LP Freak
Well-known member
Three guys just letting it all hang out. Miss these days
Mike Oxhuge
Well-known member
It just doesn't get much better than this era for them. Top of their game. 
Bloodrock
Well-known member
The band that got me into Rock n Roll and blues simultaneously. BG is a contender for coolest rock star of all time.
stephen sawall
SEMI ERECT MEMBER
I've been into the early stuff lately. Hence me playing the Mesa California Tweed.
Anje
Well-known member
Yep, early ZZTop was fantastic; actually even up to the 90's to me.
I remember their Montreux performance in the mid 90's ('97?) with Orange stacks on stage (for looks only I'd guess), killer.
I remember their Montreux performance in the mid 90's ('97?) with Orange stacks on stage (for looks only I'd guess), killer.
H
harddriver
Well-known member
Was Billy still using Marshalls around 1980 are had he moved on to another amp by then?
skoora
Well-known member
I’d have one of those amps if they actually did the dirt that is on those albums. Great cleans and verb’s but even cranked the breakup isn”t nearly as saturated and raw as a Brown or Tweed Fender gets.
LP Freak
Well-known member
Looks like he was using a 60’s Fender Brownface Deluxe as his core tone. That little old amp getting all that tone.
Of course the ‘59 LP doesn’t hurt either
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Anje
Well-known member
I’ve honestly never been a fan of this ´80 live tone; sounds like a smaller amp pushed too far and/or nasty fuzz to me.
Much prefer the earlier 70’s sound with the big Marshall based rig, or even the later 80’s /early 90’s vibe he had.
The ´90 tour for instance was great:
Much prefer the earlier 70’s sound with the big Marshall based rig, or even the later 80’s /early 90’s vibe he had.
The ´90 tour for instance was great:
Floyd Eye
Well-known member
Definitely the best era for ZZ Top. They used to play a couple local places to where I grew up. I saw them in a cave in Festus Mo around this time. And a skating rink about 1/4 mile from my house.
NeubyWanKaneuby
Well-known member
From what I read on the interwebz, he was using Fenders in the studio and Marshalls live.
He switched over to Magnatone around 2013.
He switched over to Magnatone around 2013.
stephen sawall
SEMI ERECT MEMBER
Agree. It's got its own voice. But in that general family of sounds. Just like the rest of the Mesa amps. His version. I really like the Jensen Blackbird 100.
Some real magic in the Brown Fender amps. A bit tighter and more focused than the tweed. More raw than the blackface. Everyone is into the English overdrive. But the Fender stuff definitely has it's place.
Anje
Well-known member
In the studio the vast majority of at least the first 3 albums were a late 60's Marshall Super Lead (and his Pearly Gates old LP).
It started to get more of everything else under the sun starting with Deguello.
Live, the early 70's phase with the "Rio Grande" customized Marshall stacks still is the benchmark to me; not sure of what he used through the 80's, but it has been mainly all JMP1 based starting from about when those were introduced.
Techdeth
RESIDENT ROCK PROFESSOR
Zztop rules
N
nightlight
Well-known member
Awesome band. I wish I got to see them live at the top of their game.
L
legend71
Well-known member
Love old ZZ Top and Billy Gibbons was a guy that I stole from a lot when I was young. I have never liked his live sound except for Fandango on Thunderbird. On he records he used a variety of tones and guitars over the years and live he plays everything in one sound with tons of gain and I find myself wishing he would play it closer to the records. Of course, he could care less what I think, but it sounds less polished to me and kinda lazy. I still love his phrasing and approach to everything. Perhaps it is just easier to do it that way with one sound. I also notice he is not really a pedals guy. I think he has used that Marshall JMP1 like forever live?
J
Jimty
Well-known member
Love that show. On Spotify there’s an album called “Preliminator” which was recorded at a show in New Jersey on the same tour
BeZo
Well-known member
Yes.
Uzi Nein Millimetah
Well-known member
Devin
Well-known member
I don't associate with folks who aren't ZZ Top fans
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