Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced.

Bubbletonic · 04-20-2012, 06:00 AM

Some might have seen Joe post this picture last week:

His signature ES335 has now been announced, which I think is a strange choice as he isn't noted for playing one but it is a beauty in my opinion:

Some details courtesy of Andertons:
"Introducing a signature VOS 335 from a living blues legend: The Gibson Joe Bonamassa ES-335. This strictly limited edition 335 lives up to the specifications of Joe's own 51-year-old 335, and delivers the same, gritty, warm, vintage tone that you hear on those irresistible blues licks that could only be Bonamassa.
The guitar, as you would expect, has a spec fitting of a blues legend. Bonamassa's own 50-year-old 335 is recreated in the most spectacular way including 57 Classic pickups, a VOS wiring harness, spliced maple sunburst veneer top, and a perfectly recreated neck designed to sit just a little thinner than the well-known rounded '59 neck profile - exactly as Joe himself specified it.
The other aspects of Gibson's VOS process like hardware and bodywork aging, all contribute to the fantastic Bonamassa tone.
Only a handful of these VOS guitars will be produced"

So no details of numbers yet, UK price is at £2,399

gypsyseven · 04-20-2012, 06:37 AM

Backstage · 04-20-2012, 07:04 AM

Hm, he became a money-making-machine?
In any case a nice nice looking 335.

Bubbletonic · 04-20-2012, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backstage

Hm, he became a money-making-machine?
.

3 Bursts don't come cheap

ToneasaurusRex · 04-20-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backstage

Hm, he became a money-making-machine?
. . .

He's a music-making machine.

Why begrudge him the opportunity to get something back for all that he's given? He oughta be an even bigger star than he is.

Peace

Rex

Bubbletonic · 04-20-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToneasaurusRex

He's a music-making machine.

Why begrudge him the opportunity to get something back for all that he's given? He oughta be an even bigger star than he is.

Peace

Rex

I believe Joe deserves a lot more than he's gotten, if putting his name to products that he approves helps him get more recognition then I'm all for it. His signature items are also always very classy which isn't always true for other guitarists who have almost become brands.... Plus that 335 is a beauty and I'd love to have one, one can dream

Hairless_Ape · 04-20-2012, 09:20 AM

Sorry, but he's not a star. The only people who've ever heard of him are guitar players. And there's nothing special about this thing as far as I can see anyway. Yawn.

ToneasaurusRex · 04-20-2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hairless_Ape

Sorry, but he's not a star. The only people who've ever heard of him are guitar players. And there's nothing special about this thing as far as I can see anyway. Yawn.

I agree with you; my point is that it's not for lack of talent.

Peace

Rex

redking · 04-20-2012, 10:07 AM

Man, I love Joe - but come on...

paruwi · 04-20-2012, 10:21 AM

He'll sell underwear with his name on it - if it gets him $$$

E.L. Fudge · 04-20-2012, 10:27 AM

Agreed. He's on his way to being as big a sellout and endorsement whore as Slash.

SecondStageGuitars · 04-20-2012, 10:44 AM

No problem with these deals. I hope we might see an epi version as well. Hyper expensive artist models do little for the kid who is inspired by the artist to pick up an ES 335. I liked how Epi did the JB LP along with the Gibson versions.

cooljuk · 04-20-2012, 10:49 AM

It's a beautiful guitar, absolutely. I love the burst.

WTF is a "VOS wiring harness" though?

Electric Funeral · 04-20-2012, 11:28 AM

I think some of us are being a little quick to judge.

I think most likely, he asked Gibson to make him a few close copies of his favourite '61 (I'm assuming?) 335 and they offered him a sig run instead. It's possible that he loved his old vintage model, but wanted a few small changes and decided to get a near-duplicate made instead of modding his own.

In all reality, none of us have any certainty as to why he's got another sig model.

Electric Funeral · 04-20-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooljuk

It's a beautiful guitar, absolutely. I love the burst.

WTF is a "VOS wiring harness" though?

Judging by the '57 classics and the fact that they specify it's a "VOS Harness", I'm guessing it's got bumblebees and it's the only "VOS" part of the guitar besides the gunk and wear.

We'll have to wait for the full specs and see.

I wonder if/when his Gibson Sigs will come with his new Duncan pickups anytime soon.

Bubbletonic · 04-20-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hairless_Ape

Sorry, but he's not a star. The only people who've ever heard of him are guitar players.

