I’m not gonna lie to you, I like Billy Gibbons. I’ll also admit that I think a LOT of ZZ Top’s stuff sounds the same. Or at least it’s in the key of D when I’ve checked. But I still listen to them and enjoy their music.
I even bought a set of his signature strings when they released 10 or 12 years ago. I actually liked them enough that they’re the ones I buy now when I have a choice. My local GC doesn’t carry them, but, since I order a lot of stuff online, I usually grab a few sets when I’m getting something from Sweetwater. No, I’m sure I couldn’t pick them out in a blind test, but back when I tried a bunch of different sets to see if I had a preference, they were the only set that stood out. Something about them. No idea what it was. I think I said they had more twang. But I liked them, and that’s what I started getting.
Then, once on a whim, I bought one of his slides. I needed one, and the picture on it made me laugh. So I bought one. I’m not a slide player. So, to me, one slide is as good as another. So that’s the one I have.
I, also, briefly considered getting a set of Pearly Gates pickups for my Les Paul. I have always liked his sound. Between his musical stylings and whatever his setup is, he’s a guitar player you can pick out in a crowd. I ended up with a Burstbucker 1/2 combination, and I’m quite happy with it.
Which brings me to the subject for today. His setup. I got an email from that store over the pond advertising his signature amp. I can’t say I really keep up with the Right Reverend Billy nor ZZ Top. So, honestly, I had no idea what his signature amp was going to be. I know he always sounded Marshall-y to me. I also know that about 15 years ago the rumor got started (no idea where or when) that he used a mic-ed Blues Jr that sat either behind his stacks of Marshalls or just off stage in the wings. Everybody I knew wondered if it was really true, but nobody knew for sure.
So when I saw the ad this morning, I sort of chuckled and figured I was going to have to click it. Was his signature going to be a Marshall or a Fender or what? Turns out it’s a Magnatone. No idea if it sounds like a Marshall or what. I’ve never listened to one to know what it was. Also, no idea how long he’s been using them. I’m guessing that, if he’s a signature artist, he’s got them on the stage behind him. And, checking his tour page, for a 75 year old dude, he’s still out there doing it. I think I counted 41 dates between now and Thanksgiving. So he’s still out there doing it.
Gosh! As I sit here thinking about it, kudos to him for still being out there enough that Magnatone would give him a signature amp. And I hope when I’m 75 I have the energy that he apparently still has.