Unveiling the Story of the 'Pearly Gates' Billy Gibbons

[@chicagomusicexchange]

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[@emiljohansson8435]

ha ha ...just checked in to enjoy this one more time :) this must be the ultimate les paul. I "only" got a 2013 standard but it will do.. :)

[@kennyh5083]

Absolutely GREAT DEMO BTW!

[@melchorkho1220]

Yes Seymour Duncan Pearly gates is the best guitar pick up on the planet

[@svarthelikoptern]

Who is still listening to that TONE in the intro in 2020?

[@lupang335]

Right here. This is THE tone I set as a benchmark when trying new settings on my amp and pedals.

[@tacoconch7678]

It kinda surprises me that people love this tone so much. I always figured someone interested in this guitar would want, "bluesy" tones. This tone is quite heavy actually.

[@professorplates5689]

Taco Conch agreed

[@paulsmith721]

Well it kinda just stops you in your tracks don’t you think? You might not be looking for it, but when you hear it? For me, it just resonates in my bones...maybe it’s an old guy thing 😊

[@tacoconch7678]

@@paulsmith721 I think since this sound is coming from a Fender, most people accept it and love it. If the same exact sound was coming from a Mesa Boogie, they'd probably not like it as much. Even though a Mesa Boogie Rectifier could put out a better sound, in my opinion.

[@TheOnlyAlexWhalen]

All these years later and this is still my favorite KZbin video!

[@intlkeyboardsoar]

they should relic it by having it be the demo guitar at guitar center.

[@gregoryirwin263]

I know that this is an old comment but damn dude you got me falling out of my chair laughing so true man

[@ralpherl5657]

Take the toggle switch tip off too

[@wesleyAlan9179]

@@gregoryirwin263 ..haha,the 7year old comment is killing me too,bro! Haha!😅🤣😂

[@daveyboy8907]

The demo that’s sold as new with no box or case.

[@adriansimon12]

Holly sh**, that sound! One of the best sounding guitars I ever heard. First 50 seconds are insane.

[@TheYellowFuzz]

sersiouly played the intro like a hundred times nice playing

[@karenpato1]

it is pretty good......even though it's 50 seconds.....I wish I can make an mp3 of it so I can blare that in my bluesmobile.....a piece of shit 1996 Buick Century which driver's side door is being held by an old guitar cable.

[@ShotGunRoleModel]

Five years later and it's still holy shitballs good

[@paulsmith721]

Agreed

[@MrBingping]

good fucking lord, that "just got paid" tone...

[@mvramos]

Unbelievable.

[@metspin1]

I came in my pants from that tone.

[@MrBingping]

I gotta get that tone. Anyone know of any pedals? Lovepedal high power tweed twin, les lius, catalinbread formula 5 all emulate tweed amps, anyone have any personal experience with those?

[@joakeen]

Not being a ZZ Top connoisseur, I read that comment and thought "that's an awesome way to describe a tone." It probably should be used as such. I agree, insane tone.

[@MrBingping]

I got it! Well pretty close, bought a blues jr NOS and keep it cranked. Does a pretty damn good job

[@adZ0412]

Goddammit, I love that tone.

[@HunterJs2]

HOLY SHIT THAT TONE. That Just Got Paid riff was absolutely astounding...

[@treatb09]

+Hunter Jones seymore duncans….ick

[@1allspub]

Even 8 years later... such tone! :)

[@Voxboy876]

If I could afford this guitar, I would own this guitar. Stunning.

[@raymondroberts8709]

Just get the pearly Gates pickups for your guitar...

[@LostMyMojo100]

Most ferocious sounding Les Paul I ever heard in my life!!!!

[@chiptmcc8656]

Pick closer to the bridge for some nastiness.

[@kinas7976]

Good lord that TONE!!!

[@tristanslashtristan]

That tone is magic

[@nycLPplayer]

Lot of hurt feeling in the comment section who don't quite understand what this guitar is. Like it or not its part collectors item, part instrument. Its a really nice Gibson Custom shop guitar for people who want a replica of one of the most iconic rigs out there. Cant pay the 14k over the price of a regular r9....well those are the breaks. Nothing wrong with a solid inexpensive guitar and nothing wrong with spending 20k on one if you have the dough.

[@MrShredify]

I love how the video ends with Cheap Sunglasses. Great playing man.

[@b0ssnak]

Hey, just wanted to thank you guys! Not only for the great sound and visual demo of this beauty but also for providing me with this information about that great axe! I am always on the search for great channels that show and play nice guitars. and with you guys, i have found one! greetings from germany! subscribed!

