Joe Bonamassa's "The Bludgeon" demo

Guitar World Editor In Chief, Damian Fanelli, and Guitar World Tech Editor, Paul Riario, test drive Joe Bonamassa's "The Bludgeon" Limited Edition Fender '51 Nocaster signature guitar.
“The Bludgeon” is hand-made in Fender’s Custom Guitar Shop by Greg Fessler, and will be made in a limited run of just 100.

[@barrycoveney]

@4:15 it's speaking to me, it's speaking to me... saying go get 10k. Fantastic sound, could quite happily live with that.

[@kilterkaos1]

I believe a guitar player should earn every dent and every scratch on their guitar.

[@devinwilliams4038]

Ok boomer

[@jamesryan1939]

I always go to the comments to see who has the dumbest one, you sir win. I always laugh when people tell me that, standing there with distressed jeans. I ask, did you wear those jeans in.... So what is more realistic, a 51 guitar that looks new, or one that looks used for a half a century. You can't buy a new 51 telecaster, why would you want one that looks unrealistic? Nothing feels better than a worn in guitar. Typically people who make these comments can't afford one. Even artists who have real vintage instruments, like John Mayer, bought them second had, with existing wear.

[@kilterkaos1]

If I buy a 51 fender I would buy it in any condition if that’s what I wanted. Even if it looks new. Because it’s an “actual” 51. Looking like one and being one is not the same. I have a 69 Torino cobra. It’s a real one. But there are people who will take a standard Torino and attach snake emblems on the car to replicate an original car. I stand by my comment.

[@popeyesailor9571]

Kind of like buying trophies or medals you didn't earn.

[@tradbowseven]

Why do I have to earn the way my guitar looks? If I want a red one or a blue one, what must I go through to qualify? I’m not trying to convince the audience that it’s vintage or that I’m a war veteran of rock and roll. I just love the way it looks and feels when I play it. It’s called “mojo”, and mojo means something different to everyone, as does music itself. The people listening don’t care what your instrument looks like, 90% of the audience wouldn’t know the difference between a strat and a tele, much less care.

[@geemac7267]

Looks like it's been played to death, except the 16th fret. Nobody wants to play the 16th fret, man.

[@jackstonehenge]

ha ha, good catch

[@tonelok]

It's known as the Illuminati fret. I am going to spend the weekend working out 16th fret licks, but I'll have to do it in secret and under the cover of darkness. Wish me luck.

[@incubism]

You could build your own replica of this and save 7.5k, have more fun.

[@rdanalytics9197]

I just built one. Cost around $1500.

[@paddymaxwell]

It's like a 'light bulb moment for me.' I just watched two guys sell their soul for an endorsement fee. Ten grand....seriously??? When will this nonscense stop???

[@neanderthalsnavel7411]

The EIC of Guitar World doesn't use his pinky.

[@Musicsports]

Neither does Clapton, Gary Moore or Josh Smith. So what? They must suck too huh.

[@DMSProduktions]

Joe knows tone!

[@fredabrard]

Amazing. What amp / pedal if any did you use in that demo?

[@spyderlogan4992]

The same people that pay this kind of money for a guitar you could replicate from your own hand picked parts, pay triple MSRP for graphics cards...

[@thatguy7850]

Nope. The people who pay for these have more money than time. And they either are just buying another toy, or are purchasing an art piece to look at/investment. The rest of us who don’t have that kind of money, and can do a little bit of work should be happy about it because it means better parts are coming on the market all the time. So for $300ish I can buy these very good pups now!

[@edmiglia]

Is the middle position out of phase?

[@matze5561]

Well, Joe said the middle position is out of phase. I had contact with Seymour Duncan‘s customer support. The middle position is NOT out of phase, but parallel. So it’s just a little bit thinner sounding compared to others.

[@johndodson4527]

Salesmen resemble guitar players sometimes

[@Jim-ro5sl]

My guess is this comment came from a guy That just learned a bar chord and now he's an expert.

[@mikemckenna4924]

How did it end up with put of phase tone...luv it

[@Jim-ro5sl]

Assuming that you might want an answer for your question. I thought I would give it a shot. If you have a telecaster with a humbucker on it you can disconnect both wires from the bridge pickup reverse them and resolder them. That is assuming that they were in phase in the first place. Or you can flip the magnet around in the humbucker. This is my favorite method. There are some good videos on utube explaining how to do it. Good luck

[@mikemckenna4924]

Koool thanks..luv thst tone..

