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In a surprisingly cool move, singer/songwriter Jason Isbell shared exactly what he used on a recent appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. The show, which featured his song When We Were Close, is definitely a rocker and he was playing his own, signature Fender through some decidedly cool gear.
The Jason Isbell Signature Fender Telecaster
This $1,649 guitar is basically a reliced (aka professionally beat up) 1960s-style Fender Telecaster with some cool additions. The entire thing is solidly built and features a bound body and some decidedly cool pickups. From the produce page:
The vintage-inspired instrument features a double-bound ‘59-style Telecaster Custom body, mid-’60s “C”-shaped maple neck with a 21-fret rosewood fingerboard and custom Jason Isbell pickups designed by tone guru Tim Shaw, bringing stunning style to match its pristine tone.
“I honestly think the Telecaster is probably the best guitar design of all time,” he said. “I just don’t know if I’ve ever played one that, if it was appropriately set up, didn’t sound good. I could always find a good tone on a Telecaster.
“I hope that this guitar is one that I could see in a lot of different levels of players’ hands. I get excited when I see a famous guitar player playing something I’ve been involved with, but I also get excited when I see a 13-year-old on Instagram playing it.”
Tone King Amps
Tone King Amplifiers, often simply referred to as “Tone King,” is renowned in the world of boutique guitar amplification for its commitment to producing vintage-inspired tones and designs with a modern twist. For many guitarists, Tone King amps represent the pinnacle of classic American tone, offering a rich, warm, and dynamic sound that’s reminiscent of the golden age of tube amplifiers. One of the standout features of many Tone King models is the built-in attenuator, allowing players to achieve that cranked amp sound at more manageable volume levels. The company’s meticulous attention to detail, from hand-wired circuits to custom-designed components, ensures that every amplifier not only sounds fantastic but also is reliable and durable. Whether it’s their flagship models like the Imperial or newer innovations, Tone King constantly bridges the gap between vintage and contemporary, making them a favorite choice for both purists and modern players alike.
The Klon Centaur
This is the oddest bit of gear in the lineup. The Klon Centaur guitar pedal is a famous overdrive pedal made by Bill Finnegan between 1994 and 2008. The pedal, clad in gold-painted metal, is a cult favorite among guitarists and I’d bet that Isbell owns an original, pictured above.
This iconic stompbox quickly gained a reputation for its transparent and harmonically-rich overdrive, allowing the core tone of a guitar and amplifier to shine through while adding a touch of magic. Unlike many overdrive pedals of its era, the Klon imparted a unique midrange character and clarity, making it a favorite among countless professional guitarists. Its scarcity, due to limited production runs and Finnegan’s insistence on quality and hands-on assembly, added to its mystique, driving the second-hand prices to staggering heights. The Klon’s legacy can also be seen in the myriad of clones and inspired designs that have since flooded the market, each attempting to capture a piece of that elusive Centaur magic.
