Fender Crashocaster 1 of 4

Lee Dickson, one of the technicians who supported Slow Hand over the years, remembers that Eric played, most of the time, two guitars built by Master Builder Todd Krause, which were identical to the factory signature Stratocasters including the Vintage Noiseless pickups. They differed from most guitars because of their weight, which contrasted with the trend of the period that wanted guitarists looking for lighter and lighter bodies. On the occasion of his 2001 tour, Clapton sent the bodies of his guitars to John Matos, better known as Crash, a famous New York graffiti artist, who painted them by hand; subsequently the bodies returned to Todd Krause for the clear coating and the assembly.

"Creating a painted guitar is very different than painting a canvas. Canvases are painted against a wall, or easel. Walls, well, they don't move, as simple as can be. The Stratocaster has no edges, the designs revolve from front to back, so it's quite tricky. Also, because of that same reason, when I paint them, I hang them from the ceiling so that I can easily move them, therefore creating a seamless design... yes, tricky indeed," John declared in 2019. Clapton Crashocasters debuted at the 2001 Wyclef Jean All-Star Jam at Carnegie Hall. They were also used for the 2001 Reptile Tour, in the Ain't gonna stand for it video and in other live performances.

Even before the Fender Masterbuilt team started the run of crash casters Eric Clapton had discovered the amazing work of John ‘Crash’ Matos, and here we have an early example of his work, work that made these guitars some of the most sought after Dream Factory guitars of all. A number of ‘Crash Casters ‘ have come through our doors but none as beautiful as this one!

Truly the Art of Guitar