June 21, 2004
Countdown to the 2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Auction
Text and Images by RICK LANDERS
A small group of journalists whisper like acolytes among themselves as if they are in the presence of the Lord. But the guitarist and music legend who was referred to as God on a London wall in the 1960s is nowhere to be found. Three time Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton and his crew are elsewhere, hard at work preparing for an evening’s concert at Atlanta’s Philip’s Arena.
The press was invited by Christie’s of New York to preview many of the guitars Eric Clapton and friends have donated for the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Auction that will take place at Christie's on June 24. The proceeds from the upcoming event will benefit the Crossroads Centre on the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua. For a full list and description of the instruments and items to be auctioned, visit Christie's website.
The Centre was established by Clapton in 1997. As a recovering addict and alcoholic, he was grateful for the treatment he received and wanted to help others in a similar situation. He helped establish the rehabilitation Centre to offer quality care and treatment to those who could not otherwise afford it. The 36 bed facility recently opened a new 16 bed half-way house to care for patients as they transition back to their communities. The success rate for those who further rebuild their lives through the half-way facility is expected to reach 90%. Those who know Eric have said that the project elegantly reflects his inherent compassion for others with his practical sense of purpose.
Even though the “end game” for the Crossroads Auction is taking care of others in need, all eyes in Christie's preview room are on the small herd of guitars that have been donated to accomplish that objective.
The instruments are perfectly presented by Christie’s very able staff. They are set in simple rows, adorned only by soft splashes of light. All are stunning.
A small number of instruments rest quietly on their stands somewhat apart from the others. They are the stars of the show.
In the distance sits a beat-up old black, alder-bodied, 1964 Fender Stratocaster. Facing it is a magnificent 1964 cherry-red semi-hollow body Gibson ES-335. Closer to the entrance at the other end of the room is a roadhouse 1965 Stratocaster in clear mahogany finish with glittering truckstop letters reading “SRV”.
Guitar collectors know these three instruments as “Blackie”, Clapton’s ES, and “Lenny”, respectively - the headliners of this silent musical show.
The members of the press stage themselves at the guitars, one at a time and squint down at small paper placards that note each guitar’s lot number, its name brand and model, year of construction, and a range of value. A few of the Stratocasters seem aptly named as their prices rocket into the stratosphere.
Clapton has stated, “This is the A-team, the guitars that helped me shape my vision, and taught me to play. Having said that, I hasten to add, that they do not all have star status, but those that do, have it in spades.”
Blackie’s lot number is 88, so for fun we’ll call her the “Rocket 88” of the group, with a price range that blasts up to an estimated $100,000 to $150,000. That’s one high flying bird.
No one in the room believes that she’ll sell for that amount. Blackie will most likely fetch a half million or more.
Blackie’s history, or provenance as they say in collector circles, is unique. In 1970, Clapton stepped into a Nashville guitar shop and bought six old “Strats” for a hundred dollars each. When he returned home to England, he gave three to his good mates, Pete Townshend, George Harrison, and Steve Winwood. He kept the other three and built Blackie out of the best parts from each, making Blackie what players today either lovingly or derisively call a “Frankenstrat”.
Blackie is now retired. She looks like she’s weathered a few storms in her days on the road. The guitar’s back is worn to the bone and the fretboard has seen miles and miles of action. Without her Clapton association, the old relic would pull in less than $5,000 at a vintage guitar shop. But to most of the bidders who will show up at Christie’s on Thursday, Blackie’s the “keeper”.
The bidding for Blackie is expected to be the most exciting of the event - just how high bidding will soar is anyone’s guess. At the 1999 Crossroads auction, also held at Christie's in New York, Blackie’s old roommate “Brownie” sold for over $450,000. Christie’s sales costs, or premium, edged the actual cost of the sunburst Strat to over $500,000.
Christie’s staff is absolutely superb. While one journalist was taking shots of the company’s front entrance the door man cordially asked if the man would like to “come in and visit”.
Bendetta Roux, Christie's public relations department, hosts the journalists previewing the guitars and is the epitome of graciousness and elegant understatement. She is very knowledgeable about the guitars, the auction process, and helps ensure that all of her company’s guests have the information they need to get their jobs done, as well as enjoy themselves during their visit.
