Welcome BACK To Nerdville: Joe Bonamassa's 2024 Vintage Gear Collection Is Even Nerdier

Eight years ago, Joe Bonamassa welcomed Reverb (and the world) into his home/museum for the first time, in our "Welcome to Nerdville" mini-doc. Now, we're back to hear fresh tales and see new gems from his endless guitar safari: bit.ly/4esiFyN
Watch the original "Welcome to Nerdville": • Welcome To Nerdville: ...
Produced by Reverb
Editor: John Gagen
Interview: Jim Tuerk
Camera: Michael Lux & John Gagen
Location Sound: Joel Handley
Production Coordinator: Lauren Tolliver
#reverb #joebonamassa #vintageguitars

[@colingregory]

To say that vintage tweed amp availability has dried up while standing in his own manmade tweed ocean truly is a special kind of Nerd.

[@bugzeye]

I would use a different term than nerd.

[@TheDanification]

I hope he can write a hit song now…

[@xthexadvantagex]

@@TheDanificationwho would want to write a hit? Is that what we’re supposed to be going for? I missed that no wonder

[@cameronwalshguitar]

He's a historian and a killer player. Better he owns it all and looks after it all then some blues lawyer lol

[@coldacre]

@@cameronwalshguitar as if he's even using a tenth of that collection.

[@andrewkuan5226]

Came here from Rick Beato's video... Kudo's to Joe for allowing the bass to be reunited with Rick's family!

[@MarkRoy-e2b]

This video was suggested to me, and as soon as I saw that bass I knew it was the same one Rick talked about.

[@thomasmorris2245]

Love ❤️ The Gold Top 🔝 Les Paul’s-

[@ebeep]

Easily my favorite episode of Hoarders.

[@SuperRbert]

Great comment very witty

[@scotchvelo]

Gotta wonder at what point does this become a sickness.

[@morningbetterlast]

This lad is rather annoying. It doesn't look like a collection, mind the museum, it's closer to a rubbish pile. Compare it to Isaac Brock's of Modest Mouse attitude to collecting gear, this is just atrocious.

[@Dragon_rls]

@@scotchveloI got the same problem. Fortunately, not the same budget 😅

[@timhester3035]

You win with this comment! That's great!

[@VlrGuitarWorld]

Reverb : Does it sound good? Joe : No Now that's Nerdville.. Amazing collection.. maybe the best..

[@VlrGuitarWorld]

@@sometimelater Well i wish he made a song 'Nerdville' and play all of his 58s 59s 60s Burst..

[@knightfall9394]

@@sometimelater i love how you’re upset over this video, its comical. Bonamassa video comment sections are hilarious because people like you are really bothered by the guy and his gear collecting/hoarding

[@jek4912]

​@sometimelater , zero creativity, you say... I'd MUCH rather see/watch this than some cliché museum of stuff with just plain walls that ACTUALLY have NO creativity to them or to enhance what's in the place. No need to be jealous and hatin' on Joe for actually NOT having his collection be in a BOOOOORING looking place any day. ❤ Those handle knobs and all in the kitchen, brilliant, clever idea that goes perfectly well with his collection, as well as how he 'creatively' displays his stuff inside and out. 😍😍 ...and you say not creative, puleeze!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@thephotoyak]

​@@knightfall9394I don't mind the collection. I'm watching the videos haha. The only thing I take issue with is him saying it all gets played. No freaking way it all gets played.

[@donkeytat2]

@@sometimelater you poor bitter person. took the time to be a terrible troll!

[@admarhermans1]

Please, can we do this at least every six months? This man’s just great for my serotonin levels. The gear is just an extra, to provide stuff for the stories. 😄

[@LyonByTheSea]

I do wish Joe would write a book or do a video series about his collection. He is such a great storyteller and has a great sense of humor. I'm always sad when I know the story has ended. So, I start the video over again 😂. Outstanding musician, thoughtful caretaker of history and an all-round great guy!

[@lucabrasi5070]

That would be the ultimate coffee table book. Big glossy pics and the story behind anything with a story. He’d sell a ton of those books.

[@bensmiling]

JB is a custodian of guitar history. He’s the right man for the job. Bravo.

