Vintage Faves with Joe Bonamassa | 1959 Gibson EMS-1235

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www.guitarcenter.com/Vintage/...
Guitarist and collector Joe Bonamassa shares another one of his “favorite finds" from Guitar Center. This time it’s a rare “unicorn”-a blonde-finish 1959 Gibson EMS-1235 doubleneck that’s a combo plate of a 6-string guitar and mandolin.
Gibson started making doublenecks in 1958, and they were available only as custom orders. Even the cases were produced on a one-by-one basis. It was also a time when Gibson would make almost any doubleneck you asked for-two basses, two 6-strings, a 12-string and a 6-string, a mandolin and a 6- or 12-string and so on.
“You had to order this and wait for it,” explains Bonamassa. “It was not a product Gibson would make dealers stock just in case someone came in looking for a guitar and mandolin. This example is very rare, because it’s in a factory-blonde finish. Most EMS-1235s were white or sunburst-although the late, great Robbie Robertson’s EMS-1235 was cherry red.”
Bonamassa remembers he walked into a Guitar Center about ten years ago and bought this EMS-1235 ("EMS" stands for Electric Mandolin Spanish, by the way!)-along with a 1955 Fender Stratocaster hardtail that was part of a set from the same owner.
“I’m a guitar collector, but I’m also a guitar player, so I have to serve both sides of the fence,” says Bonamassa. “The ones I play have new frets and stuff like that, and you’ll see them onstage. But for the ones I collect-I want to be a custodian to history. When I look down at this guitar, everything on it was made in America. It harkens back to the days when this country made everything. The craftsmanship and inventiveness involved in doing something like this-that’s why I collect these things. This is a big guitar to play, and it’s my job to preserve it, play it, enjoy it and treasure it.”
Take a look at Joe's 1939 Martin 000-42:
• Vintage Faves with Joe...
Get up close and personal with Joe's 1958 Gibson Flying V:
• Vintage Faves with Joe...
Keep ups with Joe Bonamassa:
jbonamassa.com/
Chapters
00:00 - Intro with Joe Bonamassa
00:41 - Overview and Features of Joe’s 1959 Gibson EMS-1235
02:52 - Playing the 1959 Gibson EMS-1235
03:54 - A Look Into Joe Bonamassa’s Guitar Collector Mentality
04:48 - Playing the 1959 Gibson EMS-1235 (Cont.)
06:07 - Outro

[@guitarcenter]

What are your thoughts on this unique 1959 Gibson EMS-1235? Let us know in the comments! 👇

[@monochromedout]

What was the signal chain?

[@db5757]

It’s beautiful and sounds great when Joe plays it.

[@guitarcenter]

@@monochromedout Joe was playing into a Suhr Hombre combo amp. He also had a Tube Screamer that he was using. If you want to check out the Hombre: www.guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Hombre-1x12-Tube-Combo-Guitar-Amp-Brown-1500000321010.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA

[@crucified-music]

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

[@bobalmighty2925]

I wish my local GC looked like that.

[@eyedunno8462]

A PAF-equipped mandolin is the single most wildest, completely bokers and yet perfect idea for a double necked instrument. I can't believe there was a time where we were this cool to make these and those days are long, long gone

[@bubbashadetree262]

Absolutely incredible! Around 1960, I sent Gibson a letter telling them how much I love Gibson guitars. Got a letter back along with their current catalog. I slobbered and dreamed all through that catalog for years (I was 8 years old & had a pawn shop 1958 ES225T). My heart always skips a beat when I see PAFs, P90s, raised pickguard & florentine cut-away. I still have my 225 &have multiple Es335s & Les Pauls. Those Gibson necks just feel like home.

[@starmanoretorno]

0:21

[@user-fv5yo5fi5c]

Gotta love Joe and his enthusiasm about preserving history. In addition, he's only my favorite guitar player alive today. Thanks Joe

[@crucified-music]

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

[@brianwells4507]

Anyone else hearing "Can't Find My Home" in Joe's playing?❤

[@Joey_McElroy]

A PAF for the mandolin is absolutely a dream! 😮 love Joes playing, seen him live twice now. Every time he comes to our area, the wife and I Go see him!

