LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Oct. Sig. Entertainment Memorabilia #648  / 

22297

Eric Clapton's Stage-Played Gibson Firebird

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Music Memorabilia Start Price:33,750.00 USD Estimated At:54,400.00 - 81,600.00 USD
Eric Clapton's Stage-Played Gibson Firebird
<B>Eric Clapton's Stage-Played Gibson Firebird Guitar.</B></I> Of his treasured personal guitar collection, Eric Clapton once said: "The guitars themselves represent the journey I have made through music over the past four decades of my life, they reflect my tastes in music, and sometimes the heroes I have tried so hard to emulate. They all have a place in my heart and in my life, and each one tells a part of my story." Heritage is proud to offer Mr. Clapton's personally-owned '91 Gibson Firebird, played by Clapton on his From the Cradle Tour in 1995. Included is irrefutable video documentation of this guitar in Clapton's hands onstage, as well as provenance from its sale at Clapton's Crossroads auction in 1999.<BR><BR> A Gibson player for much of his early career, Clapton was given the red Gibson Firebird minutes before the September 13, 1995 show in Philadelphia. Clapton's guitar manager Lee Dickson recalls that a fan asked him to give the guitar to Clapton with his best wishes. Thirty minutes before the show, Dickson brought the guitar to Clapton and relayed the fan's message. Eric then asked that it be re-strung for him with some .010 gauge strings. In a classic example of Clapton's dedication to his fans, he reached for the guitar mid-show and proceeded to play the blues classics "Third Degree" and "Reconsider Baby." According to Dickson, the fan's screams of joy could be heard over everything else. (Visit our website for streaming video of this moment, courtesy of photographer Minoru Tsubota.) <BR><BR> Originally offered in the Christie's 1999 auction of Clapton's guitars, which benefitted the Crossroads Centre at Antigua founded by Mr. Clapton, the red Firebird was subsequently acquired by a collector in New Jersey. Per the collector's wishes, a portion of this sale's proceeds will also go to the Crossroads Foundation, in honor of Mr. Clapton's dedication to the center and the inspiration he provides through his life and music. <BR><BR> Provenance and exceptional history aside, the guitar is in Excellent condition, despite some dings to the surface, scratch marks on the pickguard, and signs of handling along the back of the guitar's offset body. A re-issue of the 1963 Gibson reverse body Firebird V, the guitar is a fiery cardinal red, with a raised central section highlighted by its white pickguard with the red Firebird insignia. Clapton's original, stage-played .010 Slinky strings were removed for preservation purposes, but accompany the lot, as does the auction-issued Christie's catalog -- a rare item on its own, as it was part of a printing limited to the Clapton guitar auction -- and a DVD copy of the 1995 concert footage in which Clapton plays this Firebird. Also accompanying the lot: the guitar's hardshell case with plush pink lining, a certificate of authenticity signed by Mr. Clapton, original Christie's documentation, labels and auction-issued guitar picks (the black one only given to collectors who bought a guitar at the '99 auction) and identification card listing the guitar's serial number (no. 90441727). Along the side of the case is an adhesive paper label listing the guitar's specs, handwritten by Lee Dickson. This lot is not only a piece of history but a rare glimpse into the guitar legend's dedication to his fans -- it doesn't get much better than this! <BR><BR> Literature:<BR><I>A Selection of Eric Clapton's Guitars,</B></I> Christie's Auction Catalogue 9198, London: Christie's International Media, 1999, pp. 6, 14<BR>Marten, Neville, "Would You Buy A Used Guitar From This Man?", Article in <I>Guitarist,</B></I> 15th Anniversary Special, Clapton issue, June, 1999, p. 68 <BR><BR> <I>Photo of Mr. Clapton courtesy of Minoru Tsubota.</B></I>{br}{br}{font size="5"}{a href=”/common/images/media/clapton.wmv”}<B>Watch and hear Eric Clapton playing this guitar.</B></I>{/a}{/font}<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Musical Instruments, Large (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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