Fender Custom Shop Todd Krause Masterbuilt Eric Clapton Stratocaster Electric Guitar in Mercedes Blue

Eric Clapton’s signature Strat has been a firm favourite in the Fender Artist Series lineup for years. But this Custom Shop version? Well, it’s seriously special. That’s because it’s been built by the very same man who makes Eric’s personal guitars. This is about as close as any mortal can get to wielding the exact sort of Strat the legend himself takes on stage.

About Todd Krause

Todd Krause is a Master Builder who’s crafted guitars for some of the biggest names in the business. Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robin Trower… the list reads like a Hall of Fame. But Eric Clapton is the artist he’s perhaps most synonymous with.

Todd kicked off his guitar‑making journey back in 1981 at Jackson/Charvel, before bringing his talents to Fender in 1991. Since then, Todd has worked his way through roles in one‑off builds, R&D and high‑precision woodworking — all leading to him earning the coveted Master Builder title in 1997.

Over the decades, he’s crafted a huge number of stunning instruments all shaped by his straightforward philosophy: “Form and function are the biggest part of it. It’s about the way an instrument sounds and feels. It has to look cool, and it has to compel you to play.”

• 2‑piece Alder body: A classic Fender tonewood through and through — balanced, resonant and full of that signature Strat snap.
• Flamed AAA Maple neck: Proper boutique vibes, with the stability and smoothness you’d expect from a Masterbuilt instrument.
• Eric Clapton “V” neck shape: Based on Slowhand’s favourite grip, this shape fills the hand beautifully without ever getting in the way. It’s comfy for chords, heavenly for bends and tailor‑made for expressive vibrato.
• 22 Vintage Upgrade frets: The perfect blend of old‑school feel and modern playability. These slightly taller frets give you that vintage vibe while making expressive techniques more precise.
• Fender Vintage Noiseless single‑coils: All the chime and clarity of classic Strat pickups, just without the hum. Whether you’re chasing lush cleans or creamy lead tones, these keep things crisp, quiet and inspiring.
• Mid boost circuit (25 dB): The secret sauce of the Clapton Strat! Roll it back for pure vintage Strat sparkle, or crank it to push your amp into thick, vocal, humbucker‑like sustain.
• American Vintage Strat tremolo: A proper vintage‑spec trem with smooth action. The perfect partner for everything from subtle vibrato to full‑on emotive swoops.
• Included Fender Custom Shop tweed case: A Masterbuilt Strat deserves to travel in style, and this gorgeous hardshell case absolutely delivers. Retro looks, rock‑solid protection and that classic Custom Shop flair.

Body

• Body Wood: 2-Piece Alder
• Body Shape: Stratocaster
• Body Finish: Urethane

Neck

• Neck Wood: Flamed AAA Maple
• Neck Shape: Eric Clapton “V”
• Neck Finish: WLS
• Neck Construction: Bolt-On
• Fingerboard Wood: Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5”
• Frets: 22, Vintage Upgrade
• Inlays: Micarta Black Dot
• Nut: Standard FB Blank
• Nut Width: 1.65"
• Truss Rod: Bi-Flex American Standard
• Scale Length: 25.5”

Hardware

• Bridge: American Vintage Strat Tremolo
• Tuning Machines: Vintage Staggered
• Hardware Colour: Chrome/Nickel

Electronics

• Bridge Pickup: Vintage Noiseless Strat Single-Coil
• Middle Pickup: Vintage Noiseless Strat Single-Coil
• Neck Pickup: Vintage Noiseless Strat Single-Coil
• Controls: Volume, Tone, Tone (Mid Boost)
• Switching: 5-Way Blade Pickup Selector Switch
• Special Electronics: Mid Boost Kit

Miscellaneous

• Case: Fender Custom Shop Tweed Hardshell (Included)
• Strings: 10-46