Dusty hill's sound

jimmyjames77 · #1 07-21-2007, 11:52 AM

Hey there TBers. Just windering if anyone knows what Dusty Hill from ZZ Top is using Live Now A' Days? I just saw them perform in Chicago, July 19th, and he was HUGE sounding.

Almost makes me reconsider playing a P Bass.

I never was that big a fan of his studio sounds over the years but live was insane...
I appreciate any imput.

Zigmundfloyd · #2 07-21-2007, 12:00 PM

I love both his sound and his playing. Last I read he was using 3 Marshall JCM 900 100w lead heads thru 6 Orange 4-12s....

I'll try and find that link later..

jimmyjames77 · #3 07-21-2007, 12:02 PM

Really...? I look forward to seeing that.

Zigmundfloyd · #4 07-21-2007, 12:04 PM

OK here it is...wrong about the cabs, listed as "Creme"???????

http://www.kieran.keegan.btinternet...._biography.htm

Zigmundfloyd · #5 07-21-2007, 12:07 PM

Also, if you've never tried one, a single coil P sounds way different than a split coil. I just bought a 51 RI, and it is very bright and growly, almost has a Rickenbacker vibe to it. It f***in rocks.......

jimmyjames77 · #6 07-21-2007, 12:26 PM

What do most Ps have split or single?

Interesting setup by Dusty...

billfitzmaurice · #7 07-21-2007, 12:33 PM

It's all in the PA. The last time I saw them both he and Billy had a dozen 2x10 combo amps on stage, and their road manager told me they each were only using three, the rest were for show, and they could have got along with none, as they both run through racks that DI to the FOH anyway. There were no mics on the combos. No floor wedges either, all in-ear.

bongomania · #8 07-21-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames77

What do most Ps have split or single?

Split. Only the oldest ones, and reissues/copies of the oldest ones, have the single coil.

Blues Cat · #9 07-21-2007, 01:06 PM

+1 to Bill's comment. You're hearing a good soundman.

Johnny Crab · #10 07-21-2007, 01:45 PM

You can get a VERY similar sound using either:

Line 6 BODXTLive, CLASSIC amp(tweaked for hours & set on the edge of distortion by leaning on the DRIVE)->full range cabs

SansAmp RBI set as above(tweak for hours, write it down, push the dirt)->full range cabs

We cover a bunch of ZZ's. The Line 6 gets used along with aggressive playing ESPECIALLY for "Thunderbird". They sound MUCH closer using a bass NOT made of mahogany.

Jack Bruce has a similar "methane release" tone except it's been described as in a bathtub. Use a Gibson(mahogany) with a neck pickup(mudbucker preferred) and almost the same settings work....

Tim1 · #11 07-21-2007, 01:51 PM

Interesting to read that he uses Telecaster basses. I recently acquired a 68 Tele bass with a Duncan Antiquity SCPB pickup and it has totally nailed "that" ZZ Top sound, whether I play it through my Mesa 400+ or SWR900. Huge lows, very alive and the top is there if you want it and very, very loud - had to wind the pickup way down lower than in any other bass I have. We do a few ZZ numbers and it is right there. Don't forget that you might be hearing the FOH rig but it still all begins with that first signal.

fdeck · #12 07-21-2007, 04:13 PM

I remember a joke:

"I solemly swear to play the root, the whole root, and nothing but the root, so help me Dusty Hill."

will33 · #13 07-21-2007, 06:37 PM

Bill F.'s on the button about hearing a good PA done right. What you're hearing has nothing to do with the rig. The biggest factor in the sound you're hearing as far as what's on stage might be the actual bass he's playing but that's it, the rest is all PA. They did good in procuring equipment and talent behind the board and it showed. I've heard them a couple times in Austin where although all the key parts were there, the general sound was sort of muddy, indistinct as I've found typical with a lot of large rock concerts in recent years. If you want to know where the sounds coming from, look at the effects rack they're really playing through that's sending the signal to FOH and look at what the soundman's doing with it and what he's sending it through. You'll notice that in general though, Dusty Hill's tone has some grit but also a whole lot of bottom in it, it kinda sounds like he's playing through a bunch of 15's with some guitar grit on top, you notice it most in songs where there's a break that has just drums and guitar and it sounds good but then when he comes in, it adds a whole 'nother layer of bottom and balls to drive the band. It's "booty shakin'" bass, not a bad place to be. You got to hear it in a good format, instead of being mixed up with the rest of the bottom end, congrats.

billfitzmaurice · #14 07-21-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Dusty Hill's tone has some grit but also a whole lot of bottom in it, it kinda sounds like he's playing through a bunch of 15's with some guitar grit on top, .

When you hear them live you'll swear that there's a second guitar playing as well, and that it's tracking exactly with Dusty. Guess what: part of his rack setup is a trigger, and it isn't one to a Colt .45. There's a reason behind his seemingly simplistic technique.

Zigmundfloyd · #15 07-21-2007, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

I remember a joke:

"I solemly swear to play the root, the whole root, and nothing but the root, so help me Dusty Hill."

The man rocks, and so does the band he drives. I dig his style

jimmyjames77 · #16 07-22-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Bill F.'s on the button about hearing a good PA done right. What you're hearing has nothing to do with the rig. The biggest factor in the sound you're hearing as far as what's on stage might be the actual bass he's playing but that's it, the rest is all PA. They did good in procuring equipment and talent behind the board and it showed. I've heard them a couple times in Austin where although all the key parts were there, the general sound was sort of muddy, indistinct as I've found typical with a lot of large rock concerts in recent years. If you want to know where the sounds coming from, look at the effects rack they're really playing through that's sending the signal to FOH and look at what the soundman's doing with it and what he's sending it through. You'll notice that in general though, Dusty Hill's tone has some grit but also a whole lot of bottom in it, it kinda sounds like he's playing through a bunch of 15's with some guitar grit on top, you notice it most in songs where there's a break that has just drums and guitar and it sounds good but then when he comes in, it adds a whole 'nother layer of bottom and balls to drive the band. It's "booty shakin'" bass, not a bad place to be. You got to hear it in a good format, instead of being mixed up with the rest of the bottom end, congrats.

IF that is the sole factor then they must have had a seperate soundman for their set because I saw 4 bands before them on that stage and none of them came close to Dusty.

billfitzmaurice · #17 07-22-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames77

they must have had a seperate soundman for their set because I saw 4 bands before them on that stage and none of them came close to Dusty.

Not only does each act typically have their own FOH engineer more often than not they each have their own mixing consoles.

fdeck · #18 07-22-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigmundfloyd

The man rocks, and so does the band he drives. I dig his style

Me too!

jimmyjames77 · #19 07-22-2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Not only does each act typically have their own FOH engineer more often than not they each have their own mixing consoles.

Very nice. The guy DEFINITELY knew what he was doing...

bgavin · #20 07-23-2007, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames77

...I saw 4 bands before them on that stage and none of them came close to Dusty.

This is probably by design.

When my daughter's band plays the big LA clubs, I notice the sound "improves" significantly after each act, and is finally excellent (only) for the headliner.

I'm sure this is done intentionally so an opener never shows up the headliner.