Joe Bonamassa's Sound
The most successful modern blues-rock guitarist, and the most obsessive tone historian.
Vintage Les Paul into Marshall and Dumble-style amps — enormous, detailed, expensive
The rig
The gear associated with the sound. Each item opens a live Reverb search — vintage examples where they exist, modern equivalents where they don't.
Guitars
- 1959 Les Paul StandardsFind on Reverb
- Gibson ES-335Find on Reverb
- Fender Stratocaster and TelecasterFind on Reverb
- Gibson Flying VFind on Reverb
Amps
- Marshall Silver JubileeFind on Reverb
- Van Weelden TwinklelandFind on Reverb
- Dumble Overdrive SpecialFind on Reverb
- Category 5 ampsFind on Reverb
Effects
- Way Huge Overrated SpecialFind on Reverb
- Fuzz FaceFind on Reverb
- Boss delay and chorusFind on Reverb
- Dunlop wahFind on Reverb
Pickups
- Original PAFs and Gibson reissuesFind on Reverb
Why it sounds like that
Sloe Gin
Huge sustaining Les Paul lead with amp blending — the definitive modern blues-rock ballad tone.
Just Got Paid
Aggressive Marshall drive with a slide section, showing the ZZ Top and Zeppelin lineage.
Dust Bowl
Drier and more American-sounding, with less amp blending and more picking detail.
Similar sounds
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