[@mikemckenna4924]

Done by my local tech ..sounds great

[@oldasrocks9121]

I built an HS Tele with Baja wiring, replaced the S1phase reverse switch with a push pull and deleted all the fiddly filter caps. 4 way switch, follow the wiring diagram. Pretty easy. Phase reverse is better with 2 volume controls tho, imho

[@jeffsquires6620]

Getting mine in 5 days. 2 year wait.

[@matze5561]

Congratulations! Are you happy with your purchase? Would love to hear and see your‘s on a video.

[@jeffsquires6620]

@@matze5561 super light. Incredible tone and sustain. I understand now about Masterbuilds. I will die with this one in my hands.

[@matze5561]

@@jeffsquires6620 It seems that someone here is absolutely thrilled. You're lucky! Can you please tell me the height of each pickup on each side by pressing down the string on the last fret and measuring the space?

[@jeffsquires6620]

@@matze5561 the guitar is put away for the winter, very cold and dry here. I will say I spent time adjusting the PAF. Initially I was not happy with its tone. I lowered it to achieve a balance.

[@matze5561]

@@jeffsquires6620 Oh, ok. Still thanks;)

[@angelgrant1609]

What humbucker is he using in the bridge ??

[@vintagetone22]

this is sick man .its making me want to burn my guitar .ala jimi

[@crucified-music]

JOE BONAMASSA IS A DOUCHE BLUES kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5fNpWyMltCIqLs

[@LDN76]

I dont like to play the 16th frett either 😀

[@scottluck2516]

Well, guess I'm selling a kidney... Probably still wont have enough $

[@charlesbolton8471]

Even if we did have the $8,500 to pay for this we still wouldn’t be able to get one. Joe did a pre-order on his website and they sold out weeks ago.

[@madiimad]

Nice clickbait. There's no Joe

[@guitarworld]

Joe Bonamassa talks with Damian and Paul in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/opu2ZZp5g52BqdE

[@auntjenifer7774]

That's not click bait 😂 the advert says joes guitar 🤡

[@DMSProduktions]

@@auntjenifer7774 SOME people just CAN'T read!

[@crucified-music]

@@guitarworld JOE BONAMASSA IS A DOUCHE BLUES kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5fNpWyMltCIqLs

[@vladi7441]

fretboard relicing looks like it was made by a kid and some playdoh, for real fender?!

[@jessefillmore]

Gibson guitars , I can see why they are expensive . Thru necks , nice inlays , binding , veneer headstock with an logo inlay . But a Fender is a bolt on neck , sticker logo ....... Leo made them that way so you can dispose of the neck and buy a new one . Trying to sell $700 worth of guitar for $3-$5K is hilarious . That relic job on that neck looks like someone spray painted the neck grey lol . Fender is also getting cheap on their amps . From what I head 95% of the USA is assembled in the USA and sold as "Made in USA" . SMH

[@michaelgalvin6559]

I think Joe bonamassa is extremely overrated and I would never pay that much money for a brand new guitar that looks like that with all that fake wear ridiculous.

[@hughjarrse]

I used to think he was overrated too..... we live n learn

[@crucified-music]

@@hughjarrse JOE BONAMASSA IS A DOUCHE BLUES kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5fNpWyMltCIqLs

[@geraldponce8336]

The first thing I noticed is the fake fingerboard wear around the upper registers. Looks blotchy and unnatural.

[@marqgoldberg7454]

Bonamassa is the most over-rated guitar player since B.B. King. Young people think he's amazing because they don't understand his roots. They think everyone who came before him is copying him.

[@busterdouglas593]

I'm picky about blues guitarists in general, I like Jimi and Ry Cooder because they sounded unique, but most blues players have poor note choice and are limited to the B.B. box.

[@quinetastic]

*Eric Clapton* is overrated...B.B. King not so much

[@nieknobel7483]

I do not agree with that and especially B.B king is not over rated that man can really tell a story with 4notes during a solo thats a talent that not a lot of people have

[@marqgoldberg7454]

@@nieknobel7483 you have to give BB credit for his vibrato. But Freddie and Albert are MUCH better lead players.. And I could name a dozen more of that Era before even getting the British. I'm not saying that he isn't GREAT. I'm just saying that he's not at the top of the list where he's so often placed. Over-rated. And whatever Bonnassa's best track is I can tell you 200 better ones by other players. He's MUCH better than me, mind you. But he ranks no where near the top.

[@marqgoldberg7454]

@@quinetastic I'll put Crossroads up against anything Bonnamassa ever did. It's not even a question. Listen to Steve Winwood play the lead guitar on Traffic's Dear Mr Fantasy. Blind Faith's keyboard player is a better guitarist than Bonamassa. But, again, I'm not putting him down. I'm just saying that Guitar World is nuts putting him at number one.