Star, what? no, I guess he isn't the support act for Justin Beiber, so by that definition he isn't a star. Sold a few records, signature guitars and been on the cover of oooh, one or two guitar magazines - probably because he has a dozen or so fans now...

The only people who have heard of him are guitar players?

Well then I suppose it's a good job that the target market is guitar players

Bubbletonic · 04-20-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.L. Fudge

Agreed. He's on his way to being as big a sellout and endorsement whore as Slash.

If people want to buy what he's selling...

Not quite at the branded socks and shoe laces level yet like some

kdm · 04-20-2012, 01:22 PM

why not his 355......he got a bunch of guitars

Joe Bonamassa Blues Deluxe at Hammersmith Odeon(Apollo) - YouTube

TattooedCarrot · 04-20-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Bonamassa's own 50-year-old 335 is recreated in the most spectacular way including 57 Classic pickups

The Refugee · 04-20-2012, 01:52 PM

He has... a Gibson Studio Goldtop, the Custom Shop Goldtop, the Custom Shop Burst, the Epiphone Goldtop, and now a 335.

And I love every one of his sigs

I read about this in the GC magazine a few weeks back, glad to see it finally.

budg · 04-20-2012, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backstage

Hm, he became a money-making-machine?
In any case a nice nice looking 335.

He sure did. I didnt even know he played a 335.

I would rather have just the red plain gloss anyways.

cherrick · 04-20-2012, 05:01 PM

not cherry, not buying

TheWelder · 04-20-2012, 05:11 PM

Very nice guitar -

I wonder what the US pricing will look like for one of these... one of the only reasons why I don't have a 335 is that you can't typically get the '59 profile neck without dropping some serious cash. I may have to contact my Gibson dealer on this one and see what kind of price they may be asking. I'm not a huge Bonamassa guy - I respect him and all but I don't listen to his music - but I'm really interested in this guitar due to the VOS finish and '59 neck.

Edit: scratch that - just realized that it says that it is thinner than the '59...a bit of a bummer for me but I'd still like to give one a shot to see how the neck feels.

Lex · 04-20-2012, 05:43 PM

I recall that GC had it priced at $2999 in their spring mailer. Apparently 39% off of the $4999 list. There is an item page for it at GC dot com. I think I remember reading that they will have 2 piece veneer top (oops- as stated in original post). Joe commented that he had them make a bigger less slim tapered neck like a burst brothers Les Paul.

ddroz60lp · 04-20-2012, 08:23 PM

Joe is the best, and I cannot fault a self made man earning some buckaroos. There is just sooo much J.B. gear out there right now. A little overkill. That Es335 looks sweet. I would like to try one and compare it to mine. I won't be drinking the S.D. Bonamassa pickup Koolaid, thank you.350 bucks? Fuhgetttaboutit!

fretnot · 04-20-2012, 09:40 PM

I had a 335 Historic with 57 Classics, and they were bloody awful. Of all the pickups to put in his sig, those are the worst. They should have bucked up and through the Bonamassa Duncan PAFs in there.

Backstage · 04-21-2012, 03:45 AM

Surely it's not Bonamassa alone, it takes two to tango

. That he became a little salesman of his own brand reveasls nothing about his skill.

budg · 04-21-2012, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretnot

I had a 335 Historic with 57 Classics, and they were bloody awful. Of all the pickups to put in his sig, those are the worst. They should have bucked up and through the Bonamassa Duncan PAFs in there.

Na , They are decent pickups for that guitar .They could have put 498/500s .That would have been awful.

ddroz60lp · 04-21-2012, 07:25 AM

I really dig the 57 classics in my Es335.Very nice pickups indeed. These are plain tops, right?If I were buying one, I would want to have something extra in the mix besides a different shaped neck and a signature.A pickup upgrade would be nice.

shtdaprdtr · 04-21-2012, 07:39 AM

May the Slash bashing officially end! Bonamassa is getting to be the new signature model whore.

