Rediscovered Treasure: Eric clapton’s Iconic ’Summersburst’ Les Paul Emerges After Six Decades
Matthieu Lucas, the owner of Matt’s Guitar Shop in Paris, has had his fair share of remarkable finds in the world of music gear. However, his latest finding may be his most significant yet: the legendary ‘Summersburst’ Les Paul, a guitar that has been out of the public eye for almost 60 years, is finally back in the spotlight.
the Story Behind the Guitar
This storied 1960 Les Paul Standard, famously known as Clapton’s ‘Beano’ Burst, was stolen from a church hall in Brondesbury, London, during the peak of his fame with the bluesbreakers in the mid-1960s. At that time,Clapton was also beginning rehearsals with Jack Bruce adn Ginger Baker for the groundbreaking band Cream. Following the theft, clapton quickly acquired another 1960 Les paul from Andy Summers, who would later join The Police, for £300.
A Guitar That Shaped History
This particular Les Paul would become instrumental in shaping Clapton’s sound during his Cream era,especially on their groundbreaking debut album,Fresh Cream. However,during his travels,the guitar endured two significant neck breaks. After a less-than-satisfactory repair at Dan Armstrong’s shop, Clapton left the guitar behind, unhappy with the modifications.
The Journey to Paris
Fast forward to 2026, the guitar made its way to Paris, landing in the hands of Matthieu Lucas through esteemed guitar collector Perry Margouleff. ”I had known about it for years,” Lucas shared in a recent interview with Guitarist. “I couldn’t disclose its existence because Perry prefers to keep his guitars under wraps.”
Lucas felt compelled to bring the guitar into the public eye, believing that such iconic instruments should be played and appreciated by all.”This guitar is a significant piece of ’60s music history, and it belongs to everyone,” he stated. “It’s a shame for it to remain hidden.”
Acquiring the Iconic Instrument
Lucas first met Margouleff around 13 years ago, where he was introduced to a collection of star-owned guitars. However, it wasn’t until recently that he was in a position to purchase Clapton’s prized instrument. “After some negotiations, I flew to New York City to retrieve the guitar myself,” he recounted.
Comparing legends
Having played several of Clapton’s other famous guitars, including “The Fool” SG and his 335, Lucas has unique insights into how the Summersburst compares. “Interestingly, all of Clapton’s guitars have notably slim necks, except for the 335, which has a thicker profile. this Les Paul features one of the thinnest necks I’ve encountered on a ’60 model,” he noted.
Lucas speculates that the guitar was likely produced in late 1960, based on its distinctive “tomato soup” finish and other characteristics. He describes it as “incredibly easy to play and fast due to that thin neck,” adding that the neck pickup produces a rich,creamy tone that perfectly complements a Marshall amp,especially when the tone is dialed down to zero,replicating the sound of Clapton’s classic track,Spoonful.
What astonishes Lucas the most? ”When you play it, it’s like you’re hearing the record itself.it captures that sound perfectly.”
For a deeper dive into Eric Clapton’s iconic guitars and the full story behind this remarkable find, check out issue 539 of Guitarist available at Magazines Direct.
