Frank Zappa's Guitars and Gear: Interviewing expert Mick Ekers, the official Gearmeister!

In this video I interview author Mick Ekers about ZAPPA GEAR, his detailed and amazing book cataloguing all of the guitars, amplifiers, effects, keyboards, and studio equipment that Frank Zappa used to create his music.
If you love musical equipment or if you are are a fan of Frank Zappa I HIGHLY recommend purchasing this book. Please consider using the following url: amzn.to/3v66fdT
The link to purchase Zappa Gear is an Amazon Affiliate link. That link helps me earn a very small commission and that money helps me make more videos like this one. It doesn't cost you anything extra. That said, I always recommend people check prices everywhere to ensure you get the best deal and please buy local to support small independent stores when possible.
Related Videos:
• Interview with Pauline Butcher, Zappa's live-in secretary: • I lived with Frank Zap...
• Interview with Zappa's friend Co de Kloet: • Why is Frank Zappa Imp...
If you want to support what I do, please:
• Click the Like button and subscribe: kzbin.info...
• Purchase my flip-booking notebook for sale on Amazon: amzn.to/49nbPrS
Video showing the book: • Best Notebook Ever?? ...
• Join me on Patreon for behind the scenes blogs and information about upcoming videos: / jeffstarr
------------------------------- ------------------------------- -------------------------------
Timestamps:
0:00 Why Frank Zappa?
01:19 Gail Zappa's Endorsement
02:48 Visiting Zappa's Home Studio, the UMRK
06:00 Holy Relics
08:56 What did you learn about Frank Zappa?
10:17 Hidden gems in the collection?
13:30 How did tech influence Zappa?
15:42 Digital Delay, good or bad?
18:28 Zappa's Guitar Modifications
21:04 Mods to the ultra rare Gibson Switchmaster
23:57 Gear as tool or toys
27:34 Microphones
28:27 The influence of Recording Engineers on Zappa
30:09 Where is Zappa's gear now? Auctions?
34:07 More on Gail Zappa, Friend or Foe?
37:27 How did you get into Zappa?
41:42 More Photos?
43:46 Zappa and Politics
------------------------------- ------------------------------- -------------------------------
Social:
/ notbadfilms
/ notbadfilms
/ mrjeffreystarr
etsy.com/shop/NotBadStuff
Notbadfilms.com

[@mickekers4719]

Thanks so much for having me on your channel and putting this together Jeff. I just need to add a correction, at the end I talk about Zappa's time in Poland - I meant to say Prague! Getting my 20th century European uprisings confused :-)

[@JeffStarr]

Yes, in the blur of the interview I knew what you meant and didn’t even catch the error. Thanks for correcting the record. Cheers!

[@ChungasRevenge]

Thanks Mick for the book and thank you both the interview. The May 1986 issue of Guitar for the Practicing Musician shows Zappa in front of a wall of modular synths. For 30+ years I wondered about them. Thanks to your book I finally have the story of the E-mu. Thanks again!

[@mantashaft]

I can’t imagine Frank witnessing the world as it is now.

[@JeffStarr]

I’m sure he would have a lot to say!

[@mantashaft]

perhaps @@JeffStarr 🤣

[@RocketCalcutta]

What a wonderful interview with this savvy author. It's a gem of a book and the love of its subject matter is evident in both the interviewer and interviewee ❤

[@JeffStarr]

Thank you for watching!!

[@Jack-vy6uo]

I had the pleasure to meet and talk with FZ Many times in NYC Over the years not to mention seeing him play and destroy audiences. I feel bad for all the people who never got to see him play.

[@MonkePasta]

Its a very good book

[@JeffStarr]

I agree!

[@reidwhitton6248]

I read that Frank bought one of those fretless guitars at Manny's in NYC. He liked to stop in there to look for gear when he was in town. My favorite FZ guitar is the custom SG copy with the star on the fretboard. Frank bought it from the builder at a show. The guy brought the guitar to his dressing room and he really liked it so he bought it for $500 bucks which was a lot back in the 70s.

[@JeffStarr]

Yes, the Baby Snakes SG! More stories about all of these guitars can be found in Mick’s book.

[@GuitarSoloReactions]

Great interview and love the book.

[@JeffStarr]

Thanks! Mick’s book is fantastic. It was an honor to interview him.

[@TheMiddleAgedMusician-mc6xo]

Going through the Utility Research Muffin Kitchen with Ruth Underwood - 🤯

[@lousekoya1803]

Love your channel ! watching now and hope to watch some more !

[@JeffStarr]

Thank you for your support.

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Can't wait.

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Just bought the book. Success !

[@JeffStarr]

Awsome!!

[@JAYg33t4r]

Just got this book! Awesome :)

[@JeffStarr]

It is so good! Every time I pick it up I find another cool factoid about Zappa’s gear. There is a lot to unpack in this book. I love it.

[@nunestunes]

Hendrix was also a fan of the black widow guitar

[@JeffStarr]

Yes!

[@jochemjonker3362]

I own a Zoothorn G 500 amp,which was sold to me ,as Frank Zappa haihadusedt.It's very rare piece of tube amp,builded in England in 1974 serialnumber 007,manufacured in Londen.Asked the designer,John East,if he had any information on this subject,but he didn't.He suggested,that it maybe was rented for a German tour of Zappa. Maybe this English dude can give clearance on this.

[@Mungo10]

Lizzy Jagger bought the Zappa house from Lady Gaga in 2021.

[@JeffStarr]

Thank you for this update! I was unaware of this sale. I found an article about it in Architectural Digest: www.architecturaldigest.com/story/lady-gaga-sells-tudor-style-hollywood-hills-home-to-lizzy-jagger. Ironically, her father Mick Jagger visited Zappa a few times. That’s discussed in this interview with Zappa’s former secretary Pauline Butcher: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJLUi4BndreigsUsi=mCL1_5JCEHQ9vRf6

[@deliverstringbeans]

Still at a loss as to why ZFT had to sell off. What a great place to keep as an hommage to FZ.

[@JackMagiclydelicious]

I believe Lady Gaga bought the UMRK and the house,someone let me know if it’s rumor.

[@JeffStarr]

She did. Lady Gaga later sold the house to Lizzy Jagger in 2021.