Eric Clapton’s 1963 Fender Telecaster

This was Eric’s main recording and gigging guitar during the Yardbirds era. The guitar allegedly belonged to the Yardbirds management. After Eric left the band, Jeff Beck who took over his role played the same guitar for some time prior to acquiring a Fender Esquire of his own.

(Jeff Beck:) We were on the road constantly and I didn’t even have my own guitar. I [initially] used Eric’s red Tele, which I think belonged to the Yardbirds.

Legendary Guitar: Jeff Beck’s 1954 Yardbirds Esquire

Yardbirds

As said, this was Eric’s main guitar with the Yardbirds, and it was likely used on both the 1964 live album “Five Live Yardbirds” recorded at the Marquee Club in London [Yardbirds at The Marquee Club 1964], and on the tracks that Eric played on “For Your Love” in 1965. Basically everything except “I’m Not Talking”, “I Ain’t Done Wrong”, and “My Girl Sloopy” – which were of course played by Jeff Beck. [For Your Love (album) – Wikipedia]

(When asked which guitar he used on Yardbirds recordings:) I think the Tele. Or the Gibson, but more likely the Tele, because I remember breaking strings a lot, and that’s why I moved to the Tele.

Eric Clapton: Blues Power; GuitarWorld.com

In another quote below Clapton notes again that he would often break his strings while playing on the Tele, and how that eventually played a role in him acquiring the nickname “Slowhand”.  This statement, however, makes the quote above a bit confusing, since he mentioned moving from Gibson to the Tele, while below he mentioned that he had the Tele from day one. The Gibson ES-335 was purchased only after he had made some money playing with the Yardbirds (more about this on the ES-335 page)

I had a Telecaster in The Yardbirds from day one. I used light-gauge strings, with a very thin first string, which made it easier to bend the notes, and it was not uncommon, during frenetic bits of playing, for me to break at least one string.  While I was changing my strings the audience would often break into a slow handclap, inspiring Giorgio (Gomelsky, The Yardbirds’ manager) to dream up the nickname of ‘Slowhand’ Clapton.

I choked up as my guitars were sold, Eric Clapton, DailyMail.co.uk

The Red Telecaster with Jeff Beck

After Eric left the Yardbirds on March 25, 1965, the guitar ended up with the band’s new guitarist – Jeff Beck, who used it for a brief period of time before acquiring a Fender Esquire.

The red Telecaster practically disappears from that point on, and its whereabouts are to this day unknown. It could’ve remained in the private possession of Giorgio Gomelsky, who was the band’s manager during the Clapton era, or it could’ve been sold since everybody in the band seemed to have settled with a guitar of their own.

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Harrison
Harrison
1 year ago

Clapton also used a Jazzmaster Guitar at some point in the Yardbirds

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JOEL
JOEL
2 years ago

Isnt the red tele the same tele that had the paint stripped off that Eric used when he first joined the Bluesbreakers?

Joel
Joel
11 months ago
Reply to  Dan Kopilovic

Yea that one.
The paints stripped off it which would make sense when looking at pics of the red tele in late ’64 because the paint was pealing off

Jerry
Jerry
3 months ago
Reply to  JOEL

No the guitar that became Jimi’s Dragon was a 59

Joel
Joel
3 months ago
Reply to  Jerry

Thats not the guitar Im talking about

Joel
Joel
3 months ago
Reply to  Jerry

I was saying that Claptons red yardbirds telecaster and the natural finish telecaster he played when he first joined the bluesbreakers is the same guitar, therefore Jeff Beck most likely didnt have the Red yardbirds telecaster that Eric used

Joel
Joel
3 months ago
Reply to  Jerry

Jimmy Pages dragon tele was definitely a different guitar

Pete Alexander
Pete Alexander
4 years ago

I think I know where it is

Craig
Craig
3 years ago
Reply to  Pete Alexander

Where is it?