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Leading Guitar Manufacturers Create New Crossroads Guitar Festival’s 25th Anniversary Guitar Collection Featuring Six Limited-Edition Signature and Replica Guitars
The guitars in this unique collection were developed by Guitar Center in partnership with Clapton, Santana, Martin, Fender Musical Instruments Corp, and PRS Guitars, drawing inspiration from the guitars used by Clapton and Santana at pivotal points throughout their careers. These guitars will be sold in North America exclusively at Guitar Center locations and online via GuitarCenter.com beginning August 24.
The collection includes the following models: Martin Eric Clapton D-45 Brazilian Rosewood Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar; Martin Eric Clapton D-45 Madagascar Rosewood Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar; Martin Eric Clapton D-28 Signature Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar; Fender Custom Shop™ Limited Edition Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster® in Blu Scozia, Masterbuilt by Todd Krause; Fender® Eric Clapton CRASH Stratocaster® Limited Edition; and PRS Private Stock Carlos Santana I Crossroads in Santana Orange.
The 2023 Crossroads Collection is the result of a unique and significant history between Guitar Center and Clapton and continues in the spirit of the first Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar, originally offered in 2005. Guitar Center has co-sponsored each of Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festivals since 2004 and has been a strong supporter of the Crossroads At Antigua Foundation, having purchased several of Clapton’s most famous guitars, including his “BLACKIE®” Stratocaster® guitar and the CREAM Gibson 335 at the Crossroads Guitar Auction in 2004.
Giving Back Through the 2023 Crossroads Collection
Not only is the construction of and history behind the 2023 Crossroads Collection of guitars notable, but also a significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of each of the guitars in the collection will be donated to benefit Clapton’s Crossroads Centre Antigua. The Crossroads Centre was created to provide treatment and education to chemically dependent persons. Treatment is provided through residential care, family and aftercare programs. The pathway to recovery is founded on the movement toward a change in lifestyle.
“On the occasion of the 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival, Guitar Center is proud to once again show our support for Eric Clapton, the festival and his Crossroads Centre Antigua,” said Michael Doyle, General Manager, Guitars, at Guitar Center. “We are honored to be invited by Eric to collaborate with him and the world’s finest guitar manufacturers to create these special instruments.”
The collection launch coincides with the 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival, taking place over two nights on September 23 and 24 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. Guitar Center will once again host the Guitar Center Festival Village on-site adjacent to the arena at Peacock Place and Chick Hearn Court at L.A. LIVE, where the limited-edition guitars will be displayed. Ticketed attendees can see each of the instruments in this collection, along with memorabilia associated with each guitar. In addition to the guitars and gear exhibited throughout the Village, Guitar Center will again be exhibiting important selections from its must-see, Legends Collection of historically significant guitars, including Clapton’s “Blackie®” Fender® Stratocaster® and cherry Gibson ES-335, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Lenny” Strat®.
Click here to see an exclusive video of Guitar Center’s Michael Doyle presenting the Crossroads Collection’s Martin Guitars to Eric Clapton for his approval.
For more information and videos featuring the 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival’s 25th Anniversary Guitar Collection, please visit https://www.guitarcenter.com/Crossroads.gc. For more information about the Crossroads Guitar Festival, please visit crossroadsguitarfestival.com.
About the 2023 Crossroads Guitar Collection:
Martin Eric Clapton D-45 Brazilian Rosewood Ltd Ed Acoustic Guitar
The crown jewel of the collection is a single, unique hand-made guitar crafted from Brazilian rosewood. This stunning instrument is a replica of the 1968 Martin D-45 acoustic that Clapton played during his tenure with Derek and the Dominos, famous for recording Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Features/specs include a dreadnought body, abalone rosette and purfling, and abalone “hexagon” fretboard inlays. Notable differences from Martin’s standard D-45 include premium Sitka spruce and Brazilian rosewood back and sides, upgraded period-correct Gold Grover tuners, Brazilian headstock overlay, ‘60s rounded headstock, black pickguard, white strap-button on center of heel-cap, custom label signed by Clapton, and an evocatively stenciled “ERIC CLAPTON GROUP” replica case. This one-of-a-kind guitar, perfect for the most discerning collector or accomplished musician, will retail for $74,999.
Martin Eric Clapton D-45 Madagascar Rosewood Ltd Ed Acoustic Guitar
Available in a limited edition of just 25 guitars, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Crossroads Centre, is another Martin D-45 replica of the Derek and the Dominos-era instrument, this model made of Madagascar rosewood. Features/specs likewise include a dreadnought body, abalone rosette and purfling, and abalone “hexagon” fretboard inlays. Notable differences from Martin’s standard D-45 include premium Sitka spruce and Madagascar rosewood back & sides, upgraded period-correct Gold Grover tuners, Madagascar headstock overlay, ‘60s rounded headstock, black pickguard, white strap-button on center of heel-cap, custom label signed by Clapton, and a replica case custom stenciled “ERIC CLAPTON GROUP.” The Martin Eric Clapton D-45 Madagascar Rosewood Ltd Ed Acoustic Guitar will retail for $15,499.
Martin Eric Clapton D-28 Signature Ltd Ed Acoustic Guitar
This is a dreadnought version of Martin’s standard “000” sized Eric Clapton Signature model and is offered as a limited edition of just 60 guitars celebrating Clapton’s 60 years as a professional musician. Features/specs include a Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides, herringbone rosette and purfling, ebony fingerboard with diamonds-and-squares pattern in abalone pearl, artist’s signature inlaid in mother-of-pearl between the 19th and 20th frets, and nickel-plated open-geared machines. Notable differences from Martin’s standard D-28 include modified-V neck profile, darker ebony for fingerboard and bridge, and vintage-style “Belly” bridge. The Martin Eric Clapton D-28 Signature Ltd Ed Acoustic Guitar will retail for $4,499.
Fender Custom Shop™ Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster® Ltd Ed Masterbuilt by Todd Krause in Blu Scozia
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Crossroads Centre, Guitar Center commissioned a special “Blu Scozia” version of the Fender Custom Shop TM Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster®. Hand-crafted by Master Builder Todd Krause, the guitar features a vintage tint maple neck, nickel hardware and custom silver tolex case. This guitar will come with a Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Eric Clapton and Todd Krause. The Fender Custom Shop TM Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster® Ltd Ed Masterbuilt by Todd Krause in Blu Scozia will retail for $14,999.
Fender Eric Clapton CRASH Stratocaster® Ltd Ed
Celebrating 60 years of Eric Clapton as a professional musician, this is a 60-piece limited-edition version of the best-selling Fender Artist Series Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster®, featuring a unique finish inspired by the original custom artwork from renowned NYC street artist John “Crash” Matos. The Fender® Eric Clapton CRASH Stratocaster® Ltd Ed will retail for $3,499.
PRS Private Stock Carlos Santana I Crossroads in Santana Orange
This guitar is a replica of one of the first guitars that Paul Reed Smith built for legendary guitarist Carlos Santana. Features/specs of this PRS Private Stock model include a pre-‘85 body shape and headstock (with eagle inlay), 24.5-inch scale, 24-fret Brazilian rosewood fretboard, bird inlays, Santana humbuckers, pre-‘85 factory parts, and two mini-switches for pickup selection. This guitar will come with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Paul Reed Smith and a letter signed by Carlos Santana. Offered as a limited edition of just 10 guitars, the PRS Private Stock Carlos Santana I Crossroads in Santana Orange will retail for $14,999.
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