Ep. 142 - Joe Bonamassa Interview!

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[@willdenham]

Playing a club with a half stack and Joe adds 'Maybe cut it with a Twin...' I love it.

[@toploadtele]

JB's business mind is far superior to anyone, artist or otherwise in the biz performing live shows... hands down! Being in full control of every aspect of the production from the publishing, to the live sound system, to the lighting rigs, to the stage itself, to all of the gear, to the merch, and even transportation by operating a fleet of big rigs hauling the full stage package. To me, this proves that he's a great executive manager who has surrounded himself with a great group of trustworthy people/crew at his disposal. Just genius!

[@tom.m]

Right? Some people want to give him shit for stuff like the merch, but dude is a prime example of how to make it work. How to do what you love without anyone being able to mess with it.

[@vikiryan822]

The total package 🎸 🎸🎸😊

[@ChuckChrome]

OMG I can't imagine the amount of grown man tears when Joe said a vintage guitar isn't going to sound much different from one that can be had for $1,000 or less. And who would know better than Joe himself. Such a fun interview. Great show as always! Thanks Marc and Dave!

[@Joe-mz6dc]

I doubt the rich people are crying over the massive profits they're going to make when they sell their burst collections.

[@cedarbay3994]

But he hardly ever plays a guitar worth less than $25k on stage, often playing guitars that cost $300k. So what he says and what he actually does are not quite the same.

[@ChuckChrome]

One has little to do with the other. He didn't say they were the same and given the choice most people would pick what they like better. He is no different. @@cedarbay3994

[@ChuckChrome]

He didn't make that comment specifically about bursts and I wasn't referring to investment potential. @@Joe-mz6dc

[@GabeHelma]

​@@cedarbay3994because he can afford it. He'd sound just as good on stage with an Epiphone LP.

[@johngray6277]

Love Joe! Great player, great character!! Good guy!

[@markingleby621]

My fav JB quote: "The greatest threat to guitar mankind is the notion that stage volumes need to be lower than the volume at which your speaking at" 🙏 Amen!

[@MrRafaztar]

It's Great to hear Pastor Bonamassa of the Loud Tone Church (LTC for short) preaching the gospel of the loud pure tone.

[@papablue3015]

1977 My plans was to be a musician! Unfortunately my father died my senior year of high school! And from there I had to take care of my mother! I'm proud I self-sacrificed! But not without regret I never got to do anything! 😢 but I have been a basement star for 40+ years! Lol😅

[@papablue3015]

@fredfreddy2338 3 older sisters didn't want to help. Our parents weren't good parents! I figured it cost me about 30 thousand dollars, and my time and labor! My sister's held their hands out after she died! Haven't talked to them in years! Thanks 🤘

[@benjohnson4810]

@@papablue3015 God bless you, you are a real man. Sorry that you didn't get to do that dream. I hope you get what you deserve, you are a musician.

[@YMESYDT]

Thanks so much for answering my questions! I don't know of another chance I could get to ask him these things, one of many reasons Tone Talk is so invaluable!

[@danroche5939]

Smokin’ Joe B😎 One of the best conversations on Tone Talk yet! Keep up the good work Mark & Dave🎸🎸

[@Aaron.k19]

Excellent interview

[@fiddlix]

I had to miss the live feed…I love the end when he’s talking about the Kikosui power supply. I love his verbiage throughout the broadcast, everything he mentioned is great advice on tone and career. Keep the great guests coming Marc and Dave.

[@daviddalziel884]

Great discussion about big /proper amps ! Even as a tinnitus sufferer I totally get it . I remember a Robin Trower gig being cancelled by the local council inspectors ( I have other words gif them ) as he was due to play with two Marshall 50s full on and two 4x12 but was asked “ Can you play with one ? “ “ No “ was the response. Some guys need that gear to get their sound , end of story .

[@WOHBuckeye]

There’s nothing worse than playing a gig and being told you’re way too loud during sound check - even after you told them what you’re being beforehand. The guitar doesn’t behave the way it should if the amp isn’t cranked. There’s no substitute for moving air.

