Joe Bonamassa

In the video you can see Joe Bonamassa playing Albert King's brown Lucy Guitar. e.g. 0:06

"1969 Grammer Johnny Cash model. This is the rarest guitar I own. I bought this guitar from Rumbleseat Music before (store owner) Eliot had the opportunity to even see it. There were only about 100 made in total. This guitar played a prominent role on the “Driving Towards the Daylight” CD and the “An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House” DVD (where you can see it in all of its glory). Anyone that plays the guitar says they want to buy it but it’s NOT for sale… Ever!!" Joe Bonamassa says, on his website.

At 1:19 in this video, Bonamassa can be seen playing an Alvarez Yairi WY-1.

Bonamassa played this at the Rockpalast DVD and later gave it to Eric Clapton who auctioned it off for the third Crossroads Centre Guitar & Amps Auction held by Bonhams in 2011.

"1964 Fender Jazzmaster. Fender’s flagship model over the Telecaster and the Stratocaster. The Jazzmaster was made famous by the band The Ventures and is synonymous with surf music out of southern California. I bought this guitar in Columbus Ohio at a small shop. Love mom and pop shops!" says Joe Bonomasssa, on his website.

At 1:24 into this video, Bonamassa talks about when he received this guitar in 1988.

"Also not to exclude the Gibson fans out of the mid to late 60's party we are having on this fine Friday afternoon. Here is a quartet of custom color Gibson guitars from 1965 thru 1968. Left to Right: 67 Black Trini Lopez, 65 Pelham Blue EB-OF, 68 SG in unfaded Pelham Blue and thanks to my friends Trevor and Jay a killer 68 sparkling Burgundy unfaded as well ES-335 TD. Enjoy!"

According to Joe Bonamassa on his website...

"This is a 1954 Fender Telecaster. Made in April of 54. This is the last of the legendary blackguard series. These guitars are special and sound like no other Telecasters made since. This one came with a lovely original poodle case which made the Canadian border patrol / guitar geek freak out. Of course he got to play it and I avoided a full cavity search!"

"1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior in a sunburst finish… Gibson offered these guitars from 1954 thru early 1959 in two colors, sunburst and TV yellow (There are a few black ones out there that are double cutaways). The TV yellow being the most desirable and designed to show up on a standard black and white television of the era. A straight blonde color would blend in too much and not showcase the looks of the guitar. Les Paul Juniors came into the spotlight being used by my friend and yours Leslie West in the late 60?s and early 70’s (you can see Leslie on the Live at the Beacon Theater DVD sitting with his wife next to Kevin Shirley). Bare bones and simple the P-90 pickup was a killer combination of brightness but enough power to achieve overdrive from the amps of the day. So go out and find an old Sunn Coliseum or a 100 watt Stramp amp, crank up “Never in My Life” or “Theme from an Imaginary Western” and the rest will sort itself," Joe Bonamassa says, on his website.

"1970 Martin D-28. First year using Indian Rosewood. This guitar was my main acoustic guitar for the early part of my career. You can really hear it on the Studio Verion of 'India,'" says Joe Bonomassa, on his website.

"This is a 1960 Les Paul Jr. Probably the best sounding Les Paul I own according to some of my guitar buddies. I bought this guitar from my friend Dave Hinson last summer while on the BCC tour. Dave has wisely set up shop in the front of the Pageant in St Louis. The lure of fine guitars was too much to bear so I had a gander. One hour later it was mine and I was broke. I recall playing it on “The Great Divide” and “Sister Jane” weather providing. All in all, pound for pound one of the nicest Lesters around." As mentioned on Joe Bonamassa's website.

"A working mans guitar with a maestro tremelo arm. These make great rhythm guitars and are great studio tools. The absence of a solid block inside prevents them from being played too loud. All in all a fine piece of mid sixties American made Gibson craftsmanship," says Joe Bonamaassa, on his website.

"This is a 1931 National Trilolian. The sound of the delta blues. I bought this in Indianapolis in 2001. I was priced lower than the reissues on the rack. Oh well, great buy!" Taken from Joe Bonamassa's website.

“The Adam Ant Flying V! Built in 1983, Not to be confused with the Royale V from the gig at Albert’s place back in 2009. This is a guitar I bought in London when I was there playing a show with Jack Bruce last year. Its from a shop called Vintage and Rare. Really nice people and when they showed me the Adam Ant letter, it was sold!” says Joe Bonomassa, on his website.

At 2:43 of the "Rig Rundown" with Premier Guitar, Mike Hickey shows off the rare single pickup Firebird 1 without the tremolo just like Eric Clapton played.

In this picture you can see Bonamassa with a custom double neck guitar. This diagram from Guitar Geek calls this a Ernie Ball Music Man Ball Family Reserve Double-Neck Electric Guitar.

"For me to be myself, I have to play a Les Paul. I plug it in and it sounds like me—exactly the way I’m supposed to sound. Anything else just doesn’t make sense." — Joe Bonamassa from this Gibson Product Page.