[@JFrit67]

This dude is a serious player.

[@evh5150god]

I bought that guitar and it looks and sounds amazing

[@twintriode]

Yeah ya did!

[@That70sGuitarist]

"Just Got Paid," one of my all-time favourites. Then again, ALL the old ZZ Top stuff is "one of my all-time favourites," not that there's anything wrong with their more commercially successful stuff from the 80's/90's, even though it was very...well, "commercial." Love the tone, feel and grit of Billy Gibbons' playing, try to recreate it as much as possible with my '93 PRS Custom 24, 1991 Godin Artisan ST-1 and Peavey Classic 50/4-10...yeah, it ain't an exact match, but it sure does sing!

[@stevestarr6395]

Awesome guitar and tone!!

[@carlkrebs1]

some damn fine playing....and yes I listen very closely to these vintage guitars you play I dearly love the 58 custom 3 pickup , and the gibbons repro , as well the 60 les paul also.....you hve some indeed fine instruments and you play them very well....clean , dirty , or crunchy.....good player . keep the vids coming , thank you . you are a very fortunate man to be able to gain access to these fine guitars and play and sell them .

[@kadebailey3810]

Man! those some sweet chops you playin right there! Awesome job Joel. Very talented. Beautiful guitar!

[@nitegoat1369]

This guitar sounds a lot like my 2014 LP Trad Pro II. It has that semi- "scooped mids" sound. And if I'm going to play a beat-up worn guitar, I'll beat-up and put wear on that guitar myself.

[@faltsetas]

+nitegoat1369 Can you show a video of yours?

[@petera.michaelsen4657]

+nitegoat1369 Don’t lie to us that way >:(

[@nitegoat1369]

+Peter Adolph Michaelsen Zegarra I have no way of faithfully recording the sound of my 2014 Trad Pro II. I do not own any microphones, nor do I own an MBox or any other device to record my guitar. I refuse to use the microphone on my iPhone or Kodak flip camera. Go try out a 2014 Trad Pro II for yourself, if you don't believe me.

[@joywolfe.]

Wow, gee wilikers. You must be so special, right?

[@XabierBadiola]

nitegoat1369 right on!

[@MattStricklandBand]

All of this is playing is sooooo good. Have Mercy!

[@joarmstrong2663]

I own this guitar, serial #003, and it is a wonderful guitar. I own a dozen Custom Shop Les Pauls, and this one is "magic" It is a special guitar. I always wonder, why is it when there is a video showing a beautiful instrument like this, that is really a piece of art as well, the majority of the comments are negative, childish remarks How it's not special, or I wouldn't pay that much money. Joel really knocked it out of the park with this video, it's what sold the guitar to me, and I'm not disappointed

[@Bartockamus]

Jo Armstrong congratulations bro!!you have an incredibly beautiful guitar!!sight & sound.I hope you play it alot as it should be.the sound is supposed to get better the more you play an instrument.

[@chr15tree]

Lord! That tone!! Guitar, pedal, amp. simple. Why do I keep buying gear?

[@pepebvelez]

Amazing demo and great video. I miss Joel ⚡️

[@intrsoul]

The best playing I've seen/heard on a CME video. Excellent.

[@kennyh5083]

Been to alot of shows and amazing bands in bars and a few beers an ZZ-Top music makes gals go wild more than any other I have ever witnessed!

[@MisterValaravaus]

This is the best review of a guitar on internet. Ever.

[@bowslap]

Beautiful repro...Gibson Custom did their homework and it shows. Big fan of the right Rev. Willy G and ZZ Top....of all the "artist"-series Lesters they've done, THIS is the one I'd be willing to drop coin for. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

[@travisdillon9238]

That opening jam man, digging those grungy blues rock vibes

breathing heavily... i fell in love the moment you hit the string, the sound is AWESOME!

[@kevinparker2379]

i own a pearly gates hand built and painted by Tom Murphy made for the Japanese market and It's the best Les Paul I've ever played... and I've owned and played many Les Paul's.

[@LittleMissDesmo]

Wow congrats looks like you sold it! Somebody was super lucky... Can't wait till that somebody is me! Still congrats to CME and the buyer.

[@TheCream14]

I own one of the 250 batch. Best Les Paul I've ever owned, and I've had a lot!

[@chicagomusicexchange]

Awesome!!