[@nets1776]

Good comment, you got that right!

[@popsfereal]

He's a hoarder.

[@hustlinc3540]

he is a hoarder. imagine these things being available to the public. imagine the music they would inspire. this guy presents himself as a custodian but he really is a hoarder. it s all about power and ego." i will influence the market"_imagine saying that?!? sick. if he made some interesting music with it then fine...but this powerblues bullshit where u cant tell one song from another and every solo has an e johnson pentatonic run. i mean who needs 130 vintage tweeds to make a song about how he "suffered" in life??? this guy was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. kinda sad really

[@bentleyabernethy-jq7kv]

The public drives teslas and wears crocs. The gear is better off with him

[@popsfereal]

@@bentleyabernethy-jq7kv yes it's better off in one place with a hoarder, than your imaginary public.

[@alpep1307]

Joe back in the 90’s you went to the ny guitar show .. your dad approached us and asked if you could try a 60’s strat we had, at the time you were a teenager the guitar was maybe $850 .. we agreed and were floored by your playing. I’m glad you have not changed since then. Saw you in Cali when you bought a guitar from my pal Peter at the Mesa show but too many folks around to try to chat. Keep doing it!

[@MikeOxmal-000]

When I die I hope I go to Nerdville.

[@duanewelsh5611]

Should be on a T-Shirt and you should get a cut! Love it

[@MikeOxmal-000]

@@duanewelsh5611 sounds good to me

[@ClintLackey]

Me too.

[@SunnyKlein-vr7eh]

Me too!!!!!😂

[@TheRange7]

Lol

[@DOMSGUITARS6140]

Why he is my favorite artist,guitar player. He is the whole pkg!!! Love his music! My wife and I go see him perform as often as we can and his live shows r EXPLOSIVE!! Love watching these interviews showcasing his collection!! He is funny,a great story teller and he gets better and better!! His knowledge of guitars and music history is UNPARALLELED!! God Bless u Joe!!!

[@chunkadaryl]

Joe I could sit and watch your videos forever. They are the best. You should write a book about your adventures, and I bet it would be over a thousand pages long.

[@christianscazzieri]

Sign me in to buy a pre-pre-release copy brother!

[@Deathrape2001]

He should do his own KZbin channel where every video is about a single piece of gear & he tells the 'story' about it, or makes 1 up =)) U know, like 'iSaw it at a dealer & it was just like the others I like & don't need N E more of' he could invent a wild Indiana Jones Epic Adventure about = all a big joke = ripe 4 comedy skits, just sitting there babbling about nonsnse that supposedly adds value 2 the old ugly gross 'obsolete' item =))

[@Kathy.Thorne]

I got goose bumps listening to the Tommy Bolin guitar story x My hubby and I saw Joe play live last year here in the UK, great night x

[@giovannifarinacci4533]

IMO it's the best Nerdville doc. so far. I just love the stories...Joe is an American treasure. Peace from Montreal, Canada.

[@picksalot1]

"Photographic Memory" That explains a lot, but doesn't diminish the decades of his dedication to the guitar.

[@leddygee1896]

Thanks for letting us into your world, Joe...

[@johnsmith-sm6mh]

What a great bloke Joe is , so humble , great talent but humble with it. In my books that make a great human . Good luck to you mate. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🎸🎸🎸🎸 Cheers.

[@bonedome8324]

What a glorious collection. Please do a long series where Joe tells the story behind each and every artifact, guitar and amp in the house, one episode per item. Also Joe's house should probably have 24/7 armed security and state of the art fire suppression systems.

[@Strumbum01]

Love these interviews with Joe. So many cool stories and great information. Very passionate and down to earth dude.

[@wilhelmrogue1]

Very cool of joe letting us into his world so we can ooh and ahh on all the goodies…thk you joe!!

[@mrt7476]

Say what you want, but Joe is a) a great storyteller and b) dammit, he’s a GREAT guitar player!

[@_peachbeach]

love the KJAZZ shout out, listen to that everyday on the way to work. Don't listen to the haters Joe, you're a legend!

