1 (edited by pit_s_xroad 2006-05-04 03:25:19)

Topic: Joe's Amps....

Hi folks,

does anyone know how Joe uses his two amps, the Budda and the Marshall...?

Are they used alternatively for different sounds/guitars, parallel mixed together or is one (probably the Marshall) just the backup unit... ?

Another question... I had no chance to see him stepping on the effectboard in front of his feet during the gig... I am wondering whether the TubeScreamer is used as a booster only or creating an add-on distortion to the amp's sounds?

Maybe someone here knows...
Thanks

Greets
PIT smile

Re: Joe's Amps....

Get a copy of Joe's instructional DVD on this and many many more topics.  He covers alot of just about every topic on this DVD.  I'm thinking about ordering the signature copy and putting it in the fireproof safe cause ya know, these won't be in production forever and may be hard to get at a later date.  In fact, Jim is watching it again right now cause I just heard a killer lick sample from it.  On the Gibson section- he features the Les Paul.   The amp set up is given and details down to his baffle style too. 

You get the impression on this DVD, that he has a very intricate roadmap in his mind of these things and that he still only scratches the surface on these topics with you on this DVD. 

So please Joe if you read your fans comments, please use all of your weapons on us, especially those pedals that you are so good at, & your sound will stay fresh, not boring, predictable, or repetative. !!

Sincerely,  Kathy Bigott

Re: Joe's Amps....

Joe always plays through two amps at the same time stereo. One is dry one is wet. Can't help you on the Tube Screamer question. There is a Tone Quest report linked from www.Bonamassabluesrock.com that explains his set up. The Europe rig is an extremeley economical version of what he tours with in the US. I have never seen him use a TS9 here.

jim m

Re: Joe's Amps....

thanks very much for the info  smile

Re: Joe's Amps....

He did used to use Budda's, but now he runs on of him Marshall Silver Jubilees (always on) and a re-issue Marshall 1959SLP (those two amps go into a single Budda straight 4X12).  On the other side, he uses a Two Rock Custom Reverb Signature, on that side, he also uses a Fuchs ODS-100.  His pedal board now consists of a Boss DD-3, Ibanez TS-808, Carl Martin Hot Drive N' Boost MK. II, a Vox V-847 wah, a flip tremolo, a Lehle A/B/C amp selector, and a Whirlwind Selector.  There's a good interview at http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/001782.html.

hope this helps,
Scott

"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought-- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

http://www.last.fm/user/skynyrd128

Re: Joe's Amps....

Jane:  You might be interested to know that the brainchild behind Budda amps, whose name escapes me at the moment, but I chatted with him at Ram's Head Live when he played with Kirk McEwen's Money Brothas opening for...either Indigenous or Gary Hoey, I can't remember now, is from Bonnannapolis, Maryland. 

Joe's rotated several different amps to get the "clean" sound next to the Marshall Silver Jubilees.  When we saw him in Philly at NXNW he was using an O'Brien head with a beautiful wood front.  Last I heard, that side was the Fuchs and a Two Rock...another boutique amp (I think they run about $4K!!) favored by a certain John Mayer (hold the booing).

I've tried lotsa different amps but I can't get any of 'em to make ME sound like Joe....I'm thinking it's operator error LOL.

Carl

Takers get the honey, givers sing the blues

Re: Joe's Amps....

I'd love to try out some Budda amps.  I've never really had much interest in them until I seen that Joe uses them.  I've read a lot of mixed reviews on the net about them, some very good & some very bad.

For the price of these babies, you would expect them to play the guitar for you.

Boda

Re: Joe's Amps....

According to his instructional video and from looking at settings at shows, Joe uses the overdrive basically as a gain boost for certain solos. It just hits the front end of the amp a little harder and produces a little more natural tube harmonics. Did anyone else notice the pic from the link on Mandrake's post in the "cool pictures" section? Joe has a new overdrive on his pedalboard (actually it looks like it might be a flyboard because it's really stripped down). It's a tweed-looking overdrive called a "Hoochee Mama" made by a guy and his son in North Carolina. At $275 per I'll let someone else do a product review, but if Joe's using it, I'm guessing it's pretty good. Here's a link to some info it you're interested. 

www.indoorstorm.com/product_info.php?products_id=2917

Larryt

"...play skillfully and shout for joy." Psalm 33:3b (honest, it really says that)

Re: Joe's Amps....

joe only used budda becasue he got them free. He's had problems with them blowing up. Marshalls dont blow up.

Re: Joe's Amps....

My rig now consist of a Marshall silver Jubile 100 and a 1972 Marshall super lead 100 and a two Rock custon signature reverb and a Fuchs ODS 100 run through a Boss DD 3 delay, a carl martin hot drive and boost and a ts 808 tube screamer and a Vox wah wah .. thats it for now.. been pairind down and getting back to playing straight through.. 
Joe Bonamassa.

