AliAlexandre Posted April 7, 2002 Share Posted April 7, 2002 Hi, You surely all remember this song by ZZ TOP. It is actually one of, if not my, all times favorites in terms of bluesy electric guitar tone. I absolutely adore the sound of the solo guitar on it! Do you guys know, or have guessed what guitar Mr Gibbons was playing, on which pickup, plugged in which amp? I have of course my own own opinion, but would like to see what you think. Thanks Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peel Posted April 8, 2002 Share Posted April 8, 2002 its been a long time since Ive played it, but I think its a strat, as its pretty clean and only mild overdrive..with a touch of chorus or flange.. ampwise, no idea. Ive seen zz 3x and I have no idea what amps he used. I had met Billy G in 85 on the Eliminator tour, but didnt even discuss gear. Super nice guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 That is the sweet sound of "Pearly Gates", the Rev's most singular 1959 Les Paul Sunburst with stock 59 PAF's turned up to patent pending and singing in that sweet thoaty way they do!!!! I would hazard a guess that Willie G is strokin' Pearly thru a Tweed 50's Fender Amp. With my Burst, a Tweed Pro or Deluxe amp puts me right in that tone zone. The low gain tone of PAF's or similar pups on a sweet Les Paul through a non master vol amp is indeed a sweet and beeeyouteeful thang!!! HAVE MERCY!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Yeah, it's gotta be a Paul...back then as far as I know Billy only played a Les Paul or a Flying V...I could be wrong but I'm near positive it's a Les Paul. http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peel Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Originally posted by Steve LeBlanc: Yeah, it's gotta be a Paul...back then as far as I know Billy only played a Les Paul or a Flying V...I could be wrong but I'm near positive it's a Les Paul.U are incorrect sir (ed mcmahon voice)...Billy G played a strat for certain back then, in fact its on Jesus Just left Chicago. Jimi gave him one back in '69, and apparently he used it on that track. I never seen Billy G with a V... I will have to listen to blue jean again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin F Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 I heard a story that Mark Knopfler asked Billy Gibbons how he got that sound of his. Apparently Billy wouldn't tell him, so he tried to get it on his own. And the guitar sound on 'Money for Nothing' is what he came up with. Don't know how true this is, read it in GP or something years ago. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Keelan Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 I gotta toss in the fact that Mr. Gibbons uses some type of heavy coin as his pick too. bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 U are incorrect sir (ed mcmahon voice)...Billy G played a strat for certain back then, in fact its on Jesus Just left Chicago. Jimi gave him one back in '69, and apparently he used it on that track. I never seen Billy G with a V...heh, well I said I wasn't sure...OK he played a Strat. On the album cover for "Fandango" there are two pictures of Billy, one jamming on a V and the other what looks like the headstock of a Les Paul. All these pictures tell me is Billy played a V and a Paul...I guess only Billy and a few others know what he used in the Studio for Blue Jean Blues. http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 OK, well here's the man himself talking a bit about his guitars...including the Flying V http://www.guitarworld.com/artistindex/9705.gibbons.html http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peel Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 hey, dont believe me, ask him yerself! http://www.billyfgibbons.com peel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliAlexandre Posted April 11, 2002 Author Share Posted April 11, 2002 Thank you so much for your input. Actually I have spent years thinking it was Peraly Gates in a "clean" Marshall at very low volume, just enough to crunch lightly in some parts of the song, and it has been a few months now since my ears have been hearing instead a Strat.What a disillusion.... I am now almost certain it is the sound of an old strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 12, 2002 Share Posted April 12, 2002 No way Jose'!!!! Blue Jean's is absoposatutly Pearly Gates! That is a classic example of a great Burst and FENDER AMP combo. If it ain't a Tweed Fender it is an early Marshall JTM45 which has a tweed Bassman like tone. My monies on the Fender. The Strat was used on "Apologies to Pearly", hense the title, and the mentioned "Jesus Just Left Chicago" as well as "Have You Heard?" The Strat has a completly different voice and it is easy to hear the difference in Billy's hands. Pearly and Billy have a compatibility that shines thru and I find it easy to hear and identify. If you want to dupe that sound and IF you have the chops