[@snoopywalker1881]

“The Pinwheel on that Vox sign ain’t working today” Heh . Too funny . You have to love this guy. Joe your my idol

[@Kevtheguitar]

Always a pleasure to listen to Joe with his back stories 👍🏻😁🎸

[@nickshaw6085]

Thanks for taking the time, Joe!!

[@chrisbardolph]

This collection warrants the invention of a new collective noun: an army of ants, a swarm of bees, a gaggle of geese, a Bonamassa of tweed amps.

[@Deathrape2001]

When somebody has a pile of the same old ugly krap U can say 'They Went #FullBonamassa On (insert items here)' =))

[@DustinDollinsShinBone]

The TWEED never ends lol

[@fatbackfunk]

Absolutely stunning collection and I do appreciate the immense knowledge and passion the man has. Those Fender Brown amps are to die for! WOW!!!! I also really love his attitude, when it comes to how he deals with all the online cretins trolling him, endlessly getting themselves worked up into a tizzy over, of all things, another person's collecting/purchasing habits. It's one of the most bizarre phenomenons I've ever witnessed. As if whatever and how much gear this one man buys would or could ever affect anyone else's lives in the slightest. That nonsensical mindset is just truly perplexing and disturbing, to say the least. But again, I love his sense of humor and how unapologetic and unfazed he is by it.. Anyway, thanks for sharing!

[@Eternity909]

Well it kinda does. The man has single handedly driven the price of certain pieces of vintage gear up and kept them out of the hands of players. He owns a good percentage of the total tweeds and bursts ever made.

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

Good try. He pays market value, he negotiates the best price he can get. He is not paying anymore for gear than any other person is paying. Its obvious you have no idea how many bursts and tweeds were made. His stuff is a drop in the bucket. Could you please tell us what make and model you cant go out and buy today because of joe? Oh.. and how many players do you know that dont have a guitar?

[@jek4912]

Scrolling and reading to FINALLY see and read someone say this. I LOVE when musicians are downtown earth like this as well. Someone or some who know WHO they are, unapologetic about their collection and such, anyone who is hatin' and jealous in the wrong way can go screw themselves. Joe B is one of the BESTEST ever guitar players, as well as one of the fewer AWESOME storytellers!!! I LOVE especially that Joe doesn't tamper with any if his stuff, just adding to the WONDERFUL stories behind each of his stuff in his collection! ❤

[@watcherzero000]

Wow got a Tommy Bolin cd called Whirlwind and the cd cover has Tommy on it playing that guitar. So cool glad that guitar ended up with you.

[@dwightrobertson275]

It's one thing to collect,It's another thing to share .You do what you do because you can.Thanks Joe!

[@DarrenBaird-kw6lx]

If that's all I Could listen to all day and night about Joe's collection from now until the end of time then I'd be happy chap .

[@supersonicnomad8437]

Thanks for the stories Joe! Thanks for posting Reverb! Right on and rock on! \m/

[@derekhudson4681]

MIND. BLOWN. People like you Joe are in a class of their own. That is if there are any other people like you in the guitar world which I doubt. Bless you man.

[@workingnights84]

How can anyone dislike JB? he is pure genuine joy. At least for me 🎸🤘🏻

[@Johngonefishin]

Joes' 1950 Fender Broadcaster, serial # 0640, at one point Norm had 6 original Broadcasters in near mint condition.

[@pseudomyrmex7369]

Sometimes I hate him just like many others do. Then the next day I realise I am just jealous. Two days later I realise I will never have the sort of money needed to get one of these, maybe someday, a custom shop ? ... we don't play on the same playground, so, well, he can buy every single vintage guitar and amp he wants, it won't change the course of my life nor my ability to buy a vintage instrument. So I rather have him sharing these stories, playing it live and on albums and so on ... than another nerd like there must be, who just hide them in a safe ... in the end, my message is : keep rocking Joe, keep buying, keep sharing with us ;)

[@LJSterks]

I put a broadcaster blend circuit in a 40th anniversary blonde squier tele. You can also wedge the selector between the two neck positions and still get the dead tone with a little more treble that I find slightly more usable.

