'The Fool': La Gibson SG que Pintó de Psicodelia el Sonido de Cream
At the heart of the Summer of Love in 1967, when music merged with visual art in an explosion of color and freedom, one guitar became the symbol of that entire revolution. It wasn’t just any guitar—it was Eric Clapton’s 1964 Gibson SG, transformed into a psychedelic canvas by the Dutch art collective “The Fool.” This is the story of the instrument that gave voice to the “Woman Tone” and defined the sound of an era.
A Canvas for a Guitar God
Before becoming an icon, it was just a standard Gibson SG. But in Clapton’s hands—and with the touch of The Fool—it became a walking piece of art. Its body was painted with a vibrant, dreamlike design featuring a smiling angel, stars, and celestial landscapes. “The Fool” wasn’t just a guitar; it was a visual statement, the embodiment of the era’s optimistic and hallucinogenic spirit.
The Birth of the “Woman Tone”
Beyond its hypnotic appearance, this guitar is famed for being the vehicle of Clapton’s legendary “Woman Tone.” By manipulating the SG’s tone and volume controls and overdriving his Marshall amps, Clapton achieved a thick, creamy sound with almost infinite sustain—one that seemed to sing and cry like a human voice. It’s the tone you hear in the solos of “I Feel Free” and “Sunshine of Your Love”, a sound thousands of guitarists have tried to replicate ever since.
The Sound of a Revolution
With “The Fool” in his hands, Cream became the ultimate supergroup. The guitar was the main tool on the iconic Disraeli Gears album and accompanied Clapton on the legendary tours that cemented his status as a “God.” Its powerful yet lyrical tone was the foundation of the trio’s frantic improvisation, pushing blues-rock into electrifying new territory.
Feel the Psychedelic Magic at Guitar Legends Hall
Some guitars are tools, others are legends. “The Fool” is both: a piece of art history and a sonic artifact that changed music forever. At our museum, we celebrate the instruments that captured the spirit of their time.
Get your tickets here and let yourself be hypnotized by the visual and sonic magic of “The Fool”!