04-20-2012, 06:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bubbletonic Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sheffield, England. Posts: 1,379 Thanks: 7 Thanked 41 Times in 15 Posts	Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Some might have seen Joe post this picture last week: His signature ES335 has now been announced, which I think is a strange choice as he isn't noted for playing one but it is a beauty in my opinion: Some details courtesy of Andertons: "Introducing a signature VOS 335 from a living blues legend: The Gibson Joe Bonamassa ES-335. This strictly limited edition 335 lives up to the specifications of Joe's own 51-year-old 335, and delivers the same, gritty, warm, vintage tone that you hear on those irresistible blues licks that could only be Bonamassa. The guitar, as you would expect, has a spec fitting of a blues legend. Bonamassa's own 50-year-old 335 is recreated in the most spectacular way including 57 Classic pickups, a VOS wiring harness, spliced maple sunburst veneer top, and a perfectly recreated neck designed to sit just a little thinner than the well-known rounded '59 neck profile - exactly as Joe himself specified it. The other aspects of Gibson's VOS process like hardware and bodywork aging, all contribute to the fantastic Bonamassa tone. Only a handful of these VOS guitars will be produced" So no details of numbers yet, UK price is at £2,399 __________________ Bubbletonic on Youtube:www.youtube.com/bubbletonic

04-20-2012, 06:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
gypsyseven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rheinfelden,Germany Posts: 2,401 Thanks: 50 Thanked 66 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. rockguitar41 likes this.

04-20-2012, 07:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Backstage Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 2,825 Thanks: 79 Thanked 21 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Hm, he became a money-making-machine? In any case a nice nice looking 335. Slapjaw, SmokestackElRopo, deepblue and 4 others like this.

04-20-2012, 09:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hairless_Ape Dysfunctional Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: outside Philly, NJ Posts: 4,216 Thanks: 65 Thanked 54 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Sorry, but he's not a star. The only people who've ever heard of him are guitar players. And there's nothing special about this thing as far as I can see anyway. Yawn. E.L. Fudge, blues24, Drew224 and 6 others like this. __________________ FS: Epiphone ES-339 Pro w/HSC

04-20-2012, 10:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
redking Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,261 Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Man, I love Joe - but come on... icantbuyafender likes this.

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04-20-2012, 10:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
paruwi V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 5,939 Thanks: 174 Thanked 92 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. He'll sell underwear with his name on it - if it gets him $$$ icantbuyafender and Backstage like this. __________________ PeteR I don't have any reason to lie to you - I just do it for fun Epiphone -B.B.King Lucille [06 MiK] -NightHawk RI Cst [10-MiI] -LesPaul Ultra II [08-MiK] -LesPaul Special DC [94-MiK] -LesPaul Ukulele [12-MiI] -DR 200 CE [07-MiC] Gibson -Midtown Custom [11-MiA] BlackHeart -Handsome Devil Combo VOX -ToneLab LE -DA-5

04-20-2012, 10:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
E.L. Fudge Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 599 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Agreed. He's on his way to being as big a sellout and endorsement whore as Slash. paruwi and icantbuyafender like this.

04-20-2012, 10:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
SecondStageGuitars Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 155 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. No problem with these deals. I hope we might see an epi version as well. Hyper expensive artist models do little for the kid who is inspired by the artist to pick up an ES 335. I liked how Epi did the JB LP along with the Gibson versions. Guitardad47 likes this. __________________ www.secondstageguitars.com A Low Cost Premium Guitar Auction and Classified Site Start Selling Today! Follow Us! Twitter

04-20-2012, 10:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
cooljuk Bartlett RetroPAF Vendor Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 8,963 Thanks: 554 Thanked 297 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. It's a beautiful guitar, absolutely. I love the burst. WTF is a "VOS wiring harness" though? __________________ Video Demos and More Below www.re-wind.net ReWind Electric on Facebook My name is James and I build PAFs.

04-20-2012, 11:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
Electric Funeral Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Vancouver Island, B.C. Posts: 1,785 Thanks: 116 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. I think some of us are being a little quick to judge. I think most likely, he asked Gibson to make him a few close copies of his favourite '61 (I'm assuming?) 335 and they offered him a sig run instead. It's possible that he loved his old vintage model, but wanted a few small changes and decided to get a near-duplicate made instead of modding his own. In all reality, none of us have any certainty as to why he's got another sig model. rockguitar41 and IndySouthPaw like this. __________________ Gibsons: 1979 GK-55 1984 Flying V 2011 LP Traditional Faded 2011 LP 60's Tribute Others: Burny "Rock'n Roll Version" DC JR Kraken Legion 7 Epiphone DC LP Special Jackson RR Pro Larrivee L-09 Rig: Soldano Hot Rod 50 s/n 1911 Saxon 2x12/UK G12M Fairfield Barbershop OD