[@marysefonta8371]

Double Neck , Fabulous , Joe 🎸 ! Joe , you're the Best Teacher for Guitars and Guitar's History !!

[@davemis40]

Surprised Page didn’t have one of these

[@Skillet1965]

Or John Paul Jones even

[@shawnmcvey7789]

​@@Skillet1965Jones probably would've ordered a mando/bass version.

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

Probably does, he has a huge collection as well

[@Agi07]

This set came from GC in Kentwood, MI where I worked at the time. Unfortunately I was off that day, but an elderly lady came in with both of her husband's instruments (original owner) and sold it to the store. It was purchased by Joe's associates within a day from what I remember.

[@bustedfender]

I had a vintage Gibson banjo once. Stupidly, I left it on the front seat when I parked to use a gas station restroom. When I came back, someone had smashed my window and left another one next to it.

[@eugeneross6624]

You had me cracking up over that... thank you!

[@alexanderwes5204]

What a great looking and sounding guitar. And Joe's playing, just awesome!

[@rodolfolarrea8493]

Joe B became a custodian of American history … and a blues guitar master

[@crucified-music]

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

[@user-xc8ir7ng9z]

Stunning, what a beautiful double neck. In my 62 years on mother earth. This is the first time I've seen one of these. This guy Joe is not bad on the guitar.🤘🤘☮️

[@andybungert]

something about that double pickguard is so rad :)

[@kurtniederstadt97]

just awesome, its beautiful and the TONE! Joe, you are very blessed to have these treasures, you do it some fine justice too!! You are THE CURRARATOR!

[@user-ey7jo8cz1o]

Thanks for the history lessons.

[@DamonBates]

such a gift to have joe do this stuff for us.

[@crucified-music]

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

[@powerinformation]

That mandolin playing sounded great and he transitioned to the guitar well after too

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Never knew Joe played mandolin

[@djwarren5081]

Joe is so talented. Always a pleasure to listen to him play.

[@hakamag]

even with shitty headphones those PAFs really hit different. what a sound!

[@russellzauner]

JB needs to release a record of mandolin music now. That was a nice little bit he did.

[@gregorywall7586]

Wow. Very cool. History and then some...

[@vikiryan822]

I love how his eyes when he goes full nerd 😍😍😍

[@tonywilliams3896]

What a fab instrument, played by a master

[@Henkerhaus]

That thing sounds absolutely amazing!! Especially in the hands of such a great blues player like Joe.😊

[@levistubbs8949]

I love Joe's enthusiasm, so cool !

[@livewire4495]

Outstanding! That Baby sings!😎

[@jfinester]

I first became aware of these early Gibson hollow doublenecks in the early ‘70s. I’ve never seen one in person-I think it was in a catalog reprint. I’ve always wondered why Gibson never made a singleneck 6-string with this sort of construction-it sounds great! And Joe’s playing is killer too. Never knew he played mandolin!

[@markhill9275]

Thanks Joe, now i have to buy a mandolin and learn to play it! Thanks a Lot mate, grrrr! That sounded incredible! Straight away thinking of Going To California, or Battle Of Evermore!

[@scottschlemmer4787]

Never saw one of these. Marty Stuart would make that bad boy sing.

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

Lookit that wittle pick guard up top under the mando pickup !

[@mlrrock1]

Love Joe, be true to yourself always. Keep on rocking

[@vikiryan822]

The mandolin part was beautiful.

[@acevent5759]

What at cool guitar!

[@russelmurray9268]

Thanks for picking. Beautiful

[@MG-jw6uy]

That's a Barker! sounds amazing Joe!

[@donsaxon1169]

These things sound incredible.

[@ryanmillar9607]

Like all great guitarists, it doesn’t matter what tool you give him, he makes it sound like it should.

[@scott729]

Tone is fire, sir..... good God

[@marcosdilo9540]

Hola David ! hace 15 años que vengo escuchando esta tanda de videos con tu música! Hoy los volví a escuchar ! , gracias por la inspiración amigo!!

[@stratman9449]

lovely insriment..very quirky...and unusual...something rare and special...and surely "precious".....$$$$$...cheers Joe. thx for showing it to us...and play it of course....

[@stratman9449]

"instrument" of course.....cheeze....

[@mikerider58]

God bless you Joe. You do a wonderful job.

[@olgashudofsky2830]

❤❤❤ I so much love to see you play this combination with the mandolin ❤❤❤. It has a great sound. You might consider composing a new song specifically on the this combi guitar and bring it with you to the shows despite it being a collector's item😊

[@FrancescoDAndrea]

That mandolin can SOUND!

[@davidbeloved1]

Super Cool, sounds Great, Joe!

[@zachkieri1185]

Leave it to Joe to not only Jam the heck out of both necks but to make it musical as well

[@charles56737]

Awesome Demo

[@johna1160]

Absolutely gorgeous looking instrument, prosaic looking tailpieces the only let down style wise. Love the tones from the PAF p'ups, particularly the six string. B roll shots of the back and sides would've made presentation even better. Wanted to see the maple grain on the (single piece?) back and neck, and back side of headstock. Also, a peek at the custom Lifton case. Note to GC - please take comment as suggestion for future videos rather than merely complaining.

[@SteveOuimette]

From what I understand this is the same type of guitar Ace Frehley used on "Fractured Mirror" from his '78 solo album. He said it was a double neck Gibson sort of like Jimmy Page's but it had a mandolin on the top neck. Either way, amazing guitar and super rare!

[@katjoe1974]

Super cool guitar. I definitely won’t be going to Guitar Center though- The wal-mart of music stores. Never had a good experience with them

[@dannyvalencia5224]

More of these guitars!

[@dr.weebrule3423]

I have been playing guitar for a decade now. And I have never seen anything like this guitar or heard

[@phillipgreene2564]

THIS MODEL IS ALL MADE IN AMERICA INCLUDING THE GUITAR MAN 💪

[@stoatystoat174]

I could feel my right foot going into sleepy tingles just watching

[@daveblevins3322]

Excellent 👌

[@MBRMrblueroads]

It sounds great

[@markhill9275]

You think of this you think John Paul Jones and his 3 neck!

[@tunelowplayslow5623]

Would love to see someone make one of these but a with 12 string guitar. Semi-hollow would be awesome.

[@aaronmichaelhayworth4697]

I’d love to see this in the hands of Chris Thile on stage for one night! What a crazy instrument.

[@NamelesIsTaken]

I’d love to learn to play that mandolin part. Was that improvised, or is that a known song that I could track down?

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

I had Gibson custom build me an electric sitar/octobass combo in 1967. I blame Owsley Stanley for that one.

[@fulviosorrentino6313]

Beautiful tone!!! Incredible. What amp do you use?

[@brushstroke3733]

The tone on the six string sounds Cream.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

That Mando side needs to be paired with a chorus and delay. For science.

[@christopherbigenho5125]

Joe, please gift this to Mr. Drew Emmett. Legions of fans would love to experience him moving from 6 string to Mando on so many Leftover Salmon tunes.

[@eyedunno8462]

Why the fuck would he do that??

[@KuuchWizard]

I want to see Chris Thile on the mandolin neck

[@adamstewart247]

This is great. Now both headstocks can break off at once unexpectedly 😂

[@edbenelli5374]

Not a guitarist, but seems like some killer Led Zeppelin should be played on that unicorn

[@allenmitchell09]

Joe will be known as the great collector.

[@marclandry4525]

The Collector Supreme!

[@bladeoflucatiel]

Those PAFs 🤤🤤🤤

[@mp-kq3vc]

I know Epiphone has taken great leaps into quality lately, but there's just something in the sound of a Gibson that pokes out of the amp. Even in a compressed KZbin video.

[@Ottophil]

I don’t care about tone or looks. But nitro just feels better on the hands

[@user-fv5yo5fi5c]

@mp well said man, and so true.

[@mp-kq3vc]

@@user-fv5yo5fi5c I have Epis and I have Gibsons. Took YEARS to afford the Gibsons. To me, and this is subjective, Epis just sound like there is a wet blanket over the guitar sound, no matter what "classic" pickups I install in them.

