Eric Clapton "Blackie" reissue sold-out

Reproductions of Eric Clapton "Blackie" Stratocaster guitar, which were true to the original down to the cigarette burn marks, went on sale through the Guitar Center retail chain on Friday (November 24th), and were gone in about seven hours. There were only 185 instruments made, so the quick sell-out might not be surprising -- until you factor in that each guitar was priced at $20,000. A portion of the proceeds from the sale has been earmarked for the Crossroads Centre substance-abuse facility that Clapton helped set up in Antigua.

The guitar legend built Blackie out of parts taken from three other Strats, and it became his main guitar through the '70s and '80s. He toured the world with it, while also recording albums including Slowhand and 461 Ocean Boulevard. Guitar Center bought Blackie for $959,500 at the Crossroads guitar auction in 2004.

Clapton and his band are currently in the middle of a Japanese tour. They've got more North American dates that begin February 28th in Dallas.
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