04-20-2012, 01:52 PM	#20 (permalink)
The Refugee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,539 Thanks: 131 Thanked 30 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. He has... a Gibson Studio Goldtop, the Custom Shop Goldtop, the Custom Shop Burst, the Epiphone Goldtop, and now a 335. And I love every one of his sigs I read about this in the GC magazine a few weeks back, glad to see it finally. __________________ #ForNico

04-20-2012, 05:01 PM	#22 (permalink)
cherrick Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jeddo, Texas Posts: 1,417 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. not cherry, not buying icantbuyafender likes this. __________________ --- cherrick

04-20-2012, 05:11 PM	#23 (permalink)
TheWelder Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Midwest, US Posts: 755 Thanks: 16 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Very nice guitar - I wonder what the US pricing will look like for one of these... one of the only reasons why I don't have a 335 is that you can't typically get the '59 profile neck without dropping some serious cash. I may have to contact my Gibson dealer on this one and see what kind of price they may be asking. I'm not a huge Bonamassa guy - I respect him and all but I don't listen to his music - but I'm really interested in this guitar due to the VOS finish and '59 neck. Edit: scratch that - just realized that it says that it is thinner than the '59...a bit of a bummer for me but I'd still like to give one a shot to see how the neck feels. __________________ Some solos I've recorded: https://soundcloud.com/user287343603

04-20-2012, 05:43 PM	#24 (permalink)
Lex Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: California Posts: 510 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. I recall that GC had it priced at $2999 in their spring mailer. Apparently 39% off of the $4999 list. There is an item page for it at GC dot com. I think I remember reading that they will have 2 piece veneer top (oops- as stated in original post). Joe commented that he had them make a bigger less slim tapered neck like a burst brothers Les Paul.

04-20-2012, 08:23 PM	#25 (permalink)
ddroz60lp Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Charles, Il Posts: 735 Thanks: 6 Thanked 6 Times in 1 Post	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Joe is the best, and I cannot fault a self made man earning some buckaroos. There is just sooo much J.B. gear out there right now. A little overkill. That Es335 looks sweet. I would like to try one and compare it to mine. I won't be drinking the S.D. Bonamassa pickup Koolaid, thank you.350 bucks? Fuhgetttaboutit! __________________ Gibson 2007 Les Paul Plaintop 60 reissue Lemonburst Martin 2011 000 MMV Bulldog Bodies Les Paul Replica Faded Cherryburst Gibson 2002 Sg Special Gibson 2012 Les Paul Junior Special Kiralu Kookscaster Custom Allparts Tele Relic Fender 2006 S.R.V. Silver Creek T-160 Peavey Classic 50 4x10.

04-20-2012, 09:40 PM	#26 (permalink)
fretnot Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: PA Posts: 1,199 Thanks: 5 Thanked 22 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. I had a 335 Historic with 57 Classics, and they were bloody awful. Of all the pickups to put in his sig, those are the worst. They should have bucked up and through the Bonamassa Duncan PAFs in there. Electric Funeral and icantbuyafender like this.

04-21-2012, 03:45 AM	#27 (permalink)
Backstage Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 2,825 Thanks: 79 Thanked 21 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. Surely it's not Bonamassa alone, it takes two to tango . That he became a little salesman of his own brand reveasls nothing about his skill.

04-21-2012, 07:25 AM	#29 (permalink)
ddroz60lp Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Charles, Il Posts: 735 Thanks: 6 Thanked 6 Times in 1 Post	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. I really dig the 57 classics in my Es335.Very nice pickups indeed. These are plain tops, right?If I were buying one, I would want to have something extra in the mix besides a different shaped neck and a signature.A pickup upgrade would be nice. __________________ Gibson 2007 Les Paul Plaintop 60 reissue Lemonburst Martin 2011 000 MMV Bulldog Bodies Les Paul Replica Faded Cherryburst Gibson 2002 Sg Special Gibson 2012 Les Paul Junior Special Kiralu Kookscaster Custom Allparts Tele Relic Fender 2006 S.R.V. Silver Creek T-160 Peavey Classic 50 4x10.

04-21-2012, 07:39 AM	#30 (permalink)
shtdaprdtr Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: new york Posts: 3,079 Thanks: 2 Thanked 29 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Joe Bonamassa ES335 announced. May the Slash bashing officially end! Bonamassa is getting to be the new signature model whore. icantbuyafender likes this.

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