The Johnny Beane Podcast

On this jam-packed episode of Talking Guitars and Music News, we kicked things off with the world premiere of my brand-new demo/review for the Lock-It Guitar Strap—fresh from a local music shop right here in Santa Cruz. I put it through its paces, even testing it out on a killer Hondo Revival Explorer I spotted at the shop. That guitar had some serious vibes… and yes, I might be going back for it!...

🔥 On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen we dive into a killer upgrade of Van Halen – Live in St. Paul, MN (April 13, 1980) shot on Super 8 film! 🎥 This one’s not new to hardcore collectors, but it’s a HUGE upgrade — and you’ll even catch Edward rocking the Star Guitar live, something super rare to see on video. Footage from the 1980 era is pure gold for Van Halen fans, so don’t miss it. ⚡️ h...

Straturday Night Live! New Intro, Amps vs. Half Stacks, Firefly Jimmy Page Tele & Old Clips! 8/30/25 by Johnny Beane

🎸🔥 On this episode of Talking Guitars and Music News, we kick things off with a brand-new show intro! It’s still a work in progress, but I want to know what YOU think. The music is an original track of mine called “Rockin’”—and you can stream it everywhere! (Link below if you’d like to support the channel 🙌). https://open.spotify.com/album/1pe1bHismCYj9Rmh98aXMc?si=D7B2-uDkRmKXcx9rnBnA6g Expect...

🔥 Tonight’s Episode is PACKED with surprises! We kick things off with something next-level – a brand-new collage of photos of me, brought to life with mind-blowing tech! You’ve never seen anything like this, and it’s a game-changer for the show. From there, we dive into a wild story about Tony Iommi – did you know the legendary Black Sabbath guitarist once rocked a Stratocaster? 🤯 That leads us...

On this epic episode of Talking Guitars & Music News: We unveiled the stunning TEASE Gold Telecaster we unboxed yesterday – huge thanks to Bay Area Rich! 🎸 (Question of the night: What color strap pairs best with this golden beauty? I’m leaning silver – what do YOU think?) Sneak peek of the video game I’m streaming on Twitch: Streamer Simulator 2. A big Happy Birthday shout-out to legendary rock...

On this episode of Talking Guitars, we’ve got an exclusive TEASE Guitar reveal—huge thanks to Bay Area Rich for making this happen! 🤘 We’ll be seeing this beauty for the first time on stream, plugging it in, playing it, and giving you our first impressions and review. Join the live chat, hang out with fellow guitar fans, and be part of the excitement as we put this brand-new guitar to the test! #...

This Straturday Night Live is packed with non-stop guitar action and late-night adventures! 🎸 Episode Highlights: @13:27 – LAZ checks in live while tracking down a Roland V-Drum kit, bringing real-time energy and insight into his gear hunt. @56:08 – Special guest G. Buchnoff joins the discussion as we revisit the unforgettable Monterey experience of seeing the legendary Kramer ADD guitar. He also...

🚨 SAMMY HAGAR NEWS – VAN HALEN FANS! On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we’ve got a HUGE announcement: "Sammy Hagar & The Best of All Worlds Band – The Residency (LIVE ALBUM)" drops October 10, 2025! 🤘🔥 The first track, “Summer Nights (Live),” is streaming NOW! 🎶 “Summer Nights” was one of the first songs we wrote for 5150 on our first day in the studio. Eddie played...

🔥 Tonight on Talking Guitars and Music News – we’re going BIG! 🤘 • Sammy Hagar’s New Live Album – fresh details on the Red Rocker’s latest release! • Kramer Guitars Deep Dive – exploring the new Pacer Deluxe GT in Butterscotch (is it a true exclusive?) and the ’84 Bumblebee Yellow Exclusive – these axes are HOT! • Historic Gear Moments – rare pics of the Kramer ad guitar I saw in Monterey last w...

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we dive into an article where Steve Vai recalls the moment he knew he was destined to join David Lee Roth’s band after Roth’s split from Van Halen in 1985. Vai shares how, the second he heard Roth was searching for a guitarist, he told his roommate, “That’s my gig.” The very next day, Roth himself called. We also talk about Roth’s ambiti...

🎸🔥 On this episode, we dove into some Randy Rhoads history—I’ve been hanging out in a few Randy Rhoads Facebook groups, and a lot of that history is brand new to me. You guys know I’ve got all my Van Halen history down, but I’m just now learning the Rhoads side of things, and it’s been awesome soaking it all in! ⚡ We also read a wild story from Guitar Player where Ace Frehley revealed why he wo...

🔥 On this episode of Talking Guitars and Music News, we kick things off with my Firefly Elite Les Paul-style guitar ripping through the Blackstar Stereo 20 V3—just a quick taste to get things going! From there, we dive into the world of Blue Chip guitar picks. Ron swears there’s a clear version out there—but we couldn’t find it on the website. Maybe he was thinking of Gravity Picks (which are see...

