Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

[jonnymangia]

I was just listening to "Goodbye Cream"...what a tone. How about the solo on the live version of I'm So Glad? The beginning of shred guitar. Has EC ever gone on record as to why he stoppped playing Gibson's?

BTW - I'm not a huge Fender guy, but he did sound really good on that colored Strat in the Crossroads festival concert. Great performances by Buddy Guy (the real King of the Blues) and Joe Walsh as well. Check it out.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Yes...he's said that Strats have a much better tone for rythym, which is what you play for 90% of every song. Also, he's said that Hendrix and Buddy Guy blew him away with thier tone playing a Strat. I like Clapton's lead tone playing a Gibson better than his lead tone playing a Fender, but he's absolutely right about a Strat's clean rythym tone being better and less muddy than a Gibson's and that's why I switched to Strats and Teles in the early 70's too. I think Clapton also felt that his Gibson tone had become a cliche. He invented that singing Gibson through a cranked Marshall tone and then EVERYONE jumped on that tone in the late 60's and early 70's and it DID become a cliche. Lew

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Because they're overpriced and the QC sucks!

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Because they're overpriced and the QC sucks!

:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :chairfall :haha: :lmao:

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Yes...he's said that Strats have a much better tone for rythym, which is what you play for 90% of every song. Also, he's said that Hendrix and Buddy Guy blew him away with thier tone playing a Strat. I like Clapton's lead tone playing a Gibson better than his lead tone playing a Fender, but he's absolutely right about a Strat's clean rythym tone being better and less muddy than a Gibson's and that's why I switched to Strats and Teles in the early 70's too. I think Clapton also felt that his Gibson tone had become a cliche. He invented that singing Gibson through a cranked Marshall tone and then EVERYONE jumped on that tone in the late 60's and early 70's and it DID become a cliche. Lew

Lew, do you really think a Fender sounds better for rythym if you're playing vinatge rock or hard blues? I'm thinking Zeppelin, ZZ Top, The Who Live at Leeds/Isle of Wight era. I'm thinking that Fender's are way to bright and don't have the "oomph" for that stuff. Speaking of EC, I've also heard that he still plays an ES-335 in concert sometimes, which in my opinion is probably the most versatile guitar. Singing lead, chunky power ryhtym, clean tones, fat jazz - it does it all.

 

[Guest]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

AS far as I know, which doesn't mean much, he stopped playng gibsons when a chocolate brown (costum colour) LP was stolen. He still used the Fool, but he became ennamorated with fender for the reasons above mentioned.

My 2 cents.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Fender threw alot of $$$$$$$$ at him to put down the Gibsons and only be seen playing Fender Electrics.

 

[jimo]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

He started hanging out with "The Band" with Robbie Robertson and the boys in Woodstock and J.J. Cale in Tulsa and wanted to go in more that direction , which he did, much to the dismay of his loyal fans. That type of music lends itself more to single coil type playing. I remember being horrified down to the tips of my hard rockin' toes--------lol----------Its ALL good---------cheers!----------Jimo

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

I didn't know he did .... I saw him in concert a couple years ago and he didn't pick up a Strat the whole show ... all 335 and LP. Is this a new development?

 

[jimo]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

I think he was talking about after Cream and Blind Faith , during the start of his solo stuff. He probably always played a few gibson's along the way. Layla was brownie and most of the 70's stuff was Fenders . The Concert for Bangladesh seems like he had a 335. Lay Down Sally was mainly Fenders.---------A couple of years ago when he did those Blues albums, they were Gibson's (Tore Down) so I guess he changes back and forth. The "Woman" tone was what I liked and really missed on his 70's stuff.-------cheers!--JIMO

 

[Imp]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Because they're overpriced and the QC sucks!

