Eric Clapton - stage and studio used Fender Dual Showman Rev...

Hammer

£6,000

Eric Clapton - stage and studio used Fender Dual Showman Reverb-Amp TFL 5000X guitar amplifier head, made in USA, circa 1969, ink stamped no. F03069 to the chassis bottom and with impressed incomplete chassis number stamp 19248 to the chassis reverse. Bearing a faint yellow 'Derek and the Dominoes' stencil to the top, with XLR and power modifications to the amplifier back. Replacement reverb tray (original retained) and a bag containing a foot pedal and the original mains sockets, replaced circa 1990, within a polythene bag inscribed 'Fender amplifier, Derek and the Dominoes, original mains socket, replaced c1990'

*Originally presented for sale on Friday 9th October 2009 at Bellmans Auctioneers and Valuers, Billinghurst, West Sussex as lot 1453, where it was catalogued as Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominoes 1969 Fender Dual Showman Reverb amp. The amp was sold with a colour photograph of Eric Clapton onstage with Derek and the Dominoes at The Lyceum, London, 14th June 1970. A copy of the auction catalogue is supplied showing the matching ink stamped serial number as well as the photograph and the old lot ticket

In 2010, the vendor bought the amp from the winning bidder at the Bellmans auction and extensively researched the amplifier, having discussions with Bobby Whitlock from Derek and the Dominoes, Barrington 'Bazz' Ward, who was Derek and the Dominoes road manager, and Saiichi Sugiyama, an Eric Clapton historian and collector

This Fender Dual Showman amplifier is one of two that were purchased by Eric Clapton during the Blind Faith tour in 1969. The amp was used extensively with Blind Faith and then with Delaney & Bonnie and Friends in 1969/1970. It is thought that, given the extensive use of the amp during the Delaney & Bonnie period, Eric also used it for his first self-titled solo album, which was recorded in LA with the same band

Whilst with Delaney & Bonnie, George Harrison would often be seen playing through whichever of the two Fender Dual Showman amps Eric Clapton was not, adding extra artist provenance. Various images show both Eric Clapton and George Harrison onstage playing through Fender Dual Showman amps

Later, the amplifier was used in the very early days of Derek and the Dominoes, when the yellow stencil was added by Bazz Ward. Photographic examples of Eric using Dual Showman amps for many of the Dominoes' England dates before they headed to Florida to record the 'Layla' album. It was around this time that he started using smaller Fender amps instead. By the time the US tour started, Clapton was then using a Sunn and Marshall combination. For this tour, the Dual Showman was then used to amplify Bobby Whitlock's grand piano, which, according to Bazz Ward, is the likely reason that it has an XLR/DI socket fitted

Bazz Ward has confirmed with the vendor that he personally did the stencilling on the amp and it was indeed one of two Eric Clapton bought in 1969 and used thereafter. Saiichi Sugiyama is thought to either own the other Dual Showman, or has knowledge of its whereabouts

The amplifier was fully serviced in 2010 by Simon Law of SVL Guitars and it has been used in the studio and onstage a handful of times since

The lot is sold with a statement of provenance from the vendor, the original Bellmans auction catalogue and lot ticket and an email sent to the vendor from Bazz Ward explaining the history of Eric Clapton's backline gear throughout the years. See additional digital images showing the Dual Showman amplifier heads in use by both Eric Clapton and George Harrison

More Information

This unit has failed its PAT and is therefore sold as spares only with the understanding that any buyer will seek professional advice / servicing before using.