jonnymangia
New member
Was Billy dialing in through Fender's on "ZZ Top's First Album"?
Billy Gibbons' Amp
- Thread starter jonnymangia
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Jeffrec
New member
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
I haven't done it yet myself, but you should check out Billy's new book. He probably covers some of that stuff in there. My guess is he probably did use Fenders in addition to Marshalls. He's an ampaholic. He apparently has what he calls his "Amp Cabin" which is full of everything under the sun. Most recently he was using the new Crate VFX52X12, which really kicks a**. Of course, he could play through a transistor radio and sound great:laugh2:
I haven't done it yet myself, but you should check out Billy's new book. He probably covers some of that stuff in there. My guess is he probably did use Fenders in addition to Marshalls. He's an ampaholic. He apparently has what he calls his "Amp Cabin" which is full of everything under the sun. Most recently he was using the new Crate VFX52X12, which really kicks a**. Of course, he could play through a transistor radio and sound great:laugh2:
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
I'm looking through the book right now and he used so many amps that I don't think he eve remembers. To quote the book"ZZ Top got satisfied early with Marshall, a couple of stacks of 100 watt Super Leads. We also experimented with a host of other amps remaining in our collection. Some exotic tube amp builders are wiring by hand, everything from 5 to 500 watts of usable power. Balls, Swanson, DST, Trinity, Texiana, 65, Chopper 18, Mojo, Ruby, Tone Tubby. ZZ's recent tours and telivision appearences have featured Ampeg's Crate V-50 combo....right on! Class A, 2x12, and 50 watts. Smokin' all!"
After that, the pictures in the book show shelves loaded with tons of old Fender Tweeds.....he's all about the Fender tone.
I'm looking through the book right now and he used so many amps that I don't think he eve remembers. To quote the book"ZZ Top got satisfied early with Marshall, a couple of stacks of 100 watt Super Leads. We also experimented with a host of other amps remaining in our collection. Some exotic tube amp builders are wiring by hand, everything from 5 to 500 watts of usable power. Balls, Swanson, DST, Trinity, Texiana, 65, Chopper 18, Mojo, Ruby, Tone Tubby. ZZ's recent tours and telivision appearences have featured Ampeg's Crate V-50 combo....right on! Class A, 2x12, and 50 watts. Smokin' all!"
After that, the pictures in the book show shelves loaded with tons of old Fender Tweeds.....he's all about the Fender tone.
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
I'm guessing for The first ZZ Top album Billy's amps would be Fender Super Reverb, Bassman, or a Tweed Deluxe. Vibrolux, maybe.
But, prepare yourself for the inevitable...Billy's tone is in his fingers...No one can play/sound like Billy.
I'm guessing for The first ZZ Top album Billy's amps would be Fender Super Reverb, Bassman, or a Tweed Deluxe. Vibrolux, maybe.
But, prepare yourself for the inevitable...Billy's tone is in his fingers...No one can play/sound like Billy.
Last edited:
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
I have several interviews with Billy and the only amp he specifically mentions using on the first album is a 1969 Marshall Super Lead...dead stock but that does not mean that is the only amp he used...there are few things that sound very much like a Tweed Deluxe to me...
I have several interviews with Billy and the only amp he specifically mentions using on the first album is a 1969 Marshall Super Lead...dead stock but that does not mean that is the only amp he used...there are few things that sound very much like a Tweed Deluxe to me...
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
Does Billy have any signature gear? Endorsments contracts are one thing, a signature guitar or amp would be another wouldn't it?
Would you buy a sig Rev G. amp? You would, you know you would, right?
Does Billy have any signature gear? Endorsments contracts are one thing, a signature guitar or amp would be another wouldn't it?
Would you buy a sig Rev G. amp? You would, you know you would, right?
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
No signature gear that I know of other than he talks up those Crate's V50's. But do you think that his is really stock?
I don't either.
No signature gear that I know of other than he talks up those Crate's V50's. But do you think that his is really stock?
I don't either.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
I think Eliminator is pretty much either small Fenders; or Marshalls.
One of their later albums was done with Tube Works gear, and their MosFet amps. Trust me, you can really hear the difference--and the change was not for the better, IMHO.
Bill
I think Eliminator is pretty much either small Fenders; or Marshalls.
One of their later albums was done with Tube Works gear, and their MosFet amps. Trust me, you can really hear the difference--and the change was not for the better, IMHO.
Bill
Curly
Moe's Bluesman
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
I know he has a huge sound, but I'd heard he was real fond of tweed Champs.
I walked into a store in L A a while back, and there was a beautiful old tweed V front Dual Professional. It had a sign on it that read, "Reserved for the Rev G."
It made me wonder how many other stores around the country have had that same sign at one one time.
I know he has a huge sound, but I'd heard he was real fond of tweed Champs.
I walked into a store in L A a while back, and there was a beautiful old tweed V front Dual Professional. It had a sign on it that read, "Reserved for the Rev G."
It made me wonder how many other stores around the country have had that same sign at one one time.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Billy Gibbons' Amp
If you look in his new book you will see several shots of him with 5 or 6 of those V front Super/Dual Pro's and Esquires...he recorded Antenna (1994) all with those V Front Supersand mostly Fender and Custom build Esquires.
Seeing that sign would make me wonder the same thing!
If you look in his new book you will see several shots of him with 5 or 6 of those V front Super/Dual Pro's and Esquires...he recorded Antenna (1994) all with those V Front Supersand mostly Fender and Custom build Esquires.
Seeing that sign would make me wonder the same thing!
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