary Stratocasters (prototype #000000 and first production model #000001), and the first official Fender Custom Shop guitar, the double-neck with serial number 0001 and the first Custom Shop guitar sold to the public, the Mary Kaye with serial number 0050.

The Custom Shop Harley-Davidson Strat bears serial number 002. Number 001 belongs to Fender CEO Bill Schultz.

The Floyd Rose Stratocaster is the first production model with serial number FN200001.

All eleven Strats can be seen on the collection website.

I have been retained by Mr. Perry to represent him with respect to the sale of the collection. Please address inquiries to either tomwatson@stratcollector.com or collection@stratovarious.com.

Stevie Ray Vaughan's Fender Stratocaster, "Lenny", Added to the Eric Clapton Crossroads Auction

According to a brief report (requires free subscription) in the Sunday, April 25, 2004, edition of the Fort Worth, Texas, newspaper, the Star-Telegram, Stevie Ray Vaughan's Fender Strat he named "Lenny" will be included in this summer's Eric Clapton Crossroads auction at Christie's. The Strat, along with many other SRV guitars, has been in the safe-keeping of SRV's brother, Jimmie Vaughan, since the Texas bluesman's death in 1990. According to the Star-Telegram, also added to the auction is a replica of SRV's "#1". Though not stated in the article, it's most likely one of the Fender Custom Shop Tribute instruments.

Icons of Twentieth Century Music Auction: Final Bidding Update

by TOM WATSON

The Icons of 20^th Century Music Auction will be held this Saturday, April 17, 2004, in conjunction with the 27^th Annual Dallas Guitar Show. The auction has received a good deal of attention internationally from collectors, investors, and just about anyone else interested in celebrity-related memorabilia and significant collectible guitars.

For good reason.

Some of the instruments (among the hundreds of other celebrity-related items) to be auctioned are: Kurt Cobain's Mosrite, an Allman Brothers 1957 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top, two guitars owned by George Harrison, a left-handed Hofner bass signed by Paul McCartney, Eric Johnson's 1965 Dakota Red Stratocaster, 1955 Fender Stratocaster used by the Yardbirds, and Roger McGuinn's (The Byrds) 1966 Rickenbacker Model 370-12. These are in addition to the piano used by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for composing many of their famous hits.

Bidding and Important Links

There are several ways in which you can participate in the auction:

Bid live on the auction floor in Dallas.

Submit an absentee bid via Heritage Auction's online bidding system.

Submit an absentee bid via eBay Live!

Participate in the live bidding during the auction via eBay Live!

Here are the links you'll need:

To view the lots and submit an absentee bid via Heritage Auction's online bidding system: Heritage Online Bidding Home Page

To view the lots and submit an absentee bid via eBay: Icons of 20th Century Music eBay Absentee Bids on eBay

To submit a live bid during the auction via eBay Live: Icons of 20th Century Music eBay Live Information Page

A little guidance

Not enough ways to participate in the auction? Here's one more: you can also submit absentee bids via FAX until noon (US Central Time) on April 16 (use the Heritage Online Bidding Home Page link above for more information).

With so many options, what's a bidder to do?

If you can't attend the auction in person you have two basic choices: submit an absentee bid in advance of the auction or participate in the live auction via eBay Live.

Absentee bids are similar to eBay reserve auction bids: you enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the item and then, during the live auction, bids are entered on your behalf up to your maximum. It's as if you're attending the auction with a pre-set spending limit. Auction personnel take care of submitting incremental bids for you. If the bidding goes over your maximum, you're out of the action.

If you can't attend in person but want the adrenalin rush of live bidding, then you can submit your own real time bids during the live auction on Saturday via eBay Live. To participate, you must be an eBay member, you must sign up to participate in this auction via eBay Live, and, you must submit your intention to participate to the auctioneers and have your participation approved prior to the auction. Don't expect to log into eBay this Saturday and start bidding unless your eBay ID has been approved first.