[@garyroberts1552]

AMEN and HALLELUJAH brother JOE! The AMP is an integral PART of the INSTRUMENT.. I have 2 Marshalls, an EVH, a Brian May VOX, 2 cabs 4x12 and a small 1x12 for studio/pubs. If you don't feel it in the gut, if the floor ain't vibratin', if your shirt don't flutter, you're not playin' real true ROCK guitar.

[@hannibalbarkas1350]

Im gonna say that to my landlords and apartment neigbours and the incoming police after shaking the floor.

[@garyroberts1552]

well I'm not one to suggest such volumes in apartment buildings, I'm talking performances.. I don't light a Marshall at home and dime it unless my next door neighbor (a cranky old Czech witch) happens to be away.. and I'm in a 150 yr old solid brick house, but damn if she can't hear that JMP and 4 V30s.. @@hannibalbarkas1350

[@CaptQuirkBand]

At the same time, he says you have to use a suitable amp for the gig. I can crank up a Dr. Z Maz 38 at a club and not overplay the room. For musical theater, it's a Mesa California Tweed dialed back to one watt with my head in front of the speaker. As Joe says, they're tools. You always need to use the right tools for the job. I WISH I could crank seven amps up to eleven and play Red Rocks, but until then...

[@tom.m]

Joe is always such a great guest. Could listen to him nerd out about gear any day.

[@rombidaut1917]

wished I could give more than 1 like... I met Joe at Guitar Shows in the 1990s. a genuine person and a gifted player !

[@rdmkeytohwy]

Joe has taken it on the chin for a long time off and on for his opinions on gear but every interview I have ever heard he comes across as humble but very knowledgeable. He has probably used more gear than most guitar players and has really honed in his sound and tone thru thousands of gigs. Let’s just say he knows some things. You may not agree with him and that’s fine. There are very few who have had their hands on as many vintage Fenders and Gibsons from the Golden Era (guitars and amps) and I definitely qualify him as an expert. Do you or I know more than Joe? No, we don’t. Great conversation and I especially enjoyed hearing what Joe and Dave had to say about amps and especially Marshall. Helpful insight from two guys that know a lot and are willing to share with the rest of us. Thanks for the great content!!!!!

[@vikiryan822]

Wow. You get him. ❤️🎸

[@rdmkeytohwy]

@@vikiryan822 I hope so. He says himself that he is a polarizing figure. He has opinions and he isn’t afraid of sharing them. Some people don’t like that, some people don’t agree with his opinions. That’s fine but you don’t have to be a hater. You also have to realize he has worked very hard to get where he is now and he was not an overnight success. He also did it without the help of the music industry. Kind of a rebel and an outlier…..in the best possible way. I respect him a great deal. I need to go see him live. I still haven’t done that. I know I’m missing out.

[@vikiryan822]

@@rdmkeytohwy you do need to see him live. He is amazing 🤩. He may be polarizing but he's not wrong. I've seen him three times and going to number four in March.

[@papablue3015]

I agree, guitar and real amp! I hate digital copies like amp in boxes threw a PA! no thanks! Thanks, great show! Joe's one of my favorites! I love the blues!😊

[@mkii1964]

Fantastic to see and hear Joe on ToneTalk!

[@mab2112]

Really interesting and informative interview. Thank you for arranging and hosting!

[@Andy_Yates]

Something that's also impressive about Joe is his memory. He must have a razor sharp memory remembering all the venues and seat capacities, hundreds of amps, guitars, people, and so-on. I don't listen to blues music much, but I respect Joe's work ethic and what he's done to use his stardom to showcase smaller artists and bring others with him. Some day I'll catch one of his live shows 🤘

[@vikiryan822]

A beautiful mind 🤩

[@123TauruZ321]

