Jammin' With Billy Gibbons: Unveiling Tone Secrets, Stories, And The Rev's "Secret Weapon" Pedal!

[@kirbyjakescarborough4515]

Man, it is great to see you here! I was a fan of LFDH bigtime and have seen you play on repeat. LOL! You seem a great guy and the story was amazing! Wicked good chops, buddy, so much Respects. Looking forward to this channel. Cheers Shane

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks so much for watching and your nice comment!

[@elnawdydawg]

I opened for ZZ Top in Tucson on Dec 9, 2012, In the green room I gave BG a silver mexican peso guitar pick. He was thrilled, and he used it on stage that night.

[@TheRiotguitar]

way cool story

[@pjcerto1074]

Loved it all Shane. Billy is as American as Tabasco Sauce. Billy F Gibbons, yes sir. The F stands for Texas, baby

[@TheRiotguitar]

haha Iove it! Thanks for watching!

[@robtoc]

Shane, great seeing you with this YT channel. I've watched the LFDH with you and Billy Gibbons a couple dozen times at least! Great story about the Rev Billy G, must have been a dream come true to play and talk with him. Thanks for tips on his tone, and keep up the great content! [Liked and Subscribed].

[@duncanfrere2656]

Like you, Tom Bukovac can tell wonderful stories about Billy Gibbons and his innate generosity, kindness, humor and absolute professionalism. Billy Gibbons is a true Texas gentleman of the highest order and surely one of the all-time great guitar players. Thanks for the inside look!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Oh i've got lots of stories, if only I knew how to edit video! haha. But thanks for watching! Billy is most certainly a very cool cat and there is a lot going on there behind those sunglasses!

[@roberttaylor505]

Is that on Otis Gidds channel? Lots of great tales 👍

[@roberttaylor505]

Gibbs, sorry

[@TheRiotguitar]

@@roberttaylor505 not familiar with him I'll have to check it out

[@KC-Smoke]

Love Tom, love Shane! Shane, I think the world is ready for Volume #2 of your book. 😎👍

[@piktormusic2538]

Thanks for the tip Shane. Years ago I was experimenting with using a Boss GE 10 in a similar way, but I’m mostly a keys player, so I was thinking that maybe that was just an oddball way of overdriving certain select frequencies. Not so odd after all, I guess. I’ve been listening to your podcasts for years, so it’s good to see you here. Subscribed.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for the comment and for finding me here

[@lloydsarnowski6986]

Love your channel!! First time today watching!!! Keep it up the good work!!!

[@elizabethdunn1668]

What a great story, and these photographs are solid gold! I love that episode of LFDH, it really rocked!

[@tymanngruter1808]

Fandango was the reason to play the guitar, learned to play by playing this album more than a thousand times! Billy, thanx! 🎯

[@michaeltaylors2456]

Billy very graciously allowing Elwood to fill in for DH is the most kind human being act I’ve ever seen.

[@Europeanfriends]

The gig with Gibbons was great, but the the pure Eargasm was you with the O’Jays. Unforgettable 😊

[@TheRiotguitar]

oh thanks so much. Those are some cool cats! That was not an easy one because we went back to the original songs and they hadn't played those arrangements for a long time. Those are not traditional song forms either!

[@tommc49]

I agree, that is my favorite episode of Daryl's House. The O'Jays voices are so good and Daryl so connected.

[@pharmerdavid1432]

I've heard that BB King "string gauges" story more time than I can count, and every time I think "but BB King uses heavier strings - not lighter!". To be specific, BB King uses the 10-52 set which is: 10-13-17-30-42-52. It's like a 10-46 set on the plain strings, but the wound strings are heavy, at least to me they are!

[@SandyD-m6k]

I watched this Live from Daryl's House episode and loved it! If this was your first day on the job, I never would have known it. Great job Shane!