You can register for eBay Live participation through this link: Icons of 20th Century Music eBay Live Information Page. Register your interest with eBay Live and then you'll receive an email from the auctioneer asking you to complete a registration form from which they will approve or decline your participation.

Online Absentee Bids Cutoff

You will find this language on several pages of the Heritage online bidding system:

This Signature Auction is being held in Dallas, TX on Saturday, April 17, 2004. Online bidding ends at 10:00PM CT the night before the floor session for this lot. Your secret maximum bid will compete for you during the floor auction, and it is possible that you may be outbid on the floor after internet bidding closes. The applicable buyer's premium for this auction is an amount equal to 17.5% (minimum $6 per lot) of the successful bid. Sales Tax may be charged for this auction if you reside in the following state(s): TX (more info...). Terms and Conditions.

This applies only to online absentee bids, not to participating in the live auction via eBay Live.

Buyer's Premium

Don't forget, you have to add the auction fee to whatever the final bid is - an additional 17.5% (according to the Heritage site) or 20% (according to the eBay absentee bid pages). You'll have to contact Heritage to confirm the actual percentage that will be added to the final bid as the buyer's premium.

Absentee or eBay Live?

You'll have to decide for yourself, but here's something to consider.

Participation in the auction via eBay Live has one major handicap - it's completely dependent upon the stability of your Internet connection and your computer's ability to handle a fast moving java script application. If you lose your connection during the auction, or your computer crashes, there's nothing you can do about it. The auction for that item will probably be over by the time you reconnect and can get back into the action.

See this article for a true story of what a bad Internet connection can mean.

The downside of placing a pre-auction absentee bid is you can't change your mind during the auction. Heaven forbid that the item you have your heart set on reaches one increment over your maximum bid and goes to another bidder. On the other hand, having an unalterable maximum bid in place before the heat of the auction will prevent you from being swept up in the thrill of the moment and bidding more than you were originally willing to pay (and perhaps can afford).

Whichever method you choose, be sure to do your homework. Read all of the auction terms and conditions, study the lot descriptions, determine what you think the item is worth to you, and set a budget.

We will provide post-auction results early next week.

George Harrison Fender Squier Stratocaster to Be Auctioned Again

by TOM WATSON

Last November, the London auction house Cooper Owen sold a Fender Squier Stratocaster once owned by George Harrison for approximately $30,000 USD. This was the same auction in which Harrison's first guitar, an acoustic Egmond, brought $470,000.

The Harrison Squier is now back on the auction block (see image and information below).

It is one of the lots offered in the Icons of 20^th Century Music Auction to be held Saturday, April 17, 2004, in conjunction with the 27^th Annual Dallas Guitar Show. According to the Heritage Auctions site, the company holding the Icons Auction, as of the date and time of this story, bidding is currently at $29,000 (excluding the buyer's premium) and the next bid will meet the instrument's reserve.

Also included in the Icons Auction is George Harrison's Harptone 12 string guitar (see image and information below).

The Beatles: George Harrison / Spike Milligan owned Ltd Edition Silver Series Fender Stratocaster guitar. A Fender Stratocaster guitar, serial no. L-036415, given by George Harrison to Spike Milligan, in a hardshell tweed case. The guitar is accompanied by a letter on Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Europe, letterhead from Jamie Crompton, artist relations manager, Fender Europe, dated 16/3/03, that reads: "To Whom It May Concern: History of Fender Stratocaster, No. L-036415. This guitar was delivered from Fender Europe to legendary Beatles guitarist George Harrison. He personalized the instrument and had it 'set up' to his specification. George Harrison gave the guitar to the genius comedian/poet/author, and musician, Spike Milligan. Spike passed the instrument on to international session guitarist based in London, Troy Tempest." This guitar stands as one of the last Harrison guitars known to exist in private hands. Given the extreme rarity and extraordinary desirability, this guitar stands as a superb investment grade relic for any serious music memorabilia collector or Strat connoisseur. Est. 40,000-up.

