The Story Of The BLK1 - John Mayer's Number One Guitar | A Complete Documentary

[@henrykobee]

I can hardly understand how much effort you did put into this. So… this video is amazing. Nothing else to say but great job!

[@JustinJeske]

Thank you so much! It was a lot of work I won't lie but everyone seems to be really enjoying it so that makes it all work it

[@gmel1084]

@@JustinJeske hear me out. I have a wild theory. The uniqueness of the blk1 tone comes from the dummy coil situation! The tech put it in. From my research, you lose some output volume from doing so, and it maybe even changes the tone as well losing some highs (sounds like johns tone to me). This is why I think John’s pickups were raised so high to compensate for this. Those pickups were modeled after the Texas specials apparently (like SRV). So since the dummy coil lowers the output on the pickups already, he raises the pickups to his liking to bring back a little highs. Now the question is how the tech wired the dummy coil. In my research I’m guessing he just put it in between the switch and the volume like I’ve seen others do! What do you think? Love your videos. Please shout me out if you make a vid on this! I’m gonna experiment with this theory

[@jacobmiller3427]

​@@JustinJeskedo u have one on his summer of love strat? The hendrix one u see him play live for slow dancing?

[@BrandonMarsella]

A true love letter to one of the most iconic guitars in history. Thanks for putting this together. 🤘🏼🎸

[@lebethonii6683]

Ahaha😂

[@JustinJeske]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@fenderstrat2017]

64 will always be my favorite. Was glad I got to see it in 2019 in Kansas City :) Also recently rewatched “Someday I’ll fly” documentary about JM. If you haven’t watched it…it’s phenomenal!

[@Giballi24]

KC represent!

[@hangingchad_]

KC forever!🤘

[@Connorlholcomb]

Got to see BLK1 on the Continuum night at MSG in 2019 and it’ll be a night I never forget. Have seen him at least half a dozen, or more times since and the only Fender to make an appearance was his ‘72. Both beautiful guitars, but the BLK1 will hold a special place. Hope he brings it back out one day and keeps it out.

[@milespenucevski2190]

Absolutely unbelievable amount of effort, Justin. And I speak for everyone when I say, we appreciate it! I hope it means something that you managed to keep a drummer, such as myself, watching a video about ONE guitar for an hour and a half! I loved every second of it, so, so good!

[@DaveTriesToPlayGuitar]

Dude you don't know how in time this upload is. I am currently just so fascinated about the Black One that i have been searching all around for the history of it. Thank you for all the hard work you have put into this.

[@michaelpacinus242]

It’s some shitty guitar that a date rapist cringe artist got a hold of😊

[@JustinJeske]

@DaveTriesToPlayGuitar I'm glad the video arrived at the perfect moment for you! 🙏🏻

[@whitesco1]

Fantastic video Justin. The attention to detail and the level of research is above and beyond.

[@IreneGoodwin-js3sb]

I am not a musician, never picked up a guitar let alone played one, but I am here because I love your love of JM and his skills. You explain everything so clearly and enthusiastically. I went to John's Solo tour in Paris and he played Gravity on THE BLK 1! 🖤 John Mayer is phenomenal as your clip at 1.10.36 demonstrates ❤ Thank you! ❤

[@janjakovljev]

Justin my man, I’ve been following your channel for a while now and the amount of effort you put into your videos is trully inspiring! Keep up the great work 🙌🙌

[@stevepurdie3889]

This is an incredible video. I’m 3 quarters of the way through it. You pay a lot of attention to detail!

[@tiagoulart1]

Great video, man! Thanks for this, I'm sure had so much effort searching and recording. Please keep going, we've learned so much about John's music and tech through you. Greetings from Brazil!

[@louisthomass]

Amazing video! Thank you so much! Would love to see one on the Clapton Strat!!

[@nickhembro]

Just a side note for 32:12 when discussing the pole pieces and them getting pushed down vs changed- while I agree with you that it is indeed more likely that the pickup was changed, I can say from personal experience that pole pieces can and do get pushed down- especially in the case of falling off a wall hanger- without much more damage to the guitar than chips in the paint. I had to push the pole pieces of my bridge pickup of my main guitar back out after it was vibrated out of a wall hanger by the subwoofers at a venue right before a show.

[@alexandrepalet9601]

Finally is there a dummy coil or not?

