"New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

SirJackdeFuzz

SirJackdeFuzz

New member
ZZ Top is fast becomming one of my fav bands of all time.


Just bought their La Futura album, and man, again, that 'lil old band from Texas does not disappoint !

So, here s my question guys :

What do you folks think is being used (amp and pedal wise) to get the first 20sec of the song, "I Gotsta Get Paid" ???

Love the tone . . . but what was used ?

Any input would be great guys !

Thanx
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

:banana:

I am listening to La Futura right now, great production and FUZZ guitarz!!!
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

You could spend a life time and a life's fortune trying to nail Billy's various tones...

I know a little about La Futura but not much...3 main amps were used, Billy has mentioned a vintage Marshall in a later Marshall cab. That might be the amp he started using a lot in the mid 90's. It's a mid 60's 100 watt in an early 70's 2x10 Marshall combo cab with 2 high power 10's but I don't know for sure that's the amp he's talking about. The other 2 were a prototype Magnatone from the new Maggies that are coming out and a Blackstar but I know no idea what model.

Guitars named for use on La Futura are Pearly Gates, a 61 LP/SG, 54 Esquire and a Billy-Bo.

I have seen no mention of effects yet but rest assured that there are several fuzz boxes on the album.

All that said one of the keys to that tune (I Gotsta Get Paid) is the way you play it...you have to pick the bass notes with your pick and then using a hybrid picking pick the high notes.
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

A feather light touch, strng guages 7-38 a 59 les paul with PGs, and a heavy metal amp will get you there. If your Billy Gibbons. Don't emulate other tones, find the one for you. You will never truly sound like another player, so just try to sound like you.
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

as the rev says "the simple but deadly combination of a les paul into a marshall".
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

Thank to all so far . . .


. . .keep 'em comming if you might know what stomp boxes might have been used !
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

Dunno about that specific song, but Premier Guitar did a rig rundown for Billy Gibbons a while ago which might help you.
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

1. Les Paul
2. Mojo
3. Hot Sauce
4. ????
5. PROFIT
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

The vid posted is great but Billy's live rig is nothing like what he runs in the studio.

As for possible stomp boxes...Billy literally has 2 or 3 of everything out there!

In recent years Billy's been digging the Foxx Tone Machine, he ordered 6 high gain Sunlions from AnalogMan a few years back, original Expandora, SIB Vari Drive, Austone Fuzz Nutz, Real Tube 901 (rumor has it boosted by a ZVex SHO), he speaks very highly of the AnalogMan Beano Boost, he also has 2 original Rangemasters and the list goes on and on and on and on and on...
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

Ya know...

I recently demoed a pedal that you just might dig...MXR/CAE MC402 Boost/Overdrive....don't believe the "overdrive" part one bit...it's a nasty, hard clipped, spitty almost fuzzy like tone that will dial in some VERY goo BFG grindy tones
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

Got that thing...but the chip died and had to be replaced....got alittle warmer, but kept the fuzzy thing going on still.....I keep it for that alone:)
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

FWIW, BG also has a Trinity TMB 18 (Marshall clone) in his amp arsenal. I have no idea what it may have been used on, if anything.
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

A big thing about Billy's Tone is light touch thin strings and not much treble on the amp
 
Re: "New" ZZ Top tone . . . how do i get there ?

the guy who invented fire said:
The vid posted is great but Billy's live rig is nothing like what he runs in the studio.

As for possible stomp boxes...Billy literally has 2 or 3 of everything out there!

In recent years Billy's been digging the Foxx Tone Machine, he ordered 6 high gain Sunlions from AnalogMan a few years back, original Expandora, SIB Vari Drive, Austone Fuzz Nutz, Real Tube 901 (rumor has it boosted by a ZVex SHO), he speaks very highly of the AnalogMan Beano Boost, he also has 2 original Rangemasters and the list goes on and on and on and on and on...
Click to expand...

the guy who invented fire said:
Ya know...

I recently demoed a pedal that you just might dig...MXR/CAE MC402 Boost/Overdrive....don't believe the "overdrive" part one bit...it's a nasty, hard clipped, spitty almost fuzzy like tone that will dial in some VERY goo BFG grindy tones
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads-up on the MXR 402 ;)

I too have one, and really like that thing !

I also recently got an EHX Hot Tubes . . . that i am only now starting to experiment with.
It is not really fuzzy, but sounds really GOOD with my Bassman.

Now only if i can pick up a black & white Billy-Bo for 1K . . . i keep on dreaming.



4122200467_d5f51b3ce4.jpg
 
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