Classic Guitars from Clapton & Stevie Ray Vaughan on Tour !

       MUSIC NEWS - Guitar Center will take its iconic “Legends Collection” on the road beginning May 23 for a 4-city tour that will be making weekend stops in Fountain Valley, La Mesa, San Francisco and Hollywood, CA (dates/times after the break). The “Legends Collection” features three of rock’s most famous guitars - Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” Fender Stratocaster and Gibson ES-335, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Lenny” Fender Stratocaster.  The three were purchased for over $2.4 million from the Clapton Crossroads Centre charity auction at Christies New York back in 2004, and are among the most treasured guitars in rock history.

Assembled in 1973 by Eric Clapton himself from the parts of three guitars, Clapton played “Blackie” almost exclusively on stage and in the studio from 1973-1985.  He recording such hits as “Cocaine,” “I Shot The Sherriff,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “Further On Up The Road,” “Lay Down Sally” and various live versions of “Layla” as well as being featured on several album covers and videos. His Cherry Red Gibson “ES-335” was used to record Cream’s versions of “Badge” and “Crossroads” as well as many other historical performances during the 40 years he owned it. Steve Ray Vaughan’s “Lenny,” which Guitar Center purchased for $623,500, was used to record his classic love songs including “Lenny” and “Riviera Paradise.”

Home to the largest collection of vintage instruments in the nation, Guitar Center also proudly showcases a hand-picked selection of its most rare and sought-after vintage guitars as part of its Vintage Road Show.  With Vintage locations in Hollywood, Nashville and Manhattan, Guitar Center’s vintage collection includes hundreds of the rarest and most valuable guitars, amplifiers and other instruments, including an impressive assemblage of '50s and '60s Strats and Les Pauls, handcrafted archtops, Jazz Basses, P-Basses and more.

Catch Clapton live in concert this June with his current guitars, on tour with Steve Winwood, promoting their Live From Madison Square Garden cd, dvd/bluray releases. 

Vintage guitar enthusiasts can visit the “Legends Collection” and Vintage Road Show at the following Guitar Center locations:

May 23-24
Guitar Center Fountain Valley
18361 Euclid Street
714-241-9140

May 30-31
Guitar Center La Mesa
8825 Murray Drive
619-668-8400

June 20-21
Guitar Center San Francisco
1645 Van Ness Ave.
415-409-0375

June 26-28
Guitar Center Hollywood
7425 Sunset Blvd
323-874-1060

Each weekend-long stop on Guitar Center’s Vintage Road Show tour includes two full days of viewing open to the public. The tour will be hosted by a member of the company’s vintage team, who will be on hand to offer an oral history of the collection and to answer questions. Store hours are Saturdays 10am–8pm, and Sundays 10am–6pm.