He was supposedly born into it. It's weird. I live by the 50/50 rule of life which is my own self made philosophy. 50% you can do something with, i.e. work ethic etc. 50% is the random stuff you can't control. A lot of people work equally hard as he does, but random factors keeps them out of luck. He hit it lucky early. Even if he -says- he got his big break 4 days before turning 32, of course he more than likely had a massive operation going before that. When you get into that sort of flow at a young age, it becomes your life, and you remember every detail. It IS your life. You can probably remember things from far back, if people showed you interest about your life too. It's easy to remember when people show interest in you. At the same time, there are only 24 hours in the day for everyone, so things that may seem dazzling to some, is easy to remember for the one in relevance. What is easy to remember for you, can be a riddle to someone else. That is why the biggest failure in life is lack of confidence. That is an illusion. Having confidence is the number 1 factor in life, working on picking oneself up as quickly as possible if one gets down or broken for a while. Because life is not worth living if we are constantly beat down. That goes back to what he says about being passionate at 45 (and also the back against the wall thing), even if one is living at parent's basement - something i 100% agree with. It doesn't matter. Life's journey on this planet is too short. If you catch a break, fine. If not, that's fine too. We're all part of the same system. So there's really no point in losing one's confidence. Keep practicing and making ambitious moves from time to time, break boundaries and invest emotions. And it may pay off.

[@vikiryan822]

Glad you and obviously Joe have it all figured out. The rest of us have to get there. ❤️🎸🎵

[@123TauruZ321]

@@vikiryan822Nobody ever said that. No point in being sarcastic.

[@vikiryan822]

@@123TauruZ321 not at all. I applaud your ability to roll with it. It was more a comment on mental health than anything else. If you follow Joe you'll know I'm a huge fan ❤️🎸🎵

[@Rolf_D]

One of the best Shows you did until now. Joe is such a nice guy with so much knowledge!

[@AdamGotheridge]

Joe, if you see this, that was a real treat and really appreciated. Just wanted to say thanks.

[@travismccartney]

Amazing show guys. Thanks for taking the time to make this.

[@ShadysMyCat]

Thank you all for the great interview. That hum and acrid smell from an amp is awesome! You can see why I like Joe. Love to hear Joe talk about it. He explains stuff. Shares beautiful gear with us and plays for us, the fans. Can't get any better than that. 🔥🦁

[@undercat_99]

Joe is a nice guy. He is always cool on the Les Paul forum (as is Elliot Easton). He is just another gear head....

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

Great show!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@RichardWatson]

"Spite is a powerful motivator" 😆Joe's such a straight shooter, man - love it!

[@WOHBuckeye]

Hahaha that was great advice for a young musician

[@smellytele9629]

LOL! The southern charm comment made me laugh. I've been told BOTH of those things many, many times LOL!

[@SJC818]

Absolutely awesome some show , thanks a lot , smokin Joe is on my bucket list to see live . Dave and Marc great podcast 👏

[@vikiryan822]

Nothing like Joe live. A force of nature 🎸🎸🎸

[@Busk_N_Groove]

Thanks guys, great stuff. Joe’s a national treasure.

[@vikiryan822]

So honest and open. Your shout out to Norm and how he shaped your philanthropy is so warm. It's why you are so loved. ❤️🎸🎵

[@scottmcarthur2201]

Great episode as usual guys! Thanks for having Joe on. Great stuff.

[@tomshoemaker662]

Fantastic guest and episode! Loved listening and learning a lot from Joe and Dave!

[@jamesnicholas7180]

First saw Smokin Joe in ‘89-90. He played in the student hall at my college near Utica,NY. Blew my mind.

[@lancelucifer4851]

Thank You Joe! Any kid (or grown ass man) who hasn't stood in front of a blasting 100 what amp cranked and feeling the sound blown through them hasn't lived.

[@jackthrift7850]

Joe is such a great story teller, whether discussing instruments, music, his career and life in general. I'm so grateful that he is accessible to his guitar fan community.

[@chrisbarclay]

loved this so much. Listened to it twice will noodling. Joe is a connoisseur of guitar and it culture. A virtuoso and a funny guy. Great guest.

[@chrisbarclay]

So bummed I missed this live. Love watching this replay. Awesomeness

[@admarhermans1]

Love every conversation with Joe-B! Just answer a few good and well placed questions and let him go!! Being a reader (my little brain likes the way info/tales/story’s come in via written words), I hope mr. Joe will write some books about all this stuff in the (near) future. 🖖

[@dananthony6258]

How did I not know this was a thing , here and I didn’t know. This could be my new favorite podcast of all time time time time time.

[@tommyjames9507]

Wow man probably the greatest tone talk so far Joe Bonamassa you kick ass bro thank you man for all the info!!!

