Joe Bonamassa's Vintage Telecaster Tone Tips & Tricks

[@hizo64HH]

I think the most underrated thing about Joe, is his intelligence and ability to convey so much. He truly loves and appreciates guitar and the blues so much.

[@gobigrey9352]

That's why I love listening to him talk gear. I don't even like his music but could listen to him all day long.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@crucified-music SPAMMER!

[@loupascarelli]

I do not feel he is under rated at a single thing .. He is top shelf all the way .. I could watch him or Clap on vids all day & night .. They are true Guitar Scientists..

[@jessejuno5317]

I think , the love this guy has for all guitar is contagious.

[@TheGergeDIY]

The Telecaster is the polygraph of guitars. No faking it, no lies.

[@susieroberts8175]

You're right. You can't hide any shoddy playing with a Tele. I love to hear someone playing with a clean tone. Honest.

[@itguy8900]

Exactly.

[@Rygo-wk3jm]

That’s a great way of putting it!

[@stefanfyhn4668]

The fact that you have to be able to play well to make it sound good just says its an outdated tool

[@susieroberts8175]

@@stefanfyhn4668 you're serious?

[@joeltunnah]

I've dabbled in many other guitars over the last 25 years, but I always end up coming back to a Telecaster.

[@stuartkennedy4570]

I love how he explains all the little differences in tones with a guitar

[@vibranttrout]

I love how his soft hands caress the neck

[@Gma7788]

Cause WE the public are WAY WAY behind in our knowledge. We are SO poorly educated in the amplification world that we don't make it onto the scale. Prior to this video, nobody's played me the telecaster guitar sound with the bridge cover on and off. That's over 50 years of no demonstrations. An let's mention it's been over 50 years and this lifestyle hasn't paid me a cent

[@michaelr.4878]

Regardless if u are a fan of Bonamassa's music or not, you have to admit that he has done more for the appreciation of old guitars than just about anyone. He is probably also the most grounded or normal star..and that should be respected. Joe is all good in my opinion.

[@soniah4821]

One of the best demonstrations of a vintage Telecaster . Thank you Joe!

[@jeffhale2285]

Telecasters are the Swiss Army knife of guitars. They’re my favorite guitars on the planet! Awesome vid Joe! 🇺🇸

[@RickMcCargar]

Great player, humble as the day is long. Always gives props to those who came before. He's the ambassador we need.

[@INTOTHELOUD]

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

[@64north20west]

Just casusally blows away 90% of all guitarists during a discussion of the finer points of a tele. This guy is a humble G.O.A.T.

[@benedekgabor.]

Anyone can say anything about a Tele’s neck pickup but a bit of drive, lot’s of reverb/shimmer and a pich of delay and it’s tone heaven.

[@Dang...]

JB is truly outstanding: down to earth, humble, soulful player, great sense of humor, burning picker. Here he sounds so much like Albert Collins. He worked his ass off since childhood to succeed in music, and he deserves everything he's achieved. Thank you JB! Go see him live.

[@PhpGtr]

Pretty annoying to casually drop 30-60K on any guitar he wants and have absolutely no concept of humility about it. He already said "Norm made 9K on this". "That's all I'm going to say about it" is BS. Just say how much it was. Nothing but playing coy and humble-bragging.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Lets not get silly. He was born with God given talent. Playing guitar comes as easy to him as it is for everyday people walking and talking.ha

[@JJGuccione]

Your AC imitation is NOT crappy. Nevertheless, your humility is noted and appreciated.

[@djross2043]

Anytime I can get playing guitar tips and or watch Mr. Bonamassa play is time well spent. TY😎🎸🎶🤘🏻

[@stephensmith4480]

Amazing sound as usual from The Main Man. The Solder Dot that he mentioned on the inside of The Ashtray is from when they used to solder a length of wire onto it prior to The dipping process for Chroming and it would then be removed once the job was done. I worked for an Electronics company in the 80s and we used to use exactly the same process when Powder coating certain Items.

[@robinleebraun7739]

And I’m sure the chrome plating made it a much more attractive ashtray.

[@stephensmith4480]

@@robinleebraun7739 What does that mean??

[@sundaynightdrunk]

There is so much to learn just watching this man play. I never thought my blues chops were killer, but Joe is truly humbling. All of my other guitars sit waiting to be played since I bought a Tele, and I grew up wanting Les Pauls and Strats.

[@KevinSmithdc]

Joe is the greatest guitar and amp salesman in the world. He conveys so much enthusiasm...makes you want to run right out and buy whatever he's pitching.

[@Guitarbuffet]

😂 exactly

[@robbergin9586]

...he's probably just sold a boatload of tele ashtray covers for Fender!

