The Johnny Beane Podcast

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we take a look at a fascinating new guitar collaboration that brings together legendary guitar builder John Cruz, formerly of the Fender Custom Shop, and Chinese guitar brand Farida Guitars.

Cruz has unveiled his first guitar design with Farida — the JC-1, a vintage-inspired S-style guitar that combines classic looks and tones with some interesting modern features.

And there's a lot to talk about!

🎸 The Farida JC-1
🔥 Designed by former Fender Master Builder John Cruz
🇨🇳 Cruz's first guitar design with Farida Guitars
⏱️ 273 days of development went into the JC-1
🎸 Vintage-inspired S-style design
🌳 Two-piece alder body
🍁 Bolt-on Canadian maple neck
✋ John Cruz's custom "JC Comfy C" neck profile
🌹 Rosewood fingerboard
⚪ Olympic White finish
🐢 Tortoiseshell pickguard
🎨 Light relic finish inspired by how vintage guitars naturally wear
🎛️ Modern Features

The JC-1 isn't simply a vintage-style S guitar.

It features three custom-wound single-coil pickups, developed by Cruz and the Farida team, designed to deliver a '60s-inspired sound.

The control layout is particularly interesting:

🎚️ 5-way pickup selector
🔊 Master volume
🎛️ Master tone
🔀 Blend control for combining neck and bridge pickups

That blend control allows players to mix the bridge and neck pickups in positions 1 and 5, giving the guitar some tonal options you wouldn't normally get from a traditional S-style setup.

🛠️ John Cruz's Approach

Cruz says building a great guitar starts with the wood. He personally weighs body blanks and even taps on them to listen for their individual characteristics.

His philosophy is also heavily focused on the player.

"I am a guitar builder but I am also a guitar player."

For Cruz, playability is at the heart of the instrument — the guitar needs to be something a player wants to pick up and play every day.

💰 Only 60 Being Made

Farida reportedly plans to produce just 60 JC-1 guitars, making this a very limited run.

The guitar has been suggested at around $1,989, which is an interesting price point for a high-end, relic'd instrument designed by a former Fender Master Builder.

🤔 The Big Question

Could this be a sign of where the guitar industry is heading?

What happens when a world-class American guitar builder teams up with a Chinese guitar company and gets the resources to build the guitar he wants?

Would you buy a guitar like the Farida JC-1?

That's what we're talking about on this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV!
#JohnCruz #FaridaGuitars #GuitarBuilder #TalkingGuitars

🎸 GUITAR CENTER IS BUILDING ITS OWN GUITAR!

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about Guitar Center’s new Guitar Labs project — and they’re now ready to put their first prototype into the hands of real guitar players!

🔹 Guitar Center has been developing its own guitar line for nearly a year
🔹 The project has been shaped by feedback from guitar players
🔹 The first prototypes are now ready for real-world testing
🔹 Testing will take place at Guitar Center’s Westlake Village, California office
🔹 Player testing is scheduled for late September and early October
🔹 Participants will have to leave their phones outside the testing area
🔹 Testers must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
🔹 Guitar Center says it wants genuine players and honest opinions
🔹 Influencers and brand representatives can still reach out, but may be involved at a later stage
🔹 Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto says the goal is not simply to make copycat products

So what is Guitar Center actually building? 🤔🎸

And what will this first prototype look and sound like?

We’ll be talking about it on Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV!

🎸 Rock. Riffs. Real Talk.

#GuitarCenter #ElectricGuitar #GuitarLabs #TalkingGuitars

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV 🎸

We’re talking about an incredible and emotional story involving Eddie Van Halen and Jason Becker.

Jason Becker recently looked back at his bittersweet first meeting with Eddie — and revealed just how much Eddie did to support him during one of the most difficult periods of his life.

🔥 On this episode:

🎸 Eddie Van Halen was asked to do a satellite linkup with Jason Becker — but Eddie refused unless he could meet Jason in person.
❤️ Jason recalls their emotional first meeting and Eddie’s affectionate reaction.
🎸 Eddie brought Jason a guitar — then became emotional after realizing Jason was no longer able to play it.
📀 Eddie loved Jason’s Perspective album and reportedly pushed Warner Bros. to release it.
💰 Jason says Eddie helped secure a much-needed advance — and also privately helped his family financially.
📺 Eddie and Jason appeared together in a PSA for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
❤️ Jason reflects on Eddie’s generosity and says he believes Eddie would be proud of the nonprofit he and Serrana co-founded to help people living with ALS.

