I hate that finish- It reminds me of the absolute worst Fender instrument I ever had contact with- an Antigua Jazz Bass that was so bad, that when thieves broke into our store and stole a bunch of stuff, the Antigua Jazz bass was left in the lot behind the store. It was so bad no one would even STEAL it!!
However, I'm a big fan of Clapton. I quite admire how he consciusly moved away from being a "guitar god" to being a musician. And he still puts out those "make the audience cry with one note" solos, even on bad songs. I saw a "Saturday Night Live" performance of "Wondeful Tonight" where the solo was just exquisite.
He did have a long period of artistic confusion, caused as much by his management, as by his substance abuse (he was an alcoholic for a LONG time after he gave up smack). But the critical factor is that he is NOT (even though many of his fans are) trapped in 1967. Compare LZ' reunion with Cream's. Cream came out and didn't attempt to recreate the early days- they came out to play music with old friends for the same reasons they got together (before fame and adulation ruined the music) in the first place.
LZ tried to be like they were when they were young and vital, but they weren't.
jte