Fool Guitar: Eric Clapton’s Psychedelic Gibson SG

Fool Guitar: Eric Clapton’s Psychedelic Gibson SG

Eric Clapton’s Psychedelic Gibson SG or “Fool Guitar” is a standard production 1964 Gibson Les Paul SG with no PAFs. Originally, these guitars came with the Deluxe Vibrolo as standard.

Eric Clapton’s Fool Guitar is not a 1961 SG model as commonly believed because it has six screws on the scratch plate (pick guard). Gibson started using six screws in 1964. Only four screws were used prior to that time.

The guitar’s original factory color is unknown. In early 1967, Eric Clapton commissioned “The Fool” (Dutch artists Simon Posthuma and Marijke Koger) to paint it. The artists are primarily known for their association with The Beatles for the gigantic mural on the outside wall of the building that housed the band’s Apple Boutique as well as painting John Lennon’s Rolls Royce. (Around this time, they also painted a Fender bass for Eric’s Cream bandmate, Jack Bruce.)

Eric Clapton used the Fool Guitar during the recording of “Disraeli Gears” and would play it on stage until the band broke up in November 1968. It is also referred to as the “Psychedelic SG”.

In December 1968, Eric Clapton loaned his Fool Guitar to singer Jackie Lomax, when he played on sessions for Lomax’s album, “Is This What You Want?” (Apple). The guitar remained in Lomax’s possession for four years. In 1972, Lomax sold it to Todd Rundgren in a very bad state of repair. Rundgren paid Lomax $500 for the Fool Guitar and re-named it “Sunny.” Rundgren used “Sunny” regularly on stage. He later had several copies made and placed the original in storage. At some point, Rundgren had the original restored and the paint retouched. In 2000, Rundgren sold the original Fool Guitar at a Sotheby’s auction for $150,000.

For more information and photos of this famous guitar, visit the Fool Guitar Page of the Cream Site.