Fender, Stratocaster, 1993 - Joe Bonamassa

Tabs

Specifications
Builder: 
Fender
Model: 
Stratocaster
Year: 
1993
Color: 
Gold Sparkle
Neck: 
Maple
Fretboard: 
Rosewood
The Story Behind

This is another Stratocaster with a long story.

Joe Bonamassa was a child prodigy blues guitarist who was encouraged to pursue his career by B.B. King, amongst others. Today he is one of the great young blues guitar players. Bonamassa generously donated to The Eric Clapton Sale of Guitars and Amps in aid of the Crossroads Centre, 9 Mar 2011 a Fender Stratocaster, in gold sparkle finish, maple neck, twenty-one fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, three pickups, three rotary controls, selector switch, tremolo/bridge tailblock, gold-plated metal parts and white pickguard, with 'Pin-Up' girl transfer applied to body, the back with various stickers including Little Feat Tour VIP pass, cigarette burn on headstock; and a Fender tweed rectangular hardshell case with orange plush lining, the lid with black vinyl lettering BONAMASSA – played on stage by Joe Bonamassa since he was seventeen years old.

Joe about this guitar:

"This gold sparkle Stratocaster has been part of my music since I have been 17 years old. There was a time in my very early 20s that I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue pursuing music as a profession. I had grown tired of the grind and the task ahead of me to even make a modest living seemed monumental. I sold off all my guitars except one. For some reason or another I kept the gold Stratocaster that I assembled from various vintage parts. I have always and will always have great affection for that guitar down to the pin-up girl sticker that I found in a Omaha antique shop for the grand sum of 5 dollars. This is the guitar that inspired me to pull myself up by my boot straps, refocus and go on to have a successful decade of making solo albums. There is only one person in this world whom I trust to see to the sale of it and that is Eric Clapton. It is very important to me that it finds a loving home. I am honoured to be a part of such a wonderful auction for a great cause."

Joe Bonamassa playing this gold sparkle Stratocaster can be seen among others in the cover article of Vintage Guitar Magazine, Vol.21. No.10. August 2007 and in several video releases such as the Hot Licks video released in 1993 featured 16 year-old Joe Bonamassa with this gold sparkle Stratocaster on the cover or his DVD releases of his appearances in Live at the Rockpalast (2006) and in A New Day Yesterday Live (2002).

Montréal Jazz Festival 2004

 

Live at Rockpalast (2006)

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