Don’t call me SRV: Joe Bonamassa

Joe Bonamassa

I have been on a huge Joe Bonamassa kick after reading this quote.

“One night, I was doing this classical thing I do using the volume control, and I was playing it on a Strat,” Bonamassa said. “When I finished the show someone came up to me and told that I sounded like Stevie Ray [Vaughan] playing a violin. Well, bless his heart, and God bless Stevie Ray, but it sounded nothing like Stevie Ray. And please don’t get me wrong, I was heavily influenced by Stevie, but what it showed me is that if you waltz up there with a Stratocaster and play anything remotely resembling the blues you’re going to be compared to someone else.”

It's so sad that it is true. How many blues strat players have emulated that sound of the strat through a tube screamer into a nice crunchy Fender amp? The playing may not sound like SRV, but the style of tone sure does. And depending on the player, it makes them sound like a bad take on SRV even if they are good. It took me a long time to get into southern/texas blues and I now think that this is the reason why. I always enjoyed SRV, but couldn't get into any one else.

Thoughts?
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