Rev Billy Gibbons vintage tone

[herbychimp]

I recently bought a ZZ Top CD (cheap from a well known supermarket shelf) and some of the tracks on the 1st CD (Brown Sugar, for example) have awesome tone. I know that SD have the 'Pearly Gates' model which I have in my Tokai, however I was wondering which Bareknuckle model would be best to try to re-create that amazing, filthy early sound.

[Frank666]

I can get a decent Billy G tone from a set of riff raffs with a LP

[ericsabbath]

riff raffs
but mules would work

[Twinfan]

A lot of Billy's tones come from Teles, Esquires and Strats and Brown Sugar is a very early track.  Billy used an Esquire a lot in those days and I reckon it's on that track.

I reckon you need an Esquire with a Blackguard pickup....

[fbloke]

I would go for Stormy Mondays that have been slightly overwound to be hotter. The key to the tone on the first album really is the 59 Les Paul itself, the long neck tenon, fat neck, pots and caps all have a part to play.  The good news is that Lovepedal have made the COT 50 to recreate the tone, especially if set to just breaking up. It's the best "plexi" voiced pedal I've ever tried and I urge you to give it a go. You'll also need a tube amp with a rich clean tone if you don't already have one.

The tone on Brown Sugar is my benchmark for a perfect guitar sound and I've been trying to recreate it for years. If you ever get enough money together a 59 Les Paul re-issue will get you close but not all the way there. Pearly Gates really is a unique guitar.  Good luck!

[Telerocker]

A lot of Billy's tones come from Teles, Esquires and Strats and Brown Sugar is a very early track.  Billy used an Esquire a lot in those days and I reckon it's on that track.

I reckon you need an Esquire with a Blackguard pickup....

Indeed

[cousingrandpa]

My Mule's in my R9 were doing a pretty good job at it today, sounded closer than the Pearly Gates in my R8.

[Twinfan]

That's because Mules are quite bright and lower output, and a bit more like singlecoils  ;)

[Telerocker]

I never thought Mules to be that good. I like the bridge a bit more then my Crawler, which is absolutely a very nice pickup too.

[Elliot]

I can get a convincing Brown Sugar tone with my 59 RI LP fitted with PG Blues. 

[HTH AMPS]

Getting the amp cranked is key to the tone on Brown Sugar more than anything.

I'm not buying the Esquire angle on this track though, thats a humbucker or P90.

I'd probably go with an Abraxas, its got the fatness but still a PAF vibe.  They are the best BKP imo and react well to lots of styles.