Guitar Gear Forum

I'll give them another go. Borrowed a greatest hits from a friend a while back and it just didn't click with me.

Then I see a lot of my friends and folks here love them. So I figure to borrow some cds from a neighbor (who I found out was a musician and a lover of music) and go from there.

All I'd gather from that Greatest Hits though is Frank Beard reminds me of Charlie Watts on how he drives the band. Just shows a solid drummer that holds that groove down is just as important. And being a 3-piec, they sure can boogie!

Any advice, comments, gear-related talks are welcomed, starting with how awesome the Pearly Gates bridge pickup is. Would love to try the neck version as well.

I like their "One foot in the Blues" cd. And Recycler.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJP8wVoTufg[/video]

Start with Eliminator. Take a break and cook or buy some sloppy bar-b-q and then smoke it if you got it and listen to Tres Hombres followed by Rio Grande Mud. Do at least four shots of tequila during those two albums, and then put on Deguello. If you're still not a ZZ Top fan, then buy a cardigan sweater, move to Delaware or New Hampshire, get a job in accounting and buy some Steely Dan albums.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-6mI708yWc[/video]

Here's a few killer tracks to try out, if you're into the live stuff. Otherwise check the studio recordings. The albums from the 70's (before Eliminator) have all their best stuff.

[video]http://youtu.be/pN69GC2amTg[/video]
[video]http://youtu.be/6c7d8BYJy8I[/video]
[video]http://youtu.be/4vR-9NQAPIA[/video]
[video]http://youtu.be/9zKVnpUIJPY[/video]

First three albums. if you don't like them after that then ZZ is not for you.

I was pleasantly surprised by ZZ's newest disc - 2012's "La Futura." Thought it captured the early spirit of the band and brought it forward. I really dig Billy Gibbons' style - an all-round great player, in my book.
[video]http://youtu.be/kaIZWjItReI[/video]

I know it's subjective and all that....but I can't see how it's possible to NOT like ZZ Top

Ry Manchu wrote:Start with Eliminator. Take a break and cook or buy some sloppy bar-b-q and then smoke it if you got it and listen to Tres Hombres followed by Rio Grande Mud. Do at least four shots of tequila during those two albums, and then put on Deguello. If you're still not a ZZ Top fan, then buy a cardigan sweater, move to Delaware or New Hampshire, get a job in accounting and buy some Steely Dan albums.

I agree with this - except for starting with Eliminator

Telephant wrote:First three albums. if you don't like them after that then ZZ is not for you.

I was going to say the first four albums, but this is basically correct.

Devin wrote:I know it's subjective and all that....but I can't see how it's possible to NOT like ZZ Top

and this

Basically? Of course its correct I'm a fucking Texan.

And if you wanna get into some real shit, you could probably skip the 4th and 5th albums and go straight to Deguello. Not that the 4th and 5th albums are bad, but Deguello is a more solid album front to back IMO. IMO the fifth album (Tejas) is probably their weakest album next to Antenna.

I was so happy when they did the remasters of Tres Hombres and Fandango on CD. Reminds me of listening to the old vinyl.

The original CD mixing/mastering of those two from the 80's just sucked.

EugeneTheJeep wrote:I was so happy when they did the remasters of Tres Hombres and Fandango on CD. Reminds me of listening to the old vinyl.

The original CD mixing/mastering of those two from the 80's just sucked.

Is that the box set that was just released? If so I will be purchasing ASAP.

mamberg wrote:

Ry Manchu wrote:Start with Eliminator. Take a break and cook or buy some sloppy bar-b-q and then smoke it if you got it and listen to Tres Hombres followed by Rio Grande Mud. Do at least four shots of tequila during those two albums, and then put on Deguello. If you're still not a ZZ Top fan, then buy a cardigan sweater, move to Delaware or New Hampshire, get a job in accounting and buy some Steely Dan albums.

I agree with this - except for starting with Eliminator

It's the weakest of the four albums I listed. I wanted it to get better on him as he listened, plus those albums flow in that order. It doesn't work with Eliminator second or last and Eliminator is better than four of the first seven albums. I love to make a 40 oz. margarita on the rocks and wash and wax my cars to these albums. My Jamaican neighbor likes it too.

Telephant wrote:Basically? Of course its correct I'm a fucking Texan.

And if you wanna get into some real shit, you could probably skip the 4th and 5th albums and go straight to Deguello. Not that the 4th and 5th albums are bad, but Deguello is a more solid album front to back IMO. IMO the fifth album (Tejas) is probably their weakest album next to Antenna.

Just go straight to Deguello. If you don't like it, shave your legs and buy a skirt.............Sally



Yeah, Tejas is kind of weak, but I dig this song, and his live tone here

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjSIYtMdFTM[/video]

pamukParty wrote:

EugeneTheJeep wrote:I was so happy when they did the remasters of Tres Hombres and Fandango on CD. Reminds me of listening to the old vinyl.

The original CD mixing/mastering of those two from the 80's just sucked.

Is that the box set that was just released? If so I will be purchasing ASAP.

No, it was done around 2006.

EugeneTheJeep wrote:

pamukParty wrote:

EugeneTheJeep wrote:I was so happy when they did the remasters of Tres Hombres and Fandango on CD. Reminds me of listening to the old vinyl.

The original CD mixing/mastering of those two from the 80's just sucked.