[@ScratchedWinter]

This guys great! Im watching it and my mate comes over and im like "check this guy out" and he says "yeah that's Joe Bonamassa he's great"

[@ericwarrington6650]

Excellent conversation...I knew Joe was a puffer...bravo for not hiding it like it's some big deal..mad respect Joe 🤘🎸❤️🎶😁

[@yngzaklynch]

Missed this due to work. This was great!! Thanks guys.

[@joeywilder9708]

My favorite tone talk yet.

[@transparent6748]

Ahh that would have been great to see the actual live stream,,but it’s morning in Europe here lol,,,thanks guys you’re the best

[@jonkerr2050]

Love this interview. ❤

[@riittahatinen4579]

So amazing interview JOE❤

[@Songbird477]

Enjoyed this very much thank you ❤

[@abiola19965]

i love to hear you talk & learning more about You ❤😘

[@gregmize01]

More is MORE!🎸❤🎸❤🎸

[@gregorya326]

Great interview thanks guys!

[@JuddLofthouse]

Outstanding show thank you guys 👌I really enjoyed that

[@cliffgarrett]

What an amazing show!!!!

[@abiola19965]

You are one lucky man: The Best ❤. I would Love to meet you one day 🎵🎸😊💖🤗😘💜

[@vikiryan822]

Who wouldn't 🤭💙🎸🎶🎤❤️💙🎸🎶🎤❤️

[@firecrackle]

great show what a cool guy. I love these 2 hour shows you've been doing. When is part 2 and 3.... going to happen?

[@SpartanPridePod]

Joe Bo is worthy of being an annual guest, no doubt

[@ryansuchodolski68]

Joe's the best! Loved the video! Thanks guys

[@JasonHobbsGuitarist]

Joe speaks the gospel of guitar. My kind of thought process on guitar tone. 👌 Say it like it is Joe. ✊

[@rareform6747]

I agree 1000% - We seen Boston here outside Austin and my girlfriends says go too the front . I told them all that equipment on stage is for show . Drums wrapped with Plexiglas , lets get back 30 yards too hear the mains 💫

[@mattstewart2969]

Brilliant show! 👏🏻

[@robb4340]

Awesome Episode !

[@RobvandenBoogaard]

Great episode! Talking about Norm’s, he would be a great guest on Tone Talk.

[@WhippJunior]

Today's live sound is pre Hendrix sterile. We've come full circle.

[@WOHBuckeye]

It sounds bad almost all around. I played a music festival a year and a half ago and it’s horrendous. I brought a handbuilt copy of a Vibroverb and I had the biggest amp there. Sound guy threw a fit. One band didn’t have a guitarist. But they had his tracks on a laptop and played them through it.

[@shorerocks]

'I have a few opinions' you gotta love Joe. What an episode!

[@peterjepps1229]

Thanks for doing this Guys, Joe very generous with his knowledge 👍

[@vintagesounds5150]

Great Show Marc & David Keep up the amazing work you do 🏆👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻☮️🎸🎥

[@willdenham]

'I have a few opinions...' Righteous!

[@mars6433]

@12:54 "I use shields in front of the amps. I'm not suicidal."

[@SomeDaveDude]

One of my fav's and someone I can say is a mentor from afar to me without him knowing : ) - Thanks Dudes!!!!

[@dancrowe7860]

Thanks for the frank discussion. Really, really appreciated. Just a beautifully honest show.

[@johnkontos]

Epic episode, Joe never disappoints when it comes to gear talk!

[@BrianKlobyGuitar]

Joe B is THE Man... thanks for being awesome Mr Bonamassa :)

[@joetamm]

It’s all a matter of personal preference. I’m no scientist or physicist but I know that a tube amp is going to sound different from a solid state and or modeling amp, and what produces the power that is conveyed to the speakers has a significant impact and effect on what those speak do and how they project the sound. I’m in my 60s and I remember going to concerts where there were two or more full stacks for the guitars and fill SVTs and Acoustic 260s, those concerts were something to behold and I haven’t been to any similar in the last couple of decades. Just my 2 cents. 🇺🇸👮🏻‍♂️🎸

[@user-km3xu7gn4k]

Great talent Go Joe

[@orion681]

A Pete Thorn/JB/Tone Talk crossover FROM NERDVILLE would be amazing. Do it gentlemen!

[@justinespinosa7878]

Wonderful show!

[@rickjason215]

I used to go to the Fillmore East all the time and it was loud. You could hear the music in the street.

[@markprentice1961]

Good Talk!

[@jimparker7778]

So true. My most inspiring guitar players didn't make your ears bleed, but they did not spare the hardware. My first Who performance was in a opera hall. Saw Jeff Beck in the same building. Saw the 1973 Led Zep a mile away in a hockey arena. These giants of electric guitar all had stacks of gear and sounded great. Ronnie Wood back in the Faces days. Another crunchy cat a master of guitar tone.

[@julianbenedict9720]

Nothing feels and sounds better than sitting in front of my 4/12 stack playing my Friedman JEL 100 watt.

[@davidtuley5898]

I am 67 years old and seen hundreds of live show here in the San Francisco Bay Area. The last really great sounding and soul feeling show we attended was a Experience Hendrix show in San Francisco sponsored by Marshall amps . They had the stacks of amps and the techs to keep them running. Kenny Wayne Shepherd was just one of the bands, but when he played Voodoo Child you could feel it in your soul. Kenny Wayne at one point made the point saying, “ Damn, I have to get me a stack of these.” That can only be achieved with shacks of 100 watt screaming Marshall’s. The sound is weak nowadays. Everything is pumped thru the P.A.s and it loses everything"

[@WOHBuckeye]

You’re cutting off half the instrument if you got straight into the PA. Can’t do they with an electric guitar

[@JoeHasGas]

I'm here!

[@alexiugamusicbox]

Such a nice interview, so much information. I’m glad that there are people who still use amps, I can’t stand the ‘Kemper generation’. I also like solid state amps so I’m really happy that Joe broke the ‘has to be a tube amp to sound good’ I’m a Roland jc 120 fan. Thanks again for this great interview!

[@Gorbyrev]

Great interview. Nice to see Michael Sweet and Ty Tabor called out in the live chat for their use of Labtech L5s to shape their pre-amp tone. Didn't B.B. King use L5s too?

[@stepitupandgo67]

I want to see Joe play live, but I feel bad for his sound guy...he surely has some skills

[@larrylambert2727]

It would be great to see Joe on that show Collector's Call hosted by Lisa Whelchel. The basically bring some expert to go through the collection and they try to trade something at the end.

[@user-md1pz3gw3f]

Cool Interview 😊

[@babagadoush1]

Hell yeah

[@willdenham]

Hats off to Joe for praising 70's LP's. Enough dweebs on gear forums and youtube crappjng all over 'Norlin' era Gibsons. I have a 78' Custom sunburst and every guitarist I know who picks it up and plays it, falls in love with her, everytime.

[@GabeHelma]

I played Norlin custom in a pawn shop years ago as a young player and it was so good. I loved the neck. 1500 at the time was out of my range but now probably worth more.

[@willdenham]

@@GabeHelma I paid $500 in 1989. There were two on the wall. It's a player's axe. I've had pros offer me trades/$ on the spot for it after playing it for 3 minutes.

[@shorerocks]

Wow, this is the first time I hear someone mentioning the Marshall 3203 tops (30W). I had 2 and played stereo, with two 4x10 (that I still have). Hybrid amp, never let me down.

[@GEDDY553]

I have a Grammy for you❤❤❤❤

[@jamescarpenter4777]

Great show guys

[@Ibanezguy2007]

You guys need to get Reinhold Bogner on!!

[@JoeHasGas]

Jim root next?? ❤❤❤

[@jacobnewell7845]

I say to each his own. As for me, I'm with Joe: gimme the friggin Marsall stack amp any day of the week. The thing has stage presence

[@grantsutherland7640]

Joe had me laughing from 39 seconds in...fuckin love him,so funny

[@grog5564]

Joe is smart and a great hard rock guitarist. Loved the Live in Amsterdam Cd's with Beth Hart.

[@stevetrivago]

What an incredible story this Joe guy is…

[@Mattvideoandshorts12]

So interesting,love❤

[@user-km3xu7gn4k]

Hes so authentic real deal!