[@robertkidd6270]

I had two and agree ...I've tried many many of their custom shop lp's So far they're the best I've played ...Great review

[@billiousbogg844]

I own a VOS one and it absolutely has a mojo that other LPs I've played do not have. I also own an R7 and a Trad that are my gigging work horses and while they're good, they certainly don't feel like the Pearly Gates. My only regret is that while it's nice that these guitars have appreciated in value, it means that I very rarely gig it in case some drunken idiot knocks it off its stand.

[@rotorhead58d]

Billy could make a fifty dollar guitar sound like a 300K guitar.

[@smacman68]

Magic. I played one of the Collector Choice Les Paul's and it was a pleasure. It was a Tom Murphy aged and it was just incredible. The attention to detail was stunning. It was plugged into 68 Plexi (the real deal, not a reissue) and it even had the original cloth covered cable. I can only imagine the way that the Pearly Gates sounds and plays. Wish I had $7000 to spend!

[@lptomtom]

These videos just keep getting better and better

[@mikeatl4953]

Lucky enough to have picked up a 67 SG many years ago for a song. All the electronics are original and she can sound very close if not just like this - loving' life.

[@bryanvasnier5249]

The most accurate Billy Gibbons sounds-like I have ever heard... Well done ^^

[@ynkkruse]

that intro riff... amazing tone

[@risingforce2903]

I know I'm late to the show, BUT...great demo, great playing!I want one!

[@lamagique6336]

Don't matter about being late son, important thing is you got here 👍

[@maciek_p]

This is the TONE I've been looking for!

[@louielouie5120]

Love Waiting for the Bus!!!

[@joshuabenton3785]

just got a fender with some pearly gates in the bridge. she sings like an angel.

[@ElDuderino502]

Those pickups scream. I was on the fence about putting them in a PRS 245 Standard, but my mind is now made up. I'm going for it.

[@ronnie5129]

Joel, Awesome, thanks for the video, Cousin Figel

[@williamjohnson3097]

Saw ZZ play 3 weeks ago in Savannah Ga. Incredible. BFG and Dusty are ageless (except Dusty took his teeth out to sing Tush.) After the first 4 songs, BFG played a PG the whole show & Dusty a Telecaster bass. Never a better live band. No 80s flash. Just raw natural badass. BFG's vocals sounded like 1973. Harmonics on the LaGrange solo were impossible. No studio album prepares you for live BFG solos and Dusty's bass dominance. Subtlety, swagger. No current band has it. ZZ made it look easy.

[@Shawn-rq4py]

I just put SD Pearly Gates pick ups in my Epiphone LP and gutted the all the wiring, switches, pots everything. . Rewired it w good wires and did a 50s wiring setup and I get a very very close sound to his guitar. Turn on the fuzz face pedal and Billys sound comes screaming out of my Marshall amp. Paid $500 for the guitar years ago plus about $200 for the pick ups and wiring and couldn't be happier with the sound.

[@ShotGunRoleModel]

Hollllllyyy shit. W headphones that opening was insane.

[@dalebfast]

Damn I love that tone...

[@benhebert2322]

i love the top wrapped strings on the tail piece! definitely contributes to awesome tone (w/pearly gates pick ups) and play ability

[@52Tele]

The Lespaul is great and all but damn CMC has the best video room and the ever talented Joel. I wish they'd do their recent videos on this particular video room.

[@walgraevemat]

I totally do agree, that's why I use a hollowbody-jazz guitar trough a 4watt vox stack to play heavy blues, hard rock and rock n' roll with awesome results, and crap on everyone who says you need a Les Paul trough a 100-watt Marshall in order to get a good sound, almost every tonal difficulty can be removed be mere practice...but I do respect the opinion of an experienced player who knows what he's talking about :)

[@thelolguy007]

Holy feck. That tone. Wow

[@giftedplanksify]

That's Jacked up with mojo Man! I know that Fandego LP pretty awesomely

[@bentpolski]

Amazing! The sound is unreal!

[@14lamnc1]

that amp sounds amazing!!!!

[@DaltonMullins]

I've owned and played almost every major electric guitar over the years of my playing but I keep coming back to Les Paul's. My first guitar was a Gold top Les. I can tell you they feel solid and yet warm when you play them...like the saying goes...they play like butter. They are expensive...but anything worth it is...don't let anyone tell you otherwise...you get what you pay for. Look up Les Pauls on Ebay and check out the price of any of the nice one's dating back as many years as you like...and then look up the new ones. They hold their value like no other guitar except maybe a Martin. You can debate this as much as you like...but it's still going to be true. If you don't like Les Paul's...fair enough...but they will always be collectable and desirable for a reason...they are wonderful guitars like no other.