[@beagood90]

I really like listening to Joe's interviews and seeing his collections. He seems like a down to earth and a humble man that you could sit down and have a enjoyable conversation with

[@michaelhawthrone2184]

I saw this on IG and was like, “please let there be a full video up. “

[@spyderlogan4992]

The Flying 'V' case story was crazy. And the 'Shag Rug' conundrum? Classic Joe. All Hail Leo Fender~!!!

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

I bought a white gretsch cowboy case for all the money years and years ago.i figured one day someone would need it. Years later a flamed to the gills 6120 came along in a non original case. The guitar fit right into the cowboy case snug as a bug in a rug. (A shag rug)

[@davewestner]

I really dig how he just leaves the guitars more or less as he gets them (aside from necessary repairs).....I think that helps add to the story.

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

He has so many, I bet he doesn't play them... they are trophies. I have ten guitars, I don't get time to play them.

[@jek4912]

One of the best about, Joe... Others would say f*ck the stories, let's refurbish it! That's what adds to Joes collection, and makes these pieces all the more for us to have adoration and more of an admirer for all of it. ❤

[@crazywisdom2]

Joe is a National Treasure. The Love, the Passion .... that embodies this man. AND not to mention that he can play the ____ out of the guitar. Love it. It's awesome to watch him just talk about guitars and stuff.

[@jimmipadge]

The vintage guitar world *_NEEDS_* JoBo. 500 years from now half the guitars available to view in museums (assuming humans don’t destroy ourselves) will be because of the *_Joe_* *_Bonamassa_* type of collector!

[@anselbresson]

I'm a one guitar and one amp guy (a 335 and Bandmaster Reverb) but I have to say that I appreciate Joe's passion for collecting. Plus I too am Italian-American so I love his ability to sit around and tell stories.

[@StonerCreek74]

Back in 2004, I worked with a guitar player whose wife stacked about 20 his vintage Les Paul's and Strats in a pile one day and burned them. They were all late, 50s and early 60s, and he had collected them over the years of playing professionally. I helped him salvage what we could, but it was a very sad sight. I can only imagine the values of those today.

[@moestafo3632]

Why the fuck... dude what was the initial fallout from that horrible day?

[@StonerCreek74]

@moestafo3632 she was pissed because he had gone out and purchased a Strat that he had always wanted the day before that was quite a chunk of money. Apparently, over the last few years, she had voiced her opinion regarding the collection. He had already talked to me about selling all of the guitars very soon as he had been diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer and didn't have long. He hadn't told his wife about it yet as he had just found out a couple of days prior to purchasing the last guitar. He told her about it over the pile of smoldering ashes that evening. He passed away 2 weeks later and made sure she didn't get a dime of what was left from the sale. She would have gotten quite the chunk of money if she had just controlled her temper. Instead, I sold what I could salvage and donated the money where he asked. It was less than three weeks after he was diagnosed until he passed.

[@moestafo3632]

@@StonerCreek74 To confide something like that, you guys must've been close. I'm truly sorry for your loss, and his. Terrible circumstance to find yourself in. I respect the hell out of you for doing what you could to do right by that that man.

[@pedraw]

"unlimited money and unlimited ego makes for a dangerous combination"................nailed it Joe

[@andybungert]

Okay, We need a Nerdville compendium book (and/or website for updates & changes), that has all these pieces and wild stories in them! I understand it is so much more fun hearing them from the man himself, but I think that that would be a beautiful way to also celebrate the history of everything here.

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

I am curious to how many tubes Joe has for replacement. Are they old stock or new. Does he have amp techs on staff like butler’s? This is the questions that keep me up at night.

[@gregrandallbtsr03]

I love hearing Joe tell stories. Peace

[@axeman14]

I’m not really a Les Paul guy but whenever I hear Joe play one it makes me wanna sell all my guitars and get one 🤔

[@ToddTheJoker]

I loved that vintage blonde 70s Strat he has! My dream guitar, but I will have to make do with my Vintera II version !! Which is actually a great guitar! Joe is living a guitar players dream!! Good on ya Joe!

[@Joe-mz6dc]

18:02 I'm such a Leo Fender fan the guy got it right so many times the first time. Here's the first princeton. Does it sound good? No. 🤣

[@thomasmorris2245]

Joe - You are the only person that I have seen in Concert several times that has the perfect home ( and I live near Port Royal)

[@guitarnerd_luke]

King of guitarnerds! Hail the king!