[@digitalimager4946]

Which is what he's paid to do. He speaks for the guitar (selling them) not on the guitar. All technique, no statement.

[@TheStrataminor]

Yep.....overpriced stuff too...seriously, his pickups are ridiculously overpriced marketing too.

[@alexcorona]

But he’s not playing anything modern that you can go out and get today?

[@LRHutch]

I agree totally that a Telecaster is the best guitar. I have two plus one more that I built myself using the old wiring schematic. There is magic in a Telecaster that no other guitar has.

[@LRHutch]

@bytesurfer8651 I have a Jazzmaster. I also have a Telecaster with vintage 65 Jazzmaster pickups that one is my favorite guitar to play.

[@JustMe-dr2ci]

Just 16 days until I see you in Columbus, Ohio! Thanks for the years of great entertainment. A friend bought me a copy of "A New Day Yesterday" in 2000 and said, "This sounds like something you'd like." She was right. And you just keep getting better. Thanks, too, for the videos like this. I'm an equipment nerd and I love them!

[@chuffa1130]

The telecaster in the hands of Joe is absolutely incredible!

[@MascarasMil]

I learn so much about things I never cared about my listening to Joe B.

[@kidntrope]

I could listen to Joe all day.

[@DougGoodwin]

JoBo is the man. Love hearing him play and talk guitars.

[@jfinester]

Totally agree with you, Joe B. Teles are the best! However, I can’t play ‘em with the bridge cover on. Can’t palm-mute with it there! BTW, I saw Albert Collins in 1969, opening for Elvin Bishop and BB King at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen, and Albert was incredible. They all were!

[@richtfingers]

If Joe is talking about guitars, I’m listening! Always gives of himself, great guy!

[@gregperkins7723]

Thanks for ALL of your unpretentious help to amateurs like me Joe!!!!!! You're the best.

[@donnrutherford7059]

Thanks Joe for your homely reality of the telecaster that can take you anywhere Cheers always waiting to see what your gonna do next

[@ravenbom]

I LOVE hearing a guy that takes $500,000 guitars on tour saying; "you can get a Squire tele and put a flat pole reissue in it". I'm happy as can be with my MIM Strat I swapped with Seymour Duncan Antiquities Surf Pickups (after tone chasing for several years). I sold my Fender American and kept the Fender MIM. A lot of the tone is from the player, I realized as I got better. And I started with one Fender and a Squire I played more often than the Fender and had modded. Tone isn't in the age or era, it's in the player.

[@jerrysolonsmith8471]

That's hands down one of the best tones for this style, EVER

[@davidg-oo1ox]

What an insanely informative video . Thank you Mr B

[@heftosprod]

"insanely" informative?

[@maxx.mazzeo]

He is the kid that everyone start playing guitar for, Amazing Joe!

[@randyrich2039]

Yep, Joe's right on as usual. The picture to the left is me with my '53 I got in a trade with Johnny Meeks back in '76. The pic. is circa '91, at The Ventura Theatre. I still have the ax and I still use it on gigs. It still works just fine. It weighs 6.5 Lbs. All original except the frets, which have been 6100's since I got it (4 fret jobs and nuts have been done since '76, I used it a lot, 5 night a week house band gigs). If Joe reads this comment I'll say to him that he missed seeing and playing this ax by one day, I was teaching at Guitar Planet in Ventura, he came in there looking for vintage gear the day before I would've been there with the Johnny Meeks '53 Tele.

[@TheJP3]

Johnny Meeks that used to play with Gene Vincent? That’s crazy!!!

[@randyrich2039]

Yep, the same. He was a good cat. Kind of a mentor to me, about 8 years older than me. I took him to the Palamino to see Emylou Harris and Albert Lee was in her band at the time. Johnny wanted to tell Albert something nice about his playing and when I introduced Johnny to Albert, Albert almost fainted. He couldn't believe Johnny Meeks had been watching him play, It was hilarious. @@TheJP3

[@sebastiangomez5068]

Joe Knows... keep these coming....please

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

I flipped my Tele's control plate, and wired it so the tone control only works when the bridge pickup is engaged. Also swapped the blade switch for a three-way toggle. I use violin-ing, but with the tone knob, to produce an unconvincing, but still useful, wah effect.

[@Bluedragon003]

Thank you Joe! Please keep it up, I love these gear/tone tips(...and I think a lot of people do). I'm sayin it again, you and Mike Hickey should right a book about gear, then you could have collaborators like Dan Irwin or (Uncle) Norm etc... I bet it would become a must have for collectors as well as admirers.

[@JJGuccione]

You’re too modest JB. You nailed a few of Albert’s chops. Always fun listening to you. Thank You

[@richardroskell3452]

Thanks Joe, great tips. I heard the spot of solder on the Tele ashtray is from where they attached a piece of metal that was used to dip it into the plating mix. After the coating was on they removed the metal handle.

