New JoBo signature Epiphones

earwighoney

It seemed there was an absence of JoBo signature models so Epiphone have a few more signature models in the pipeline, based around a ES-355



Could be a decent option for someone looking for a Gibson ES for a bit less. 

Hattigol

Thank god. A Bonamassa signature guitar! Why have they never thought of this before?!

impmann

A 355 without a Varitone.

Great.

</sarcasm>

breakstuff

Love the one in the right,but the neck on the other one looks horrendous. Not exactly descreet,is it?

Arktik83

The guitars themselves look great but with Joe Bonamassa plastered all over them kind of detracts from their appeal.  I understand they're signatures but does it have to have his signature on the Fretboard as well?  The one on the right is nice though.

Feels like these would appeal to buy it, stick it under the bed and never play collector types more than someone who would use it day in day out though.

Iamnobody

The inlays on the one on the left are only going to appeal to ‘special people’.

Bridgehouse

Iamnobody said:

The inlays on the one on the left are only going to appeal to ‘special people’.

Yep - the 0.000000000001% of the guitar playing population who also happen to be called JB

olafgarten

If they had just put his Initials, they would have widened their market. I know at least 5 guitar players with the initials JB, 4 guitarists and a bassist who 'plays' guitar.

WezV

The other one looks nice

Kalimna

Apart from the inlaid sig, they are stunning. Could even persuade me that gold hardware is a good thing. Wouldn't mind trying one out.

It's a shame, though, that the sarcastic anti-Bonamassa comments have started already.
Yes he's popular. Yes he sells himself. Well shit, he's a businessman as well as a guitaraholic. We should applaud such enthusiasm, not lace comments with snide humour.

Adam

redrighthand

That one on the right is lovely. Wonder if it will have the typical JB big neck. 

ThorpyFX

Kalimna said:

Apart from the inlaid sig, they are stunning. Could even persuade me that gold hardware is a good thing. Wouldn't mind trying one out.

It's a shame, though, that the sarcastic anti-Bonamassa comments have started already.
Yes he's popular. Yes he sells himself. Well shit, he's a businessman as well as a guitaraholic. We should applaud such enthusiasm, not lace comments with snide humour.

Adam

On the whole I agree with this sentiment, however...

the problem I have with JOBO is that he doesn’t use his own signature gear, he uses vintage gear and we all know that. There is literally no chance Joe would choose one of these epiphones over his vintage Gibson’s unless he needs specific promotional material to help sell them. 

Kalimna

Fair point, but, and a genuine question, how many signature guitars are regularly played by their endorsee? And yes, Satriani and Vai have a 'slight' Ibanez thing going on, but i reckon it's only the top line they use.

Adam

ThorpyFX

Kalimna said:

Fair point, but, and a genuine question, how many signature guitars are regularly played by their endorsee? And yes, Satriani and Vai have a 'slight' Ibanez thing going on, but i reckon it's only the top line they use.

Adam

Bernie Marsden, Mick Thompson, Brent hinds, any ESP artist, mark Holcomb, Tobin abasi, mark tremonti, slash, and there are a lot more...

joe doesn’t even seem to use his Gibson guitars, only the vintage stuff. 

Kalimna

Ok, time i removed foot from mouth. However i maintain that it is unlikely to see Slash tour with the Epi AFD, Marsden et al with the SE versions etc. Kudos to them if they do, however.
Chees,
Adam

joeyowen

Jim Adkins uses his all the time

Chris Shiflett/ DG too

TTBZ

Bjorn Gelotte from In Flames only uses his signature epiphones as well I think, same for Lee Malia. They're really nice guitars to be fair.

shaunm

ThorpyFX said:

Kalimna said:

Apart from the inlaid sig, they are stunning. Could even persuade me that gold hardware is a good thing. Wouldn't mind trying one out.

It's a shame, though, that the sarcastic anti-Bonamassa comments have started already.
Yes he's popular. Yes he sells himself. Well shit, he's a businessman as well as a guitaraholic. We should applaud such enthusiasm, not lace comments with snide humour.

Adam

On the whole I agree with this sentiment, however...

the problem I have with JOBO is that he doesn’t use his own signature gear, he uses vintage gear and we all know that. There is literally no chance Joe would choose one of these epiphones over his vintage Gibson’s unless he needs specific promotional material to help sell them. 

The only thing he uses is that pedal - the overrated thing. 

Very good point with the guitars though as I’d never thought about it. It could be said that he is Gibson’s best endorse at the moment though even though he doesn’t play his signatures. I had one of those blue les Paul Epi’s and it was great. I’m keen to try the non Bonamassa embossed one. 

olafgarten

Kalimna said:

Ok, time i removed foot from mouth. However i maintain that it is unlikely to see Slash tour with the Epi AFD, Marsden et al with the SE versions etc. Kudos to them if they do, however.
Chees,
Adam

Marsden uses the SE version of his PRS, he said in an interview that he wanted a guitar that was good enough for him to play but that all of his fans could afford.

sgosden

Holcomb tours with a bunch of his SE models (a most other more specialist guitars), 
Matt heafy of trivium exclusively uses his epi signature... I've seen a few gear interviews with epi artists recently who claim to use their sig for 90% of songs 

Hattigol

I think personally that snide humour is fully justified in relation to someone who releases a signature guitar around twice a week.

And if snide humour does become restricted on this forum, it is going to get a hell of a lot quieter...