One of the most legendary missing instruments in rock ‘n’ roll history has officially resurfaced. The 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard used by Eric Clapton on Cream’s seminal debut album, Fresh Cream, has been unearthed after nearly six decades in the shadows.
Thanks to Matthieu Lucas, owner of the Parisian vintage emporium Matt’s Guitar Shop, and renowned veteran collector Perry Margouleff, the fabled instrument—affectionately known as the “Summersburst” or “The Fresh Cream Burst”—is finally being shared with the public.
The Extraordinary History of a Relic
The saga began in 1966 during the height of Clapton’s mid-’60s fame with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.
Shortly after forming a new power trio called Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, Clapton’s iconic “Beano” Les Paul was stolen from a church hall rehearsal space in Brondesbury, London.
Desperate for a replacement, Clapton hastily bought another 1960 Les Paul Standard from future Police guitarist Andy Summers for £300. It quickly became the sonic anchor for Cream’s definitive blues-rock vocabulary, directly shaping timeless tracks like I Feel Free, Spoonful, and I’m So Glad.
However, the guitar’s time with Clapton was cut short. After suffering a severe neck break while traveling, it was sent to Dan Armstrong’s repair shop for a unique headstock modification.
Dissatisfied with the repair job, Clapton refused to pay the bill and abandoned the instrument at the shop. The guitar then vanished into top-secret private collections for decades.
From New York to Paris: The Resurrection
For 13 years, Matthieu Lucas kept the guitar’s location confidential at the request of collector Perry Margouleff. “I knew about it for years,” Lucas revealed in an interview with Guitarist. “I couldn’t tell anyone about it because that’s not how Perry works—he wants his guitars to be top secret.”
Determined that monumental pieces of music history belong to humanity rather than vaults, Lucas finalized a deal with Margouleff in New York City, personally transporting the legendary Gibson back to his Parisian shop.
Inspecting the guitar, Lucas noted that its structural setup perfectly aligns with Clapton’s preferences.
It features an exceptionally slim late-1960 neck profile and a distinctively vibrant “tomato soup” sunburst finish. Plugging it into a vintage Marshall amplifier with the tone rolled down instantly recreates the exact, dense “woman tone” heard on Spoonful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this guitar called the “Summersburst”?
Eric Clapton purchased the guitar from Andy Summers (who would later find fame as the guitarist for The Police) for £300 in 1966 after his primary “Beano” Les Paul was stolen.
What tracks can this guitar be heard on?
According to documentation from Matt’s Guitar Shop, the instrument can be heard throughout Cream’s ground-breaking 1966 debut album Fresh Cream, most notably on the tracks I Feel Free, Spoonful, and I’m So Glad.
Why did Eric Clapton give up the guitar?
The guitar suffered its second major neck break during his travels. Following a headstock replacement at Dan Armstrong’s shop that Clapton disliked, he refused to settle the bill and left the instrument behind, inadvertently setting off its 60-year journey through private collections.
Where is the guitar now, and can I buy it?
The guitar is currently housed at Matt’s Guitar Shop in Paris, France. Serious collectors and guitar aficionados can contact the shop directly regarding historical provenance documentation and acquisition inquiries.
Verdict: A Monolithic Find for Guitar Lore
The reemergence of “The Fresh Cream Burst” is a monumental milestone for vintage guitar history. While many lost instruments transition into urban legends, the concrete documentation, historical cross-referencing, and cover-story validation by Guitarist Magazine confirm that this is indeed the holy grail instrument that birthed British blues-rock royalty.
For a piece of wood and wire to hold its signature studio tone after 60 hidden years proves that some instruments are truly timeless.
#Eric Clapton
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