Fender Blackie Re-issue....

[nateb]

Am I alone on this....

*Cough* $24,000.00

Clapton's Beloved Guitar Blackie Available As Part Of Tribute Series from Fender® Custom Shop

One of the world's most influential electric guitars, the Fender Stratocaster® guitar once owned by Eric Clapton and affectionately known as Blackie will be recreated and made available to the public this November from Fender's renowned Custom Shop.

Guitar Center, Inc. is now the owner of the original guitar after paying $959,500 at a 2004 Christie's auction that benefited the Crossroads Centre, Antigua—a charity founded by Clapton and which remains close to his heart. Guitar Center has commissioned the Fender Custom Shop to reproduce this truly iconic piece of rock 'n' roll history, and it is the exclusive United States distributor of the instrument.

BLACKIE®, a mid-1950s Fender Stratocaster guitar pieced together by Clapton himself from numerous individual guitars, was Clapton's main instrument throughout the 1970s and '80s. Clapton's albums 461 Ocean Boulevard, Slowhand, No Reason To Cry, and Just One Night, among others, were all recorded with BLACKIE®. And in addition to memorable solo tours, Clapton and BLACKIE® shared the stage with the likes of Pete Townshend, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters and The Band.

This historic addition to the Custom Shop Tribute Series will replicate BLACKIE® down to the smallest of details—from the worn-to-the-wood body, to the neck re-shaped by Eric's hand as he played a thousand heartfelt solos, to the unmistakable cigarette burns on the headstock.
All of the 185 guitars offered for sale in the United States will be available exclusively through Guitar Center. Guitar Center stores throughout America will introduce the guitar on "Black Friday"—November 24, 2006. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $24,000, with a portion of the proceeds to go to the Crossroads Centre, Antigua.

http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2006/Guitar-Center-Fender-Blackie.html

[shreddermon]

Along a similar line: I wonder if we'll ever see the Frankie replica, that was discussed in the Charvel press release oh so long ago.

[khabibissell]

Good call on GC's part. Sounds like an easy way to make some of their $$$ back from the original purchase, as you know people will actually buy these guitars.

[StukaJU87]

When I was a truck driver, an old boss of mine used to say, "There's an ass for every seat."

[bsteff666]

Wow...that's a lot of $$$$$.

Especially considering that you can get a black relic strat from Fender.

In the case of the similarly expensive SRV replica from Fender....at least there were very distinctive details unique to that instrument that were replicated.

This is just a black relic Strat to me.

[Bengal65]

All I have to say is a mutt is a mutt! I can build one of those if I wanted too. Of course some people will buy these. Only the independently wealthy:ROTF:

[Tashtego]

I think I can play 'wonderful tonight' just as well on my son's squire mini strat.

[Joe_Steeler]

Some people will justify that kind of though I am sure.
When the original EVH frankies were thrown around, I recall the number being $15K or so. There was a huge thread around here people justifying the price tag.
Sentimental value, lost times nostalgia, mojo, etc play with peoples minds and some fool who made a ton of money on the Street or inherited some cash will buy them.

What you have to realize is that those guys are human like you and me. Their crap just as smelly and with habits and weaknesses that will make you and I look like saints. Why people idolize other human beings so much is beyond my comprehension.

That blackie could be made out of Braz RW, Clapton's wipe it through his crotch and a bridge made out of SR71 titanium and still not worth $24K to me.

[cookiemonster2]

It's not the price that irritates me, it's the trademark on "Blackie". Give me a break.

[Shawn]

As usual, the gigantic priced Fender game is lost on all of you. It has NOTHING to do with whether or not someone wants a Replica of Blackie. Or a $15k replica of Becks tele. Or whatever.

Someone buying a $20k Blackie replica, sanctioned by Clapton, is not a hack looking to buy one for weekend use down at the mud and suds. Its an investment. One you can play at home, mess around with, and eventually resell or leave to your kids. They will sell EVERY single one of them, if they havent already. I know for a fact that there was(was) one available locally, and it has three buyers for that one guitar.

This may sound crass, but just because you cannot afford a $20k guitar, does not make it a stupid purchase.

And to those who say "well, shit, I could make that guitar for $_____". Well guess what, noone gives a shit if you make a guitar. Why? Because Clapton has not been playing your guitar for thirty years......


Does a $20k bolt on guitar make sense? Of course not. But does it make business and investment sense? You bet your ass.

Go try and buy one of the EVH drunken stripers that he played one chord of "Jump" on for what they sold for. You cant. Not even close.

Clapton is the EVH of the generation prior to most of us. He sells shit like CRAZY. If they made 300 of these, they would sell them all.

Just like the Page LP, the Beck Tele, The Hendrix flying V, the SRV, and so on. And when you see one of those for sale in 15 years, you'll slap your forehead again, but this time, it will be in amazement of how much they have appreciated.

[Firebird V]

i have one on order.



































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j/k

[Grandturk]

I lost track - how much are 50's strats going for now? 10-15 years ago when my guitar teacher was buying one, they were going for 20K. I guess they must be in the 50s now?

[hippietim]

the hendrix v's are not flying off the wall.

[Sinistas]

Then again, Hendrix isn't really associated with V's.

[Carbuff]

Geez, for that price you would think it was made of gold or something......

something http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Masterbui...QQcmdZViewItem