Eric Clapton - custom ordered 2005 Gibson Custom R4 Les Paul...

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Hammer

£19,000

Fees

Eric Clapton - custom ordered 2005 Gibson Custom R4 Les Paul electric guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 45042, gold finish with single bridge pickup, with original hardcase, certificate and copy of the Gibson Custom order form

*Ordered on 27th January 2005 for Eric Clapton by long standing guitar tech Lee Dickson. A copy of the Gibson Custom order form is supplied stating that the guitar should have a '60 Slim Taper neck, lightweight mahogany body, single bridge pickup, but otherwise all other appointments to be typical of the '54 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue. The form states "Eric Clapton" under 'name' and is 'Quoted to:' "Lee Dixon / EC". The model designation also bears Clapton's initials, registered as "CST-400ECR4AGNH1". A copy of this order form is included with the sale.

Purchased by the vendor from JFK Guitars, Belfast in October 2021. The guitar was being sold on consignment for one of their clients. JFK guitars stated "The story goes that in 2003 Dave's Guitar Shop in Wisconsin co-designed with Gibson a single pickup R4, Clapton purchased this guitar himself from their stand at the first Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, August 2004. However Clapton himself preferred a slimmer neck profile and therefore ordered this guitar direct from the Custom shop to be spec'd the same as the guitar he bought from Dave's but with a slimmer 60s profile and lightweight Mahogany back. From there we don't know much else but we guess it was one of the guitars Eric Clapton sold in various charity auctions."

Emails between Gibson and JFK guitars confirm that this guitar was made for Eric Clapton in 2005. A copy of these emails are included with the sale.

Gardiner Houlgate have verified this with Gibson, who confirmed that the guitar with this serial number and matching SKU was shipped on 3/7/05 and was invoiced on the 500500 promo account, as the order form also details.

Clapton's 2003 single pickup Gibson R4 was sold via his Bonham's Crossroads benefit auction on 9th March 2011 for $20,740.