[@kimlombardy3393]

Ditto👍

[@toneydavis9802]

Tom Bukovac swears by the GE7 and takes it everywhere with him. Maybe he got the idea from Billy. Anyway. I am also a big LFDH fan and that Gibbons episode was a favorite. You can really play Shane. I pleasure listening to you. I am also a Louisiana boy. Glad to know you made it big. I had forgotten about the Warehouse.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for your comment. I don't know who else uses it but I have tried it and I kinda don't really like it. haha. It seems to add a "sheen" or "film" to my tone and I don't really believe in EQ'ing the tone of my guitar- I'd rather do that at the amplifier stage. Anyway....whatever works! It certainly works for Billy! Thanks for watching

[@bruceripepi867]

Shane, always so interesting. I’m always searching for great tone. I keep returning to the trusty telecaster. The amps and pedals change, but I can’t get away from that crackling twangy burst.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks! IMO telecaster is one of the most versatile guitars ever made

[@barryfulmer5622]

I stumbled across this video and man am I glad I did. I recognized you from LFDH. I watched them several times over ... especially the one with Billy. Great to hear the stories.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks! Check out some of the other ones on my channel I'm just getting started!

[@eduardoprieto5267]

Wow ! Boost 400. Thanks buddy, blessings to you from tomato patch texas.

[@MatthewElDeOrazio]

Great story! Thanks for sharing!! Man, the warehouse, legendary. I used to have a regular Friday afternoon gig on Decatur and almost every Friday came an older gentleman who held me captive (willing) on the break with stories about the warehouse back in the day. ⚜️☮️❤️🎶

[@TheRiotguitar]

wow so cool! A bit before my time too, always wished I could have went. My uncle told me some crazy stories about that place.

[@gergemall]

Shane I’m so glad to find your channel . I’ve been following you since this episode. I’ve seen you play with Jackson. You’re an incredible player. I’m 68 years old and let Billy back in the early 80’s from my friend Jim South who was an original assistant before Bill Ham. You’re a wonderful ambassador to link the professional musicians with the rest of the world. It becomes a small world. You’re an amazing musician. As you know Billy is a GENIUS. He comes to the Magnatone plant and Killer Vintage guitar shop on Ivanhoe avenue. St. Louis , Missouri. Billy is a very kind GENTLEMAN ❤

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks so much for watching and for your kind words! Billy is indeed a class act.

[@lancemorgan644]

Very cool story. I have heard that BB reference before. Which is specifically why I use 9-42, instead of how SRV did it. I caught ZZ maybe 8 times, speaking of fanboy. I’m from SE Texas originally, so I graduated from HS with Theriots, among many other Cajuns. I may have seen all the Daryl stuff you were in, your playing is the bomb. Thanks for sharing, Shane. Keep rocking.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for the comment! We Theriot's can be a bit crazy haha.

[@stelioskmusic]

Great to see you posting on here Shane. Love the videos. Thanks for the stories and for sharing your wisdom. 👍

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!

[@doubled5383]

Your channel is ace. So unique.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks I appreciate that

[@riggioguitars]

...great to see you here Shane...I always love your playing on LADH

[@roberttaylor505]

Cool stories man. I really enjoyed that 😁🙏

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!

[@timboehlert9703]

Wow! It’s just like it happened just a few short years ago… the phone calls and discussions… Glad to watch your journey unfold, and I will always hear Mac and Papa Funk in my head because of you.

[@flyonwall360]

Growing up in the 70s and being the baby child meant that I had some awesome hand me down music. My brother had ZZ Top, and it stuck with me. A couple of years ago, I stumbled across Darrell's House and had to watch them all. You were amazing. I'm still using 10s.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!

[@johndaugherty4127]

Watched a concert of ZZ and The Rev used a one pickup telecaster for the entire show. Amazing. PS. Lucky you!

[@ejaymo6095]

Great stuff Shane, good to see you here.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!

[@johnreilly9748]

Excellent! Saw Dr John at the Warehouse! Good Billy stuff did not know about the Herz X very interesting. Thanks

[@TheRiotguitar]

wow would have love to seen that. My house in NOLA is not far from where the Warehouse once stood. I think about all that history everytime I drive past there.

[@ashitaka2755]

Big fan of him and really like the video thanks for sharing 😊

[@michaelmorrissey2248]

Love your playing on Daryl's House. Good to see your own channel and glad I found it!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Welcome aboard!

[@marcob6880]

Thanks for posting this with the accompanying stories about jammin with " the Reverend!"

[@cowboygypsey]

Loved all the stuff you did on Darryls show, seeing you play with all those great artists with no pretentions.

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thanks!

[@TheRealHucasys]

Nice! Great anecdotes. I love Daryll's House jams, nice work! Don't know how you popped up in my feed but subscribed! Cool cool cool!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thanks for the sub!

