Fender is making a Joe Bonamassa signature '51 Nocaster

Joe Bonamassa's 1951 Fender Nocaster electric guitar
(Image credit: Joby Sessions/Future)

Joe Bonamassa really loves his 1951 Fender 'Nocaster.' 

In an Instagram post back in August, Bonamassa said that the guitar - a highlight of his famously massive collection - was the 'best' he owns. “It is as much a tool as it is a weapon,” he said of the guitar. “It is the most dynamic instrument I have ever played in my life."

Now, the blues guitar extraordinaire has revealed in another Instagram post that his beloved Nocaster has been sent off to the Fender Custom Shop, so master builder Greg Fessler can make a replica signature model of the guitar.

Mr Nocaster hanging at his temporary home for the next few months. 😎👍 Joe Bonamassa

A photo posted by @joebonamassa on Oct 3, 2019 at 2:53pm PDT

100 of the Bonamassa signature Nocasters will be produced, and will be available at first only through Bonamassa's website.

Given how much praise Bonamassa has heaped on his Nocaster in the past - “It howls in all the right ways, and quite frankly, kills my ’59 Les Pauls on occasion," Bonamassa said of the instrument - we cannot wait to see how this turns out. 

We'll be sure to provide updates as we learn more about this tantalizing signature model.

Jackson Maxwell

Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.