GuitarDistortedRiff
I Gotsta Get Paid Riff Guitar Tone Settings — ZZ Top
ZZ Top · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard 'Pearly Gates'
Pickups
Original PAF humbuckers
Amp
Vintage Magnatone amp (model unspecified) with overdrive/fuzz pedal
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2012, La Futura album. Billy Gibbons is known to use his 'Pearly Gates' Les Paul for heavy riff sections, and interviews confirm the use of a vintage Magnatone amp with an overdrive/fuzz pedal for this song's signature grinding riff. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6.5
Gain7.5
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Fuzz/Overdrive pedal (model unknown) · fuzz
Guitar → Fuzz/Overdrive pedal → Magnatone amp (with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- grinding, saturated low end
- fuzzy, thick distortion
- percussive, punchy attack
- gnarly, stoner-blues flavor
- aggressive, modern blues-rock edge
- tight, focused rhythm
- raw, amp-like sustain
- slightly scooped mids
- heavy, compressed feel
- minimal ambience