Joe Bonamassa's Guitar Safari: The Tommy Bolin Burst, a 1951 Fender Nocaster and many more 

Billy Cobham Spectrum...a Smoking great album..!! Thanks Nerdville Joe..! RIP Tommy...............!

Man, Joe is such a cool dude.

Joe, I absolutely love the fact that you get to take custody of these guitars, love you and your work mate, cheers from sunny Somerset (England!) Respect

Dave Earl Brown was the guy that had this guitar, it was originally David's and he let Tommy use it relentlessly. After this exchange happened, David Earl Brown rolled his vehicle outside of Moab and was killed in the crash. A very unfortunate turn of events, that didn't allow David Earl Brown to actually ever spend the money Joe gave him for this guitar. The The irony of it all is very sad. David was a wild character and was a drum roadie for my band stonefed for years. Thanks Joe for including David in the story. Such an awesome player I'm glad it's going to your museum

Joe is the 'Jay Leno' of all things guitar. Jay's got an interesting story behind every one of his cars and Joe's got a history lesson behind every one of his musical possessions. Priceless.....

I took guitar lessons for many years as a child before smart phones. Didn’t play for years. Now I’m 29 5 months into playing everyday for hours. Binge watching this man as well

Joe is the best! I love how much he plays. He plays more notes than Slash and Schoen put together. A lot of those type of guys can’t talk as much as him. He’s got a huge personality. Keep playing! Keep talking! I love it!

I could listen to Joe play & talk about guitars all day🎸

I love the color of the ' Brown Thing ' , it is unusually cool , also the Bolin LP has a beautiful burst with all that red , Ducking-A man !

So glad to know Tommy Bolin’s Les Paul is in the best possible hands. Heaven must have been involved in getting this guitar to you, Joe. He was taken way too soon.

Great Vid... I have had the pleasure of meeting Joe B. a few times.. ( again just last week ).. What a Great Player / Human.. with a Plethora of " Guitar & Amp Knowledge... Super Humble and very easy to talk with.. Joe Rules..

We used to race to the store when Tommy would put out an album. He would be a king if he'd a lived.

Joe I sat in with Tommy at a club in Sioux City in August of 1967. I was with 2 friends of mine that knew Tommy and they told him I needed to sit in because I was really good bass player. I was 17 and Tommy was I believe 16. What a talent Tommy was I was blessed to have this happen.

saw Tommy Bolin with james gang at cleveland stadium. summer 1974

For me Tommy is one of the greatest players that ever picked up the instrument...for me he is as great as Hendrix...🎸🎸🎸

I saw Tommy at Winterland a few months before he died he is the reason I started playing guitar

I was the l;ead singer in our band in the 60,s. Tommy Bol;in was our guitarist. The band was named " A PATCH OF BL:UE" He was such a great musician. I remember the first time he came to my parents basement to try out with our band. I went up stairs and tol;d my mom, "that guys gonna be a star", and he certainl;y did ful;fi;ll; that prediction. I'm so happy that I got to know him as a young man before al;l; the substance abuse. We had such fun together.God bl;ess you Tommy and your famil;y and thanks for al;l; the wonderfu;l memories> Dave

How to make the wife mad: 1) Have the vocal mic set to -6dB; 2) Have the guitar mic set to +6dB.

Worked at a gig in the 70's when Tommy opened a show with Rush headlining. Tommy was a super nice guy, not healthy at the time, playing with his muffled, bass heavy sound. He turned his TV on full blast at the motel and never turned it off when he left to do the gig.

Tommy was amazing , got to see him at Winterland ..

How often you get to watch Joe Bonamassa playing with amazing vintage instruments? Quite often! That's why we love RU-vid

Had the great fortune of meeting up with Tommy (and Stanley Sheldon) on several occasions in Denver and Boulder in the 70's before the 2 got really big! Actually saw Tommy in a club in Boulder where he was playing the Les Paul. Being a Les Paul owner myself, I asked him during a break how he liked the guitar. He said it was fun to play but he preferred the strat! I miss the hell out of that guy! For me it was almost the day the music died when he passed. Fortunately his legacy forever lives in all the incredible music he left with us! Thank You Joe for bringing this to all Bolin fans. It's awesome to know that part of him is in such awesome hands!