BWHAHAA :laugh2:

i do wish he'd have a go at the gibson/marshall thing again though, it might have been a cliche back then but today's music scene could sure do with a pair of plexis and an SG again

tom

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Yes...he's said that Strats have a much better tone for rythym, which is what you play for 90% of every song. Also, he's said that Hendrix and Buddy Guy blew him away with thier tone playing a Strat. I like Clapton's lead tone playing a Gibson better than his lead tone playing a Fender, but he's absolutely right about a Strat's clean rythym tone being better and less muddy than a Gibson's and that's why I switched to Strats and Teles in the early 70's too. I think Clapton also felt that his Gibson tone had become a cliche. He invented that singing Gibson through a cranked Marshall tone and then EVERYONE jumped on that tone in the late 60's and early 70's and it DID become a cliche. Lew

I agree 100% Lew. I think Clapton was trying to distance himself from the whole Cream & "Clapton is God" thing. Derek (vs "Eric") & The Dominoes was a way of losing his identity in a way, I think.

Having siad that, I stil like his Gibson (SG or LP) sound so much better.


Jeff

 

[pac112]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

i bet he still plays gibsons at home. fenders are just for endorsement.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

I think Delaney from "Bonnie and Delaney" gave Clapton a strat and Clapton was looking for a new voice on guitar,plus I'm sure Hendrix left a lasting strat impression on Clapton..

The strat lends itself better to more tones and versatility than the Gibson...You couldn't play "Lay Down Sally" on the SG or the LP and get that tone he got..

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

"i bet he still plays gibsons at home. fenders are just for endorsement."

Clapton has been playing strats since the early 70s without an early endorsement,so I'm not buying your statement..He does still play Gibsons and Fenders,and Martin guitars..

 

[pac112]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

"i bet he still plays gibsons at home. fenders are just for endorsement."

Clapton has been playing strats since the early 70s without an early endorsement,so I'm not buying your statement..He does still play Gibsons and Fenders,and Martin guitars..

john i was kiddin. IMHO i think clapton's style is more suited for the strat anyway.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

john i was kiddin. IMHO i think clapton's style is more suited for the strat anyway.

Oh ok....Sorry brother...Clapton was my first influential guitar player during my learning process...I know too much about the guy! LOL

A buddy of mine is related to Lee D$ckson(Clapton's guitar tech).. :wink: That helps also! :burnout:

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

As I mentioned earlier in the thread I just watched the Crossroads Music Festival Clapton put on last year. Great show by the way...but what really left an impression on me was all the cats who used to play Gibson's that were now on Strats:
- Clapton
- Joe Walsh
- Buddy Guy (he used to play an SG Custom)
..just to name a few. The only Gibson players I can recall were BB King and Larry Carlton. Even Townsend, who wasn't there, is playing a Strat live nowadays. It's a shame, b/c the tones that Clapton and Walsh wrung out of their Gibby's were just amazing.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

As I mentioned earlier in the thread I just watched the Crossroads Music Festival Clapton put on last year. Great show by the way...but what really left an impression on me was all the cats who used to play Gibson's that were now on Strats:
- Clapton
- Joe Walsh
- Buddy Guy (he used to play an SG Custom)
..just to name a few. The only Gibson players I can recall were BB King and Larry Carlton. Even Townsend, who wasn't there, is playing a Strat live nowadays. It's a shame, b/c the tones that Clapton and Walsh wrung out of their Gibby's were just amazing.

What's cool is that Townsend plays a Clapton strat....I have old Buddy Guy stuff that shows him on an older sunburst strat..

 

[Istanbul]

Re: Why Did Clapton Stop Playing Gibson's?

Yes...he's said that Strats have a much better tone for rythym, which is what you play for 90% of every song. Also, he's said that Hendrix and Buddy Guy blew him away with thier tone playing a Strat. I like Clapton's lead tone playing a Gibson better than his lead tone playing a Fender, but he's absolutely right about a Strat's clean rythym tone being better and less muddy than a Gibson's and that's why I switched to Strats and Teles in the early 70's too. I think Clapton also felt that his Gibson tone had become a cliche. He invented that singing Gibson through a cranked Marshall tone and then EVERYONE jumped on that tone in the late 60's and early 70's and it DID become a cliche. Lew

Only a Gibson is good enough... :smoker: