• From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Topic: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

This is a quick question for Joe: you listed that 70's Jim Kelly amp in the gear section of the Black Rock booklet, do you remember what you ended up using that on? I got to talk to Jim a bit at the Coach House a couple months ago so I'm just curious.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Central PA, USA
  • Registered: 2007-11-18
  • Posts: 1,037

Re: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

I can't answer your question, Danny, but I thought this was interesting...

Joe posted back when he bought that Jim Kelly amp on Sept 25, 2009, saying it was the final piece of the puzzle and with that purchase he felt he was done for a while...
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=11416

Then only 3 months later on December 22, 2009, he posted all excited about a Marshall amp with a Kossoff tone that he'd just bought for a "discrete project" he'd be recording in early January... our first hint of that now-nameless collaboration actually...
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=12358

So much for being "done for a while"... only took him 3 months to fall off the wagon!  Much to OUR benefit, I'm sure!  wink  big_smile

--Vik  cool

  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

I love it when Joe comes on and says, " That's it, I'm done, final piece!"   big_smile   Can we start a section here for "gear junkies anonymous"?

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

Oh wow, thanks for those links Vikki! I don't know how I missed those threads...

I actually emailed Mr. Kelly yesterday asking if he knew Joe had used his amp on his new album, he had not. If we hear from Joe on what he used the amp on I'll be sure to pass it along.

And about the second link, I had no idea Joe owned a Tube Driver, that's pretty sweet. And considering he was going after a Kossoff/Johnson tone, I thought the Tube Driver was a unique choice of pedal considering it's also what Eric uses! Super Bass 100 + Tube Driver + Reverb is essentially the perfect formula for EJ tone. Oh, and a Strat, but we'll let that slide  wink

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Pittsburgh
  • Registered: 2008-05-22
  • Posts: 261

Re: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

Since that post I know Joe said he aquired a Mesa Boogie MkII as well.

DannyG's Website

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

The Mark series from Boogie are pretty intense, I got to spend some one-on-one time with a Mark IV and that thing is just a BEAST. It's a very complicated animal with all the push/pull functions on there.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

Black-backed Gold Top? Must be the '57 VOS Historic Dark Back Goldtop....

Partial2Marshall wrote:

I love it when Joe comes on and says, " That's it, I'm done, final piece!"   big_smile   Can we start a section here for "gear junkies anonymous"?

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: The Jim Kelly amp used on Black Rock

kevman13 wrote:

Black-backed Gold Top? Must be the '57 VOS Historic Dark Back Goldtop....

Partial2Marshall wrote:

I love it when Joe comes on and says, " That's it, I'm done, final piece!"   big_smile   Can we start a section here for "gear junkies anonymous"?


Ummm... what?

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint