Layla — solo
A small tweed amp pushed to the edge in the studio, sweet rather than snarling.
- Guitar
- Strat, bridge pickup
- Guitar volume
- 10
- Guitar tone
- 8
- Amp — Volume
- 10
- Amp — Treble
- 6
- Amp — Bass
- 4
- Boost
- Overdrive to taste
All musicians
EC
Solo / Cream
Eric Clapton
Blues Rock1963–presentUK
Made a Les Paul through a cranked Marshall the sound of British blues, then moved to a Stratocaster and a cleaner, more vocal tone.
Known for: Sunshine of Your Love, Layla, Crossroads
8
gear entries
8
with sources
Rig rundown
Pedals
2Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
PedalUsed on White Room and countless live solos.
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808
PedalA low-gain boost in front of the amp from the '80s onwards.
Amps
3Fender Dual Showman
AmpClean headroom for the loud Cream-era live shows.
Marshall 1962 'Bluesbreaker' combo
AmpThe 2x12 combo that defined his early overdrive.
Fender Twin-Amp
AmpVintage Fender power.
Guitars
3Gibson Les Paul Standard
GuitarThe humbucker-through-Marshall sound of the mid-'60s blues records.
Fender Stratocaster 'Blackie'
GuitarAssembled from three Strats in 1970 and played for fifteen years.
Fender Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
GuitarBlocked tremolo and Vintage Noiseless single-coils.
Dial-in specs
What to dial in to chase Eric Clapton's signature sounds — knob positions, pickup choice and amp EQ as documented.
Sunshine of Your Love
Woman tone: humbuckers into a cranked Marshall with the guitar tone rolled right back.
- Guitar
- Les Paul / SG
- Guitar tone
- 5
- Guitar volume
- 9
- Amp — Volume
- 8
- Amp — Bass
- 6
- Amp — Mid
- 7
- Amp — Treble
- 5
- Wah
- Cocked halfway