Spectrum - you just blew my mind

Joe is so cool! One of the best ever. Bucket list for me. Joe come to the west coast. San Diego would be convenient. Blues on!

Holy MACKEREL, Tommy Bolin, your coolness rating is going way up Joe, didn't know you were a fan of his, DREAMER I KNOW, PEOPLE PEOPLE, WILD DOGS, SO MANY GREAT SONGS...

Tommy was one of the great ones.

Joe makes any old guitar sounds great

Incredible Joe. Incredible……….

Joe is great to listen too. Just a regular guy who doesn't make feel you want to quit guitar playing when you see him playing 100 times better than you. Thanx Joe!

LOVE the brown Les Paul

That NoCaster is Incredible.... Tonality is Sublime !

That's so awesome that one great musician preservers the memory of the other greats, thank you Joe!

The "stories" of these guitars are so neat to hear. Thanks for sharing them. They couldn't be in better hands.

I could listen to this guy's stories all day. Thanks Joe, for being just a regular Joe geeked out over the little things like us

"I'm a stick and rudder guy". Excellent!

I lived in Denver when Zephyr started in Boulder. I previously played in a band with their drummer Robbie Chamberlin. Robbie had lost his drivers license so I'd give him a ride from BowMar up to Boulder for practice. The band had a house there, but Robbie wanted to live at his Mom's. Tommy was unique in that he could visualize the notes being played on his guitar when he listened to a song. His stage presence was electric, along with Candi's singing, with the kind of bluesy-jazzy feel that just grabbed you! Thanks Joe for sharing your story.

It's refreshing to see an amazing guitarist play the vintage instruments that he buys

I could talk guitars with him all day, my kinda guy, I just wish I could play just a little bit as good as he is. I completely agree with him about Telecasters, great down to earth guy.

Joe! God, I love that LP! And I have a great Tommy Bolin story, too! I was in college in Kearney, Nebraska, back in '83, and taking guitar lessons at Yanda's Music. My teacher was "an old hippie from Denver" who had this totally beat-up SG. Both the neck and the headstock had been broken off, the coverless pickups' plastic bobbins were worn down at the edges, the cherry finish was closer to brown, it had a harmonica bridge with multiple dents, and the "Les Paul" on the trussrod cover was filled with dark brown schmutz. I asked him where he got it and he replied, "It was my friend Tommy's guitar. Ever hear of Zephyr or Deep Purple? This used to be his until he got into Les Pauls and Strats." Uh, YEAH! So, about six months after I started taking lessons he shows up looking real dopesick. So he says, "I'll sell you this for three-hundred and fifty bucks, but it's gotta be cash. No check." Me: ~RUNS TO BANK~ Fast forward nine months. I'm at Dietze Music in Lincoln, and see the brand-new '62RI Strats. Hummmm, Richard Lloyd plays one. Hummmm, Adrian Belew plays one. Hummm, Lou Reed & Robert Quine play one...etc... So I sez to the owner, "I've got this Les Paul SG that used to be Tommy Bolin's. Trade you it for that Strat and that Deluxe Reverb II." He took the deal in what was an obviously no-brainer. So, off Tommy's SG went, never to be seen again. Good news- that Strat and that amp have been my main rig ever since.

I could listen to Joe talk guitars all day everyday!

Joe is the real deal

Man, I love to hear Joe playing a Tele. My brother who was on a working vacation away from came back and told me him and buddy went to see this rockin show. When he told me the guys name. He asked if I've ever heard of Joe Bonamassa of being a guitar player I had. But to my brother the gearhead it was a like heaven opened up to him. He loved the show Most of all it was great to share a passion of mine with my flesh and blood.

JoBo 🌹 This is awesome! I got to see Tommy play that guitar 🎸 and I got to see you play it right after you got it.. how cool and blessed to be able to tell you this! Love your sense of humor! Let's have a Margarita.. and I was one of those "cutouts" 😘 ♥️🎸♥️

Dude...I'm a drummer...1960 model. Been living in Austin TX for the last 40 years, originally from Potsdam NY. I discovered you a few months ago and am becoming your #1 fan. Much respect. You are the real deal. Binge watching your vids - started playing the guitar in 2000 - (can't curl up on the couch with a drum kit) don't know what the world will be like in the future...all the clubs closing in Austin. Not likely to open up again. Here's hoping to see you playing down here again someday. Shine on dude!