[@markhill9275]

Eastman are every git as good as Gibbos, possibly better with the Lollars, just that now their prices have gone into Gibson territory! Glad i bought my 486 and Gold top when i did!

[@user-fv5yo5fi5c]

@@markhill9275 Mark, the whole this is as good as that and so forth are all 100% subjective. Eastman's are great guitars, but they will never have the same resale value as a Gibson. That's why most people spending a lot of money on a guitar go for Gibson more often than not. If I'm dropping 5K on a fiddle, I'd like to know that 5 years down the road it hasn't gone down by 50% in value. Most Eastman's do exactly that unfortunately.

[@noctxrnyl8240]

i dont think original PAF's will ever be beat. that thing has THE sound

[@kylemoran4343]

My mind goes straight to Marty Stewart or Ricky Skaggs. That guitar would be so practical for either one of those players. Or Jimmy Page in the rock world... "Going to California" comes to mind. Thnx Joe !

[@brushstroke3733]

I'm probably mistaken, but I think John Paul Jones played the mandolin on that song.

[@kylemoran4343]

@@brushstroke3733 You are correct my friend. I was mistaken. I think it was the "Battle of Evermore" that Jimmy played the mandolin. I just remember seeing Jimmy playing one on that "It Might Get Loud" film.

[@OzziePete1]

Would be THE perfect guitar if your band wanted to cover "Stonehenge" by Spinal Tap! I have always liked these thicker double necks from Gibson. Never seen one over here in Australia. I wonder if Gibson Custom Shop would do one today as a Special Order?

[@bobbywest8460]

That tone….

[@dezionlion]

Get inspired new builders! It’s just spruce, mahogany, and rosewood!

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

BEYOND COOL

[@robnamowicz8073]

Parson's street would make anything, Kalamazoo's finest!

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Funny when he says many many moons ago... Back in the early 2000's.

[@donsaxon1169]

I think a t top would sound great for the mando.

[@rjrguitar]

What amp was used please? It sounds incredible.

[@guitarcenter]

He's playing into a Suhr Hombre combo amp. He also had a Tube Screamer that he was using. If you want to check out the Hombre: www.guitarcenter.com/Suhr/Hombre-1x12-Tube-Combo-Guitar-Amp-Brown-1500000321010.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA

[@crucified-music]

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

[@KesslerMickschGeorgeII]

Looks like something Gatemouth Brown would’ve used

[@brunoantony9257]

Gibson needs to make these again

[@charlesbolton8471]

Gibson Custom Shop probably would make one if someone wanted one. I’m sure it would be extremely expensive, but no doubt less expensive than the originals.

[@charlotteglover2159]

Got a question is that thing semi or full Hollow because the body is pretty thick compared to a regular double neck Gibson inquiring minds want to know

[@frankdiaz5877]

the most under rated player jb is #1 and a dam nice guitar to

[@SJoiseyKid]

That checking! 🤤

[@jeffh9020]

I know I've heard the piece he played on the mandolin but my recall won't jump the bridge. Can anyone tell me the title?

[@lachl8634]

What amp is this running through?

[@RjBenjamin353]

3:27

[@CapoKabar]

God damn

[@thijsornurst578]

the moment this video began, i thought he was gonna play weezer

[@Gretschman44]

"It walked into in guitar center" and that person got $200 in trade and they sold it for six figures to JB lol.

[@neakapla]

$685 in 1959 is equivalent to $21,000 in today's money

[@guitarandmore69]

Thanks Joe Biden! 😂

[@rickessegern1920]

Interesting that the fretboards and headstocks don't match?

[@robbie5984]

I wonder how much he paid for that a decade ago. I see one listed now, but it is a 1962 in white. It is listed for $140,000.

[@slave_planet]

Dang, missed his calling. Should have stuck with the mandolin.

[@whitec59]

How much is that worth?

[@ST-xg3gy]

Surprised Jimmy Page didn't pick one up.

[@loganhall7776]

Fun fact: $685 in `59 was over $7k in 2024 money.

[@richardschley4110]

👍✌❤😎