In 1970, Clapton switched from
Gibson electric guitars to
Fender Stratocasters, largely due to the influences of
Jimi Hendrix and
Blind Faith bandmate
Steve Winwood. His first Stratocaster, nicknamed "
Brownie" because of its sunburst brown finish, was used on his albums
Eric Clapton and
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The same year, Clapton found the Sho-Bud guitar shop in
Nashville, Tennessee. He bought six 1950s Fender Stratocasters for two or three hundred US dollars each (roughly US$1,500–2,300 each in 2023 dollars). After giving one each to
George Harrison,
Pete Townshend, and
Steve Winwood, he took the best parts of the remaining three (built 1956 and 1957) and Nashville luthier Ted Newman Jones assembled "Blackie", so named for its black finish. Clapton first played Blackie live 13 January 1973 at the
Rainbow Concert. Clapton would play Blackie for many years on and off stage (such as in his guest appearance in
The Last Waltz); finally, after the
Behind The Sun tour in 1985, it was retired due to issues with the neck. In 1988, the
Eric Clapton Stratocaster was released, according to Clapton's specifications; he began playing his new signature model shortly after. Blackie was seen again by the public for a 1990 television commercial for the Japanese automobile firm
Honda when, at the specific request of the company, Clapton used Blackie to record a new guitar solo on "
Bad Love" in New York and was filmed for the commercial doing so. Blackie was also brought out on stage for one number during the
Royal Albert Hall shows in 1991. In 2019, the guitar was on display at the "
Play it Loud!" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, also featuring other instruments from iconic musicians. ==Songs recorded with "Blackie"==