Clapton's Strat

Michael-Oberholzer

Hi Everyone

I've just started watching Joe Bonamassa live at the Royal Albert Hall. EC makes a guest appearance playing a very white strat which sounded nothing like Blackie. It sounded kinda muffled I thought... in fact just not very strat like. Does anyone know what kind of pickups he's using these days?

selbydoodl

He is using Fender noiseless.

Previous he was using lace.

AlanRatcliffe

I'm no Clapton afficionado, but Clapton's almost always gone for a thicker, more midrange-based tone for soloing. I think it's because he came from Gibsons.

A large part of the sounds he has used for the last decade is the active mid-boost circuit he uses, which extends the range of the usually midrange-light Stratocaster. I find both the pickups he has used as being a little bland by themselves without the circuit.

Riaan

I think it's because he came from Gibsons.

I wonder if his hearing damage which he admits to in his autobiography has anything to do with his choice of tone?

Michael-Oberholzer

Interesting, thanks for replies guys. Might well be because he came from Gibsons.

selbydoodl

You are right Alan,

He calls it his "woman tone"

Interestingly enough - my Clapton strat doesnt have the TBX circuit.

AlanRatcliffe

I thought "woman tone" was when he backed off the tone all the way...

MikeM

I thought the "Woman Tone" was an SG neck pup with the tone rolled off?

chris77

I have a lot of Clapton cd's and my favourite is one called From The Cradle, where he does a lot of blues covers. Dont know which strat he plays on it, but he rocks it! I love the smoother tone (woman tone?) hes commonly associated with, but the more raunchy sound on that album fits perfectly.