Riff Tone

Legs (Edit)

ZZ Top

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarDean Z (custom 'ZZ Top' model, likely with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup, as used by Billy Gibbons on Eliminator album sessions)

AmpMarshall JCM 800 (modded, studio recording, Eliminator era)

PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (humbucker, bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid6.5

treble7.5

reverb2

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerUnknown Flanger pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 1983 (Eliminator album sessions). Billy Gibbons used a custom Dean Z with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge for the main riff. The amp was a Marshall JCM 800, likely modded, with effects added in the studio. No evidence of live rig or other guitars for this specific part.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveprocessed and polishedbright and cuttingsynth-like sustainpunchy midrangemodulation shimmermechanical groovehigh clarityslightly compresseddistinct stereo movement

Difficulty

The riff is rhythmically tight and requires precise palm muting and timing to lock in with the mechanical groove and modulation effect, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast playing.

Sources

The "Eliminator" Gibbons sound - The Gear Page Gibbons, Ford, Lopez, Lukather and Trout talk Supersonic Blues Machine | MusicRadar

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