Eric Clapton has teamed up with Guitar Center and the Fender, Gibson and C.F. Martin companies to develop a special collection of guitars to benefit his Crossroads Centre rehab facility in Antigua.  The Eric Clapton Crossroads Collection , which will feature five limited-edition replica and signature guitar models, will go on sale starting March 21 exclusively at Guitar Center outlets in North America and via GuitarCenter.com.

Two of the new guitars are based on a pair of favorite instruments Clapton's owned over the years -- the Fender Eric Clapton "Brownie" Tribute Stratocaster and the Gibson Harrison-Clapton "Lucy" Les Paul.  The collection also features three newly created Eric Clapton Signature Martin acoustic models.

"It's been my experience that the proper guitars, like those in this collection, are just made for playing," says Clapton in a statement.  "They are beautiful guitars; from the inlays to the rosewood they are unique from one another.  One would be inclined to take care of and be in awe of them."

"Brownie," also known as the "Layla Stratocaster," was one of Eric's favored guitars during his years playing with Delaney & Bonnie and Derek and the Dominos .  "Lucy" was the instrument Clapton played on the Beatles classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and he later gave it to his good friend George Harrison .  Only 100 of each replica model will be made available.

In addition to the guitars, a series of limited-edition Clapton Crossroads Collection guitar straps will be sold.  The straps were designed in collaboration with the Ernie Ball guitar-accessories company.

The debut of the Eric Clapton Crossroads Collection will precede the 2013 edition of Slowhand's star-studded Crossroads Guitar Festival , scheduled for April 12 and 13 at New York City's Madison Square Garden.  The concerts are sponsored by Guitar Center, and also raise funds for the Crossroads Centre.

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