The group is surprised to meet Carey Wallace, Consultant, Popular Entertainment Department, from Chistie’s South Kensington office in London. Carey kindly takes the time to walk through the show with this journalist, stopping at nearly ten guitars to explain their history and Clapton’s reasons for buying them. She later returns to guide me to two more acoustics that made great impressions on him. She explains that the auctioneer for the Crossroads sales will be Mr. Hugh Edmeades, Chairman of Christie’s, South Kensington, London. Hugh, she says, has been a huge fan of Eric Clapton for years.
The staff at Christie’s were not merely friendly, they were genuinely delightful.
One young staffer offered to escort me to the second floor where the auction will be held this Thursday. The auction room can seat 800 bidders and spectators, both of which are welcome to attend the Crossroads auction. Another 200 can squeeze in if they’re willing to stand. There is a small press section in the rear. An enormous projection screen will be used to show the guitars, as well as several Clapton stage suits and Versace guitar straps that will also be on the auction block.
Bidders can attend the auction or enter absentee bids. Bids can also be made on-line through Christie’s website. The bidding rules of engagement should be very familiar to anyone who has used eBay. Bidders on the auction floor are issued small paddles with numbers on them and flip them up to show the auctioneer when they want to bid. Christie’s does charge a premium for every item they sell and bidders are cautioned to thoroughly study the bidding process in advance and to keep in mind Christie’s added-on service premium to avoid over extending themselves.
Back downstairs in the preview room, a couple of the photographers swap cameras and take pictures of one another next to the mahogany colored guitar called Lenny. Lenny was owned by the formidable Texas guitar slinger, Stevie Ray Vaughan. To many guitarists, Texas Blues is defined by his initials and trademark letters “SRV”.
Stevie died in a helicopter crash in 1990. His brother, Jimmie Vaughan, another cool, hot Texas guitarist, kindly donated Lenny to the Crossroads Guitar Auction. It is the only SRV guitar that has left the family’s estate.
Lenny was named after Stevie’s first wife. He bought the guitar in the 1970s and used it to play the song “Riviera Paradise” on his “In Step” album. The 1965 Stratocaster has been beautifully embellished with a 1910 mandolin style pickguard embedded in its body just below the bridge and tremolo mechanisms.
The estimated auction value for Lenny is an “affordable” $15,000 to $20,000. The real deal here is this guitar is going to cause a feeding frenzy, especially if Christie’s is clever enough to play the instrumental “Lenny” from SRV’s “Texas Flood” album. Bidding for this beautiful Stratocaster will hit all cylinders.
At some point all press visitors turn their heads to the cherry-red guitar down the aisle. The 1964 Gibson ES-335 was Clapton’s second guitar. The last time this reporter saw it was in 1967 at the old Grande Ballroom in Detroit when Eric was the lead guitarist with Cream where he played it while singing a duet with Jack Bruce called “Sunshine of Your Love”. It is in remarkable condition with only a few belt buckle battle scars on the back.
These semi-hollow body guitars aren’t as tough as the Stratocasters. You can beat up Strats and they’ll keep giving. ES-335s are much more delicate and demand more courtesy. But listen to Cream’s “Disraeli Gears” album and hear this guitar honk. 
The remarkable condition of this forty-year-old guitar is almost beyond belief when one considers its history. Eric must be having some sleepless nights over this one. The Gibson has an estimated value, or should it be undervalue, of $60,000 to $80,000. It comes with a hardshell case with the letters C-R-E-A-M stenciled on it.
There’s a Joe Satriani-donated guitar with a mottled black finish, an iridescent guitar by hot rod painter Roy Brizio that changes its complexion from a deep blue to deep purple, and a hot little Antigua sunburst finished Stratocaster. Crash-3, a colorful Strat painted by renowned New York graffiti artist CRASH, is on the road with Clapton, but will return to be sold to the highest bidder.
In another corner is a splendid 23-carat goldleaf finished 1996 Fender Master Built 50th Anniversary Stratocaster. This visually stunning guitar was Eric’s backup instrument on the 1998 Pilgrim World Tour. Goldleaf covers the entire front and back of the axe. It takes your breath away. The placard next to the Strat gives it a range of between $8,000 and $12,000. Right.
