You probably already know, the Woodbrass guitar store is the perfect place to get your hands on those dream guitars that are the Fender Custom Shop. These are instruments crafted with the highest degree of care possible, handpicked woods, exceptional electronics, and absolutely stunning finishes, especially the “relic” process that replicates years of wear.
The “Tribute” series holds a very special place within the Custom Shop range as it consists of exact replicas of legendary guitars. When we say “exact,” we mean exact, down to the smallest scratch or the subtle sunburst shade that no one will notice but must be there nonetheless. Among the legendary guitars that have received this treatment are Jeff Beck’s Esquire, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Strat, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s, Andy Summers’ Telecaster, and Eric Clapton’s Blackie Strat. The latest addition is Blackie’s sister, Brownie.
A bit of history
Brownie is the first Stratocaster Eric Clapton bought in 1967. It’s a 1956 sunburst model, and he used it early in his solo career (you can see it on the cover of his first album), but most notably on the Derek And The Dominos album, Layla. It no longer belongs to Clapton as it was auctioned off in 1999 for the modest sum of $497,500 — nearly half a million dollars. Compared to that, the €14,999 price tag for the Custom Shop replica seems like a bargain. After passing by it so many times, I decided to try it out and here are my impressions…
Come over here…
From the moment you pick it up, something magical happens. First, Brownie is very light and above all, it really feels like an old guitar you’d grab in a high-end studio — the kind of beauty that seems to have stories to tell… Several details catch the eye: the well-worn back with five springs to adjust the vibrato near the body (see photo above) and the cigarette burn on the side of the headstock. The craftsmanship is absolutely stunning. On the other side of the headstock, Todd Krause’s signature, who is the master luthier in charge of the Brownie project and had the chance to examine the original in every detail.
The feel of the neck is fabulous: the artificial wear really gives the impression that this guitar has been played for many years before, and its profile fits comfortably in the hand without being too thin or bulky. It all smells strongly of perfection, and as soon as you strum a few open chords, you immediately realize the quality of the exceptional craftsmanship. The woods resonate like an old guitar, the balance between the strings is excellent, and it’s hard to imagine how they could ruin that once plugged in…
Brownie through an amp
“Well indeed, it didn’t disappoint… The Brownie is simply the best Strat I’ve played to date, I even find it better than several L series I’ve had in my hands — maybe I didn’t play the really good ones but Brownie has something extra… Plugged into a Fender 65 Princeton Reverb, the clean sound is crisp, bright, aggressive if needed on the treble pickup (country players will appreciate) and immediately makes you want to write a riff like Wonderful Tonight. On a Marshall JTM-1, it’s Hendrix tickling your ears right away, especially on the bass pickup. You then remember the superb “big rock” potential of the Strat in general, and this one in particular. Finally, we try a little “like Clapton” setup with his signature Fender amp, the Tremolux, which is actually a replica of the Tweed period Deluxe. The resulting crunch is exactly Clapton’s sound on Layla, that ultra-musical compression, that plump yet nervous grain with fabulous attack responsiveness.”
Mine, mine!
Then comes the moment to put Brownie back on its stand, a bit dazed, thinking you’ve just tested a truly exceptional instrument. The price is certainly exceptional too, but doesn’t seem so crazy when compared to that of an original-era Strat which won’t necessarily be better (since back then, the luxury production care by master luthiers like Krause didn’t exist). Moreover, its very limited production means it won’t lose value, and it’s even very possible its price will rise in a few years. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for the ultimate Strat, you should find here something dangerously close…
