Ernie Ball: String Theory featuring Jason Isbell 

"I just want to feel like you're trying to tell me something, rather than you're trying to show me something. I want it to feel like communication rather than display." Right on, man.

“Per my own instruction.” Too good.

That’s the best “what strings do you use?” interview I’ve ever encountered.

Jason IS the man. No doubt one of the most gifted musicians/songwriters of our generation.

I'm mainly a metalhead but when it's a great guitarist with a vintage Tele plugged into an old tube amp and playing bluesy stuff really loud, I pay attention.

The strat tone round 14 mins. My word!

SO much wisdom in this clip. It just kills me how good he is at pretty much EVERYTHING. And what he *wasn't* good at, he improved at by humbly accepting the lessons life gave him and learning from them. A national treasure.

That “witty” approach to playing was really interesting. Such a smart dude. Killer player too

Such a thoughtful man. Every time I see an interview with Jason, I like him more than I did before. His insight is humbling.

A great guitar player but, maybe more impressive is the songwriting. Kudos to the folks at Ernie Ball for a great production too. THANKS!

Isbell will go down in music history. He's an authentic musician! I can authentically say that because he's playing a Gibson.

Ernie Ball, you folks just keep impressing me. Been using your strings, picks, etc. since I can't remember when...These interviews, especially this one, was very well done (thank you also, Jason). The other day I saw where your strap department is making protective masks to protect your local community from COVID-19. Man, you guys make me want to quit my 30+ year job and come to wok for y'all ! Please keep being awesome.

Could listen to him noodle all day.

I hear Jason speak and I think "that's just what I would say" if I had people interested in what I had to say. There's wisdom in the man's words ( and his playing).

This was truly fantastic! thank you!

How did I not know that he grew up outside of Muscle Shoals? Soooooo many things about his music make soooo much more sense and why it's so good. Thank you for posting this!

That last thing he said rings so true for me, "I want you to tell me something not show me something, to be about communication rather than display." I'm not a musician but I love music of all types. I've never cared for music that is like "look at this blistering lick I can play" if it doesn't fit musically withing the composition. He mentions self-serving and honesty and I'm just sitting here nodding my head in agreement.

Not only does he have a real '59 Les Paul, but it belonged to Ed King. Watch his Rig Rundown with Premier Guitar from 2019 to hear all about how he got it. Great story there.

I really like how each different guitar brings out something special about his style

that was inspiring as a guitar player.........he speaks my language.

I’ve been playin those strings since 1968 or so when I started playing myself...I didn’t even know they had names on them...got a couple sets in my bag so I’ll go have a look...pretty sure my name ain’t there...I enjoyed watching this video and just hearing your story...cheers

Good to hear so kuch playing throughout.

Such an amazing musician.. I love watching him jam.

This is awesome. Thank you!

A great songwriter, & an awesome guitar player, whose music never fails to inspire and resonate with me.

What a cool dude! communication over display!

Jason Isbell is amazing!!! This was great! Good job ernie ball 👍

Who says marketing doesn't work. Now I want to go out and get some Ernie Balls.

the delicacy of that plucking hand is fucking incredible.

He’s a very talented player but it’s his songwriting skills that are genius in my opinion.

@13:16-13:43 I totally felt that! Till this day an uncle gave my mom a cheap, black hand painted, classical acoustic with 5 strings and I still have that thing today. Then my mom surprised me with a beginner electric guitar pack with a cheap little amp. 2 more guitars later. Picks for days. An effect pedal with a looper (I play simple). And that same little amp. I’m 25 now. Momma went on with the Lord and I still play as if she’s telling me “play me something cool.” Thanks strong theory ❤️

gorgeous tele

"Communication not display."

Imagine he feels the melody with the guitar and the words come through the heart . Most of his songs seems to be from past family experiences!

I've always sensed Isbell is a simply a good guy on top of being a great musician and songwriter and, somehow, name-checking Dinosaur JR and MBV just confirmed it further.

That sound of the Strat was a nice finish

Today is my first time hearing Jason Isbell I been playen since I was a kid myself and like this guys attitude and of course his playen. I am gonna go through and check out some of his stuff O don't know how old he is I think I might be a few years older I took the middle of my life off of playen and got. Ask into it, made some head way and re- fell in love with my guitar, then got a divorce which set me back and struggle to be inspired I think I finally found reasonably speaking my own style lots of different influences like Jason pretty much some of the same people tries to imitate over the years but found what I loved to do was my own stuff without putting words to it. Grew up strumming rythm at my churches blue grass band with all the instrument and 3 guitars bango mandalin fiddle upright base I was the youngest and played every few weeks in front of the church and got comfortable looking out makem faces at my friends sitting out there and get a chuckle cus others would see and know who I was friends with some times the pastors wife who often sat in front of would thump me in the back of my head dor making funny up there but she loved me and it was the it was aupose tonl be ya know all good all God get the glory sp in that grew up singing gospel harmonizing saw people like the Oak Ridge Boys and others who came threw singing gospel quartet stuff well rounded musical influences most my life now want to build.me a studio and do it all the time and have no distractions. God Bless glad I found Jason Isbell gonna seriously check his music out.

DBT was pretty special with Jason.

Be prepared to respond to what you're gonna do next. absolutely brilliant. absolutely brilliant. and he may not know it, but he aint talking about guitar

This guy has a really solid feel for dynamics

That Gumby strap is fantastic!

I cannot help wonder what it would be like to wake up in the morning ,get my coffee then reach over and grab my 1959 Les Paul?

Something about him reminds me of a young Orson Wells, to look at.

I like the part about singing the melody and then just trying to put words in there thanks

GOD...that tele tone!!! What amp is he using, that Maggie ??

We all have the blues now !

Love that Gumby strap

Shout out to DBT!

Regular & Paradigm Regular Slinky underneath

Strat Bloom City. I like the Dude more and more.

I think Jason's fender is trying to tell us it's feeling very melancholy

Wow- the feeling the player wants to say something rather then to show something…

What song is he playing from 11:12 and on? I recognize it but can’t remember what it is

Rona made you stop, Jason. You and everybody else. Here’s hoping you and Amanda are back out soon.

The fact that this video only has 65K view is disturbing to me. Jason Isbell is not just one of the best singer songwriters alive, he's one of the best guitarists alive. Of any genre, bar none. More people should know his name, see his work, buy his albums. I don't like the fact that me and a couple friends I know are familiar with his music. I want his music to be as ubiquitous as Blake Shelton or Keith Urban or The Foo Fighters. The writing, the instrumentation, the quality of the songs is far superior to the aforementioned acts. It's just a damn shame more people don't know about this man and his fantastic music. Screw the Country Music Industry and their radio BS. Keeping great music down, propping up the latest pop produced nonsense hit It's disgusting and wrong . Long live great story songs, and great musicianship!

Gear's stolen, drummer quits. With all due respect to drummers everywhere, you don't need to be Hercule Poirot to figure out what happened here.

Not a sloppy note , not one.and a Steinbeck-Ian American song writer..

How's your buddy Ryan Adams doing lately Jason? I sure do miss that guy.

Chicken picking is more monotonous than sweep picking sounds like a bad Saturday at guitar center

Regardless of your musical tastes, if you don't have, at the very least, some appreciation for this dude - you're doing it wrong.

around 13:50 you can't fake that facial exspression

Just send me that Tele man,,my adresse are,,,,,,,,,,,Wwwwooow

I've no idea... no clue 🧩 who this man iZ. 🤔🤔🤔😆😆😆☕☕☕🥁🥁🥁

Jason I agree a lot with what you say here however why the hell do you never mention my contributions to your career and I really hate that I have bring this up with you I'm being really nice I can drop a whole heap of evidence but out of respect I don't but give me at least credit for my Craft

Sounds like that drummer stole their gear

Thanks for sharing! If you have a minute, I recorded a cover of Little Big Town. As a fellow music fan, I'd love if you would take a listen. It's on my channel. Hope you like it!

I notice he picks every note....no need for pull offs much harder than it looks!!!

music theory is just "look at me talk" soon as these dudes think they learn some Theory they have to start sounding like a physics instructor they can't even communicate to people normally it's like a magical level you reach to sound important