And there’s more Van Halen news!

📖 Alex Van Halen has announced a limited-edition book simply titled Van Halen.

The release includes a 7-inch vinyl record featuring “Glitter,” a previously unreleased demo from 1974, along with a Collector Edition featuring a clamshell case and additional Van Halen memorabilia.

Was Eddie Van Halen one of the most generous and caring people in the guitar world? And what do you think about Alex’s new Van Halen book and the release of “Glitter”?

👇 Join the conversation in the comments — and make sure to subscribe to Johnny Beane TV for more Van Halen news, stories, history, guitars, and exclusive conversations!

🎸 Rock. Riffs. Real Talk.

#EddieVanHalen #JasonBecker #VanHalen #AlexVanHalen

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we have some incredible Van Halen news to talk about — including the first official release of one of the earliest Van Halen recordings ever made!

🎸 “GLITTER” — THE EARLIEST VAN HALEN RECORDING?

Today, we’re delighted to reveal what will feature on the exclusive 7-inch picture disc accompanying the VAN HALEN Collector boxed set.

The record will feature “Glitter,” a previously unreleased Van Halen demo from 1974.

Here’s what makes this recording so special:

• 🎸 Recorded in 1974 — “Glitter” captures Van Halen at the very beginning of the band's story.

• 🤘 The original lineup — The recording features Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth and original bassist Mark Stone.

• 🔥 An historic recording — “Glitter” will reportedly become the earliest Van Halen recording ever to be officially released.

• 📀 7-inch picture disc — The recording will be released exclusively with Alex Van Halen’s signed limited-edition VAN HALEN Collector boxed set.

• 🎨 1984-inspired artwork — The picture disc features artwork based on the band's iconic 1984 tour design.

• 🎙️ Alex Van Halen spoken-word recording — The record will also include a specially selected spoken-word recording from Alex, taken from his interviews with Genesis for the book.

⚡ 40 YEARS OF “ERUPTION”

We’re also looking back at another monumental moment in Van Halen history.

September 8, 1977 — exactly 40 years ago — Eddie Van Halen recorded the legendary instrumental “Eruption.”

The recording date was uncovered by Van Halen biographer Greg Renoff through his extensive interviews with Van Halen producer Ted Templeman.

Here’s what happened:

• 🎛️ Eddie was working through his guitar solo for an upcoming Whisky show.

• 👂 Ted Templeman heard Eddie practicing and famously asked, “What the hell is that?”

• 🎙️ Eddie explained that it was something he did live as his guitar solo.

• 🚨 Templeman immediately wanted to record it: “Shit, roll tape.”

• 🎸 Eddie didn't initially think the solo would even be included on the album.

• 🥁 Eddie, Alex and Michael Anthony quickly recorded the track.

• 🔥 Eddie later recalled playing it only two or three times, with the take that “seemed to flow” being chosen.

• 🤯 The finished recording introduced the world to Eddie's revolutionary two-handed tapping technique, along with his incredible use of harmonics, tremolo bar techniques and rapid-fire picking.

• ⏱️ “Eruption” runs only 1 minute and 43 seconds, but its impact on guitar history is enormous.

• 🎸 Even Eddie wasn't completely satisfied with his performance. He later said he felt there was a mistake toward the top of the solo and believed he could have played it better.

• 🎶 Despite that, Eddie recognized that the recording sounded completely unique — almost like a classical instrument.

From a previously unreleased 1974 demo featuring the original lineup to the recording of “Eruption” in 1977, this episode takes a look at two incredible moments from the early history of Van Halen.

#VanHalen #EddieVanHalen #Eruption #AlexVanHalen

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about KISS recording new music — and Tommy Thayer confirms the rumors are true!

🎸 KISS has recorded a brand-new song written by Paul Stanley.
🎤 Tommy Thayer confirmed the band is working on new material behind the scenes.
🔥 Thayer says the new song is “great,” but isn’t revealing many details yet.
💿 It’s still unclear whether the new music will become a full KISS album or standalone singles.
🤘 KISS retired from touring in 2023 after their final show at Madison Square Garden.
👀 Despite the end of touring, Thayer says there’s still a lot happening with KISS.
🎭 Potential KISS avatar shows and other future projects could keep the band’s legacy moving forward.
⚡ Tommy Thayer says KISS wants any new music to feel special and have a reason for existing.

So, could new KISS music actually be on the way? And what would you want to hear from KISS in 2026?

#KISS #PaulStanley #TommyThayer #KISSArmy