[@ryder66cs]

Great video. You really did your homework. I learnt alot I didn't know about the Black One. Let's hope we see it live again one day.

[@Snek03]

Yesss! Just the video I has been wishing for! Thanks!

[@admarhermans1]

Great video! I play bass. I hope one day somebody will do an in depth video/ interview on Dela (David LaBruyere), his time with John Mayer and his gear. For me, he was the best bassplayer to ever play with John! I still love his playing, tone and his style the most! When ‘Heavier Things’ came out, my band was doing an album in a nice studio here in The Netherlands. I tracked almost all the bass parts. Then there was this little interview with David in Bassplayer Magazine. He talked about his gear too. His point was that he was using this tube SIB pedal called the FatDrive both live and in the studio to get his tone. Well, I got the pedal from the US and redid all of the bass parts on our than album with it. The engineer/ producer loved it! 🖖

[@billyruegger]

This video is unbelievably well done! Really enjoyed watching this.

[@JustinJeske]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@yinanzhou662]

Watching this video makes me feel like I own the BLK1. Thanks so much!

[@diogolpo94]

Great video Justin!!! alot of research and a complete and enlightening stuff from this iconic John Mayer guitar. Thanks for this video and kep doing youre stuff.

[@TheSavagederek]

When i was young i saw Jimi and later Clapton with Stratocasters and i was hooked . My first electric was a red Strat copy, a Jim Deacon Strat. It took me until 1999 before i got my Olympic White US Standard Stratocaster. I still have it and its the best guitar I've ever owned and ive had more than a few . Im 49 now and still love Strats .

[@ajaygattu]

Great stuff Justin, appreciate the time and effort you put in towards researching accurate information, the next guitar if you may please, would be the John cruz racing stripe Stratocasters, the charcoal frost metallic and specially the silver one with burgundy stipe from "bigger than my body'.

[@marklawson443]

Fantastic. Love anything about that guitar. Great job .

[@zacheatsworld]

The amount of time and effort put in this video is amazing! Great video man

[@swingarm2012]

Amazing video!!! Really enjoyed this!! So much time and effort into this video, great job!!!

[@danielcgomez]

I finally got around to watching this video ...thanks Justin! ...Great job putting it together!

[@fenderstrat2017]

John Cruz seems like a character

[@findingthattone]

What a great job on this video!!!!! Thanks for all your effort man... ❤

[@gabrielmwangi6576]

Sir you just keep gifting us with these great videos keep em coming 👊🏽

[@bryana.a9770]

An amazing guitar. An amazing documentary. Sad that Fender wouldn’t take another idea from John and he walked away from Fender.

[@lt.reubenrozeyt5716]

When was playing the BLK1 live at LA, you could see how the guitar and John became one entity.

[@alexanderroy5713]

Bro yessssss. Justin you knocked this out of the park. Killer video. Thanks man :)

[@JustinJeske]

Thanks so much brotha 🙏🏻

[@imbenok]

im 8 days late but your channel always amazes me with your dedication to john's journey! BLK1 will always be the holy grail mayer strat tone for me. Amazing video yet again 👌🏻

[@JustinJeske]

Thank you so much!

[@ShaKimono]

This was absolutely amazing to watch being a big fan of that guitar many beautiful blessings to you

[@ewfunnell]

Great job Justine!

[@couthlazer]

Hey Justin, I was wondering if you could do a video on eric clapton's blackie strat, both clapton and mayer are big influences on me and love their black axes that they used and favoured

[@19guitarshredder]

Amazing video, man!! So much that I didn't know, reigniting my love for this guitar. Well done!

[@JustinJeske]

That makes me so happy to hear! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@stryguy]

Call it bias, call it placebo, call it what you may - Not in any way dismissing the that he's achieved glorious tones countless times since - BUT...whether you want to call it "grit" or "gusto" or whatever, I can't help but claim the BLK1 just has way more BALLS than most of his other guitars (or at least he pushes it there) certainly more than the SS. I love plenty of his other tones - '64, Hardtail, JM Sig, SRV Sig, Monterey, Sonic Cruz, Hendrix...Call me nostalgic but to this say the BLK1 Mayer is still the single most iconic and aspiration-worthy tones he's ever put out there (fully acknowledging his amps, pedals and playing are all critical components, too) but that "Continuum era" and the decade or so he used that guitar will perpetually remain my personal aim in the way of guitar tone 🙌

