![\"Andy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Andy-Summers-Eric-Clapton-Split-Far-Out-Magazine-1140x855.jpg\")
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Credit: Far Out \/ Rob Bogaerts \/ Anefo \/ Chris Hakkens)<\/p>\n
Mon 2 June 2025 18:30, UK <\/p>\n
The concept of love at first sight might not mean anything when it comes to people, but it definitely does when it\u2019s about objects. As strangely materialistic as that sounds, we\u2019ve all had that moment when we see an item and immediately want it, feeling a pull that\u2019s clear as day. Eric Clapton<\/a> was in London\u2019s Flamingo Club sometime in the mid-1960s when he first felt it: Andy Summers was over the other side of the room, wearing his Sunburst Les Paul. <\/p>\n Well, it wasn\u2019t exactly his, per se, but he knew that it eventually would be, no matter what. There\u2019s a fire to knowing something belongs to you that most musicians will probably feel multiple times throughout their careers, especially when it comes to gear. And, while we all know the importance of having the right equipment for whatever approach feels right for any given person, most people feel particularly possessive over certain guitars, and the Les Paul was once the star of this story.<\/p>\n The reasons why are all there: it sounds better, gives out a nicer, fuller tone, and is more versatile than most others that were doing the rounds in the \u201960s, and yet, one of its biggest selling points was something that could be considered shallow. And that\u2019s the fact that, put plainly, it also looked really cool. Especially the Sunburst one, with the way its colour and sheen looked just right, impressive in any kind of lighting. No wonder Clapton had to pick his jaw up off the floor.<\/p>\n The day he saw it on Summers, he did what anyone under the familiar Les Paul spell would do, and asked him where he could get one of his own. \u201cNaively,\u201d Summers recalls, he told him where he\u2019d just got his \u201cdown the road\u201d in a well-known Denmark Street guitar shop, where he knew there had been two, one of them now his. Knowing that Clapton would immediately go down to get the second one, he wished he\u2019d picked up both, but suppose that\u2019s the expected attitude of someone who eventually learnt how coveted they would be beyond this specific moment in time. <\/p>\n The kicker came when Clapton lost his, which introduced a whole new issue for Summers, because he suddenly became Clapton\u2019s favourite person. He had the other guitar, the sister to the missing piece, and he wanted it back, no matter the cost. Summers, as you\u2019d expect, started out feeling frustrated at Clapton\u2019s persistence (\u201che kept calling and calling\u201d), and remained adamant (\u201cNo, I don\u2019t want to sell it\u2026so I kept resisting it\u201d). <\/p>\n