The Beatles: George Harrison's Harptone 12 String Guitar. George Harrison received this guitar prior to recording The Beatles' 'White Album.' While there is currently no evidence that it was used on any Beatles recording, it was used by George and members of Badfinger on the sessions for George's All Things Must Pass LP set and by Badfinger member Tom Evans at Madison Square Garden during the Concert For Bangla Desh charity shows. In 1974, George gave the guitar to Bob Purvis, a member of the band Splinter. George produced Splinter's debut LP, 'The Place I Love,' and played this guitar during those sessions. The original tuners were replaced some time before George gave the guitar to Mr. Purvis. An endpin mini-jack and Barcus Berry pickup were professionally installed in the mid to late 1970s. Harptone's instruments were built in Newark, New Jersey, from 1966 until the mid-1970s. This instrument comes with a letter of authenticity on Harrison's letterhead. George Harrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of The Beatles. He has been inducted again this year, 2004, as a solo artist. Est. 80,000-up.

Icons of Twentieth Century Music Auction Now Accepting Online Bids

Icons of Twentieth Century Music Auction to Include Two Noteworthy Vintage Fender Stratocasters

Icons Auction to Include Cobain's Mosrite Guitar and Note About Auction Estimates

World's Most Expensive Fender Squire

Fender Stratocasters in the News

In light of 2004 being the Stratocaster's 50th anniversary, it's no surprise that the instrument has been featured in a large number of stories on the news wires. A very large number. While most of the articles focus on the anniversary, with some mild seasoning thrown in for taste, every now and then a Strat story comes along that stands out in the crowd.

Here are two such stories.

From The Toronto Star:

'A hunk of wood and some magnets'

How an underdog guitar, the Fender Stratocaster,
became the soul of rock 'n' roll

by GREG QUILL
Entertainment Columnist, The Toronoto Star

"There's no sensation like it ... when you switch on a Fender amp and hear that characteristic `thop' sound, and the whispering hum of the pickups waiting to make a noise ... and then the crisp, bright, deep tone of the low E string, so vibrant, so masculine, and you see heads turn and the crowd start to draw close.

"That's a great feeling."

Toronto rocker and veteran guitarist Danny Marks is putting into words what he feels every time he sets his machine — he calls his favourite Stratocaster "Daddy's little moneymaker" — in motion.

Read full story...

And from The Tennessean:

Guitarist won't let Parkinson's rob him of his rocker spirit

by TIM GHIANNI
Senior Writer

A finger on his left hand jerks to a frozen point. His leg kicks toward the ceiling. The guitar player whose smooth blues vibrato helped flavor Southern rock twists violently in his chair, staring, momentarily, at the fish tank beside him.

Jimmy Nalls' wife, Minni, hurries to his side and helps prop him squarely in his chair. The battle with Parkinson's Disease is not one that the guitarist faces alone.

Read full story...

The Death of Larry LaPrise

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a reader letting me know that composer Larry LaPrise had recently died at the age of 93. A one sentence message from an anonymous HotMail account addressed to news@stratcollector.com.

Had no idea who LaPrise was but figured there had to be a Stratocaster somewhere in the story.

Google tells me that LaPrise co-wrote the only song I'll dance to in public while sober: The Hokey Pokey.

Okay. Maybe LaPrise had a stash of near mint '54 Strats that will be coming up for sale in an estate auction.

Replied to the anonymous email asking if there was something to the story of LaPrise's death that I was missing, some connection to guitars. A few days later I received this cryptic response: "The Hokey Pokey was the B-side of Ray Anthony's 1953 hit, The Bunny Hop."

Great. 1953. Ray Anthony. Hokey Pokey. Bunny Hop. Maybe the phantom tipster knows me and is suggesting I add the Bunny Hop to my public dance repetoire.

Send another email asking why LaPrise's death is something I need to know. No reply to-date.

I "poke" a little further into the LaPrise story. Left brain in, left brain out.

Turns out that LaPrise (make that Roland Lawrence LaPrise) actually died at the age of 83, and not so recently (1996). Three writers get the credit for the Hokey Pokey lyrics: R. Lawrence LaPrise, Charles Peter Macak, and Taft Baker, the three members of LaPrise's group, The Ram Trio, that originally recorded the Hokey Pokey in 1949. Research fails to answer if LaPrise was a guitarist, but I doubt The Ram Trio was an early three-man Double Trouble.

Have to pull the plug on this curiosity, so I bring in the big gun - my wife, the serious newspaper journalist.

A few minutes later she calls me over to the computer and says the only "connection" to Stratocasters she can find is in a quote buried in an old Associated Press piece about LaPrise's death: "Jane Shattuc, a professor of mass cummunication at Emerson College, put it this way: 'There are two ways to understand the Hokey Pokey. You can see it as a childish game, typical of Americans' fascination with being inane, or kind of a refusal of adulthood. But, you can also see it as a celebration of taking pleasure in childhood irreverence. To paraphrase the song, I think that's what it's all about.'"

She gets up and reminds me that I have to mow the lawn today.

Eric Clapton's New CD Sets Sales Record; Crossroads Guitar Festival Ticket Information

Warner Brothers Music Group has announced that digital sales of Eric Clapton's new CD, Me and Mr. Johnson, has set a pre-release digital sales record for the company. The CD was made available on March 23, one week before its official retail release, through digital download music vendors such as applemusic.com, napster.com, musicmatch.com, listen.com, buymusic.com, liquidaudio.com, and the Warner Brothers Records Digital Music Store.

The CD became available at retail outlets on March 30, and debuted at #6 on Billboard's Top 200 album sales the week of April 5.

[Image: Me and Mr. Johnson CD artwork. The cover illustration by Peter Blake includes both published photographs of Robert Johnson: a rendering of the Robert Johnson Studio Portrait / Hooks Bros., Memphis c. 1935 / © 1989 Delta Haze Corporation / the Robert Johnson photo booth self-portrait, early 1930s / © 1986 Delta Haze Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.]

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival

Friday, June 4, Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, Dallas Fair Park.

Tickets are available now through ticketmaster.

The festival will be the first of its kind to create a unique bridge between fans and musicians through leading guitar manufacturer exhibits and guitar clinics. Attendees will be offered once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be in an intimate setting as artists give fans the ultimate look into their craft. The Guitar Center Village activities for Saturday, June 5 include live music performances on three stages. SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Official Satellite Radio Partner, will host one of these stages and will broadcast from the Festival.

The Crossroads Guitar Festival culminates on Sunday, June 6 with an All-Star special benefit concert at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. The concert, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue through Sunday evening will include performances by Eric Clapton and Doyle Bramhall II, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Larry Carlton, Robert Cray, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, David Hidalgo, Eric Johnson, B.B. King, Sonny Landreth, Brian May, John Mayer, Pat Metheny, Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, Hubert Sumlin, James Taylor, Dan Tyminski, Steve Vai, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Walsh and ZZ Top. The extraordinary “house bands” will be none other than Booker T & The MG’s, Jimmie Vaughan’s band and Eric Clapton’s band. Other artists will be announced as details are confirmed.

Proceeds from the festival will raise money for Crossroads Centre Antigua, the treatment and education center founded in 1997 by Eric Clapton.

Although not yet ready to announce details, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation will also participate in the festival with an elaborate booth that Strat enthusiasts won't want to miss.

Crossroads Guitar Festival Hours and Ticket Prices

Friday, June 4, $15
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Guitar Center Village open to the public

Saturday, June 5, $45
11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Guitar Center Village open to the public and live entertainment on three stages

Sunday, June 6, $60
11:00 a.m. Guitar Center Village open all day to the public & doors open to stadium
1:00 p.m. – TBD Cotton Bowl Concert

Eric Clapton's 2004 U.S. Tour Itinerary

Eric Clapton has announced the itinerary for his 2004 concert tour in the United States.

June 4, 5, 6 Crossroads Guitar Festival, Dallas, TX
June 9 Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK
June 11 Alltel Arena, Little Rock, AR
June 12 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
June 14 St. Petersburg Times Forum, St. Petersburg, FL
June 15 Office Depot Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
June 16 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL
June 18 Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA
June 19 Bi-Lo Center, Greenville, SC
June 21 MCI Center, Washington, DC
June 23 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
June 26 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
June 28 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
June 29 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
June 30 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

July 3 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
July 4 Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
July 7 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
July 9 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
July 10 Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
July 12 Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
July 13 Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
July 15 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
July 17 United Center, Chicago, IL
July 18 Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
July 20 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
July 22 Qwest Center, Omaha, NE
July 24 Pepsi Center Arena, Denver, CO
July 27 Key Arena, Seattle, WA
July 28 Rose Garden Arena, Portland, OR
July 30 HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA
July 31 HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA

August 2 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA

Related Articles

2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction: the Auction, the Burst Brothers, and Lee Dickson

2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction: Complete Results

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Clinics and Concert Update

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Concert Line-up

Sale of the Generation: Saiichi Sugiyama on the 1999 Eric Clapton Christie's Crossroads Auction

Eric Clapton Turns 59

Eric Clapton's Fender Stratocaster, Crash-3: Interview with Artist John "CRASH" Matos

Eric Clapton Guitar Auction, June 24, 2004: More Information and Images

Eric Clapton to Auction 56 Guitars in June, 2004, Including "Blackie"

Icons Auction to Include Cobain's Mosrite Guitar and Note About Auction Estimates

Icons Auction to Include Cobain's Mosrite Guitar; Note About Auction Estimates

Kurt Cobain's 1960s Mark IV-style Mosrite Gospel Guitar

It's been called the "27 Club". Twenty-seven is the age at which rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison died. With his death ten years ago today, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana joined that club.

The upcoming Icons of 20^th Century Music auction will include the sale of Cobain's famous Mosrite Gospel guitar. Image and text below from the auctioneer.

Nirvana: Kurt Cobain's 1960's Mosrite Gospel. This instrument is unusual in a couple of ways. It is the only known example of a Mark IV style Mosrite Gospel model. While Kurt owned and smashed many cheap (usually Univox) copies of Mosrite guitars during his career, this was one of only two actual Mosrites he owned. (The other was damaged and given away.) It was also one of his favorite guitars, which saved it from the usual fate of the instruments he used for live performances. Kurt purchased the guitar in San Francisco in 1990. "According to Earnie [Bailey], 'Kurt had only one Gospel, and this is a beyond rare guitar. At the time Kurt died, I was secretly working with Loretta Mosley to build Kurt a lefty Gospel... in some cool color.' Unfortunately, Kurt passed away as Earnie was gathering photos to send to Mosrite of Kurt's original. 'Loretta sent me a nice letter after it ended, as she had recently lost Semie (husband, founder of Mosrite) and was now running Mosrite on her own... she had sent me some sales literature of another Gospel, but could find no history of ever having made one based on the Mark IV guitar.'" (Quote reprinted from www.kurtsequipment.com.) Kurt had painted the very small Mosrite dot markers with white-out to make them more visible in a live setting. Although the current owner removed this simple modification, residue is still visible on the instrument. This is a factory right handed instrument, so it was modified for Kurt with a strap button added to the treble side horn, and the original metal string guide has been flipped to allow it to be strung left handed. The original case bears the words 'NIRVANA' and 'F... Elvis' [colorful expletive deleted here but preserved on the case - Ed.] in white paint which, while painted over with the same white paint, are still visible on inspection. Est. 250,000-up.

About Auction Estimates

Have received several emails asking what pre-auction "estimates" mean, especially with reference to the upcoming Christie's Crossroads Auction featuring Eric Clapton's "Blackie". Understandable, since Christie's 1999 pre-auction estimate for "Brownie" was $80,000-100,000 and it sold for $497,500.