[@ALEEN517]

Couldn't agree more. I currently have an SG Standard and Les Paul Trad PRO 2. The Paul is definitely the superior instrument. I love the SG, but the Paul sounds and feels better

[@lifeson241]

Had a 85 Les Paul Custom(Ebony fretboard) Amazing playability, Tone machine!! I sold it like a dumbass

[@DaltonMullins]

Anthony Norton Hi Anthony...I just purchased a SG standard 120th anniversary model. It plays very well and sounds amazing. I love it I love it...but when I play it for about 3 hours straight then pick up one of my Les Pauls...the difference is very noticeable. My LP's just play so much smoother and the neck profile is so easy on the hand when playing. Both are a real joy to own and play every day.

[@DaltonMullins]

lifeson241 I know the feeling. I have sold some very awesome guitars over the years and thought...what did I just do! zzounds.com will let you pick one of their Les Pauls up for only one payment down on it. You can pay it out over 12 months. They have some great SG's and LP's for under 200.00 per month. The great thing is they don't check your credit and you get the guitar up front.

[@ALEEN517]

Dalton Mullins my SG Standard has the 60's neck profile and my LP has a 50's neck profile. Two completely different animals.

[@vladimirvukovic8660]

Sweet hell, that's a beautiful sounding guitar! Great playing, too!

[@guitardude4700]

Thanks for going clean first for a reference point. Sounds great

[@AtomicBrooklyn]

Just saw this. The tune at 6:56 is Cheap Sunglasses from the Deguello album. Sounds like a great guitar - and will likely sound even better in person, when you can hear the full tonal range.

[@arturosandoval]

Great guitar and player! Wicked licks

[@elmaindps]

cheers to you sound ing, the editing and compresion on YT is soo good... good guitar too, beautifull

[@KfirOchaion]

which mic do you use for recording?

[@wsgdaniel]

Hello there

[@robbygates1]

Fantastic! Listen to that tone! Oh to be rich!

[@arischwartzberg3457]

i got a chance to play and it was the best guitar i have ever seen and played

[@patrickcarroll1754]

This LP sounds thunderous.

[@dacrowster]

Have Mercy !!! (waitin for the bus)

[@johnrichardson6927]

what amp are you using in this video?

[@darylwinn7507]

I've been playing guitar for 51 years and I haven't found a guitar yet that I would give $300k for. There isn't any guitar worth $300k, I don't care what it is. At least to me its not worth that amount. True, there are probably people that would give $300k for a guitar but it sure ain't me.

[@svfutbol20]

These are no longer instruments, they are collectors items and more akin to rare works of art. That should be pretty plain to see... I'm not a serious guitar player but if I were rich I'd have a bunch of collectors Les Pauls on the wall as art and as investments

[@darylwinn7507]

+svfutbol20 Well, as I said, NO guitar is worth 350K to me. I don't care if Mick Jagger or Keith Richards owned it. I've got 10 guitars now and I can still only play 1 at a time. I can't keep strings on all of them as it is. I'm 66 yrs old and I don't go out and gig anymore so why do I need a $350,000 guitar to play in my small studio attached to my garage? I mean, I cannot justify that kind of money for a LP to hang on my wall and collect dust. Its stupid and pointless. Heck, I could buy me a really nice house for that kind of money or even the Corvette that I've wanted since I was 15 years old. I could even become debt free with a lot of money left over for that money. Now, if you want to waste that kind of cash on a guitar then feel free to do so, but not this country boy. I don't have "Stupid" tatooed on my forehead. I was born at night but it wasn't last night and my Mama certainly didn't raise no fool. Now, if that guitar is worth that kind of money to you, I hope you can get it. Its just now worth that to me.

[@darylwinn7507]

At 66 years old I think I know full well what the word investment means. Now, this conversation is over. Do not contact me about this again. Do you understand that?

[@svfutbol20]

Nope, it's the internet, I can pretty much do whatever I want, including pointing out the gigantic flaw in your logic about why things shouldn't be as expensive as they are. Also, your age doesn't automatically signify wisdom, so please stop tossing it around like it's some sort of trump card.

[@guitarman7597]

+Daryl Winn What an inviting fellow (not).

[@professortwang]

Wow great sounding guitar!

[@NickWebbSax]

That. Tone. My god. The. Tone. Is. Exquisite.

[@jackcampbell5877]

so i was watching videos on the billy gibbons pearly gates pickups and didnt realise the autoplay feature was on. This started playing in the background, at first the slide part i was like "oh whoops, left a video playing better pause it", next minute he whips out the mother of all tone. Jesus christ

[@nov20five]

I want a 20 minute video of the first 50 seconds of this video on repeat.

