[Archer993]

One of the nice things about Youtube for guitar players is the ability to learn new songs and see videos of our favorite players.

Billy F. Gibbons is at the top of my list. I love gear and always take notice of what he is playing. He plays Fenders, Gibsons, and of course a Gretsch. I've also noticed him using a variety of amps.

His TONE is unique. It doesn't seem tied to one guitar or amp.
A large percentage of his tone, of course, is his playing style - very cool.
BUT the other part of his tone must include effects.

Anyone know how he does it?

[Pappy]

What do you mean? Do you mean what pedals does he use? Because he uses a TON of pedals. In the movie Fuzz his roadie shows you a good bit of his setup and it's ridiculous.

I also heard he plays with nines and used to play with a peso.

[getbent]

his tone from the middle 70's is one thing and his tone from Eliminator forward is another.

His mid 70's tone was his 'pearly gates' les paul mostly through a marshall.

his eliminator tone is whatever he wants through everything... he chains multiple expandora pedals into tons of amps that are cranked... I remember reading an article where he laughed about chaining as many amps as he could along with a bunch of Tom Scholz Rockmans and bang... eliminator...

I'd say he is a fine player and a wonderful marketeer and seller of the legend of Billy Gibbons. He is truly living the dream and has done a great job of it for like 40 years....

You gotta respect that.

[Archer993]

Originally Posted by Pappy

What do you mean? Do you mean what pedals does he use? Because he uses a TON of pedals. In the movie Fuzz his roadie shows you a good bit of his setup and it's ridiculous.

I also heard he plays with nines and used to play with a peso.

Yes, pedals or rack effects. Thanks for the reference to FUZZ - I'll look it up.

(You are correct sir, Heath Ledger did an incredible job as the Joker)

[Archer993]

I had seen him in an interview mention the LP/Marshall connection.
The other stuff I didn't know about.

[Bonedaddy]

Google "lap dog of distortion".

[bobkat]

The big part of Billy's sound comes from the way he attacks the strings! It is a method called chipping. You hold the pick rigidly and pick with an angled attack causing the skin on your index finger to also strikes the string the effect is a harmonic. Billy has a very light left hand but a heavy driving right. I love the way he plays! Through my young life I tried to copy his style and have been successful in many ways. I had a three piece ZZ Top tribute band when I was in high school. First Album was my favorite 8 track and I still love to watch him play.

[Gretschy]

Originally Posted by bobkat

The big part of Billy's sound comes from the way he attacks the strings! It is a method called chipping.

More commonly known as pinch harmonics.

[getbent]

yes and he famously plays with a peso.

This has not yet caused the hoped for increase in the value of the peso.

Robbie Robertson was playing pinch harmonics in 1963

Ike Turner was playing them in the very early 50's

Cheech Marin used to decry pinching... but he was apparently referring to bread.

[Bonedaddy]

Did you guys see this one?


That cat could play!

[Archer993]

Originally Posted by bobkat

The big part of Billy's sound comes from the way he attacks the strings! It is a method called chipping. You hold the pick rigidly and pick with an angled attack causing the skin on your index finger to also strikes the string the effect is a harmonic. Billy has a very light left hand but a heavy driving right. I love the way he plays! Through my young life I tried to copy his style and have been successful in many ways. I had a three piece ZZ Top tribute band when I was in high school. First Album was my favorite 8 track and I still love to watch him play.

Yes, there is a nice video on Youtube where he does some demonstration of his technique. Since seeing it about a month ago I have been adopting the pinch harmonic technique - adds nice variety to lead. It's a lot like good beer though - very addictive.

[Pappy]

Pinch harmonics goes very well with blues. Metal too. They're wicked fun to do.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by Bonedaddy

Did you guys see this one?


That cat could play!

They got alot of nice girls there, uh hah hah hah!

[Archer993]

Isn't that the admin with Billy? In every interview I've ever seen with Billy he comes off as a complete gentleman - nice that success hasn't spoiled him like it has so many others.
My wife commented on how thin the guitar looks next to Les Pauls.
It seems to fit Billy well and he's rather slight in build.
I can tell you it's the most comfortable guitar to play I have ever experienced.

[Bonedaddy]

No, that's me, Senor Bonedaddy

[Gretsch-Talk]

Here is Billy playing that impromptu gig in the Gretsch booth;

YouTube - 2009 NAMM -- Billy Gibbons of ZZTop...

However, there is some debate going on if that was the real Billy F. Gibbons. I met him and thought his beard looked fake. What did you think Bonedaddy? Also, Billy bought some TDPRI T-Shirts from me and when I asked him in the Gretsch booth about it he said he didn't know anything about it. Which seemed odd.

Now, over on the Gear Page there has been a bunch of discussion about Billy at NAMM and even some photos of him at NAMM besides some other photos of him and they do look very different.

Just look at the Concert photo on the first page of this thread... he looks much different.

[Bonedaddy]

No, not the real Rev. Billy Gibbons

But that cat could play. And, it's a testament to the Gretsch amps; he was plugged straight in with a Billy Bo pulled right off the hanger, into a Gretsch Executive. No pedals, no effects, just talent.

[Gretsch-Talk]

What do you think? Here's the two photos to compare:

[Gretsch-Talk]

Bonedaddy, if it wasn't the REAL Billy then who was it and why? He went around pretending to be Billy all day.

What was up with this?

[Pappy]

Come on guys, neither one of you gave him that mall Santa Claus test (a tug on the beard)?