and touch, a good Les Paul and Fender or Musicman amp, (or any amp that is voiced like a Fender) will give up that tone easy. You gotta have the hands though, it ain't a preset thang!! Billy used a Mexican Peso but a Quarter will do, I use a Heavy pick and fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliAlexandre Posted April 12, 2002 Author Share Posted April 12, 2002 OK. Last answer makes feel better about my abilities to identify a guitar from a listening. Of course a Paul is way different from a Strat! The Pearly Gates was my initial guess, so what happened for me to lose my mind this way ? Well, it seems that the more I learn, the I more I doubt of everything, and particularly of myself. Thanks a lot again for all your answers. This simple question was actually of particular importance for me... Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peel Posted April 12, 2002 Share Posted April 12, 2002 Like I said, I havent put the LP on in ages, so I will defer to the others here. At least i was right about Jesus Just Left Chicago... Jesus Just Left Chicago..and hes bound for New Orleans...said now Jesus Just Left Chicago..and hes bound for New Orleans... then on to California through the forest and the pines.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La-Z boy Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 My Man Billy G, play's numourous guitar's in the studio and on live show's had custom amps made for him , and now are called Dr Z's, uses alot of marshall's Live, and Orange amps,depending on which tour, and uses a mexican Peso grounded down to a pick to get that metal on string peeps, Have one myself from the Rev. tears up strings , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Originally posted by BKeelan: I gotta toss in the fact that Mr. Gibbons uses some type of heavy coin as his pick too. bobYeah, that is what I was gonna say, too. Quarters, flattened by train on a railroad track. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip OKeefe Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Originally posted by bpark@prorec.com: Originally posted by BKeelan: I gotta toss in the fact that Mr. Gibbons uses some type of heavy coin as his pick too. bobYeah, that is what I was gonna say, too. Quarters, flattened by train on a railroad track. BillI read (in GP?) that he used Mexican pesos that have been discontinuted... the newer pesos have a different shape - no serrations on the edge or something like that. It's been years since I read the interview, but I do recall it was a peso of some sort that he was using for a pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A String Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 I forgot how much I liked that old stuff. The newer stuff was o.k., but the bass player suddenly decided that single note bass lines were the way to go and they lost a lot of that "Bluesy" feel they had back then. I think I'm going to drag out a few of those old albums... Craig Stringnetwork on Facebook String Network Forum My Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Keelan Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Originally posted by A String: the bass player suddenly decided that single note bass lines were the way to Hmmm, I've heard stories that the Rev. Billy G. likes to make the albums all by himself these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Billy has used tons of different guitars over the years, awhile back he was using some custom single pickup esquires that were carved. its not always pearly on those albums. i would have guessed Blue Jeans blues to be a strat but i haven't listened for awhile. then again pearly has paf's and they are sweeter than alot of the overblown humbuckers we know now. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Originally posted by Philip O'Keefe: I read (in GP?) that he used Mexican pesos that have been discontinuted... I have no doubt that he has used many things over the years. In a late 1970s Guitar Player you'll find an article that was pictures of famous players picks. I think that there is a Billy Gibbons picture there. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A String Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Originally posted by Bob Keelan: Originally posted by A String: the bass player suddenly decided that single note bass lines were the way to Hmmm, I've heard stories that the Rev. Billy G. likes to make the albums all by himself these days.That could very well be it. Craig Stringnetwork on Facebook String Network Forum My Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alguit Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 A few months ago, I read an interview with Billy G (sorry, but I cannot remember what magazine), and he said that he cut the track with a strat, citing it as, "that kind of pure tone you can only get with a strat." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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