Eric Clapton - Sessions for Robert Johnson with Martin Acoustic

(Video below - www.guitarheroesgear.com)

Robert Johnson is a true guitar legend with a story to match. His guitar playing and music isn't just amazing its magical. Eric Clapton was one of the first mainstream artist to make Robert Johnson's music more widely known with his cover of Crossroads, puttings a modern twist to an old school blues song.

Eric Clapton recorded performances of Robert Johnson's music "Eric Clapton - Sessions for Robert Johnson", he tried to play note for note and sing at the same time. Eric admitted it was the hardest thing he ever done, and still after many years of studying Robert Johnson he admitted he still can't play it note for note, in fact he said "it would be a lifetimes work", and Eric Clapton is Robert Johnson's number one fan, however, his attempt was undoubtely close and the feel of Robert Johnson is there, he done a great job. If you haven't got the DVD then your missing out.

In the video below you'll see Eric playing "Love in Vain" with his Martin 000-ECHF Belleza Bianca Acoustic Guitar, this guitar is beautiful, finished in white, grand piano like. Amazing tone, spruce top and big flamed maple back and sides, along with Eric Claptons playing, this guitar does Robert Johnsons Love in Vain song justice.

Robert Johnson Gibson L-1 vintage guitars

I went into a guitar store today in Denmark Street London, the shop is called Wunjo guitars. They have a collection of second hand guitars, and some of these are vintage. I saw an old Gibson L-1 with a tag on it that said it was from 1928 (picture on the left, taken from Wunjo's site). The most famous Gibson L-1 player in history must be Robert Johnson the so-called creator of the blues, the man that sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads to play the blues.

Well, back to the L-1, this guitar was beaten up and had been refinished, I've never played a vintage acoustic of this age before and didn't know what to expect.... however, the guitar was amazing. You can hear that the wood of the guitar had been played into and was soft and flexible absorbing the sound of the strings. The tone was a bit flat but had a warmth and character that nothing can replicate. It was a special experience, I could feel Robert Johnson and the soul of the whoever it was that owned and played it for all those years. I now see why vintage guitars are valued so much. I'm in love with vintage acoustics now, the price of the guitar was around £2200 which I think isn't that much for the a vintage instrument of that age.

What triggered me to write about this Gibson L-1 I played today at Wunjo was it's price, ok, the guitar had been refinished and had countless scratches dings, and marks, but if you look at a brand new Gibson L-1 Robert Johnson acoustic, it's $2793 as stated on the Gibson website. There's not too much of a price difference between the vintage instrument and the brand new one! I've never played a brand new Gibson L-1 Robert Johnson model, does it have the same vintage sound as a vintage guitar? Why is the price of this vintage one comparable? If I had the money I'd get the vintage Gibson L-1, I gonna be dreaming of it tonight.