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Well just got recommended this video and I'll be subscribing. You're great on Live From Daryl's House. Love your playing.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks Shawn!

[@jimparker7778]

Thank you Shane. Love the Reverend

[@jason_koch]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing, great stuff!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@williambrown1172]

Great stories and reveal. Thanks!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@kpuliatch]

Great vibe , great tips , great life stories Much gratitude

[@EternalOvercomer]

What a cool story! Going back to watch that episode with your new insights. Thanks for sharing! 😎👍 🎸

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks so much for watching- i tried to post a bit of video from that day but it was blocked 😬

[@chiefline7084]

I remember watching that video and I could tell you were loving playing with Billy. Livin the dream. Good for you all your hard work payed off and thanks for the tone tip I also agree my EQ pedal is my most valuable pedal

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!

[@timabuttle]

Shane, thanks so much for your video about playing with Billy Gibbons on "Live at Darryl's House." Loved the episode!!! Thought you and Billy played great. On a show like "Live at Darryl's," I got to see Billy in a different setting besides playing the ZZ Top numbers. Totally impressed by how and what he played. I appreciate you talking about the Warehouse in New Orleans. Billy has talked about being on the bill with the Allman Brothers (my favorite American band), and I bet those were classic gigs for both bands. Also read that Duane Allman and Peter Green jammed there during an Allman Brothers/Fleetwood Mac show. Sure wish someone recorded that. Anyway, I am real excited about your channel, Shane, and you can count me in as a follower and fan.

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thank you so much for watching! Good to know people are interested in stories like this!

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also a fantastic weekend Shane ❤😊

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@PeterLacis]

Bad ass, Shane. Thank you for passing the tone love along! Respect!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching

[@Hetti-g2c]

Loved this episode! Especially when Billy Gibbons in respect fans your hot playing down! Such precious moments and great vibes!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@elambassist]

Loved that series.

[@danthegeetarman]

As someone who uses light strings, it’s just liberating to be able to play with ease. I use 9s though, so not quite 8s or 7s. Sometimes I will throw on an 8 on the e string and it feels perfect. For me it’s just all I’ve really known I’ve never changed from the gauge that all the guitars I bought had on them originally. It wasn’t even till later on when I started playing in bands that I realized I could get different gauge strings for different reasons lol

[@mariacruikshank5150]

Totally diggin' these stories! Thanks so much ❤!

[@SendInYourSkeletons123]

Love your videos and insights... well done!!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thanks for watching

[@babagadoush1]

Dude that was so fun hearing these stories!!!!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!

[@davidsummerville351]

Very cool info. I'm on my second Ge7. Please a whole episode on using one. The one I had in the 90s was noisy. Got one 6 months ago, quiet as a mouse.

[@TheRiotguitar]

you know honesty I'm not a big fan of those pedals. I find it puts like a "sheen" or weird haze on my sound. I prefer just to use a boost and hardly ever use it. Analog Mike did that mod for me and it did quiet it down though.

[@murfbass]

You and the great guests were the only reason I watched LFDH. I always winced when Darryl tried to rock with the rockers. I was always impressed to watch you adapt to all the different guests. I was very disappointed when you left. Good to see you again.

[@TheRiotguitar]

hey Murf thanks! I never left though I'm still there We just don't do many of the shows anymore.

[@HoytFergus]

I Want to Thank you man. This meant alot to me. Made my week bro. It is magic to hear all of this. Thanks!!! (Subd) 🤟🙂

[@TheRiotguitar]

Glad to hear it!

[@michaelperrier7962]

Cool Story ❤, thanks for sharing this with us !!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thanks for listening

[@DrMattWalton]

You finally completed the context of what I heard previously about Billy. I believe he did this to quantify the Hz values that he got from his Pearly Gates so he could dial in his tone no matter what guitar he was using. He even has a gizmo in his rack effects that can dial in the hz for anything he plays for concerts and such. Long story short…it’s to mimic the tone of his Pearly Gates

[@TheRiotguitar]

yes he did mention something like that

[@abreug2]

Wow i did not know Fandango was recorded at the whse in NOLA!! Good stuff Shane!

