Joe Bonamassa tone?

[Ed.D.R]

Originally Posted by robt57

My question is why has Joe's hands been putting out Eric J's tone so much whenever I hear him these days? Right down to the delay and the riffs/phrases is what I am hearing. I remember 5-6 years ago, and when I heard him pre Les Paul in Nashville playing bolt s ons in several forms and he had his own hands.

Seems each time I bring this up no one agrees or disagrees, or just don't comment one way or the other....

Pentatonics and triplets.

[ruger9]

Originally Posted by blackstars26

Pentatonics and triplets.

Ha! It really is that simple... with one more very important ingredient: SPEED. Pentatonics are much harder to play fast than 8-note scales (especially doing triplets & quads).

[greggorypeccary]

Originally Posted by blackstars26

Valid point but guitar greats are not going to sound great playing a 1/2 size guitar and a 3 watt so gear does have some roll.

That's the basic problem in trying to emulate a full bore concert tone with a pedal at "bedroom" levels. A big part of it is simply volume, a pedal plugged into a SF Champ simply won't do it. Add to that the multiple amp set up he uses....

IMO, there are too many people searching for "tone" through pedals these days (at least on the internets) as opposed to a nice guitar plugged into a good amp.

[Yodhan]

I love the part where he says that you can get any of the stuff from Guitar Center. Yes, maybe the pedals, but those amps are NOT easily had, much less cheap.

[Ed.D.R]

Originally Posted by Yodhan

I love the part where he says that you can get any of the stuff from Guitar Center. Yes, maybe the pedals, but those amps are NOT easily had, much less cheap.

Could not agree more and he have four!

[Tonemaster]

I am a fan of his Strat tones over the one-trick-pony-Les-Paul thing. It is much harder to be individually expressive with buckers than singles. IHis Tele tones are wicked too.

T.

[ruger9]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

I am a fan of his Strat tones over the one-trick-pony-Les-Paul thing. It is much harder to be individually expressive with buckers than singles. IHis Tele tones are wicked too.

T.

TOTALLY +1. Altho I would add to that his Gigliotti Tele. I much prefer his "Live from Rockpalast" DVD to his "Royal Albert Hall" DVD...as good as RAH is.

[dman]

Originally Posted by ruger9

2) Joe plays LOUD. VERY LOUD.

I have seen Joe live twice and I have to disagree with this. Joe does not play VERY LOUD, he plays VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY LOUD!

Seriously, kids...if you're seeing him live, bring a set of Hear-O's.

Without a doubt, that is a major component of his tone. On the other hand, in the extras of the RAH DVD, he's playing a Class 5 on his tour bus and, incredibly enough, still sounds like Joe!

[Jeff B.]

He has a signature wah pedal coming out in 2012 to go along with the JB Fuzz Face that was released this year.

[Tonemaster]

Ah,,an endorsement junkie.

T.

[damaged]

**** me! based on looks alone im gassing for this wah even if it has the same old crybaby guts in it.. probably all smc in there too oh well.

Originally Posted by Jeff B.

He has a signature wah pedal coming out in 2012 to go along with the JB Fuzz Face that was released this year.

[Mr Kite]

To be honest I don't hear anything in Joe Bonamassa's tone that I don't hear in any no-mark, lawyers blooooooooouuues bar band - it's a les paul, into a tubescreamer-esque OD, with a fuzz, into a marshall....

Don't mean to be a troll but it sounds like a pretty obvious tone to cop to me... or maybe I just don't get the subtleties...

[mojotele65]

I get there with a Barber Small Fry, into my Mesa lonestar , roll the tone pot back a bit.

[ADinNYC]

Originally Posted by Deep South

I spent a year chasing the Brad Paisley tone.

I got a DRz stangray

I had a guitar built to exactly the same specs as his

I had the same pedals

and

My tone still sounded like me

not Brad.

After spending way to much cash I learned that a large part of your tone comes from your hands.

Its why our favorite players always seem to still sound like themselves no matter what gear they are using atm.

Now ya tell me!! I just filled my boards with Wamplers! :-)

[ruger9]

Originally Posted by Mr Kite

To be honest I don't hear anything in Joe Bonamassa's tone that I don't hear in any no-mark, lawyers blooooooooouuues bar band - it's a les paul, into a tubescreamer-esque OD, with a fuzz, into a marshall....

Don't mean to be a troll but it sounds like a pretty obvious tone to cop to me... or maybe I just don't get the subtleties...

No offense, but all that tells me is your ears aren't very tuned. He RARELY uses the OD, and somewhat-less-rarely uses the fuzz. And Marshall is only ONE of FOUR amps, one of which is always run with the Marshall. I'm not saying his tone is "magic" (it IS one of the best current LP rock tones, imo), it's certainly attainable- and without 4 amps, I'm sure. But it's certainly not any LP + any green OD + any Marshall = Joe Bonamassa tone. Actually, his tone is quite a bit more complicated than Eric Johnson's, from a gear standpoint.

[hybridrocknroll]

Originally Posted by ADinNYC

NOw ya tell me!! I just filled my boards with Wamplers! :-)

Me too!

[artdecade]

Originally Posted by ruger9

Actually, his tone is quite a bit more complicated than Eric Johnson's, from a gear standpoint.

Its funny that you mention Eric, because I was just thinking that his tone is way overrated too. That said, he is a ninja when he plays guitar. Great melodies and technique merged together. His tone on is just too pure and perfect. There is no sex in that sound at all.

Joe, on the other hand, has overrated tone. And, he isn't a 1/3 of the player that Eric is. I just don't get his appeal at all.

[ruger9]

Originally Posted by artdecade

Its funny that you mention Eric, . His tone on is just too pure and perfect. There is no sex in that sound at all.

I've never heard it described that way, but I do know where you're comin' from...

[Brandon mac]

Originally Posted by artdecade

Its funny that you mention Eric, because I was just thinking that his tone is way overrated too. That said, he is a ninja when he plays guitar. Great melodies and technique merged together. His tone on is just too pure and perfect. There is no sex in that sound at all.

Joe, on the other hand, has overrated tone. And, he isn't a 1/3 of the player that Eric is. I just don't get his appeal at all.

different strokes for different folks i guess. i wouldnt walk out my front door to hear clapton play lol. (puts flame suit on now). i do enjoy bonamassa's playing alot though.

[Mr Kite]

Originally Posted by ruger9

No offense, but all that tells me is your ears aren't very tuned. He RARELY uses the OD, and somewhat-less-rarely uses the fuzz. And Marshall is only ONE of FOUR amps, one of which is always run with the Marshall. I'm not saying his tone is "magic" (it IS one of the best current LP rock tones, imo), it's certainly attainable- and without 4 amps, I'm sure. But it's certainly not any LP + any green OD + any Marshall = Joe Bonamassa tone. Actually, his tone is quite a bit more complicated than Eric Johnson's, from a gear standpoint.

Well my ears are quite tuned actually, but maybe just not to what 'I' find to be a basic generic rock tone.

Now I admit I haven't sat down and listened intently to a Joe album on the headphones, but I've heard enough of him and his tone just doesn't seem that complicated to me...

Admittedly I've thought that in the past about tones I DO like and then found out they're a nightmare to cop, but I'm more of an alternative/indie style guitarist so those sounds tend to have some complicated effects and so on...

Anyway, my poorly tuned ears are going to bow out of this one...