Guitar Player Magazine January 2024 Joe Bonamassa ZZ Top

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Guitar Player visits Nerdville to learn about Joe Bonamassa’s ‘Blues Deluxe, Vol 2,’ an album made in the same spirit as the 2003 breakthrough that made him the blues’ reigning champion. As Joe celebrates the 20th anniversary of his decision to become an independent artist, he reflects on the challenges he faced when he decided to take a bet on his career after no one else would.

Plus, we take an in-depth look at some of the most treasured gems in Joe’s massive guitar collection, including:
• A 1950 Fender Broadcaster
• A 1955 Fender Strat owned by Howard Reed that is the first to receive a factory black custom color finish
• A 1961 Gibson ES-355TDSV with a Telecaster “Tuxedo” finish
• A “Blackburst” 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard painted black by Gibson at a customer’s request. (Joe calls it “the most valuable one I own.”)
• A 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard played by Tommy Bolin and purchased by Joe after a decade-long search.
…and many more!

Gear of the Year!: Guitar Player’s editors pick the best guitars, amps, pedals and more of 2023. See what made the cut!

Billy Gibbons: The Reverend reveals the wild stories behind the five songs he considers his best work — both with the Moving Sidewalks and ZZ Top.

David Grisman: The legendary multi-instrumentalist and musical companion to Jerry Garcia details his historic mandolins, guitars and banjos on exhibit at the Musical Instrument Museum and in play on his new ‘Acoustic America’ album .

George Freeman He’s a bebop originator who’s played with everyone from Charlie Parker to Jimmy McGriff. Now 96 and fronting a new album, the Chicago guitarist shows no sign of slowing down.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: As the five-time Grammy-nominated guitarist gears up to release ‘Dirt on My Diamonds, Vol. 1,’ he tells Guitar Player tales of the guitar he searched long and hard for.

Justin Hayward: The Moody Blues’ guitarist reveals the story behind the group’s massive classic-rock hit “The Story in Your Eyes.”

Christine “Kingfish” Ingram: He’s played with some of the biggest names in blues. Now he shares what he learned from them.

Parallel Superimposition Lesson: Make your blues solos sing with this one simple trick.

All this and more, including reviews of the G&L Espada HH and Espada HH Active guitars, Fender Tone Master Pro Floor Modeler and FR-10 Powered Cabinet, Two Notes Special Edition Limited Run Torpedo Captor X, and TWA Krytical Mass KM-01 Reactive Octave Fuzz.

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