Fender Custom Shop Eric Clapton "Blind Faith" Masterbuilt Tele
1969 was a pivotal year for music, and one especially intriguing moment was the debut of super group Blind Faith. Formed from the ashes of Eric Clapton's Cream and Steve Winwood's Traffic, Blind Faith took to the stage for the first time at the Hyde Park Concert in front of 120,000 people. Clapton sported an unusual guitar that day, a modified 1969 telecaster with a Strat neck. Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilder Todd Krause has replicated this guitar in painstakingly meticulous fashion and we're excited to get our hands on one!
The lightweight Alder body is finished in a classic Faded 3-Colour Sunburst Journeyman nitro lacquer. The Journeyman is a very lightly aged nitro finish; this gives the look and feel of a vintage guitar that has been lovingly cared for over the years. This finish will wear beautifully with time and develop its own character even further. It also allows the natural resonance of the body to sing and sustain much more effectively compared with other more modern finishes.
The historic legacy of this guitar is all about the neck. Clapton famously swapped out the neck from his legendary '56 Strat "Brownie" as he preferred the worn in V profile and maple board. Master Builder Todd Krause has replicated this guitar in painstakingly precise detail for the Custom Shop and added a few inspired touches, like a special neck plate commemorating the date of the concert. The 1-piece Maple Strat neck has a smooth, authentic, vintage feel. With a 7.25" radius, V shape, 21 vintage style frets and a 25.5"scale length, it's a real joy to play.
With the Telecaster design being considered by many to be the original workhorse guitar, the Custom Shop Blind Faith Telecaster needs a pickup pairing that can deliver the classic Tele' twang. With a duo of hand wound loaded 63 single coils, it boasts a versatile and well balanced selection.
This guitar includes a custom deluxe hardshell case, custom strap, custom neck plate with the date of the Hyde Park concert as the serial number and special Certificate of Authenticity, personally signed by Clapton.