[@dougrmoe]

Very cool 😎 stories. I love B. G's sound ! One always wonders what the legends thoughts are ! You got some pretty mean tone as well Shane 😜

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@JuanReyes-ht1bd]

❤❤❤ 3:04 into your video and I like you already 😂. You’re the real thing brother, Much success and Rock on!

[@TheRiotguitar]

I appreciate that!

[@hankfromSPiN]

Very cool story. Who the hell doesn’t want to sound like Billy when you plug in? Stickin’ w 10s for now though. Ha

[@TheRycooder]

LOVE THIS! Was always wondering if you had a channel!!! Now I’ve GOT CHU! Yes! Big fan!! Remember you playing a lead on one of Billy’s songs and him giving the sign you were HOT! We opened up a gig for him when he was in The Moving Sidewalk. I had just counted back from visiting my mother in California and brought back Hendrix’s first album. We worked a couple songs up, played them fitting this opening not thinking anyone in Houston really knew who he was. Billy came out played the same songs AND FREAKING BLEW US AWAY!! Lmao We looked at each other thinking we sounded good UNTIL we heard him. We knew then WE NEED A LOT OF WORK!!!! Glad I found your channel!!!! Much respect! ❤️

[@TheRiotguitar]

wow what a great story! I had heard that back then Billy and Jimi dropped acid and put paintbrushes on the ends of the guitars and painted like that haha....who know? Thanks for watching!

[@TheRycooder]

@@TheRiotguitar our 15 minutes of fame!! lol Playing in front of a legend! Jimi gave him one of his strats! PRICELESS!

[@jimicrack29]

thank you shane

[@Craiglyhead]

Great stuff!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@guitmickify]

🤓Yeah... that was a great episode and that led to getting some mojo grooves over on Truefire and a couple of Greasy records 😁

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@zenncatt]

Thanks for the insight and video Shane. I 2nd the 400 Hz bump. It used to be 500 Hz for me until I experimented with the 400 Hz frequency.

[@Nightpants]

Awesome stories! I met you a couple times at your old neighbors Charlotte and Mark's parties back in the day.

[@TheRiotguitar]

wow such a small world

[@benallmark9671]

Great story. New subscriber ! Looking forward to more great stories. Cheers

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thanks so much!

[@MrKevburg]

Glad I found your channel...Love your playing!!!! Do you still have your transparent green Hamer Daytona???

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks- yes I still have it I keep it with the Daryl's House gear that stays on the east coast. It gets a lot of use

[@robert-wr6md]

Shane thanks great stories. I got the impression that you were the musical director on Daryls House. Loved the Cheap Trick gig the most from that show. Good luck to you man, keep the stories coming.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!- yes that's correct- for the past 11years (and i've lost count of how many episodes) I've been the musical director as well as guitarist on the show. I got a lot of good stories- not much skill making videos though haha.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Good tube amps like the low mid bump, exotic supper sweet preamp gets it done. 😊

[@TonyRockinReems]

I live in New Orleans, big fan Shane, love your laid back attitude.✌🤘

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching! Good to have some NOLA folk on here!

[@LostMyMojo100]

Great story! And thanks for the tip! Subbed

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@rareform6747]

He understands Harmonic Joy .. Like Ko Ko Blue

[@shawncavanaugh1464]

Awesome

[@superflysoulbrother]

Just found you through your excellent Modern Funk Fusion book, lovin' it!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks so much

[@joedimora9026]

well done really cool share.

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thank you 👍

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

❤❤❤

[@buzzfretwear2906]

.Just watched video, now heading straight to grab my GE7 to try this 😎

[@fredradical]

I'm gonna have to get one of them there equalizer pedals. Uncle Larry swears buy them too.

[@TheRiotguitar]

I don't care for it myself. It always seems to add a weird "sheen" to my tone. I also don't like eq'ing the actual guitar signal I'd rather do that on the amplifier. I use a boost for the same purpose and it sounds more natural to me. But hey whatever works! Your uncle must like them!

[@larrybarrett8438]

Great stories man, "behind the music" is always interesting to me...

[@TheRiotguitar]

good to know! I've got plenty of stories ;)

[@limpeacock573]

Been a big fan for a long time. One question. What was the Rev doing when he was calling out the frequencies? Thanks Shane and so good to see you making great content. All the best!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks! From what I remember hearing it was a used as a to communicate with the monitor guy during soundchecks, maybe dial out troublesome frequencies or add in ones that were missing.