[@peanutygoodness]

It’s crazy how much is in his right hand technique, which you can see by the absence of motion - how effortless it appears. As if he’s not moving much at all. I also appreciate the way he moves from pick to fingers without any lag. I used to think you play without a pick exclusively so I could develop better bare hand technique, but there’s no reason you can’t play hide the pickle and tuck it in your palm when you aren’t using it.

[@marksimpson2321]

Great to hear Joe is a big Albert Collins fan ! ❤

[@ryanedwardmusic]

The neck pickup with dark cap tone is awesome

[@crazywisdom2]

Love who this man is. Thanks Joe for your Passion. Love what you do. GOD bless you and your fingers my friend.

[@ryevick]

I never thought too much about a Telecaster until I got one, and now I'll never let go of it. They're a must.

[@stefanodelstef7988]

I'd like to have half the talent Joe has. A great guitar player and guitar collector/historian/lover.

[@jvin248]

Guitarist: Get Joe to run through his 'knobs tone' video he did on the LP "before you use any pedals" but on the Tele. Also get Bill Kirchen on video showing all the sounds he gets from a Tele for his Hot Rod Lincoln song. There are a few good live videos of that song (the Philadelphia one I think is the best) but it would be very interesting to hear his approach.

[@handyc77]

Why? So we can be jealous of what he rubs in our face with his gear no one can afford?

[@joeldowdy404]

I love the older wiring like that but with a slight mod where the tone knob is a blend knob for the front and back pickups instead of setting the switch in the in between position so that the switch stays in the back position.

[@giabgr]

That's not really a mod, that's the previous wiring (1950 til about late '52).

[@stratonic]

I wondered whether this was the way Joes's guitar was wired as he seemed shocked that he could not get the tone pot working in the bridge position. Fender was always open to custom order specs so maybe original owner wanted the blend knob. Joe has so many guitars it's easy for him to get mixed up on this.

[@kresimis]

I like watching him because he knows a lot about guitars and playing. 😊

[@KimberlyBowling]

More videos with Joe! I learned a lot.

[@jamesanderson348]

Love his explanations. He KNOWS his stuff!

[@gregberry7647]

Thanks Joe. Your helping me decide to buy my 1st tele.

[@leonwhildenjr4483]

Hey Joe,😎👍 Good stuff man. Thanks for the Telly Talk!🌅🕊🦋🕊🙏✌️

[@Jay-bw3fl]

Tele tone is just magic

[@johnvrydaghs3869]

One of the best guitarists ever. JB is the Man!

[@soerenguitarlessons9947]

Thanks for a very informative tone tips video. Though playing the day long on my tele, I never tried theese other tonepositions . Especially the one between the middle and the back pickup sounds really good, again thanks a lot! Soeren

[@randolphpatterson5061]

My Tele's original neck pickup was replaced early on by a Mighty Mite, hotter & no cover, which was a big improvement, but later the bridge pickup stopped working & I got a Hot Rails 'bucker, which resulted in a bit of a loss of that twangy Tele sting & snap. But I'm happy with the added beef & growl, so it's a wash. Now I'm about to install new pots & cap & a 4-way switch. Stay tuned, Joe, and BTW you're the best!

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

There might be a Bill Lawrence pickup that can get both those sounds together for you....

[@susieroberts8175]

I've got a '58 but the pickup switch goes bridge/both/neck. Love the video, thank you! ☺

[@averygentry35]

Coming from Joe Bonamassa to say get a Squire and put some vintage reissue pickups, you can rule the world! That’s cool! Like his style!

[@sacho747]

thank you for the "Tone influence of pickup cover" -- part, ... I never even thought about that...shit, how cool is that ;-)

[@danabiondo9243]

Sounds Amazing !!! 🙏 Great Demo Smoking Joe. 🙂 Thank You ! ☀️

[@harrisonhicks9697]

Thanks for the knowledge, Joe. Great stuff. Now, ... if only I could play like you!! Rock on, man.

[@RA-ew8rv]

Nice! What a great talent, and at the end of the day "it's just a plank of wood".

[@RARenfield]

Tele suffers from country music stigma. I finally got one and it is fantastic. Now I have two.

[@litemetal]

Thank you 🙏 Mr. Joe

[@scottsanders1960]

Great information! Thanks, Joe.

[@alaskamedgrower5416]

Joe has taken awhile but definitely grown on me as person 💯 and musician 💯 originally for years I thought he played to fast with not enough emotion in it just note counts but I have changed that opinion such badass guitar player

[@marvinthemartian6788]

Funny how time changes our perception.

