Those of a certain age (cough cough) will recall that the Eric Clapton signature model was a big deal when it was released in the late '80s. In fact, it was the first signature model Fender ever made and as evidenced by this beautiful Torino Red version, is still going strong today.

The Clapton Strat has a few tricks up its sleeve that help to separate it from being "just another Strat". For starters, the soft V carved maple neck features 22 frets and a modern 9 1/2" radius. Okay, you can find those specs on other Strats we know, but it's still cool to see for players who prefer the classics but don't mind updates when/where appropriate.

What truly separates this guitar from others are the pickups and electronics. The original Clapton Strats featured Lace Sensor pickups though Fender has been using Vintage Noiseless pickups for some time now, which is what this guitar is loaded with. True to the name, you get all the classic Strat tones and responsiveness, just without the extraneous buzzing that single coils are prone to.

Where things get really fun, however, are the active electronics - specifically the TBX tone control and active Mid-Boost (assigned to the 1st and 2nd tone controls, respectively). Most of us Strat players will use some sort of midrange-centric boost pedal to fatten the tone. Think Tube Screamers and/or Klons. The active controls in this Strat basically do the same thing for you, and having access to these "effects" at your fingertips is pretty awesome. Go dig out your Clapton Journeyman record and you'll get a sense of what this guitar is capable of, in additional to more traditional Strat tones. Great stuff!