I contacted Christie's for comment. Here is the reply:

Estimates are based on so many different factors: the condition of the instrument, the type of the instrument, the rarity, prices that were set for comparable instruments in the market, etc. In the case of a 'celebrity' sale such as the Eric Clapton sale, one tries to reflect the 'celebrity' status in the estimates but since it's not a straightforward science it may very well be that the final price is much higher than what was estimated - so estimates are 'an indication' of the price, but again, in the case of a celebrity instrument coming up for sale, prices very often do go higher.

Related Article

Icons of Twentieth Century Music Auction: Final Bidding Update

27th Annual Dallas Guitar Show, April 17-18, 2004

Have mentioned the upcoming Dallas Guitar Show in passing. It's the guitar show that anyone interested in collectible Stratocasters (and of course, any other collectible make or model) doesn't want to miss. Here's more detailed information provided by the show's organizers.

This is a guitar show with teeth. Several other noteworthy events will take place in conjunction with the show: the MusicFest, the Icons Auction, the Stevie Ray Vaughan Museum Exhibit, Clinician Stage, and the Texas 10 Under 20 Contest.

Happy Birthday Eric Clapton and News from John Page

Happy birthday, Eric Clapton.

There's good color in Eric Clapton's life these days - marriage, two young children and a healthy teenager, graffiti Art Guitars, a new CD, tour dates, major charity auction, hunting, and, I'm sure, much more.

Congratulations, Eric Clapton. We wish you nothing but the best.

For those who would like to know more about Clapton's recent life, here's a good interview article, Born to the Blues, from Saga magazine. Worth a read.

Speaking of worthy reads...

I have several links to this site in the two recent Clapton articles, but want to mention it again, though its existence won't be news to Clapton fans: Where's ERIC! - the Clapton Fanzine. With all the breaking Clapton news, they've been extremely busy but found the time to help me research the last two Clapton articles. Much appreciated.

John Page

And speaking of "where is", I have received a number of emails asking where former Fender Custom Shop manager (and wearer of several other hats at Fender during his more than twenty years there) John Page is these days.

Here's the answer: John retired from Fender, moved to the wilds of Oregon (my description of where in Oregon, not his), and is pursuing a non-guitar-related art career.

Today, John announced the opening of his website, p(one)c and you're all invited to visit and see some great examples of his "functional fine art".

John's site was built by his son, Adam, who, from what I hear, is now the Page family guitar builder. Adam has his own site at www.2widepro.com.

Congratulations, John and Adam.

[Image: New Gothage Curio by John Page. Functional wood sculpture featuring birdseye maple. Copyright 2004, John Page. All rights reserved.]

Auction Buzz, Art Guitar "Replicas" and Working Strats

Auction Buzz

No doubt the hottest Stratocaster news at the moment centers on two upcoming auctions:

Icons of 20th Century Music
April 17 and 18, 2004
Dallas Market Hall, Dallas, Texas

Crossroads Guitar Auction ~ Eric Clapton and Friends for the Crossroads Centre
June 24, 2004
Rockefeller Center, New York City, New York

These two auctions feature some of the most collecitble Strats to come on the market in quite some time. The availability of Eric Clapton's "Blackie" makes it the hottest item since the 1999 sale of "Brownie", at least as far as Stratocasters go, and with the Icons auction featuring vintage Strats that were used as working instruments by Eric Johnson and one by the Yardbirds, we're seeing instruments hit the market that have significance beyond a mere celebrity-autographed pickguard.

Large photos of "Blackie" and two other Strats to be auctioned from Clapton's collection are now available on the Clapton auction index page. Worth taking a look, unless you have a slow connection.

Interesting to note Christie's auction price estimate for "Blackie": $100,000-150,000. Probably off by a million. Started a little "office pool" regarding how much "Blackie" ends up going for - stop by and cast your vote.

