Joe Bonamassa Shares Amp Miking Advice: 'Whoever Said the Best Sound is Dead Center?'

The blues star has a blunt take on the 'Full Sail flashlight' technique and why starting at the center of a speaker cone is a mistake.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:36am

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In a recent podcast appearance, renowned guitarist Joe Bonamassa shared his expertise on properly miking amplifiers, challenging the common practice of placing the microphone directly at the center of the speaker cone. Bonamassa believes this 'Full Sail flashlight' technique fails to capture the full range of the amplifier's sound, arguing that the best approach is to trust your ears and experiment with mic placement to find the sweet spot.

Why it matters

Bonamassa's advice offers a fresh perspective on a fundamental technique in guitar recording and live sound, potentially helping musicians achieve a more nuanced and authentic representation of their amplifier's tone. As an experienced player with an extensive gear collection, Bonamassa's insights can help guitarists avoid common miking mistakes and unlock the full potential of their amplifiers.

The details

Bonamassa criticizes the 'Full Sail flashlight' technique, where the microphone is placed directly at the center of the speaker cone, stating that 'whoever said the best sound coming out of any speaker is dead center?' He argues that this approach fails to capture the full range of the amplifier's sound, as the high-end frequencies are concentrated at the center, while the low-end response comes from the edges of the cone. Bonamassa suggests that players should instead 'trust their ears' and experiment with mic placement to find the sweet spot where the amplifier and microphone 'meet and represent the sound in your head'.

  • Bonamassa recently shared his amp miking advice during a appearance on the 'No Cover Charge' podcast.

The players

Joe Bonamassa

A renowned blues guitarist known for his extensive gear collection and expertise on amplifiers.

Full Sail University

A private for-profit university in Florida known for its programs in audio production and other creative fields.

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What they’re saying

“I have this thing — and here comes the clickbait — called the Full Sail flashlight. Tell me you went to Full Sail without telling me you went to Full Sail.”

— Joe Bonamassa, Guitarist

“Whoever said that the best sound coming out of any speaker is dead center?”

— Joe Bonamassa, Guitarist

“If the amp's dark, you move it more inside. But to start dead center is rough.”

— Joe Bonamassa, Guitarist

The takeaway

Bonamassa's advice challenges the common 'Full Sail flashlight' technique of miking amplifiers, encouraging guitarists to experiment with mic placement and trust their ears to capture the full range and character of their amplifier's sound. His insights offer a fresh perspective on a fundamental recording and live sound practice, potentially helping musicians unlock new tonal possibilities.