Re: Joe's Amps....

joe - have you tried out any of the new mesa boogie lone star amps? if so what'd you think?

12 (edited by Codotone 2006-06-30 19:14:13)

Re: Joe's Amps....

I saw Joe last night in Springfield, MO.  He rocked.  The only effects he used all night was a Ibanez TS808, the Boss delay DD 3, and the Carl Martin Hot drive and boost.  His amps: one silver marshall jubilee, under a Marshall (what looked to be either a 50 watt or 100 watt Plexi).  Then on the other Budda cab he had the Budda Super Drive 30 (Could have been the 80) under a Fuchs head.  For those interested in his sounds check out his new instructional DVD.  I have seen him live three times and on all three occassions had a different assortment of pedals, but all are discussed in the DVD along with the settings he uses.  Hope this helps any who are interested.  As far as Amps and Effects...you can dial in the precise settings Joe uses, but when you pick up the guitar, it will sound different, a player's sound and tone comes from his hands and his mind.  You could plug Joe Bonamassa into a little piece of **## amp and to a certain degree, he would still sound great, IT'S IN THE HANDS!!!

Re: Joe's Amps....

Codotone wrote:

I saw Joe last night in Springfield, MO.  He rocked.  The only effects he used all night was a Ibanez TS808, the Boss delay DD 3, and the Carlin Hot drive and boost.  As soon as I get the pics off my camera I will post.  His amps were one silver marshall jubilee, under a Marshall (what looked to be either a 50 watt or 100 watt Plexi).  Then on the other Budda cab he had the Budda Super Drive 30 (Could have been the 80) under a Fuchs head.  For those interested in his sounds check out his new instructional DVD, however I have seen him live three times and he never has the same assortment of pedals, but all ar in the DVD along with the sttings he uses.  Hope this helps any who are interested.

I can host the pics for you if you want.

whats a carl martin hot drive? is that a form of tube screamer?

14 (edited by Big Rob 2006-06-14 20:44:06)

Re: Joe's Amps....

not really, the drive side of it's pretty useless, the boost side of it is awesome tho, the hot drive side has alot more gain than a ts and have really no tonal TS qualitys about them...the boost side is basicly a strat foward clean boost and it takes whats already there and just boosts the gain without adding any gain.. www.carlmartin.com , also so you know Tc electronics quit making most all there line of pedals for quite a while with the exception of the Chorus/Pitch/Mod pedal(the one Joe uses) sweet pedal about to buy one off a friend) and they gave all the other pedal designs to Carl martin (at the time i believe he was doing pa equipment or something) but he came out with his first pedal the (Hot Drive N Boost) ...i love mine but yeah like i said the hot drive side is really mushy, im more into getting the gain from my amp unless its a fender... worth the money man, but if you want to spend less for Joe's tone go with a Carl Martin Hydra Boost, the boost side of the hot drive n boost is basicly the hydra boost but with a few more un-needed DB's of boost, i wouldnt ever take the HDNB off my board, i might get rid of the drivetrain II tho if i find something better...definately like it more than an 808.

Re: Joe's Amps....

Yeah I am curious as well, are the Budda SD 35,45, & 80 watters, are they circuit board or point to point?  They are defintitely pricey, Joe gets a good sound out of em, but I wonder if the Silver Jubilees aren't  really the amplification heart and soul.  I have been looking into buying a newer high end amp set up, I have a bunch of vintage fender Super reverbs from the 60's the vintage stuff is too unreliable.

Re: Joe's Amps....

The newer Budda amps are PCB.  Older amps like the Twinmaster and Stringmaster are point to point.  I have an early model SD30 that is PTP wired.  I don't know if the 18 or 80 were ever PTP wired.  They're great amps, IMO.  I've seen Twinmaster heads sell for as low as $600 on ebay, and SD18's and 30's around $800, give or take.

Jason

Re: Joe's Amps....

Joe is currently checking out the Peter van Weelden Twinkleland head. I'm curious if he just likes this amp or if he LOVES it? Has anyone heard this amp live with Joe?

Re: Joe's Amps....

Codotone wrote:

Yeah I am curious as well, are the Budda SD 35,45, & 80 watters, are they circuit board or point to point?  They are defintitely pricey, Joe gets a good sound out of em, but I wonder if the Silver Jubilees aren't  really the amplification heart and soul.  I have been looking into buying a newer high end amp set up, I have a bunch of vintage fender Super reverbs from the 60's the vintage stuff is too unreliable.

If I could make an educated recommendation, look into Rivera amps.
Do some research on who Paul Rivera is.
I have owned all kinds of amps and have been happy with Riveras for five years now.  They are a two channel amp (bass/mid/high) Marshall channel and (high/mid/bass) Fender channel.  The marshall Channel is dirty blues with a distortion gain, and the fender channel has a clearer and full twin rever clean channel with a "ninja boost" ballsy clean gain.
Definitely do some research on ebay on how much they cost, and harmony central on the user reviews.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool