The Johnny Beane Podcast

On this episode, we kick things off with BIG news — I'll be at the NAMM Show next week, bringing you exclusive, on-the-floor NAMM coverage right here on Johnny Beane TV. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss a thing! Ron also unboxes a special edition MXR Distortion Plus Randy Rhoads “The Concorde” pedal, courtesy of @MusicTherapyLaz - We put it head-to-head with the current yellow Distortion Plus and the polka-dot version to hear all three side-by-side! https://youtu.be/e5UCZJr36Zs Then it's on to music news, including Norman's Rare Guitars — the legendary LA vintage shop — being acquired by TNAG Global, the parent company of Carter Vintage Guitars and Cotton Music Center. We also check out Nuno Guitars, Nuno Bettencourt's new guitar company, exploring the Thoroughbred, Stable, Colt series, and acoustic models now live on the site. Plus, I recap last weekend's Amigo Guitar Show, and we look ahead to Workbench Saturday, where we'll be doing hands-on guitar work right here on the channel.

If you're a Van Halen fan, this is the spot you wanna be—don't miss out! Hit that subscribe button for more episodes of Exclusively Van Halen: The Van Halen Show on YouTube and podcast.

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we break down BIG news from Sammy Hagar as he expands his Best Of All Worlds Tour, promising fans a true “deep dive into the Van Halen years.”

We kick things off with a big reminder — NAMM is NEXT WEEK, and I'll be there as media, bringing you exclusive NAMM Show coverage all week long! Even better, tomorrow's episode features a special guest who's also heading to NAMM, and we'll be hanging out out there — so don't miss Wednesday's special show! Right out of the gate, we dive into a killer viewer question about Floyd Rose setup, especially Van Halen–style. I grab my GMW 5150 and show exactly how the bridge sits on my guitar, breaking it all down for you. Then it's time to recap the Amigo Guitar Show in San Rafael — amazing guitars, great people, and nonstop fun. Our friend Music Therapy LAZ even uncovered a wild throwback photo of me from 1997 in a photo album at one of the booths… and somehow recognized me instantly

On this episode of Talking Guitars, we welcome back longtime friend Rob Johnson!

We kick things off with a BIG announcement — this Saturday, January 10th, we're heading to the Amigo California Guitar Show, and we'll be LIVE streaming straight from the floor!

1984 (stylized in Roman numerals as MCMLXXXIV) is the sixth studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on January 9, 1984.[2] It was the last Van Halen studio album until A Different Kind of Truth (2012) to feature lead singer David Lee Roth, who left the band in 1985 following creative differences. This is the final full-length album to feature all four original members (Van Halen brothers, Roth, and Michael Anthony), although they reunited briefly in 2000 to start work on what would much later become 2012's A Different Kind of Truth.[3] Roth returned in 2007, but Eddie's son Wolfgang replaced Anthony in 2006.[2] 1984 and Van Halen's debut are Van Halen's best-selling albums, each having sold more than 10 million copies in the United States.[4] 1984 was well received by music critics. Rolling Stone ranked the album number 81 on its list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s. It reached number two on the Billboard 200 and remained there for five weeks, kept off the top spot by Michael Jackson's Thriller, on which guitarist Eddie Van Halen made a guest performance. 1984 produced four singles, including "Jump", Van Halen's only number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100; the top-20 hits "Panama" and "I'll Wait"; and the MTV favorite "Hot for Teacher". The album was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1999, signifying ten million shipped copies in the U.S. 1984 track listing Side one No. Title Length 1. "1984" (instrumental) 1:07 2. "Jump" 4:01 3. "Panama" 3:31 4. "Top Jimmy" 2:59 5. "Drop Dead Legs" 4:14 Side two No. Title Length 6. "Hot for Teacher" 4:42 7. "I'll Wait" 4:40 8. "Girl Gone Bad" 4:35 9. "House of Pain" 3:19 Win Van Halen items! Click to SUBSCRIBE to the channel & watch for another chance to win Tuesday! https://www.youtube.com/user/johnnybeane?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Johnny Beane: Website: http://www.johnnybeane.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnnybeane Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnybeane Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/johnnybeane TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@johnnybeanetv Join our Van Halen group on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/EVHFANPAGE

On this episode of Talking Guitars & Music News on JohnnyBeaneTV, we kick things off with a big announcement — we're going LIVE from the Amigo California Guitar Show this Saturday, January 10th!

David Lee Roth Announces 30-Date 2026 North American Tour David Lee Roth is officially back on the road. The former Van Halen frontman has announced a 30-date tour across the U.S. and Canada, kicking off April 16 in Airway Heights, Washington, and wrapping up August 7 in Sturgis, South Dakota. The announcement follows Roth's return to the stage in May 2025, ending a five-year hiatus. That comeback debuted at the M3 Festival, where Roth introduced a new eight-piece backing band that included four dedicated backing vocalists. “We've reached the end of my first retirement,” Roth joked during the performance. “How many retirements did Rocky have — nine?” Ticket pre-sales begin Tuesday, January 6 at 10 a.m. local time, with general on-sale starting Friday, January 9 at 10 a.m. local time. While Roth has released several stand-alone singles over the years, it has been more than two decades since his last solo album. His most recent full-length release was 2012's A Different Kind of Truth, recorded with Van Halen during their reunion. David Lee Roth – 2026 Tour Dates April 16 – Airway Heights, WA – Spokane Live April 18 – Grand Ronde, OR – Spirit Mountain Casino April 20 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues April 22 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre April 25 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel April 27 – Lubbock, TX – Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts April 29 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live May 1 – Memphis, TN – Graceland Soundstage May 3 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live May 6 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium May 12 – Wilmington, NC – Wilson Center May 14 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center May 16 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre May 19 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre May 21 – Niagara Falls, ON – OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino May 24 – Boston, MA – House of Blues May 26 – Schenectady, NY – Proctor's May 29 – Hampton Beach, NH – Casino Ballroom May 31 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre June 3 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre June 5 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage June 7 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount June 9 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center June 11 – Fort Wayne, IN – Foellinger Theatre June 13 – Battle Creek, MI – FireKeepers Casino June 15 – Rapid City, SD – The Monument June 17 – Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Amphitheatre June 20 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion August 7 – Sturgis, SD – Buffalo Chip #ExclusivelyVanHalen #davidleeroth #vanhalen #johnnybeaneTV

On this episode, we kick things off with a big announcement — we're going LIVE from the Amigo Guitar Show in San Rafael, California!

On this episode of Talking Guitars & Music News, we kick things off with the latest buzz from the Metal Sticks Podcast / Modern Drummer, featuring Alex Van Halen talking about working with Steve Lukather on a brand-new album. We covered it on Exclusively Van Halen yesterday, and today we dive even deeper. Then it's guitar time

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen, we dive into a newly released 2003 interview with Edward Van Halen, conducted by Steve Rosen

Join us New Year's Eve on Johnny Beane TV as we rock our way into the new year — live! We'll be hanging out with friends, talking music, guitars, gear, and whatever comes up as the clock counts down. No scripts, no rules — just good vibes, great tunes, and an awesome community all in one place. Plug in, turn it up, and spend New Year's Eve with people who live and breathe music. Let's welcome the new year together

We're kicking things off by announcing a LIVE New Year's Eve hang right here on Johnny Beane TV — 11:30 PM Eastern / 8:30 PM Pacific!

On this episode, we kick things off by diving into some killer Reverb listings, checking out seriously cool guitars — including some stunning, custom-style instruments from Arrow Guitars in Palm Desert, California

On this episode of Talking Guitars, we kick things off with rock talk and six-string legends

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we kick things off by A/B-ing two nearly identical Squier Strat-style guitars — one loaded with a Seymour Duncan Fat Cat P90 in the bridge, and the other with a Seymour Duncan humbucker. Same guitars, different pickups… and WOW, they each bring their own unique vibe and tone. We then continue the project from yesterday, diving deeper into the Squier Strat with the Seymour Duncan Fat Cat P90. All the wiring and installation were handled off-camera before the show, so we jump straight into playing, tone talk, and real-world impressions. I did notice the volume pot was a little touchy, so I worked around it using a volume pedal during the session. Along the way, we swap between a few other guitars — including a couple more Squiers and the Kramer equipped with a Vega Trem and the killer Holoflash finish. Huge thanks once again to Ron for the incredible paint job — it looks absolutely amazing! If you love pickup comparisons, guitar mods, real tone talk, and live gear switching, this episode is for you. Jump into the comments and let me know which pickup YOU prefer!

This episode kicks off on a personal note as I pay tribute to Adam the Woo — sharing with Ron and the chat how his videos inspired my own journey into content creation and what his work still means to me today. We dive into some powerful moments from Adam's travels, including his visits to Randy Rhoads' grave and the Randy Rhoads plane crash site — must-see spots for any rock fan. From there, it's music news, breaking down a story about KISS, Kiss may be finished with touring, but guitarist Tommy Thayer says the band's story isn't over yet. Following their recent appearances at the Kiss Kruise event in Las Vegas, Thayer told MusicRadar that the shows were a success and hinted at more to come. “Fan events like this are great, and we'll probably do more,” Thayer said, adding that it felt natural playing together again after nearly two years. While full tours are off the table, he teased that “there's a lot in the works” behind the scenes. Thayer also didn't rule out new music, saying the band still has “a lot of great ideas and a desire to keep creating.” He pointed to Kiss's avatar project as an example of how the band is embracing new technology and future possibilities. Thayer joined Kiss full-time in 2002 after Ace Frehley's departure and remained with the band through their final tour, which ended at Madison Square Garden in 2023. Although Frehley and drummer Peter Criss were originally expected to appear at the farewell show, those plans ultimately fell through. Then straight to the workbench

Adam the Woo was a massive influence on my YouTube journey and on creators all over the world. His genuine approach to storytelling, exploration, and daily vlogging inspired so many of us to hit record and share our lives. This is shocking and heartbreaking news, and I wanted to take a moment here on Johnny Beane TV to honor Adam's legacy and the impact he had on me and the YouTube community. Rest in peace. #AdamTheWoo #RIPAdamTheWoo #YouTubeCreator #DailyVlogger #YouTubeCommunity #CreatorCommunity #Inspiration #JohnnyBeaneTV

On this episode of Straturday Night, we kicked things off by diving deep into the music business, sharing real-world experiences from playing in bands, touring, and working inside the recording studio. From there, we took it straight to the workbenches. Ron got hands-on with his Charvel, installing a Lollar Pickup in the neck position—after already dropping one into the bridge on a previous show. Meanwhile, I gave one of my Stratocasters a subtle but classy upgrade, swapping the white single-coil pickup covers for parchment. And yeah… I'm officially hooked on the parchment look. Once the mods were done, it was time to plug in and play. I demoed a handful of pedals, starting with the ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky, delivering those beautifully warbly, lo-fi textures—almost chorus-like, but with its own quirky vibe. Next up was my favorite fuzz of all time, the ZVEX Fuzz Factory, bringing the chaos, sustain, and raw attitude. I also spent some time getting weird—in the best way—with my BOSS PC-2 Percussion Synthesizer, and wow, this pedal is a trip. It's a seriously interesting early '80s unit that delivers a wide range of highly adjustable, synth-like percussion sounds that instantly bring to mind classic Atari video games and old-school arcade vibes. Super retro, super quirky, and unlike just about anything else on a pedalboard today. It added a totally unexpected, nostalgic twist to the jams and showed just how far ahead of its time this pedal really was.

This episode was 100% chat-powered. I gave YOU two guitars to choose from—and the winner was the battle-scarred red hardtail Fender Stratocaster. This thing has seen years of play, tons of wear, and serious mojo, and we spent most of the night diving into it at the workbench.

Join us LIVE tonight for the ultimate interactive guitar project. It's gonna be a blast—so smash that thumbs up and hit subscribe for more killer guitar content right here on Johnny Beane TV!

On this killer episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we kick things off with a cool story straight from Guitar World—then it's full speed to the workbench

On this episode of Straturday Night Live, we're finally building that mystery guitar LIVE!

We kick off this episode of Talking Guitars on JohnnyBeaneTV with an amazing story: Paul Reed Smith once revealed that Jeff Beck secretly played — and loved — a PRS guitar backstage. A hidden piece of guitar-legend lore! PRS says Beck used it to record, but the model is still a mystery, and the guitar didn't appear in this year's big Beck auction. Did he sell it? Is it still in the family vault? No one knows—but the hunt is on. Then we jump into some killer EVH news, breaking down the new EVH 5150III Hypersonic 606 1x12 and why it's getting so much buzz. On the workbench, I restring my 1996 MIJ Fender Custom '72 Reissue Telecaster, talk a bit about its history, and then run through a few more classics: my early '80s USA Hamer Phantom A-5, the Seville Les Paul copy for some unplugged vibes, the Squier Standard Strat, and of course—the Hello Kitty Squier, since we're rockin' the Hello Kitty tee. Thanks for watching! If you're into guitars, stories, mods, and all the craziness we do here, smash that thumbs up and hit subscribe!

On this episode of Talking Guitars on JohnnyBeaneTV, we opened with a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Steve Cropper, whose family announced his passing today. I share the story of meeting him nearly 30 years ago at the guitar shop I worked at—an unforgettable moment with a true icon. Legendary guitarist Steve Cropper — the soulful force behind Booker T. & the MG's, Otis Redding, and the Blues Brothers — has passed away at the age of 84. His son Cameron confirmed the news to Variety on Wednesday. Cropper's influence on Memphis soul is immeasurable. As a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and engineer at Stax Records, he shaped the sound of an era. His tight, tasteful, unmistakable guitar work powered Booker T. & the MG's, while also elevating recordings by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, and more. In 1996, Mojo magazine ranked him the second-greatest guitarist of all time, just behind Jimi Hendrix, praising his metronomic timing, razor-sharp riffs, and perfectly placed licks — always serving the song, never overstaying their welcome. As a songwriter, Cropper co-wrote classics like “Green Onions,” “Time Is Tight,” and “Soul-Limbo,” along with timeless R&B hits including Otis Redding's “(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay”, Wilson Pickett's “In the Midnight Hour” and “634-5789,” and Eddie Floyd's “Knock On Wood.” After leaving Stax in 1970, he continued making history. Booker T. & the MG's reunited into the '90s, backing icons like Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Neil Young, and Levon Helm. Cropper also became widely known to new generations as the guitarist for The Blues Brothers, appearing on their platinum records and in both films. In 1992, Steve Cropper was rightfully inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Booker T. & the MG's. Then it's off to the workbench! I swap out the strap pins on my TEASE Telecaster, tighten up some screws on a Squier Tele, and Ron jumps in to show off some killer 3D-printed guitar goodies he's been crafting. And somehow… we wrap the night talking about MASSIVE burgers—PermanI Brothers, local burger joints, and the monster creations Ron hunts down. Guess we were starving! Rock, mods, memories, and monster burgers—classic JohnnyBeaneTV energy.

On this episode of Talking Guitars on JohnnyBeaneTV, we crack open a mystery guitar unboxing—and HUGE shout-out to Bay Area Rich for making it happen! Inside the case? An RJ Guitars Telecaster-style Broadcaster from the GigLine series, decked out in white and gold and loaded with killer specs: vintage Kluson-style tuners, bone nut, D'Addario strings, stainless steel frets, a roasted maple neck, alder body, full shielding, and a Wilkinson bridge. This thing is an absolute tone machine, and I'll be dropping a dedicated deep-dive video soon—so stay tuned, smash that like, and keep rocking with us on JohnnyBeaneTV. Huge thanks again to Bay Area Rich for the amazing support! If you dig this kind of hands-on guitar work, drop a comment below and let us know!

On this episode, we hit the workbench full throttle! I swapped out the nut on a vintage 1979 Ibanez Roadster RS100 Strat, brought it back to life, and took it for a killer test run.

On this episode of Talking Guitars on JohnnyBeane TV, we're diving deep into some serious Workbench action!

On this episode of Talking Guitars, it's Workbench Wednesday on Johnny Beane TV — and we're getting our hands dirty!

On this epic FOUR-HOUR episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we went full throttle from start to finish! ⚡

On this episode of Straturday Night Live, we're kicking things off with a brand new intro — and this one's been four years in the making!

We kicked things off by showing our freshly repainted Samick Avion / Greg Bennett mini guitar — HUGE shout-out to Ron! This little beast started life as a black eBay car guitar, but now it's a champagne flip-flop copper ripper loaded with an Epiphone humbucker, Pure Tone jack, and Grover tuners. We played it, loved it, ROCKED it.

We kick things off with a brand-new show intro, powered by my original 2010 track “Rockin'” — now streaming on Spotify & Apple Music.

Last night was EPIC!

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we kick things off with some major music-news

We're kicking things off with exclusive footage I filmed this morning at Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz, California — then diving into an incredible story that'll hit every guitarist right in the feels. “I started crying. I never thought in these 42 years I'd see my work on the stage. I'm going, ‘Damn it, Joe!'”

On tonight's episode, we dive into Steve Vai's powerful message to the music world — a heartfelt call to support legendary guitar tech Thomas Nordegg. Thomas, who's worked with Steve Vai, Frank Zappa, Duran Duran, and so many more, was recently involved in a serious scooter accident in Los Angeles near Laurel Canyon and Ventura Blvd. He's now facing a long road to recovery and, as a self-employed tech, a total loss of income. Steve Vai and friends have launched a fundraiser with a goal of $46,000 to help cover medical bills, transportation, and living expenses while Thomas heals. Let's show some love and rally behind the guy who's kept the world's greatest guitars in tune for decades. ❤️

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, it's a killer Workbench Wednesday packed with tone, tech, and builds! We kick things off with the new Ernie Ball USB-C Rechargeable Batteries — power your performance sustainably with rock-solid 9-volt and AA options that charge directly via USB-C! No more disposable batteries or wasted power — just plug in, charge up, and keep your pedals, wireless units, and active pickups running strong. Then we hit the benches!