Mark Knopfler, B.B. King, Eric Johnson, Pete Townshend, Carlos Santana, Brian May, Otis Rush, Robert Cray, J.J. Cale, Jimmy Page, Pat Metheny Albert Lee, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and others donated and signed guitars for the auction. Most of these guitars of various makes and models are estimated around the $2,000 mark.
One stylish instrument is huddled between some of its bigger guitar brothers. It is a 1957 Fender electric mandolin in a translucent blond finish with a standard 1950s era Fender Stratocaster style headstock. Because of this, some Fender collectors affectionately call these “mando-casters”. Eric bought this to add to his collection as an instrument more to be admired than played. The diminutive mandolin is valued in the $4,000 to $6,000 range.
A superb black Gibson B.B. King Lucille ES-style model rests against its guitar stand and the bluesman’s signature is boldly signed in gold pen across the pickguard. Two years ago, one of these was auctioned off
in Washington, D.C. for $10,000. Christie’s plants a $2,000 to $3,000 price tag on this blues machine.
Will any of these sweetheart prices sneak past the bidding gauntlet?
No.
An exquisite complement of acoustic guitars is also offered at auction. Most are vintage or highly collectible Martins and Gibsons, but one unusually large guitar catches everyone’s eyes almost immediately upon entering the room. It’s a huge twelve string that was designed by 
Tony Zemaitis and Eric around 1968-69. Eric used the guitar on the “Blind Faith” album when he joined up with Steve Winwood (keyboards and guitar) Ric Grech (bass and violin) and Ginger Baker (drums). There is some possibility that it may have been used by Eric’s friend George Harrison on his recording of “My Sweet Lord”.
The guitar is a stand out in any crowd. With a rich mahogany top and rosewood sides and back, the guitar is a super jumbo sized instrument. Tastefully inlaid with a series of red hearts that are complemented with a heart shaped sound hole, the visual appeal of the guitar is magnetic. Every aspect of this fine instrument speaks volumes of the tasteful style of Clapton and the exquisite craftsmanship of Zemaitis. The fingerboard is bound and inlaid with silver, as is the headstock. The back carries the heart motif theme down its center. The twelve-string is simply a work of fine art and the premium price range of $30,000 to $50,000 assures a big wheel barrel of cash for the Crossroads Centre coffer.
A charming little 1977 Juan Alvarez sits in the center line up of guitars. Closer inspection shows that it is the guitar Eric used to write and record his tender hit “Tears in Heaven”. He has inscribed a beautiful note along the lower bout of the Alvarez that reflects a personal turning point for the guitarist and reads, “No More Tears In Heaven”. In 1996, Eric gave the guitar to Giorgio Armani who has generously donated the guitar to the Crossroads Guitar Auction.
There are two delightful resonator guitars, one Hawaiian, in a corner.
And further down the wall a Maccafferi–style Dupont MD-30. On one stand squats a bold looking Coppertone guitar with artistically engraved copper sheeting on its sides and back. The back engraving shows a knight in copper armor surrounded by mountains and a castle.
The preview nears its end and members of the press pass around business cards and head back to their offices to write.
Throughout the preview, an elegantly dressed gentleman has been roaming the room offering warm greetings to all the reporters. He is Tim Sinnott, Executive Director for the Crossroads Center Antigua.
Tim has served as the Executive Director for nearly two years and it is evident that he is a man with a purposeful life. He is enthusiastic about the new 16-bed half-way house and the fact that the Crossroads Centre can now accept women patients.
When he speaks of Eric Clapton it is with deep respect and admiration. When asked, he says that he is not sure if this will be Clapton’s last major guitar auction, but smiles and offers, “One never knows about Eric. He is a kind and generous man…and complex. One key part of the success of the Centre will be realized when we can support ourselves. Eric has been the Centre’s pillar and we are all deeply honored, grateful and moved by his friendship and generous spirit.”
The guitars of the Crossroads Guitar Auction were built to make beautiful music. The proceeds from their sale will be music to the ears of those in Antigua who seek harmony in their lives through the Eric Clapton sponsored Crossroads Centre.
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Published June 21, 2004 07:59 PM.