Eric Clapton Guitar and Amp Collection – Stage Used & Owned by Eric Clapton / Derek and the Dominos – Gibson Guitar, Music Man Half Stack, Marshall Amp and Cabinets, WOW!!! Make’n Music

Eric Clapton Guitar and Amp Collection

Stage Used & Owned by Eric Clapton / Derek and the Dominos

Items in this collection include:

• Custom Gibson ES-335 #EC001
• 1960A and 1960B 4×12 Cabinets circa 1970
• Marshall Bluesbreaker 2×12 Combo – 1962JAG Jaguar Limited Edition
• Music Man HD-150 Reverb Head and Cabinet w/”Duck Bros” Roadcase

 

ATTENTION Serious Collectors and Eric Clapton Enthusiasts! Make’n Music is happy to present this curated selection of gear which was previously owned and used by none other than Slowhand himself, Eric Clapton! Various items are featured as part of this Eric Clapton collection; including a custom Gibson ES-335 electric guitar presented to Eric by Gibson for his 2001 tour, two stage used 4×12 Marshall speaker cabinets stenciled “Derek and the Dominos”, one Jaguar Limited Edition Marshall Bluesbreaker combo amp presented to Eric by Jim Marshall himself, and a stage used Music Man HD-150 Reverb Head and 2×12 Cabinet with “Duck Bros.” roadcase. If you are an avid Clapton collector, or simply an enthusiast of rare, vintage, collectible guitars and amps, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to obtain your own personal Eric Clapton Rig!!! Just imagine this killer selection of gear all set up in your mancave or jam room. Think of all the stages and players this iconic gear has seen. When I close my eyes I can imagine myself there, relishing the sounds (and smells) or Rock and Roll! Keep reading for more detailed information about each piece of gear included in this collection. Also, if you are reading this on a marketplace website, please refer to the Make’n Music website for additional details and photographs. 

 

Items included in this collection of musical equipment owned and used by Eric Clapton:

2001 Gibson ES-335, Cherry Red, Serial Number EC001

This guitar was given to Clapton by Gibson for his 2001 U.S. Tour. It is a custom instrument that features ES-345 style Parallelogram Inlays and Purfling for a stunning, understated yet elegant look. The neck profile is slim and feels exactly like the neck on my own personal vintage 1962 SG Special, and a 1961 ES-335 I used to have, so I suspect it may have been carved especially for Eric to replicate an actual vintage Gibson. It is a phenomenally good sounding and playing guitar. The woods are exquisite too – especially the dark and beautifully figured Rosewood fingerboard. The typical Orange Gibson Label is affixed inside the F-Hole and inscribed with the model ES-335 and sn# EC001. The original brown hardshell case with pink lining is included. The condition is excellent without any serious issues, damage or repairs. There is some minor oxidation to the nickel hardware and maybe a few negligible/superficial dings and dents from use, but overall very nice.

1970 Marshall 4×12 Speaker Cabinets, Model 1960A and 1960B, Serial Numbers 34172 and 33583, Stenciled “Derek and the Dominos”

The 1960A (slant) cabinet is consistent with 1970 specifications including Birch ply construction, large white script Marshall logo, basket weave grille cloth and metal handles. It is loaded with only three Celestion G12M 25W speakers which also date to 1970. The back panel of this cabinet is missing some screws. The 1960B (straight) cabinet is also consistent with 1970 specifications including Birch ply construction, large white script Marshall logo, basket weave grille cloth and metal handles. It is loaded with all four Celestion G12M 25W speakers which also date to 1970. “DEREK AND THE DOMINOS” is stenciled on top of both cabinets in white paint. Both cabinets exhibit some cosmetic wear and tear consistent with age and tour use, including dings and scuffs. The tolex on the bottoms is especially rough, probably from all the loading and unloading while on tour, but overall they are actually in very good shape. The 1960B cabinet sounds fantastic! Marshall 4×12 cabinets from this era are highly regarded for tone and one listen will explain why. The 1960A cabinet was not tested due to the missing speaker and it will require some maintenance including a replacement speaker in order to be used. We would be happy to complete this work prior to shipping if so desired. Please contact us to discuss prior to purchase.

Background information:

After having changed his musical direction by quitting Cream, forming Blind Faith and then leaving for Delaney & Bonnie in 1969, Clapton began favoring Fender amps to the Marshall stacks he was previously known for. In fact, Clapton was often seen playing through late 1960s Dual Showman amps on his appearances from the 1969/1970 period. In an interview conducted for the Japanese publication Guitarists of Genius published by Shinko Music, Baz Ward, the former road manager for Derek and the Dominos, told Saiichi Sugiyama of an incident during the Dominos first tour of UK clubs in the summer of 1970. When they played the Mothers in Birmingham, Clapton was heckled by an audience member who complained he couldn’t hear Clapton’s guitar. Clapton was playing through a Fender Dual Showman at the time. Clapton replied that he was playing as loud as he could and the heckler said ‘tell the rest of the band to shut up then’. After this gig, Clapton told Baz Ward to go and buy a Marshall stack the following day. This he did and Clapton used a Marshall stack on some of the nights on tour. Photos from the UK tour show Clapton playing through a Marshall stack that he purchased. According to Baz Ward, Clapton also used Marshall cabinets in the US on tour in the autumn of 1970 but he had modified those cabinets with extra jack inputs to facilitate a quick change-over in case of an amp breakdown. In view of the absence of those modifications, and based on the speaker codes dating to early 1970, it seems possible that these are indeed the speaker cabinets that Ward purchased in Birmingham.