[@ggiul1256]

that guitar is a beast...nice playing

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Nice and thick sound.

[@stywaffle626]

Holy shit that guitar is awesome!

[@Mark70609]

Wiki says this about early Billy Gibbon's tones. Gibbons' sound is based on a 100-watt Marshall Super Lead made in 1968. According to an interview with music retailer Musician's Friend in 2008, Gibbons stated the importance of the Marshall Super Lead in ZZ Top's sound: "I would say that it was the '59 Gibson Les Paul, better known now as 'Pearly Gates', plugged into a hundred-watt Marshall. [It] designed a sound that still resonates today."[5] Tweed Deluxe's tend to sound mushy with a Les paul though the 808 would help with controlling the bass. Kendrick built copies of Billy 1946 Dual Profession amp which sported two 10" speakers. As far as guitars go: Along with Gibson, Gibbons is also known for playing various Fender guitars. During his stint in the Moving Sidewalks, Gibbons used a white 1963 Fender Jazzmaster and Fender Esquire.[3] A couple of Fender guitars were featured on the Tres Hombres album, including a 1950 Fender Broadcaster on "Jesus Just Left Chicago" and a hard-tail sunburst 1955 Fender Stratocaster on "La Grange". He used a sunburst 1958 Les Paul for the slide guitar in "Just Got Paid," as well as a 1955 Gretsch Roundup on "TV Dinners" from Eliminator. He has also famously used an extremely rare "Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird" given to him by Bo Diddley.

[@Josiahdunham]

Wow sounds good. P.S would you guys mind tell me a little about the mic setup? I can't see it in this video and the tones are my fav ever.

[@donarmando916]

Yeah, sounds great.

[@kammhron]

Good review. Awesome tone. I want it.

[@LesterPaul01]

The opening clean stuff was Warren Haynes tone spot on.

[@svfutbol20]

Maybe this should be a standalone comment: There comes a point where these guitars are less instruments and more collectible works of art and investments. Your 1995 Studio isn't going to hold any value whereas this baby will do nothing but climb. And look a hell of a lot better on your wall. If there is a market for it, I applaud Gibson for catering to it. When I'm rich I'll gladly pick stuff up like this.

[@Glissmann]

wow, what a super nice sound !

[@SilverbacksVictoria]

couldn't agree with you more! i'll wear it in myself thank you

[@krisruston]

Threw a couple of Seymour Duncan PG's into my Les Paul Standard. Will not be going back now. ;)

[@pigxstix]

8 years late to the party but just saw this and that sounds great. Very simple and very good tone (and playing). That thing is beefy and bitey sounding at the same time. I wonder who owns this now.

[@raymondroberts8709]

They're reproductions you can buy...

[@pigxstix]

@@raymondroberts8709 What? I'm commenting on this specific guitar being demo'd not the original, and yes it was a reproduction that you can buy hence my wondering who owns it now. This one. This specific one. This reproduction in the video, that's the one.

[@STORYTASTIC]

notice the early Van halen sound here..the secret....no effect clutter..an open beautiful Paf crispy sound...near purrfect..thanks for this...now where can I get one of these:))

[@nicholasflamel1134]

Awesome tone!

[@zonie9872]

Wow dude, just wow.

[@Waltos]

Very nice tone.

[@gdasilva]

what slide is being used on the video. I have a brass one like that, a flared glass slide would be awesome.

[@alexstevens9835]

man that is sooo sweet.

[@EchoesofRhythm]

It is a love or hate thing, worn-in guitars in my opinion feel great. You also don't have to worry 24/7 about dinging it, just play it, and it feels as good as an old, worn tshirt.

[@mstringer90]

great playing, love the guitar

[@therockchannel100]

This is the holy les paul tone

[@virgilneace6714]

Guys I have played guitar most of my life. Comfort is what is all about wether it a les Paul or Strat no two are alike, I have a 57,58,59 Les Paul reissue they are all great but different, I pefer the 58 for no other reason than it fits my hand well and sounds a little better that the other two to me. But someone else may select one of the others. I listen back to tracks recorded with all three guitars and they all sound the same but when I am playing them they feel and sound different.They all have 57 classics PU'S in them. I have been very fortunate to own these guitars they are better feeling and sound better then the standards, 1960 classics that I also own. If you can afford the VOS or one of the custom shop billy Gibbons you will love it but you probably won't sound much different than a Standard 2k Les Paul but it will feel more comfortable and witch should help you play better. When your not fighting the guitar the notes just flow out of you.