Is that the box set that was just released? If so I will be purchasing ASAP.

No, it was done around 2006.

Ah gotcha. This is the one that just came out:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Stud ... op+box+set

"ZZ Top - The Studio Albums 1970 - 1990 is a 10 CD boxset of the band's classic studio albums from their Warner Bros. years. This compact, clamshell boxset features each album in a mini, vinyl replica card sleeve with original artwork, including replicated original gatefold sleeves for Tres Hombres and Tejas. Most importantly the original audio tape versions will finally be available, for the first time, on CD for three of the albums: First Album, Rio Grande Mud, and Tejas, and the original masters for Tres Hombres and Fandango will also be included. Much discussion has been had on the quality of the mixes released on CD in the 1980s but now the original audio will be available once and for all in an amazing boxset!"

Listen to the first 90 seconds of this song. If you don't like this, you'll probably never be a fan.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPVxMB6w8PU[/video]

That song sounds like a group of seasoned blues men, when it was actually done by some kids just a couple of years out of high school. Here is a pic from that time. Seems hard to believe this song was recorded by this bunch of baby faced kids.

What pisses me off the most about ZZ Top is how their newer music doesn't get any radio play on classic rock stations. It's like... um.... they're still putting out material... do we have to hear La Grange followed by Gimme All Your Lovin' every single day without throwing in a little Mescalero in from time to time... or something...


fuck man.

double down live tone = dat tone

Mike LX-R wrote:What pisses me off the most about ZZ Top is how their newer music doesn't get any radio play on classic rock stations. It's like... um.... they're still putting out material... do we have to hear La Grange followed by Gimme All Your Lovin' every single day without throwing in a little Mescalero in from time to time... or something...


fuck man.

Preaching to the choir my man. And hell, I feel the same way about their live shows! I don't want to hear Tush for the 1,000 time.

Mescalero is a killer album. I've said it before but I'll say it again: The fuzz tones on that album are so good it will make guitar players weep!

Telephant wrote:

Mike LX-R wrote:What pisses me off the most about ZZ Top is how their newer music doesn't get any radio play on classic rock stations. It's like... um.... they're still putting out material... do we have to hear La Grange followed by Gimme All Your Lovin' every single day without throwing in a little Mescalero in from time to time... or something...


fuck man.

Preaching to the choir my man. And hell, I feel the same way about their live shows! I don't want to hear Tush for the 1,000 time.

Mescalero is a killer album. I've said it before but I'll say it again: The fuzz tones on that album are so good it will make guitar players weep!

Yeah it got into almost brutal fuzz territory on that album. totally fucking killer. modern.

Diddlybo wrote:.........snip.........That song sounds like a group of seasoned blues men, when it was actually done by some kids just a couple of years out of high school. Here is a pic from that time. Seems hard to believe this song was recorded by this bunch of baby faced kids.

an awesome Kustom PA they are sitting on.
No guitar amps anywhere to be seen..........


edit: just noticed the Marshall FULL stack peeking in on the right.

mamberg wrote:

Diddlybo wrote:.........snip.........That song sounds like a group of seasoned blues men, when it was actually done by some kids just a couple of years out of high school. Here is a pic from that time. Seems hard to believe this song was recorded by this bunch of baby faced kids.

an awesome Kustom PA they are sitting on.
No guitar amps anywhere to be seen..........


edit: just noticed the Marshall FULL stack peeking in on the right.

I bet that stack crushed that wimpy Kustom PA.

Mike LX-R wrote:

Telephant wrote:

Mike LX-R wrote:What pisses me off the most about ZZ Top is how their newer music doesn't get any radio play on classic rock stations. It's like... um.... they're still putting out material... do we have to hear La Grange followed by Gimme All Your Lovin' every single day without throwing in a little Mescalero in from time to time... or something...


fuck man.

Preaching to the choir my man. And hell, I feel the same way about their live shows! I don't want to hear Tush for the 1,000 time.

Mescalero is a killer album. I've said it before but I'll say it again: The fuzz tones on that album are so good it will make guitar players weep!

Yeah it got into almost brutal fuzz territory on that album. totally fucking killer. modern.

There are parts in the song Alley Gator where I swear is a Tweed amp with a blown speaker and it sounds fucking amazing!

pamukParty wrote:

EugeneTheJeep wrote:

pamukParty wrote:

EugeneTheJeep wrote:I was so happy when they did the remasters of Tres Hombres and Fandango on CD. Reminds me of listening to the old vinyl.

The original CD mixing/mastering of those two from the 80's just sucked.

Is that the box set that was just released? If so I will be purchasing ASAP.

No, it was done around 2006.

Ah gotcha. This is the one that just came out:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Stud ... op+box+set

"ZZ Top - The Studio Albums 1970 - 1990 is a 10 CD boxset of the band's classic studio albums from their Warner Bros. years. This compact, clamshell boxset features each album in a mini, vinyl replica card sleeve with original artwork, including replicated original gatefold sleeves for Tres Hombres and Tejas. Most importantly the original audio tape versions will finally be available, for the first time, on CD for three of the albums: First Album, Rio Grande Mud, and Tejas, and the original masters for Tres Hombres and Fandango will also be included. Much discussion has been had on the quality of the mixes released on CD in the 1980s but now the original audio will be available once and for all in an amazing boxset!"

That looks very cool. I want one.

I don't trust a man that doesn't like ZZ Top.