Joe's talent Goes so far beyond the norm he is truly one of the greatest in our life time I always dig his gear story's as he has some of the absolute dreamiest gear known to mankind....I'm truly appreciative of his sharing with all of us watchers of " Nerdville USA". 😎👍👍

i'm very happy that these awesome guitars that so unique are being shared with the world on you tube . and preserved for all to enjoy bravo bravo Joe

It’s kinda nice that Joe has Tommys guitar .. Glenn Hughes loved Tommy like a brother. Soar sometime Glenn and Tommys guitar will play together again.

That is so cool that you found Tommy’s guitar. I became a fan of his in the last 70’s just a little too late to see him live. I did have an older friend that saw him at a small club in Jersey or New York. Said he was just a dude with long hair that just jammed on the guitar. Thanks for sharing Joe.

I love Joe’s story telling and excellent humor and wit. Add “TV” personality/presenter to the list of his wonderful gifts. I also appreciate Joe’s sense of value on very limited objects of sound and visual beauty…and then playing them for us. It’s great that he can and does. Detractors may say people like him are “hoarders” or blame them for the exponential growth in value of these instruments. I say bravo. By doing so, it insures that many of these machines of wonder can last for millennia. We are fortunate for people like Joe (collectors) who not only feel the sense of responsibility for their temporary custodianship of these objects, but also the passion, love and means to share them with us. Please keep doing this for the rest of your life, Joe. I respect you immensely for doing so. Oh yeah, you’re pretty good on guitar.

Thanks Joe for sharing Tommy's guitar with us. I've been a Tommy Bolin fan for 40 years and I've often wondered what happened to that guitar. Cheers 🍻🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

I wish I was the heir to Joe's guitar and amp collection

Love this guy

Incredible playing on the tele. Wow.

Back in the 80's when visiting the guitar shops on Sunset Blvd in North Holley Wood with my father, often times store employees would ask if we were related to Tommy. At the time I was 8 or 10 years old and had no idea what they were talking about. As I look back, lots of good memories of a different time from the perspective and naivety of a young child with no view of the world.

HOLY CRAP I just realized what parallel universe I’m in right here. He is to guitars, what Jay is to cars. 🤜🤛

Lightbulb goes off...maybe joe should open a museum in Chattanooga ...SongBonamasa’s?

Simply Joe ♡♡♡

THANK-YOU JOE FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE BLUES BUT ALL GUITARIST PERIOD , NO MATTER THE KIND OF MUSIC THEY PLAY 🎸🎸 REALLY ENJOY ALL. YOUR MUSIC & PROBABLY THE BEST GUITARIST PLAYING TODAY 🎸😎🎸 KEEP IT REAL BRO 😎🎸🎸😎

Thanks Joe!!!

This is what I like about Joe, that's why he's my favorite guitar hero. He's a smart and just very informative guy.

Excellent job Joe! Love Tommy Bolin. I used to live out in Boulder Colorado not to long after he died. Jammed with Bobby Berge 3 times. Killer experience! Jamming with your guitar heroes drummer? Come on! Played on Buddy Miles album. That made me one step/degree away from Jimi. He used to live right across the street from me. Met some important inside people & ended up with an amazing collection of Tommy's recordings! I had all the stuff the "Archives" has before there was even an archive. Bought a'67 Sam Ash pedal in Boulder in '78. We've talked before at Gillys in Dayton before. Didn't know you were a Bolin fan then. Could've shared a ton of stories. Would still like to if anyway possible. Buy the way, I cant stand haters!

Wow- the Spectrum album had all guitar players talking- I was fortunate to see him on a solo tour before he joined Deep Purple. I remember he was a Strat guy with the James Gang I thought. Thanks Joe , the story of how you acquired the guitar is great!

The absolute perfect comfy chair for playin guitar. Want one!

Thanks Joe for buying these great guitars and playing them for us. A truly great player who's worked so hard to get where he is and buying these great guitars and amps for us to see.