🚨 Rock fans, the wait is over – TODAY we’re unboxing the Van Halen – Balance (Expanded Edition) Anniversary Reissue with Mike Wood! 🤘🔥 This deluxe monster of a set celebrates 30 years of Balance, Van Halen’s multi-platinum 10th studio album – now bigger, louder, and packed with treasures: 🎶 2LPs + 1CD with fully remastered audio 💿 A rarities CD with B-sides + 8 unreleased live tracks from Wem...

On this episode our friend G. Buchnoff joined us for an epic recap of our visit to the Portola Hotel & Spa to see Eddie Van Halen’s iconic Kramer ad guitar up close! 🔥 I even went back today for another look—met some amazing people, had a blast, and dove even deeper into why this guitar is so important to both Kramer history and the legacy of Eddie Van Halen. ⚡🎶 🎶 Welcome to STRATURDAY NIGHT —...

🔥 On this episode of Talking Guitars we’re back in Monterey, California for another up-close look at Eddie Van Halen’s legendary 1982 Kramer guitar on display at Sotheby’s! 🎸 This time it was a full-on hang—Music Therapy Laz rolled down, our buddy G. Butchnoff drove all the way up from Los Angeles, and together we soaked in the magic of EVH’s iconic axe. Not only did we check out the guitar, but...

🔥 On this episode of Talking Guitars and Music News on Johnny Beane TV, we’ve got a wild mix of guitars, rock legends, and epic road stories! 🎸 Ron’s Pawn Shop Score – He actually bought the Randall 212 amplifier we’ve been talking about—and we get the full show-and-tell! 🎥 Van Halen’s 1982 Kramer at Sotheby’s – I roll B-roll and exclusive footage from my adventures earlier today, checking out...

Today on Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV — we dive into a killer new interview with Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge, Creed) where he talks about PRS building a new Dumble-inspired amp that he says will leave fans “slack-jawed.” Tremonti shares the moment Paul Reed Smith first handed him a Dumble, sparking his obsession with that legendary tone, and how it led to his PRS MT 100 signature head....

🎸 The '80s gave us an explosion of guitar heroes — lightning-fast shredders, larger-than-life performers, and songwriters who defined an era. But who are the true "Big 4" of ‘80s hard rock guitarists? 🤘 In this episode of Talking Guitars, we break down an article from UCR for the ultimate quartet of six-string legends who debuted in the 1980s. That means no Eddie Van Halen (sorry, he’s a ‘70s de...

🎸🔥 Straturday Night was jam-packed this week! Our friend Music Therapy Laz checked in live from the Creed / Mammoth WVH show at Shoreline Amphitheatre 🎤🎶 — we even got to hear some of the concert! From there, Ron spotted a Randall RG1503-212 combo amp at a pawn shop and had his GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) fully activated 🤘. That sparked a debate on big amps vs. small amps, plus Ron showed...

🎸🔥 NEW Episode of Talking Guitars & Music News! 🔥🎸 This week, it’s a full-on gear & memory lane jam session! I kick things off by showing off my brand-new guitar stand and giving you a fresh look at the rearranged studio—the guitars have never looked better. We jump right into guitar talk, and I reveal my latest impulse buy: an Ernie Ball red guitar strap (which, of course, I quickly realized...

In a recent interview with Guitar Interactive Magazine, Paul Reed Smith opened up about his unexpected connection to Eddie Van Halen. “I made the 5150 pickup. I made the 5150 guitar. I’m the one who bolted it together and got it working at Kramer,” Smith revealed, recalling his hands-on role in shaping one of rock’s most iconic guitars. Although a signature PRS model for Eddie never materialized,...

🎸 Today on Talking Guitars – We Welcome Danny Gomez! 🎸 https://www.dirtyboy.co/ Get ready for an exciting episode as we sit down with Danny Gomez — acclaimed guitarist, gear designer, touring pro, and now the driving force behind Dirty Boy Pedals! From performing with legends like Brian May to reinventing one of the most iconic boutique pedal brands, Danny brings stories, insights, and serious t...

🎸🔥 New Episode of Talking Guitars & Music News! 🔥🎸 This one’s packed, so buckle up! We’re diving deep into the mysterious new MXR Randy Rhoads Distortion+ Concord graphic pedal—still not officially released, but already creating a buzz. Randy’s sister dropped some serious hints on Instagram, and we break it all down. You know we’re hyped to get our hands on one! From there, it’s a full-blown R...

We’re kicking things off with a brand-new TEASE guitar reveal — and trust us, this one’s got everyone talking. Then, big news from the world of effects pedals: Kathy Rhoads, sister of the legendary Randy Rhoads, just dropped a major update via Instagram — the long-awaited Concorde Edition of the MXR Randy Rhoads Distortion+ is dropping September 2nd! “The first version went fast, and so many of yo...