Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

[hydro]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

I picked up some Black country Communion partly because i wanted to see what the current "state of the art" of conventional hard rock was. Some good, some not so good but worth a listen.

I am not a "technical" player by a long, long shot. Bonamassa is light years ahead of me in terms of skill but I get what people are saying about his playing not being inspired.

My own take on him is that he's a technical player, and that we need people who are great technical players to let us know what is possible and to push the envelope. Does he make the girls' booties shake? Maybe not but we still need guys like him who explore the limits of technique, gear, lead guitar as an instrument, and who apply it in real world gigging situations as working musicians.

His "greatest blues player" shtick can come across the wrong way. I doubt he is really that arrogant in person, and let's be honest dude is trying to make a living any way he can - it's tough out there.

My understanding is that he left BCC because they just weren't pulling enough butts in seats to fund their touring apparatus. It was costing him money when he could be on tour doing his own thing.

Point being, I appreciate and admire JB for what he brings to the guitar playing community, and I respect that he's a survivor in a tough time for guys doing what he does. He's in a totally different league from me as a player, and yet I probably wouldn't trade my sloppy, knuckle-dragging licks for his, because I'm good with who i am.

[Securb]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

I picked up some Black country Communion partly because i wanted to see what the current "state of the art" of conventional hard rock was. Some good, some not so good but worth a listen.

I am not a "technical" player by a long, long shot. Bonamassa is light years ahead of me in terms of skill but I get what people are saying about his playing not being inspired.

My own take on him is that he's a technical player, and that we need people who are great technical players to let us know what is possible and to push the envelope. Does he make the girls' booties shake? Maybe not but we still need guys like him who explore the limits of technique, gear, lead guitar as an instrument, and who apply it in real world gigging situations as working musicians.

His "greatest blues player" shtick can come across the wrong way. I doubt he is really that arrogant in person, and let's be honest dude is trying to make a living any way he can - it's tough out there.

My understanding is that he left BCC because they just weren't pulling enough butts in seats to fund their touring apparatus. It was costing him money when he could be on tour doing his own thing.

Point being, I appreciate and admire JB for what he brings to the guitar playing community, and I respect that he's a survivor in a tough time for guys doing what he does. He's in a totally different league from me as a player, and yet I probably wouldn't trade my sloppy, knuckle-dragging licks for his, because I'm good with who i am.

With Jason Bonham on drums and JB's bluesy hard rock approach to the guitar I was hoping for something a little more Led Zep sounding. I thought it was a bit derivative of the 70's arena rock vibe. With that in mind when is the last time a supergroup hit one out of the park? Not since Cream, LZ or Dirty Mac in my opinion. In most cases the parts are not greater than the whole.

[hydro]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

Some of it may be how it was produced. JB's guitar sounds a little squishy in parts, overcompressed or remote. Some of the songs are pretty decent but overall it's hit & miss. A big part of why I checked them out is that I find Glenn Hughes amusing... that dude has lived like 4 lives in the space of one... His voice can either be great, or just ridiculous, depending on how far he lets himself go. I was a big fan of Trapeze. BCC's version of "Medusa" tries hard but falls short, IMHO.

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

With that in mind when is the last time a supergroup hit one out of the park?

Just my opinion, but I would say that Them Crooked Vultures are a home run.

[zzmoore]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

If it is fine for people to feel that way, why would you rebuke us for voicing our opinions. I think everybody here has been pretty polite.

I have not read all the posts, but yeah, I have not seen anything outrageous.
I meet, talk to, email, and repair amps for A LOT of guitar players. Until a few moths ago, I would say Most of them had no idea who Joe B was.
There are LOTS of guitar palyers in The World, and lots of styles of playing. Joe appeals to a fairly narrow margin of the music going public.
When I ask players about him...I hear common critiques:
He is a mediocre singer.
Not a great song writer.
He likes to play A LOT of notes.

A Lot of guys on guitar and amp forums think he is fabulous (though many do not).
I have seen him twice. The second time I left after about 30 minutes. TO ME...there is not much heart and soul in his playing. He is a very capable player...but music is about A Lot more than that. And yeah...all the notes start to sound like a wank-fest.
Look at the comments in this video. This is how a lot of people feel about Joe. Some of the same things you read here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZztYiIqx8XI

[ArtieToo]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

That was a cool video. I was surprised at the 1:40 mark, they showed Derek Trucks name, but no one else's. So, did they think we wouldn't know who he is?

[Detroitblues]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

Except they shared the stage for Bonamassa's Royal Albert Hall concert. Yea, I'm pretty sure people who are in the industry know and respect him. Can't blame the guy for being talented enough as both a musician and a businessman. He has a great promoter that not only gets his name out there, he/she has polished Joe's image from being a jeans and long-hair hippie player to a suit and slick hair refined gentleman. But to us he's a really guitar junky like the rest of us that if we had his money to buy whatever gear we wanted, when we wanted like he does, we would. I don't read about him spending his money on big houses like Darryl Hall or fancy cars like how Clapton is well known for his Ferrari collection. We get jealous because we'd love to have just a couple of what he has. How many of us can buy a vintage, near mint Fender Stratocaster and run it though a vintage Fender amp from the same year, for nearly every year Fender existed and not be a bit jealous!

Heck, Johnny 5 brags about owning a Telecaster from nearly every year since they were created.

I find it rather refreshing that Joe B. actually has taste for tone, not boutique amps. He mentions Lab 5 amp that we can get for a couple hundred bucks? I'm sure his shoes cost more than that. Then a run of the mill production amp like the '67 Deluxe Reverb as a great amp to have? I nearly bought one because he mentioned it. I am guilty for buying a Marshall DSL40C because of a giveaway promotion video he did playing through one.

[Hank-]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

Can someone point me towards some of his more popular or good stuff? I have youtube'd him before & got his live performances which were cool but i'd like to check out more stuff that i,ve not come across randomly.

[everdrone]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

I suggest downloading spotify and listening to all his albums, thats what I did and it is pretty awesome stuff! check out black country communion.

[Hank-]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

Last time i checked Spotify was US only & wouldn't open on the pc. I wonder if there's an android version thats global. I'll check out that album on youtube now

[everdrone]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

cool, it is a band with Joe as the guitarist, I like most their stuff that is not ballads

of Joe's solo stuff I like Dust Bowl and the Ballad

[SFW]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

Personally, I think Joe is a really good blues rock guitarist. I've seen him twice, and both times he delivered great performances. Personally, I like his tone. I haven't liked every release he has put out. The Black Rock album just doesn't move me. I do have to say that I have tremendous respect for him. He has managed to carve out a career as a musician in a genera that doesn't usually command much attention.

[jmh151]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

I don't hate him, like others have said, I just don't like the industry's "forced guitar god" status of him.

I find his playing uninspiring, but I feel the same way about Steve Vai.

Joe B. is a blues guitarist who, when he was being discovered, couldn't sing, and needed his voice to mature. That's what killed his career and why he's not a household name like SRV, Clapton, BB King, Albert King, etc... You have to be a performer and sing if you're going to be a Blues star.

He's been around enough and paid his dues

[everdrone]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

I wish he would get some grit in his voice like kenny wayne sheppard did at like age 18

[Nacho8807]

Re: Joe Bonamassa’s 5 Most Underrated Amps

Joe Bonamassa is to the blues what Steve Vai is to shred, and Zakk Wylde is to metal.