These cabinets carry the same stencil applied to the guitar case of Capton’s 1956 Fender Stratocaster, Brownie – the Layla guitar that was sold at the first Crossroads Guitar Auction in 1999 for the then-record price of $497,500.

2003 Marshall 1962JAG Limited Edition Bluesbreaker Combo, #23/40, Serial No. M-2003-22-1169-A

Now here is a plush ride! The 1962JAG Limited Edition Bluesbreaker combo was built in conjunction with Jaguar Cars Ltd., to commemorate Marshall’s 40^th anniversary in high style. Exclusively limited to only 40 amplifiers, this is #23. Combined with the Eric Clapton provenance, this is surely one of the most collectible amps Marshall has produced.

Manufactured in January 2003, the 1962JAG is a gold-plated, leather-covered beauty based on the classic 1962 Vintage Reissue “Bluesbreaker” combo. Each chassis was manually punched before being sent for gold plating, and over 150 additional components in all (including the foot pedal) are gilded with a gorgeous mirror finish. The amps were assembled entirely by hand, right down to the hand-soldered potentiometers and tube sockets. Once assembled at the Bletchley factory, the amps were send to Jaguar’s trim shop in Coventry where they were hand-trimmed in white Jaguar leather. A snowy leaping-cat logo is embossed in the upper right corner. Loaded with two Celestion G12 model 652 alnico speakers. Includes gold-plated foot switch and documentation. Number 23 of 40, 230 IEC socket (*** Please Note: This amplifier is configured for 230V operation. It is very likely that the transformer has taps for US voltage too, but I have not checked, so it will require a Step Up Transformer for use in the USA unless you have it converted internally. A professional can do this easily as long as the taps are there.) The condition overall is excellent without any serious issues, damage, repair or modifications. There are some minor cosmetic scuffs here and there which were on the amp when it was received. It has not be used by the current owner.

1983 Music Man HD-150 Reverb Head and 2×12 Cabinet w/ Duck Bros. Road Case, Serial No. B013153 (head), Serial No. 2275150CL (cab)

This half-stack was used by Eric Clapton during the Arms Benefit US Tour in December 1983. It was modified for Clapton by the Music Man workshop before shipping. Modifications to the head include conversion of the Bright switch circuit to a Mid-Shift circuit and the addition of an Effects Loop. The BRIGHT switch has been re-labelled MID-SHIFT to reflect the mod. Two additional jacks marked PRE AMP LINE OUT and POWER AMP LINE INPUT are installed on the back panel. The 2×12 Speaker Cabinet is a 1970s open-back style cabinet with the initial E stencilled on the back panel, a pair of 12-inch JBL blue label K120 alnico speakers, and a blue flight case with THE DUCK BROS. stencil on one side and the number 14 on all sides. This amp sounds absolutely killer. The first channel is not currently working. The second channel works great. You do need a footswitch (not included) to operate the Reverb and Tremolo. Cosmetically, it shows wear and tear consistent with age and use but no serious issues or damage. As mentioned previously, the road case is included for the 2×12 cabinet.

 

Provenance: All items were purchased from Bonhams Auction House in New York during The Eric Clapton sale of Guitars and Amps in aid of the Crossroads Centre, on March 9^th, 2011. Make’n Music is happy to offer them for sale on consignment from the original purchaser. Certificates of Authenticity signed by Eric Clapton are included. 

Notes: The collection is currently being offered for sale as one complete lot. Serious offers for individual items may be considered, but please do not ask, “What’s your best price?” – That’s not how negotiating works. Submit a legitimate offer and we can discuss. All items are sold as-is. What you see is what you get.

Shipping: We are happy to ship worldwide. Due to the weight and size of these items the Service and Cost will be determined and calculated based on buyer location.

 

Photo Credits: 

Main Image by Nina Laseau

Clapton using a Marshall stack during Derek and the Dominos first Tour of UK clubs in the summer of 1970, when Clapton prohibited his real name from appearing on the bill. Photograph courtesy of the Mike Sawin Collection.

Clapton on stage performing With A Little Help From My Friends with Joe Cocker, Charlie Watts and Jimmy Page at the US Arms Concert, 9 December 1983, Madison Square Garden, New York. Photograph courtesy of Bob Gruen/

All other photographs copyright Make’n Music except the photo of Jim Marshall and Eric Clapton (copyright unknown)