It's interesting to note that Joe's playing got more interesting when he played the Nocaster than the Bolin Burst. That's the proof that the guitar you play matters! 🙂

I never cared for the “tomato soup” Les Pauls but this one is gorgeous

I heard some Peter green in that shuffle. And I love it. Copper.

Tommy Bolin changed the guitar landscape back in the day..!! RIP,you crazy genius..!!

Tommy Bolin was a GOD.I met his Brothere at the NAMM once. Really nice guy. Gave me a Tommy Bolin pin that I wear occasionally to this day...PROUDLY........

Love how you share your stories behind the guitars and let the rest of us enjoy it. Keep hoarding Joe!

This is SO FUN to hear all the history, thoughts, comments PLEASE keep them coming!! LOVE IT! GATTON!!

What a blessing. Love Spectrum, Tommy fell under my radar till this year.

I like the sound of the brown thing the best!

Joe, your an awesome guitar player. What I like about you most is your willingness to share with us just how far we, as guitar players, will go in search of that tone we have in our heads

That brown Les Paul is absolutely sick

Thank you for showing & giving us the story on the Tommy Bolin LP. I've only seen it in pics & often wondered about it. It was nice seeing it up close & personal, & hearing the story behind it.

Thanks, Joe. I'm an old card toting union guitar playing musician of the sixties and seventies--doing the standards from our "Fake Books" at cocktail hour, while playing "Smoke Stack Lightnin," and Big Bill Broonzy tunes at each other's houses on the side. The drudgery, and the glory of music--however you let it wash over you. Great content, Joe. In this Internet wasteland of worthless content, you are a welcome breath of fresh air. Thanks.

Absolutely love Tommy’s guitar.🔥🎸 what makes it, when Tommy can’t play it I’m so blessed that joe can. And he makes that guitar weep, let alone an awesome guitar player, artist, and human being.

I’m Infatuated with the sound of all 3 guitars.

That LP though! As soon as he started playing it i was like "Wha?? Where is THAT tone coming from?" Then I looked at the pickups. P90s for the win!

$20 dollar pair of shoes, $20 dollar hoodie from a gift shop, a $20,000 dollar watch, and $20million dollars worth of vintage historical guitars and amplifiers and recording equipment... Joe Bonamassa has his fucking priorities in order...

The tone of this V Front Fender Amp... Tonelicious..!!!

This guy just keeps getting better. I don’t think he’s human.

Best guitar player as a collector i've ever seen

Thanks I appreciate these wonderful stories

I agree with Joe about the 3 saddle bridge on the Fender. Close is good enough for me. I've spent lots of time and money trying to get perfect intonation on guitars only to conclude that it's a rabbit hole. Another great video to enjoy!

I have the only Fender Rhodes rotating speaker cabinet I ever saw. Wow Tommys guitar Im blown away. I have been looking at a marble that is Moab Utah flint.

I have no idea what he's talking about but i can listen to his enthusiasm and nerdiness , is that even a word, all day long

Fantastic piece. I really appreciate your perseverance in finding these guitars!

You're bloody good entertainment Joe,thank you very much (in the words of Elvis).

Whoa....killer licks

Love these videos. Thanks so much Joe..

I love these stories! Awesome. I'm looking forward to more!

That Tele run was just amazing. I fantasize about going into my local Guitar Center, telling the snotty clerk I'm thinking about taking lessons, watching him take a cheap-ass Vintage Vibe off the wall, handing it to me, and then going into a full-on Bonamassa demo rage on the damned thing... then handing it back to him, saying "I dunno, dude... the intonation's a bit dodgy... got anything a bit more interesting?"

Like probably everyone watching, I listen to, study, and play guitar every single day--and watching Joe play the Tele is mesmerizing. Also, Joe's getting so sassy with age! Love this guy. KRFW Joe!

*ucking love bonamassa's playing. That brown les Paul makes you want to take a bite out of it :)

I was very well entertained by Mr Bonamassas smart and educated way to tell the story of these historical important guitars. And, of course, I'm down on my knees because of his breathtakin' playin' !

Nice story. God bless your soul Tommy Bolin. You are deeply missed.

Thanks Joe. Love the guitars and the stories.

Ultra cool history lesson. Thank you, Joe!🏆