[@monochromedout]

This was awesome, Joe. I know you have a million other things you could be doing. A monthly 10 or 20 minute KZbin video telling the story of an amp and a guitar with some riffs should be on the list.

[@monday6524]

Love these episodes with Joe!

[@jcsk8]

Joe is one of those guys that always makes me pick up my guitar and play after watch. Thanks, Joe.

[@abscence1000]

I would love to see a weekly KZbin video over an in depth story time over each piece of gear. The Tommy Bolin guitar story is great! I met Joe years ago during the Bloodline years when I was 15. He was incredible then too, great guy!

[@FriendM2010]

What a great video! The Joe of Nerdsville is the buddy down the street we kids all wanted to hang around in their garage cause he had the coolest stuff and stories. 🥳👍. I have similar OCD afflictions at times, anything hanging on walls not level, I stare and stalk it down.. 😂. Don’t have a square or plum wall in my house. When he walked over and tapped the led clock box and it started up again, LMAO! Then there is Joe, the world famous Blues guitarist and singer phenom that sells out venues around the fricken world! Long live both Joe’s! 🤘

[@curtypachec6055]

Badass collection

[@DE4D4H34D]

My guitar collection lives vicariously through Joe Bonamassa

[@garyhansen1769]

Love these talks Joe...keep them coming...

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

I see so far he has stuck to his word He still has the Skinner Burst. 👍 A while back he said he would never sell that one 59!

[@carlton5046]

Jb ..one the greatest guitar players of all time .. that may be the best guitar video I ever seen ..he’s an open book filled with guitar knowledge ! Learned more from him than any other musician Thank you !

[@johnbohlinger]

Joe is great. Love his playing, love his vibe, love his music.

[@Songbird477]

Fantastic story and beautiful vintage gear in the hands of love.

[@brooksroman2918]

How I wish Leo Fender were still around to see him walk around in this place and tell stories.

[@alexruizbass]

What a great story about Tommy Boland's Guitar, and the way Joe Bonamassa was able to track it down and buy it and keep it. Cool!

[@Cfolger]

That tone at 31 mins , love that Trower sound

[@scottdrumm4828]

Always learn a ton listening to Joe B!🎸

[@conpappas1066]

Hey Joe, you have a great collection of guitars and amps. Enjoy them. You're a great musician. 🎸

[@geraldwilson3559]

Joe, I can't thank you enough for sharing. I just was introduced to you by Rick B. a year ago. I'm 69. G.

[@Aaron.k19]

"It's cursed, it's fucking cursed!" 🤣😂

[@stevenhorton7457]

Love the stories behind the guitars ❤

[@MP3OUTSET]

Thank you, Joe, for Nerdville!

[@SuperSAMAORI]

Wow i love this.kudos to you mr joe bonamassa.awesome collection.i hope to see you again down under in new zealand in concert like i seen you here about 10years ago.

[@mattmanley7118]

Truly astonishing I do wonder though how much of the gear gets played😂❤😂 NO hate here but you do gotta wonder which guitars get played regularly and what doesn’t. Can you imagine changing strings and replacing tubes on all of it? Truly history preserved ❤ I had no idea about the fire my goodness. I’m glad everything was saved but I’m glad Joe wasn’t home!! Your safety is most important

[@iagobroxado]

Many of those amps probably need at least some work/Joe doesn't even know lol.

[@mattmanley7118]

@@iagobroxadoI’d imagine so

[@rustymacneil3227]

Joe, I gotta admit you have the coolest stuff around!!!

[@sadbadmac]

please include more parts of him playing the guitars! those old pickups sound absolutely insane.

