News

New Eric Clapton Signature Edition 000-42MEC Guitar Due January 2008 From C.F. Martin & Company

13 Dec 07

Over the past year, Eric Clapton has been developing a new guitar in partnership with C.F. Martin & Company. The Eric Clapton Signature Edition 000-42MEC will debut at the January 2008 NAMM show in Anaheim, California and be available to the public thereafter.

C.F. Martin & Company released the original 000-42EC Eric Clapton Signature Edition in 1995. Since then, they have collaborated with the guitarist on several other acoustic models including the 000-42ECB and the 000-ECHF Bellezza Bianca released in March 2006.

The top of the new 000-42MEC is Carpathian spruce, which blends the power and clarity of Adirondack spruce and the warmth and responsiveness of Italian alpine spruce. The back and sides are Madagascar rosewood, prized for its uncanny resemblance in both appearance and rich resonance to the now-endangered Brazilian rosewood.

The guitar features abalone pearl appointments throughout. Select abalone pearl inlays in the Style 45 rosette and around the top and fingerboard extension are highlighted by black and white fine line wood fiber borders. The Madagascar rosewood headplate on the square, tapered headstock features the rare Alternative Torch inlay, which originated on one of four Martin 1902 00-45 instruments and has been offered on only a handful of Signature Editions. The ebony fingerboard showcases Style 45 abalone pearl snowflake inlays at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 17th frets with Eric Clapton’s signature inlaid in mother of pearl between the 19th and 20th frets.

Each 000-42MEC guitar will have an interior label personally signed by Eric Clapton and individually numbered in sequence with the edition total. The edition will be limited to no more than 250 special guitars.

The guitar will be available in either a natural top finish or with the option of a striking 1937 style sunburst top finish.

Authorized C.F. Martin dealers are taking orders for the 000-42MEC. A list of participating dealers will be posted on the Martin website, approximately one month after the model’s introduction at the NAMM Show.

Images of the new guitar will be available here in January 2008.

ERIC CLAPTON SIGNATURE EDITION 000-42MEC SPECIFICATIONS:

MODEL NUMBER: 000-42M Eric Clapton Special Edition Signature Model

TOP: Carpathian Spruce, 5/6 Grade

ROSETTE: Style 45 Inlaid With Select Abalone Pearl (3 Piece) & Wood Fiber Inlay Lines
Note: Clean Rosette Inlay Lines After Application Of Vintage Toner

BRACING: Scalloped Bracing (Identical To 000-42EC)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Solid Madagascar Rosewood Back, Sides & Headplate, Select Abalone Pearl Throughout (Select) Eric Clapton Signature Inlaid in Pearl between 19th & 20th Frets

BACK: Solid Madagascar Rosewood

BACK PANELS: 2 Piece

BACK INLAY STRIP: Golden Era Style 45 Multi-colored Mosaic Back Inlay Strip

SIDES: Solid Madagascar Rosewood

NECK: Genuine Mahogany with Diamond Volute on Back of Neck (10/4 With Wings)

NECK SHAPE: V-shape with Adjustable Rod

BLOCK TO READ: (Lasered Decal Logo)
000-42M
Eric Clapton
Serial #

HEADPLATE: Solid Madagascar Rosewood, Square Tapered with Alternate Torch Inlay, Ivoroid Binding With Black White Inlay, "C. F. Martin & Co." Stamping On Back Of Headstock

FINGERBOARD: Ivoroid Bound Ebony With Style 45 Select Abalone Snowflake Inlays (Ivoroid Binding With Style 42 Black/White Inlay), "Eric Clapton" Signature Inlaid In Pearl Between 19th and 20th Frets

BRIDGE: Ebony Belly Bridge

FINISH: Polished Gloss Lacquer including Neck and Headplate, Tinted "Vintage" Top Toner, Optional 1935 Style Sunburst at an Additional Charge

BINDING: Grained Ivoroid With Wood Fiber Inlay Lines

INLAY: Style 42 Top Inlay, Inlaid With Select Abalone Pearl
Note: Clean Binding and Inlay Lines After Application Of Vintage Toner

SIDE INLAY: .0325" Black/White Side Inlay

BACK INLAY: Style 28 .0325" Black/White Back Inlay

BRIDGE & END PINS: Genuine (Camel) Bone Style 45 Pins Inlaid With Vintage 5mm Abalone Pearl Dot (Gurian)

SADDLE: Genuine Bone, Compensated, 16" Radius

NUT: Genuine Bone

PICKGUARD: Vintage Acetate / Nitrate Tortoise Pickguard, Polished and Beveled

NUMBER OF FRETS CLEAR: 14

NUMBER OF FRETS TOTAL: 20

NECK WIDTH AT NUT: 1 3/4" (2 1/4" Bridge Spacing)

SCALE LENGTH: 24.9" Short Scale

TUNING MACHINES: Waverly #4073 Open-Geared Nickel Plated With Ivoroid Butterbean Knobs

STRINGS: Eric Clapton Signature Strings, Light Gauge Phosphor Wound

OTHER OPTIONS: Left-handed At No Additional Charge

CASE: #533 Geib Style Deluxe 5-ply Hardshell Case

INTERIOR LABEL: Personally Signed by Eric Clapton Limited Edition of 250, Individually Numbered With Edition Total

INTRODUCTION: Anaheim NAMM Show, January 2008