[@robmeeks8114]

I love the deep dive videos on John's guitars. Keep them coming 😊

[@arthurvonderschulenburg8807]

Awesome video man!! Thanks a lot for putting this together 😊

[@JustinJeske]

Anytime, thank you 🙏🏻

[@nimitz1739]

So John went to John Cruz and ask for the black version of the SRV guitar. Legally Crus couldn’t do it so Instead, he made the black version of the SRV guitar. 😂

[@alexanderroy5713]

Had to comment twice because it’s such a raw video 🤌🏼🥵🔥

[@ZukieBear]

Justin, this is such a comprehensive and great video. Thanks for all of the hard work on this and your contributions to the JM gear community. Just one quick question: does the BLK1 have Big Dipper pickups?

[@JustinJeske]

😂 you're welcome, and I really appreciate that 🙏🏻

[@SunnyKlein-vr7eh]

Amazing video! Watched the whole thing and also hit subscribe🤘 you should do videos on other famous guitars and their full history!! Great research and just everything was spot on, I could watch videos like this all the time especially getting to see guitars I love up close👏 please do more!!!!!

[@martinferrer3197]

So cool, i search so many info on john’s gear ! That’s a dream tanks !

[@thiagocesaro]

Thanks for the amazing work, Justin!

[@JustinJeske]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻

[@boe466]

Just watched this video again. Brilliantly researched as always and I really appreciate you digging past rumours commonly states with absolute confidence on forums. Do you know if anyone has the DC resistance readings from one of the 83 black 1s? I am considering ordering the radioshop black one pickups that are based on those, but I am a bit sceptical that the bridge and neck output measurements are reversed from what you would normally find on a strat.

[@keithremedy]

Stayed up super late it’s 6 am & I see this pop up on my feed. First thing I look at is the time stamp and i see it’s a 1:22:00 video. I about busted in my pants Black one definitely deserves this hour 😂

[@daanmulders8731]

HAHA dudeeeee

[@JustinJeske]

When I started scripting I thought it might be comparable to the 64 video for runtime, then I quickly realized it would be waaaaay longer haha

[@RobertJSedky]

Incredibly detailed video. 🙌🏼🎸

[@SunnyKlein-vr7eh]

Plus he put the same tuning pegs on the black one that SRV had and there is nothing wrong with him wanting a guitar like SRV but for some reason John never acts like that's why he wanted his guitar to have that look, so I'm happy you pointed that out 👍

[@RichTones]

at 10:30, shows a closeup of the bridge, the saddles look very odd in their placement, and I'm wondering how its intonnated? Also appears. to be sleeves over the E

[@hard8core]

This is what we've been waiting for

[@TommyFedak]

Wow! That was fun! Thank you!

[@JustinJeske]

Glad you liked it Tommy!

[@VeniceKing1]

Usually don't comment but had to say thank you for this!

[@JustinJeske]

That is very appreciated 🙏🏻

[@guim4g]

What a video justin! 😮 Goat

[@brendanmaher8267]

The BLK1 will be played at Crossroads, I'm calling it now.

[@JustinJeske]

I hope so, I really hope so!

[@N_g_y]

Very interesting. Thx for centralizing the content

[@nimitz1739]

When John tells the freezer story it’s hilarious because it’s not a good look for the Fender custom shop that they sent him this top-of-the-line custom shop guitar that didn’t work because it was wired wrong. Nice job Cruise 😂

[@fives.]

They threw themselves at the lore of this guitar in spite of it which is a ballsy way to save face in the era when John Suhr etc. were starting to put out insanely high-quality production-model Strats

[@Snek03]

And yet, it was just another lie.

[@nimitz1739]

@@Snek03 exactly why would he say that. Specially, when he would get more custom shop guitars from Cruise

[@Snek03]

@@nimitz1739 Who knows. He lies all the time. Maybe because he thinks it makes a good story, or maybe he’s a pathological liar. He lied about his first SRV having broken pickups, not wanting his black1 to look like SRV’s Number 1, the black1 pickups being wired wrong, and his black1 pickup poles unstaggering themselves because he dropped it. 😂 And that’s just guitar related lies.