Will be filing some in-depth stories about the Strats coming up for auction. We also plan to feature images of all of the guitars that will be in the Crossroads auction when the photos become available. They will be accessible from the Clapton Auction index page mentioned above.

Art Guitar "Replicas"

I should have known better.

Several months ago I wrote an article about non-vintage collectible Strats and how they're a "safer" buy than a vintage Strat for those of us who aren't vintage pros and can't tell a reissue from the real thing. I doubted that anyone would go to the trouble of "replicating" a Custom Shop Art Guitar.

I was wrong.

Non-Fender "Fender" Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster on eBay

Since the link above is to a completed eBay auction, meaning it won't be a good link forever, below are two images of the instrument that was sold (apparently the second one of these this eBay seller has sold).

Looks like the 1997 Fender Custom Shop version. I mean, really looks like it. But, obviously, it's not. Well, not so "obviously". The auction title: JIMI HENDRIX FENDER MONTEREY STRAT Stratocaster L@@K NR. And then those pics with all the Fender accessories sure help to make it look like the real thing.

But, the seller says in the auction description, "Jimi Hendrix Re-creation finished by Luthier Hamilton, Santa Monica, California". We're to believe that some parents had the foresight to name their child "Luthier"?

Seriously though, take a close look at the photo of the headstock. See the Custom Shop logo? The text above reads "Custom Body".

This guitar bothers me. A lot.

I could understand someone wanting to make their own replica of Jimi's Monterey Strat based on the images available. But that's not what this guitar is. This is a replica of Fender's 1997 Custom Shop instrument. Period.

When Pamelina H did the design for the Custom Shop Strat she deviated somewhat from the original (at Fender's request) and also added the "backstage pass" graphic, which certainly was not on Hendrix's guitar. Whoever built this instrument didn't study and attempt to replicate the Monterey Strat, he, or she, studied and attempted to replicate the 1997 Custom Shop version.

Will the Harley and Playboy Strats be next? Means we now have to take a closer look at even the Art Guitars with respect to authenticity. Sad.

Working Strats

Last November I talked about blues singer/guitarist Jerry Henry (Magayne), the release of his new CD, and the fact that he used his 1965 CAR Strat on the CD and uses it when he performs. Point being, that collectibility issues aside, fine vintage instruments are still fine working tools.

Ever hear of Billy Maddox? If you live in Austin, Texas, and enjoy live music you probably have. Or, if you're an Eric Johnson fan and live anywhere in the world you probably have (Maddox played drums in both the Electromagnets and Alien Love Child). He and Johnson are associated with a wide variety of music styles - from blues to rock to fusion jazz.

What may be news to some Eric Johnson/Billy Maddox fans is that Maddox is also an accomplished guitarist in his own right. He has recorded a CD, Receiver Set, on which he is the guitarist, singer, percussionist, and most likely just about everything else associated with the recording.

His guitar? A 1957 Fender Stratocaster. No, not a reissue or a Custom Shop recreation. The real thing. His site, linked above, provides sound clips of several tunes on the CD, which serve as further proof of the classic Strat's potential - from bar room blues to contemporary fusion, it delivers. A study in the flexibility of both a musician and an instrument.

Welcome to the Corner

The Strat Collector News Desk has a new face - and name. We are pleased to launch Strat Collector News, an expanded version of the Strat Collector News Desk.

All links to previous News Desk articles, and to the News Desk itself, are still valid. We've simply added more features and performed a facelift.

New features

Front Page

- The hub of Strat Collector News. Synopses of recent News Desk articles and links to all other Strat Collector News destinations.

Column(s)

- Collector's Corner, and more columns coming soon, including "On the Road" that will cover news from major guitar shows around the United States.

On the Market

- A presentation of fine vintage and non-vintage collectible instruments currently offered by well known and well respected vendors.

Reviews (coming soon)

- Books, CDs/DVDs, and live performances.

Please spend a few minutes to explore. I hope you'll find it worthwhile.