“I made a offer, paid him in money, and he passedaway 2 months lateron. His last text to his child was, ‘I buried the cash in the desert’”: Joe Bonamassa informs the story of the strangest guitar offer he ever did

In the brand-new problem of Guitarist publication (out today), Joe Bonamassa talksabout how he came to own his renowned 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard, the so-called Bolin ’Burst –describing it as “the strangest guitar offer I ever did”.

The Bolin ’Burst got its name from its long-running association with Deep Purple and Zephyr guitarplayer Tommy Bolin.

Guitarist got to see (and photo) the instrument up close when they were welcomed to head to ‘Nerdville, USA’ – the guitar icon’s offered name for his individual musuem – for a assisted trip of his amazing 500+ guitar collection.

It’s complete of stories of important vintage discovers, however it appears even an instrument as well-known as the Bolin ’Burst still has a coupleof surprises to deal, as Bonamassa exposes…

“Tommy Bolin neverever owned this guitar,” discusses Bonamassa. “That’s the mistakenbelief. It was owned by a guy called David Brown who purchased it in 1966 for $125 in Denver. His child infact sentout me the invoice. 

“When Tommy’s Goldtop got nicked in the early ’70s when he was with Zephyr, David was Tommy’s right-hand male and he lent him this ’Burst. And so Tommy played it all through Zephyr and Deep Purple.”

Bonamassa notes Bolin did not usage it on his album with Billy Cobham, Spectrum (on which he preferred a Fender Stratocaster).

“They put the [Bigsby] vibrato on the Bolin ’Burst since Tommy was a Strat guy,” states Bonamassa.  

The blues rock ace foundout the art of purchasing vintage guitars by accompanying his daddy (a vintage dealership) on guitar safaris, throughout his youth. However, even he states tracking down the Bolin ’Burst was not an simple procedure.

“I looked for this guitar for about a years,” describes Bonamassa. “I lastly situated David in Moab, Utah. I made a offer with him, paid him in money, and he passedaway 2 months lateron in a vehicle mishap. His last text to his child was, ‘I buried the cash in the desert.’ Weird, strange story. It was likewise the strangest guitar offer I ever did.”

We presume the guitar’s had a more safeandsecure homelife giventhat it’s been under the blues rocker’s cautious custodianship, however it does get live airings – such as last month, when Joe Bonamassa brought the Bolin ’Burst out to cover Deep Purple. 

To get up close with the Bolin ’Burst, plus Bonamassa’s 1955 Strat (which takes pride of location on the cover), ’58 Korina Flying V, his “unicorn” 1961 ES-355 – and that’s simply the start – pick up concern 504 of Guitarist.