[@nimitz1739]

@@Snek03 I like the part where John Cruz said, legally they couldn’t make a black version of the SRV guitar. So instead, they made a black version of the SRV guitar. 😂

[@travismangrum6100]

Amazing job on this video!

[@JustinJeske]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@bowarren]

Quality work, man! Great job!

[@zitnbit]

This video should be on the JM textbook. Thanks for uploading it!

[@JustinJeske]

I would love to write a JM Gear book like Kentaro did for John Frusciante one day, would be super cool.

[@themandohunter3969]

Seeing John soloing over to Infinity isn’t something I knew I needed

[@germanmartinez1994]

Im gonna make some popcorn for this one!

[@gregmartz4901]

Justin - great video very well done! Any chance you can do a deep dive on John's gear used at a Viper Room gig he played circa 2004? The gig is on line and has been floating around for years, is one of John's best tones in my opinion.

[@lebethonii6683]

Congrats, well done man

[@matguerra333]

Gary Clark Jr. and Mayer playing "Born under a Bad Sign" was a "what a fkng tone!" moment for me and that was apparently a replica 4/18/2013

[@Alemski]

Body resonate without lacquer.. and how about now with his silver sky.. Did he chnaged his mind? or did he wanted relic Strat?

[@spaghettimeatballswow]

PRS himself dislike relics

[@shalukawijesiri9292]

Great job man

[@berniesmith8089]

Awesome video. Pause the Rig Rundown video where Caesar is holding the guitar with the back facing the camera. There are clearly holes drilled in the body for a backplate.

[@JustinJeske]

Yeah that’s one just dumb mistake on my end ffs 🫠

[@math001]

Thanks man for clarifying the crack video. Never really knew the history of that guitar post WTLI and thought that this video would end with that and how John never used it again after

[@JustinJeske]

Ha, it's what I do! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@willudallmusic]

brilliant video mate, what really stands out to me is how 'flutey' it gets on the B string around the 12th fret' i really haven't heard that on many strats before, black1 always got there.

[@itsallblues9621]

A crazy level of detail here. Especially all the neck changing stuff. I'm not sure I want to contest this level of geek-ship ;-) but I remember JM saying that he had the fingerboard changed to Brazilian Rosewood on the BLK1... I'm assuming from the original Indian rosewood? Am I imagining this?

[@JustinJeske]

That was the Monty! He switched that one over to Braz 😎

[@lakervoxx597]

Great vid... Perhaps not a full conclusion on what pick-ups are in it tho? It's a real rollercoaster ride of a theory that there's big dippers in there.

[@Njserrano]

Where can I find that intro video of him playing live? Those licks and chops were sick!

[@martinpre7572]

thanks for this video amazing work

[@freddyfriis305]

GJ m8 and ofc we will see it again live might not Be on John but like on mr hammer greeny who knows thx for video and all the work :)

[@marc2423]

great stuff! Justin you deserve to have one of the 83 imho🧐

[@JustinJeske]

Ha, thank you… maybe one day!

[@Giballi24]

Fantastic work my dude 🔥🔥🔥

[@JustinJeske]

Thanks brotha

[@TempleOfTheMartyrs]

THIS GUY IS THE REASON WE ARE A BAND

[@lucasgonzalezdealedo8556]

Great Video, same as always! keep going mate!

[@ratuldevel4985]

Insane efforts!!

[@onepopbandcdo]

Good job sir !

[@grantabernathy]

So if I understand you correctly...that neck broke live on stage! THAT'S CRAZY!!!

[@JustinJeske]

😂

[@Snek03]

What is the dummy coil underneath the pickguard thing and what does it do?

[@christianboddum8783]

A dummy coil reduces hum.

[@JarnoDamWichers]

Hi Justin, is the Silver Sky the guitar closest to the BLCK1? Because John made it after his favorite startspecs? Like the pick-ups are special made, maybe a copy of the black1 pu’s?

[@DaveRodriguez]

The Silver Sky are said to have pickups modeled between a '63 and '64 Strat. However, the pickups have also change since the release of the SS.

[@scottcasciato4027]

Awesome video. I was at the 2019 show in PIT and after this went back to see the video of Gravity that I recorded that night. So super cool! Rare that there is an instrument this iconic and in his hands it’s just legendary. Thanks for the video!

