Joe Bo '50s Tele set

Joe Bonamassa has a new set of Seymour Duncan Tele pickups - The Joe Bonamassa 1950 Broadcaster pickups. These are the type of pickups which might not appeal to high gain dweebs in view of the philosophy behind its conception as the name implies. However, I'm impressed with the neck pickup's clarity & would be interested in giving it a high octane distortion application.

The fact that a Squier was used in the demo clip above gave the pickups the deserving flex - the sheer tonal focus & it's never about the guitar. 

Pic: Seymour Duncan

Iridescent

This is an Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Les Paul. Wait. Let me re-phrase that. This is another one of many Joe Bonamassa Les Pauls. I believe he has more than 10 such models with Epiphone, some are non-Les Pauls. It's a very ordinary Epiphone less the iridescent finish which is a flip flop formula in today's guitar-speak. The exact citation for this model is Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard Copper Iridescent & it lists for USD849. Maybe - just maybe - it will be available here in time to come.

 

Pic: Epiphone

Cradle Rock

I'm a big Seymour Duncan fan but I don't see Joe Bonamassa' signature Cradle Rock single coils as a dedicated release. I pretty sure everyone would agree that he's associated with the Les Paul more than any other guitars. OK so maybe there's a Strat resurgence that he's a part of which escaped everyone's attention; then I have myself to blame for not keeping up. 

Pic: UG

Lazarus

A new signature by Epiphone, the Lazarus Bonamassa Les Paul. I lost count as to how many Epi signatures Bonamassa did under this brand name. If I recall correctly, it went back to the days of the former headstock design.

It was named as such after the Gibson version. Bonamassa bought a '59 which used to be red. He had it stripped & bingo - there's a gorgeous flame underneath & it was properly restored hence the name Lazarus; back from the dead. As you can see above, the Epi version has a flame grade which is nothing like the real thing. You might say that it's unachievable for an Epiphone at this price point but if it's gonna bear the name, some kind of close replica would justify the purchase. The Lazarus is actually an Epiphone '59 with a single pice neck. The neck construction is the only feature that separates it from the product Epi '59. Between these two guitars, there's only a USD50 difference. Anyway, we don't have an Epiphone dealer here (yet / any more), so...

Pics: Epiphone / Reddit

The head of things to come

This was hot news yesterday. Epiphone announced (yet another) Joe Bonamassa Epiphone Les Paul. Let me tell you upfront that I'm not a fan of Joe Bo but I respect him as a talented musician, one of the bright sparks in blues. It's a typical Les Paul with a typical glorious 'burst finish & offered in two versions - this signature inlay model (USD949)...

... & the more production-friendly trapezoid inlay version (USD849). That aside, the highlight is of course the re-designed Epiphone headstock. The manufacturer had been touting a 'revised' take on the matter & they are now unveiling the second version of things to come in the Epi camp when it comes to headstock outlines. The first of which appeared in the Holy Diver Les Paul which was very Casino-esque but this one revisited the '60s Kalamazoo design which has a narrower top edge compared to the current Gibson open book take. Specs are promising but the fretboard is not rosewood for both versions (Indian laurel). OK folks, the Epiphone tease continues & this was a good revelation. 

Bonabird

A limited run Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Firebird-I featuring the Probucker pickup. I'm usually not into an Epi but I do have a soft spot for single pickup guitars. This one seems worth checking out but given its limited production status, it might not make it to some places.

Bona Byrd

If you think this is em... ugly, then you are not alone. It's a noble idea combining a Les Paul with a Firebird but it's downright quirky. Anyway, it's a limited release by Gibson's custom shop for Joe Bonamassa (hence the name). The first of such an alien fusion? Lest we forget, Zakk Wylde's SG/V monstrosity.

Duncan Bonamassa

Psst...

Are you interested in the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa humbuckers?

Available @ Davis GMC now...

But I gotta tell you they are costly.

In fact, they cost more than some starter-grade guitars...

...or an amp for that matter.

Hmm...

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Pics from SD homepage

Worthy quote: Joe Bonamassa

Joe Bonamassa on improving one's playing:

Buy a really cheap guitar. The cheaper the better... and play that for a week.

Before we jump up victoriously & revel in the fact that we do own some of the cheapest guitar this side of planet boutique, we'd like to reflect why we own such instruments. For those of us who are serious players, the cheaper numbers serve as a reality check; if our skills are potent, it doesn't matter how much our guitar costs, we can still play well. This is a situation where true capacity would out-do any material deprivation. On the other hand, the newbies among us would hinge upon the instrument's lesser nature to internalize our abilities, needs & wants, before moving on to other models up the production tiers. All in all, the cheaper instruments would serve us in many ways, we see people with costly guitars who can't really play to save their nuts & are reminded that without the skills, we are actually nothing; our $5,000 guitar can't save us.

On a personal note, I do make it a point to check out the less costly guitars out there because there are some of the most well-crafted & sweet sounding instruments which are ignored because they don't possess the bling.

Gibson LP: Joe Bonamassa

Not to be outdone by the recent Fender signature models, Gibson has the Joe Bonamassa model in its ranks. It's a great looking guitar to begin with; note how the wrap over stringing is maintained by the manufacturer (as practised by JB himself) but the 2 different type of control knobs used here, is acquired taste.

Wrap 'em round

Of course, I'm not the only dweeb who wraps his Les Paul strings round the stop tail. Joe Bonamassa here does this as well (click pic for better proof). I didn't do so because of him, though- it's purely coincidental. But Bonamassa rocks.