Eric purchased his Cherry Red Gibson ES335 in 1964 and used it throughout his career until it was sold at auction in 2004. It became known as the “Cream” guitar as during his tenure with the band a roadie painted the word “CREAM” on one side of its case.
The ES-335 was first put into production by Gibson Guitars in 1958.
While with The Yardbirds, Eric’s bandmate, Chris Dreja, was often photographed playing it. Eric began using the ES-335 more frequently in late 1968 and played it often during Cream’s farewell tour of America. It also featured prominently in Cream’s farewell concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 26 November 1968. He also used this guitar when Cream recorded “Badge” and other tracks on the band’s “Goodbye” album and during the filming of the Rolling Stone’s Rock And Roll Circus in December 1968. Eric used the guitar extensively while in Blind Faith.
From 1970 on, this guitar was used on stage from time to time and it was taken to all post-1979 recording sessions. For example, Eric played this guitar on “Hard Times” on his “Journeyman” album in 1989. The ES335 was also used extensively during the 1994 / 1995 Blues Tour. Eric played the guitar for the final time in public on 29 June 1996 at the Prince’s Trust Concert in London’s Hyde Park.
He sold the guitar at auction on 24 June 2004 to help raise funds for the alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility, Crossroads Centre. It sold for a staggering $847,500 to the U.S. music retailer, Guitar Center.
On 1 August 2005, Gibson Custom in conjunction with Eric and the Guitar Center, released a worldwide limited edition of 250 replica guitars. The “Eric Clapton Crossroads ES-335” is a detailed reproduction of Cherry Red ES-335 once owned by Eric. It comes with a replica of the famous “CREAM” guitar case, a label signed by Eric inside the body and a certificate of authenticity. A portion of the proceeds of each sale will go to the Crossroads Centre Antigua, the addiction treatment facility founded by Eric.
