Joe Bonamassa on the Les Paul

Joe Bonamassa discussing why he chose the Les Paul as his instrument of choice:

“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.”

Unfortunately, I think he's right. If you strap on a Strat and play a blues lick, you're going to be compared to Stevie Ray. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, but I imagine it can get frustrating if you're trying to make a name for yourself as a guitarist and songwriter.