[@Larson357]

I wasn’t able to catch were he talks about the pickups? What pickups does John have on his BLK1 please ? Do they sell the same type on guitar shops ?

[@3v3ryDayGam3r]

Hi Justin! Simply amazing video, your stuff is fantastic as always. I have a quick question regarding Mayer's driven tone, as of late. Any time I go back and listen to a recording from 2021 onwards, especially with D&C, it sounds like his driven tone has some sort of filter on it that gives it a more scooped sound of some sort. Do you know what could be contributing to this? Maybe the EUNA? I'm assuming that it's a combination of multiple pedals since I haven't heard this sound being produced in isolation from any given pedal. Thanks for all the hard work you do for us nerds! Cheers

[@michaeldschutte]

Bit late but I think you are referring to the TS10 and Klon combo

[@manastiwari4305]

i really appreciate your hard work bro btw he recently used it in msg

[@Βετο]

@Justin Jeske: great vid, so I just heard John Cruz saying Mayer's own BLK1 DOES have big dippers but the ones made after don't, wouldn't that prove that his guitar DO have big dippers ?

[@conorgallagher6139]

Insane video!

[@alexv2762]

Incredible 🙌🏻

[@caras830]

I never thought that it had Big Dipper pick-ups.... it sounds so similar to SRV's #ONE that it couldn't have them.

[@stephenrdecker]

Hi Justin. Great video. I’d like to connect with you about a time where I met John in 2005 and was able to play the BLK1. (Too long for a comment thread). Where’s the best place to send you a DM?

[@JustinJeske]

DM me on Instagram @justinjeskeguitar ! I'll keep an eye out for it!

[@jacobselfridge]

I don’t have the time stamp but early in the video when you said “and don’t worry we will talk about this a little later” I was like.. yeah no we are going to talk a lot

[@itsyaboyboba]

@JustinJeske I see that Order 66 hat bro! Love it!

[@JustinJeske]

Ha! Had to get this one for the Ahsoka show! I'm glad someone noticed it 😆

[@ladulay533]

I just got my blk1 replica build today then this video came out 🤯

[@JustinJeske]

Ha, perfect timing! Who made your replica?

[@ladulay533]

@@JustinJeske freakquency guitars made my replica

[@jeffboles2470]

After watching this video I listened back thru Continuum. It’s not a gear theory but I am just about 99.9% sure the female vocals on the end of Gravity are Alicia Keys. I’d love to hear Justin’s thoughts.

[@evemaphone]

You’re correct it is her. I think this was already known but was confirmed by John last week on his SiriusFM channel

[@jeffboles2470]

@@evemaphone I know right!?! I felt so vindicated when I heard him mention this on channel when he debuted the Gravity demo.

[@Carguyeight]

This is known and can be read on the personnel on wikipedia

[@jeffboles2470]

@@Carguyeight if you will take note that I made this post a year ago, before he said it on Sirius. I always thought it was a female voice, then I saw her sing with him live a couple times and she always did Gravity as at least one of the songs with him. From that point on I was CERTAIN of it. Good to have it confirmed officially now though.

[@shooterx9690]

Anyone else get the vibe that Mayer and Cruz don’t really like each other.

[@davibaldrani]

I loved the video, but where can I see Frank Ocean's performance with Mayer?

[@davemish4163]

Justin, since we know the Black 1 didn't have the Big Dipped pickups, what pickups do you recommend for Continuum tones?

[@fernank017]

johns fingers.

[@pontus268]

Fender Pure Vintage '59 will probably get you quite close I think

[@JustinJeske]

@davemish4163 I am just starting to do a bit of a deeper dive into pickups myself personally. The Foley or Genesis BLK1 clones would be my suggestion though as they are replicas of the pickups in the 1/83 BLK1's. Pickups aside, if you are able I'd seriously consider a Two Rock if those are the tones you are truly after. Those amps are a bigger component of that sound that'll get you a lot closer than a pickup swap.

[@Dad-Gad]

@@JustinJeske I've had Mark Foley pickups , CM Daugherty's , Alexander Pribora , CS 65s , C's 69s , but the closest I've ever got to SRV ( which Mayer was chasing ) and I wish I'd never sold them were Dominger Hippie Pickups , absolutely hands down GREATEST I've ever owned imo 👍