Fender Custom Shop 'Custom Clapton Stratocaster' in super rare white finish, made in Corona USA October 1995. This will melt your brain with it's sheer perfection. Story time! This was made as a part of a run of eight Clapton models in 1995, back when the Custom Shop was still a fairly small operation featuring a handpicked team of master builders. They were made with no signature decal on the headstock, as Mr Clapton himself claimed two of the batch for himself and that was his preference. Two more were then sold on by Fender via auction, and the remaining four went to Fender's Japanese distributor, Yamano. This one went to Japan, and has the Yamano stamp in the neck as well as the original Yamano certification documents on top of the usual manual and CS authenticity certificate. We acquired it from it's second Australian owner, it's been 'down under' for several years and has been a primary working guitar for a couple of busy (discerning!) players. The white nitro finish has yellowed significantly in 22 years, it's aged to a stunning buttery-cream hue with a bit of real-life play wear, although it's fairly clean. The quarter-sawn maple neck has the softest of V-profiles; it features some stunning detail in the grain and really does feel like the best of the best. It's perfectly weighted, touch sensitive, super-resonant and absolutely bursting with mojo: this is as good as a Strat gets. There's a lot under the hood too. The 90s Lace Sensor Gold pickups have a lot of character; they're articulate, full and warm and extremely responsive to differing attack. The first tone knob has an indent in the middle: below halfway it acts as a normal tone knob, above halfway there's a treble booster you can dial in. This is handy for mixing in extra cut and definition for lead lines etc; it's handy to brighten up the neck pickup when desired. The second tone knob controls the active mid-boost circuit. This has a LOT of oomph: dialled up to max, the tone is similar to a P90 or PAF style pickup; the midrange is thick, full and dirty and the output is supercharged. Set it to zero for regular Strat-spank, then mix in the desired amount of sauce. 

Model: Fender Csutom Shop 'Custom Clapton Stratocaster'
Made: Corona, California USA. Neck date 4 Oct 1995, serial CN402285
Finish: nitro olympic white, 1-ply white guard
Body: alder 
Neck: quarter-sawn maple with maple board, very soft-V
Mods: none
Pickups: USA Lace Sensor Golds
Controls: 5-way switch, volume, tone w/ treble boost, mid boost
Case: original tweed hard case, very good condition
Also included: case candy including Yamano warranty card, Custom Shop certificate signed by John Page and manuals, tremolo arm, extra springs and ashtray cover.

Cosmetic condition notes: Minor finish wear. All the marks mentioned are pictured, have a look; there's a little more detail here than usual given the price-tag. There' a ding approx 10mm long near the Fender logo on the headstock as well as a 1mm chip near the 'contour body' decal. Neck and board otherwise basically pristine. Between the neck plate and back plate there's some rub-wear and shallow scratches, as well as a pair of checking lines coming off one the screw holes. Backplate is cracked on two corners from screw holes out. There's some scratches around the bottom, down from the tone knob around to the rear strap pin area, as well as some uneven fading. There's some dings in the body contour area, three or four no bigger than 3mm, as well as a checking line. Front is pretty clean, just a ding below the tone knob and a barely visible 10cm-long-ish shallow scratch above the input jack. The guard has normal scratches from play. The bridge and machine heads have minor discolouration, but they're in good shape. It looks like a long list, but really, it's in very good shape and looks all the better for a few years of proper play. Overall: very good condition (8/10).

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have been played, but the wear is pretty minor, 8/10. This is pure ecstasy in the hands, you won't be able to put it down.