[@gejskelly]

Met Joe twice and he was great, once after a gig of his and then again by great coincidence on almost the opposite side of the planet, both times just as friendly and chatty, no arrogance or self-importance. I just wish he’d write some great encyclopaedia of everything he’s learned about all this stuff cause a lot of his knowledge comes from people who are dead or at least will be in 20 years time. It’d be cool if it was tied to some kind of photo archive of the collection too, there’s so many crazy pieces in there that are truly unique. I’m happy to volunteer if he needs a ghost writer 😂

[@mav1202M2]

Thank you Joe! ❤

[@PNWJEEPER01]

Man, I've never been able to dig on the old school blender knob. Not because I haven't tried. I'm a year older than Joe and was taught that you have to learn to be a good tech to truly understand your instrument and how to speak through it. I build my own F style guitars from scratch. I've been playing the same #1 Tele for around 30 years (along with other strat and lp style guitars) and found my happy Tele place with 1 volume, 1 tone, modern 3 way switching and the whole control panel flipped around backwards so that the volume and tone knobs are right there under my pinky for swells and draws. while the switch is down where the tone would be in stock position. Still easy to reach, but out of the way. I currently like to use Fender Fat 50's and a .047 treble bleed in a swamp ash body with a period correct slinky little flatsawn slab board maple and rosewood neck; gloss nitro lacquered. 500k linear tone pot and a 250k audio taper volume pot, trim it out in Dick Dale Chartreuse Sparkle with double bindings and a fat block pearloid guard- and then git down. My usual build spec's for Tele's I'm going to play are late '61, early '62.

[@runingblackbear]

Nice collection of guitar's and amps joe

[@paulmcdonald1258]

Outstanding!

[@lazaglider]

Got to appreciate Joe's honesty here. A rare, rare thing these days. Although he may have had a in the uptick in the market, he realise he could crash it too. And he won't. A very fortunate, but decent guy.

[@myblues6532]

Today I was at the Guitar Center located in Northridge California, when a 70 year old lady walked in with her young adult grand daughter. The lady had a 1959 wine burst Fender Stratocaster with a rosewood finger board and nickel plated tuners. The case and the guitar were in near mint condition. I lady told me she used to be a music teacher. Then she pointed to three other guitar case that she also brought in. She said her parents bought her the Stratocaster when she was 10 years old. I told them they needed to take the guitars to Norman's Rare Guitars in Tarzana and have them contact Joe Bonamassa. I sure hope she took my advice.

[@j.tcarden2993]

Gibson Needs To Do a Run Of The “Bolin Burst” to honor Tommy. He’s absolutely Lengthy!

[@TechMetalRules]

Bro, the tweeds dried up because you have them all now.

[@Fenderlover1992]

Always great to see Joe’s stash!

[@carlton5046]

The korina kitchen cabs ! Joe call Gibson and tell them you want the wood shavings on the factory floor for mulch ! Man I love this guy ! Thank you Joe !

[@theklaus7436]

I follow Joe totally. The best need the best. And I would love to be able to do that. I will buy all guitars in the world ( the evil master plan) it’s so amazing to look and feel the way he sends his love out 😊🎸

[@bddmhopp5]

Love the nerdville videos

[@bluesmonkey4463]

Joe is the Coolest Nerd around and he knows his stuff and what a collection its Amp and Guitar Heaven ! 😎

[@makeitcount179]

Great video interview. Crazy details about that Bowen sunburst Les/Tele...great story Joe. You are the coolest.😊

[@TheJeffcurran]

That Tommy Bolin guitar story is a trip. Wow. I saw Tommy in Chicago a few days before he died.

[@NEINLIVES999]

Love that Bolin story!!

[@erieelusionarts8611]

Such a great story teller

[@elpablosky6300]

21:08 My favorite part

[@PNWJEEPER01]

I just don’t get where the controversy or bad blood towards this guy comes from. Genuine Love for The Game is all I see; and a mountain of talent honed by hard work. If you ever decide you want to “nudge” the market a little by selling a working musician a tweed Deluxe at what you think is a fair price I’ll be here, Joe. Jus’ sayin’…

[@sKraat528]

It comes from him having douchey outbursts toward fans, or sometimes toward players with more talent than him. Egomaniac

[@BrianSGuitars]

Insane in all the best ways.

[@jfdsfilho]

This guy is awesome.

[@patrickbutler834]

Holy shit that Tommy Bolin Les Paul story is BONKERS. 100% haunted guitar. Someone should put some animation to it or something for Halloween.