GALLERY: Guitar Center Eric Clapton Crossroads Collection 2013

Gibson Harrison-Clapton "Lucy" Les Paul
The original can be heard on some of the most influential albums in the history of recorded music. Clapton used it for a guest appearance on The Beatles' song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", and Harrison played it on The Beatles' White Album and "Let it Be." In 1973, the guitar was loaned back to Clapton, who used it on Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert .

Guitar Center Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Collection
On February 5, 2013, Guitar Center presented a preview of the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Collection in the Platinum Room at their Manhattan location on 25 West 14th Street. The collection features five limited edition signature and replica guitars that were developed in partnership with Clapton, Guitar Center, Fender, Gibson, and Martin, and will be sold exclusively at Guitar Center starting March 21, 2013. A large portion of the proceeds from the sale of each guitar will go to Clapton's Crossroads Centre, Antigua which offers treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.

Fender Custom Shop Eric Clapton "Brownie" Tribute Stratocaster
Fender Custom shop had access to the original "Brownie" and meticulously recreated every little detail. Mike Eldred, director of the Fender Custom Shop says, "Whenever we do a tribute guitar, we take the original guitar apart and measure and weigh everything. Just documenting the guitar took three days." Although every ding and dent is accounted for, "everything is new as far as playability," says Eldred.

Gibson Harrison-Clapton "Lucy" Les Paul
This replica features a lightweight mahogany body, slimmer than usual '50s neck [to match the size of Clapton's refinished neck], and PAF humbuckers. There will be a limited run of 100 guitars worldwide and it will retail for $14,999 MSRP.

Gibson Harrison-Clapton "Lucy" Les Paul
Clapton gave George Harrison a Les Paul that he had bought in New York, and Harrison named it "Lucy". This iconic guitar was originally a 1957 Gold Top but was refinished in Cherry Red by Gibson in 1967.

Fender Custom Shop Eric Clapton "Brownie" Tribute Stratocaster
Brownie" was the first Strat owned by Eric Clapton. He purchased it in May, 1967 and it has been immortalized on the back cover of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs [Derek and the Dominos] and Claptons first solo album Eric Clapton .

Fender Custom Shop Eric Clapton "Brownie" Tribute Stratocaster
There will be a limited run of guitars: 50 domestic and 50 worldwide and it will retail for $14,999 MSRP.

Martin Eric Clapton "Crossroads" Signature Guitars
Note that there will only be 18 000 45EC "Crossroads" Brazilian Rosewood available [12 domestic and six for the Japanese market] and as of press time, four are already spoken for.

Martin Eric Clapton "Crossroads" Signature Guitars
Martin Eric Clapton "Crossroads" Signature Guitars are based on the 14-fret 000 body style and hand-crafted to Clapton's personal specifications. Craig Yamek, National Accounts Manager for Martin Guitar says, "Eric prefers a smaller body for the balanced sound and a shorter scale for the playability. He likes the scalloped bracing with a stiffer top for a real nice sparkle on the mids and highs, and a rich warm end. It's a great sounding instrument that is really unique to Eric Clapton." This is the first guitar Martin has done in collaboration with Clapton that features 45 level appointments, which gives you pearl on all the joints, top, sides, and back. Currently, this is the only production Martin available with 45-level appointments.

Martin Eric Clapton "Crossroads" Signature Guitars
There will be three versions available in very limited runs and made from the finest tone woods hand selected by Guitar Center buyers: 000 28EC "Crossroads" Madagascar Rosewood, which will retail for $5,999 MSRP, 000 45EC "Crossroads" Madagascar Rosewood, which will retail for $12,999, and 000 45EC "Crossroads" Brazilian Rosewood, which will retail for $49,999 MSRP. Each guitar will feature "Crossroads" pearl inlays and come with personally, hand-written signatures of Clapton and Chris Martin.

Ernie Ball Eric Clapton Crossroads Collection Guitar Straps
In addition to the collection of guitars, the Crossroads Centre, Antigua has partnered up with Ernie Ball to release the limited edition Eric Clapton Crossroads Collection Guitar Straps. The straps are made of premium Italian leather and hand-stitched threading, with a thin layer of padding and an ultra-rich suede back.