[@milanmilicevic4618]

I really like simplicity of telecaster, everything is in hand 🙂

[@metalfenderguybradwalker1916]

My AXL TELECASTER WITH the axle /EMG pickup in the bridge got this guitar for 20 bucks. Now I haven't touched the wiring. It's just as a tele should be but something is weird 1st and 2nd position are just the bridge. 3rd is the neck. I can wedge it from the 3rd and 2nd and get this awesome floored wah pedal sound. Maybe I'm alone on this one but it's cool. Also these AXL telecasters are kind of rare and if you find one get it

[@dbfcrell8300]

I think what he meant to say was that the selector switch is a CRL, not a Switchcraft. Switchcraft pup switches are found in LPs

[@timwatson4118]

Not just any Joe!! thank you sir, you are very good for the 'game'.

[@RexCars1]

" Great Tele Tip " JB... Thanks Brother...

[@musichouseguitarsarnoldsmi5384]

i am gonna try the ashtray tipi own a 1960 custom telecaster without the tray but have one laying around, thanks Joe!

[@Leslie-m9p]

I particularly like the ash, “Special Factory Run” Blackguard Teles from Fender’s factory in Mexico. So much so that I’ve purchased two identical ones, each with slightly different set ups, one with flat wounds (GHS 750 stainless steel) and the other running round wounds (D’Addario “NYXL” 09. - .o42) 👍😎

[@RobTai]

such a great fusion of entertainment and education from joe. along with his monster chops of course 💯💯

[@davegrice3423]

Welp, I just learned something, thanks Joe! I have a '52 reissue Tele with the dark circuit, but have never tried the in-between trick. About to give that a go right now.

[@somebodyelseuk]

The solder on the early covers is from attaching a wire for the plating process, either because they couldn't get a good electrical contact on the jigs, to stop them dropping to the bottom of the plating bath if they fell off the jig, or both.

[@thegusglynnband]

So entertaining! This is great info simply laid down. There's so much out there about tone, laboriously presented by dry guitar 'aficionados', this is pure fun fresh air :)

[@poem4385]

Thank you for the deep dive

[@calvinbass1839]

Thank you for sharing. Have a blessed day.

[@metalfenderguybradwalker1916]

It also will turn the bridge pickup off turning down the tone of in the 1st position if I. The neck it gives that lipstick pickup a crazy collective sould where the river flows tone

[@rareform6747]

Hate Telecasters BUT YOUR PLAYING AND TONE FLOORS ME !

[@clevebaker8399]

One guitar to role them all! 🥳😘 Leo’s masterpiece 🥳

[@swabee4843]

Put a flat pole pickup in it and rule the world... Damn, well said Joe

[@Ais4Drew]

5:43 well hell Joe I think there’s plenty of guitarists who’d say that about their guitar that they just picked up last week 😂

[@ZalMoxis]

That guitar sounds fantastic Joe.... if only a lefty version would be an option.

[@darrellminx5459]

Good video Joe. Nice and simple. Thank you.

[@Beedubyayardee]

“You can rule the world with it.”

[@dtimm612]

I picked up a no-caster reissue at a shop recently and they aren't kidding when they say baseball bat necks, it was the thickest guitar neck I've ever seen. I assume this tele in the video has a similar jumbo D neck

[@livewire4495]

Great Stuff Joe! Fastest Volume Kill on the planet!

[@brucehelppie6119]

Great player with great guitar.

[@joeyserrapede]

These are great!!! Strat next!?!?👀👀👀

[@That52TeleGuy]

Tele is also the ultimate modshop guitar, pickup combos, wiring changes, can even go easily from maple to rosewood neck. Though can say they are not for everyone as you need to find your self and playing style in a Tele. I always say there are 3 types of Tele players, those that live on the bridge, those that live on the neck, then the in betweeners

[@CatharticGuitar]

I'm putting the ashtray on my 2010 Vintage Hot Rod '52 Tele tonight.

[@Bwiser63]

I would love to hear the full story about that telecaster.

[@citizen_d]

And where is the Les Paul video Joe is referring to?

[@user-lf2fr5so8n]

Superb video, what was the slow bluesy volume swell tune at 6:00

[@Wileylikethehawk]

“If you can make a gig work with this you can make anything work” indeed. I’ve been pretty much all Tele for years.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

That’s wild, now! How come I ain’t never heard nobody stickin the tele switch in-between the settings like a Strat?

[@ciarraibuzz]

I can't play, but I love JB doing his thing. The guy is fucking groovy.

[@KevinHowardMusic]

I use this tuning, with the 3rd position brightened only a bit with a different capacitor

[@kenbash2951]

Amazing how much better the guitar sounds when you play with your thumb- surprising.

[@justinnewmanmusic]

Needed to hear this. Thank you, Joe! Back to my og Fred Stuart naughty girl, never putting her down again.