On his website, Joe Bonamassa wrote this about his 1957 Gibson:

"1957 Gibson ES-175 with two sticker less PAFs. I bought this guitar from the late Dwight Mays from Georgia a week before his passing. He treasured this guitar and wanted it to go to a good home. He contacted me about it and I was happy to give it a new home and Dwight a little peace of mind. I named the guitar General Eisenhower in his honor. It is a fantastic ES-175 that I used on the Seesaw record with Beth Hart. A special thanks to Norm Harris of Normans Rare Guitars for giving me the proper brown Lifton case. A really great guitar and goes to the essence of guitar collecting. If you take care of them they will live on longer than we will."

"Two behind the flagship that is the J-200 this guitar has a very balanced sound and is great for recording. Very few maple back and side versions were made in this period that overlapped the Dove model. This guitar can be heard on the Sloe Gin album on a song called…'Around the Bend,'" Joe Bonomassa says, on his website.

“1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. My first of the four original sunburst Les Pauls that I own. This guitar serial #9-0829 is named “Magellan”. I named this guitar after the great explorer because I managed to circumnavigate the globe with it on a world tour in 2011 battling airlines (especially in Australia) all to get the guitar to London to do a show filling in for the late great Gary Moore with the legendary Jack Bruce at Royal Festival Hall. Unfortunately I will never do that again as it is too dangerous to do so. I love this guitar and will always treasure it and will always be grateful to my friend Eliot Michael at Rumbleseat Music for his trust and generosity," says Joe Bonomassa, about his 1959 Les Paul Standard, on his website.

There's also this 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard # 9-1951:

"This guitar is known as the Skinner burst and has been renamed Principal Skinner by me. This guitar was purchased in Appleton, Wisconsin and has had 4 owners in its lifetime. The Father from 1959 to 1980, the son from 1980 to 2006 (he sold it with Dad’s permission to buy a cabin on the lake in Benton, Minnesota), my friend Ronny Proler and myself 2011 to present. It is truly a special sunburst Les Paul and is the flagship of my collection. I love this guitar."

"1966 Rickenbacker 370: a great guitar for power chords. If you plug this up into a Marshall Superlead stack or a Vox AC-30 you will be transported to a Who gig at Leeds Community College. The guitar is in its original mapleglo finish. The most interesting fact about the Rickenbacker guitar company is that they made the first electric guitar lap steel in the 1920?s and despite being associated with British acts in the 60?s the company is as American as apple pie," says Joe Bonamassa, on his website.

"955 Gibson ES-295… Scotty Moore anyone? This a guitar that Danny Gatton turned me on to when I was just 12 years old. He had a similar model that was rumored to be Scotty Moore’s original Elvis guitar from back in the Sun Record days. These guitars have a great sound, very bright and open. Think of it as a gold ES-175. This model started in 1952 and was discontinued (the reissued them in the 90?s) in late 1959. Sadly most of the PAF equipped ES-295 have been pillaged for parts. The pickups and rings alone are worth more than the whole guitar itself… What a crazy world we live in," says Joe Bonamassa, on his website.

Since the very beginning, Joe Bonamassa and Gibson guitars have been inseparable. And, as Joe's career continues to skyrocket, the relationship continues to evolve, from replicas of some of the original vintage Gibsons from Joe's own growing collection, to new guitars designed in collaboration with Gibson's team of Custom Shop luthiers and craftspeople. The introduction of the new and limited edition Bonabyrd reflects as much of Joe's unique personality as a player as it does his incredible ear for tone. Like Joe, the Bonabyrd is steeped in legacy and in proven concepts of design that pay homage to the simple truth that some things don't need to be fixed: Custom Bucker PAF pickups and classic LP weight and feel, for example. Bonamassa approved tone and feel aside, Bonabyrd is also a triumph of style, combining the classic LP body shape, a stage grabbing Antique Pelham Blue nitro-cellulose finish, and a '60s retro Firebird headstock.

At about 14:06 in this video, Joe talks about how he got his 1962 Fender Fiesta Red Jaguar.

I give you “The Big Al Burst “ 1959 Gibson Les Paul 9-0917 purchased from the original owner Al Bosco this morning in Melbourne, Florida... Thank you Al ! I will give it a great loving home. ????????

At :40s of this "Rig Rundown" with Premier Guitar, Mike Hickey, Joe Bonamassa's tech, talks about Joe's signature ES-335.

As posted on Instagram, Joe Bonamassa recalls "1958 Silvertone U2 and a 1962 mini Harmony amp being one with nature out in the yard."

On his website, Joe Bonamassa says this about his Fender Telecaster:

"The class of 1951. Here we see one of the first 250 Telecasters ever made. October 1951 neck and body date with the matching pro amplifier. This would be what I would have used if I was a member of Bob Wills Texas Playboys!"

Joe Bonamassa says, "1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard # 9-1951. This guitar is known as the Skinner burst and has been renamed Principal Skinner by me. This guitar was purchased in Appleton, Wisconsin and has had 4 owners in its lifetime. The Father from 1959 to 1980, the son from 1980 to 2006 (he sold it with Dad’s permission to buy a cabin on the lake in Benton, Minnesota), my friend Ronny Proler and myself 2011 to present. It is truly a special sunburst Les Paul and is the flagship of my collection. I love this guitar," on this page of his website.

"1972 Fender Stratocaster. A Richie Blackmore special. I wanted one like his so I bought this from Rumbleseat music. Killer strat and does the Richie too bright but metal thing perfect," says Joe Bonamassa, on his website.