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

Love ❤

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@ScottM56]

Love it. Who would have thought an equalizer was the only pedal? Thanks and love your channel.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thank you for watching!

[@michaelyolch79]

Well, a MAGNATONE Super 59/M80 certainly helps. 🎸😃

[@TheRiotguitar]

i'm sure it does ;)

[@cerealkiller5688]

Just found this and subscribed. I absolutely love that episode. "Bank on your love" was a killer addition to the ZZ Top stuff. So just to clarify, Billy didn't use any overdrive? Just clean through the boss and Magnatone?

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thanks for the comment! I like Bank on your Love too, that's a great song!.....yeah I only recall the Magnatone and the EQ pedal.

[@cerealkiller5688]

@@TheRiotguitar Thx! Ive got an sg Ive got the pedal. Headed to the barn

[@peterdoiron6435]

New subscriber here. Great stuff, Shane 👏

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@qjudge959]

How about sharing a copy of the Hertz Cross?

[@wrobinson1702]

Hi Shane -thanks for the information! I am also from New Orleans,, and am very familiar with the Warehouse.The only time I saw the Allman Bros while Duane was still alive was at the Warehouse. I am now booker for musical acts at my club, called D Macs, which is in Orange Beach, Al (3 hours from New Orleans) We'd love to book you someday.

[@TheRiotguitar]

that would be great! Billy told me that he and Duane slept up in the rafters of the warehouse after one long night haha. Thanks for watching!

[@sweper]

Hello! I have to ask you since you played with Ty Taylor at Daryl's house. The song is "I'll Be Around" and I've always wondered how you get that great guitar sound? It reminds a lot of the 70s with artists like Isaac Hayes, but also other soul artists. I've asked this before, to someone who posted the same video, but want it straight from the source, so to speak. Greetings from Sweden

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for your comment- I'll have to go back and watch that one it's been a while! I think it was just a clean tone with humbucker pickups so you can get a bit more "punch" out of the rhythm parts. Just blend the neck and bridge pickups. A 335 or some type of 2 humbucker guitar and amplifier set to clean should work.

[@TheSixStringBandit]

Real insightful video! Billy is my biggest electric guitar inspiration and I’ve spent years chasing the tone! Gonna try an Eq pedal with my Magnatone. Just curious- was his Ge-7 modded as well? (No sweat, I know that was a while ago!)

[@TheRiotguitar]

i think it was just stock. Thanks for watching!

[@timh7156]

Thanks Shane. I’ve enjoyed your playing with Daryl’s band. I think I saw you in Sacramento in the late nineties or early 2000’s playing with the Neville Brothers. Could that have been you?

[@TheRiotguitar]

yes most likely if it was late 96- 2001 or 02- thanks for watching!

[@RezaKhan2024]

Thanks. Subbed.

[@ep9229]

Hey Shane! I'm still playing, saw you with H&O a few years ago with Rod Vedros. Hope all is well with you. I'll have to try that 400hz thing with my GE7. Do you ever play in New Orleans? I saw Johnny V at BJ's in the Bywater a while back and we talked a bit.

[@TheRiotguitar]

Hi Ed nice to hear from you- still have my house in NOLA but live in Los Angeles now. I don't go back there that as often as I used to. I may be doing some trio gigs there soon though I'll keep you posted!

[@kimw994]

great story 🙂

[@georgegeranios2918]

Oh my, The Warehouse. In the summer: hot and nasty and jammed. It seems like they never repaired the back wall.

[@Markyboogie]

Hi Shane 💯Love your channel ,very inspiring man!!🤜🤛 This is great information thank you🥇 🎸Can I please ask,what gauge strings you prefer? Thank you again, Shane for the great episodes !

[@TheRiotguitar]

Thanks for watching! I usually use 10's daddario strings- sometimes 10-46 on Fender style and 10-52 on my Gibsons.

[@bluglass7819]

I can see that making EQing for the mix easier.

[@pennythecat]

This is great-you nice way of sharing a story. A bit of guitar artistry would be a good addition.

[@TheRiotguitar]

youtube blocked me from using any of the daryls house footage...i did try. thanks for watching

[@BoomerLicks]

Rick Beato has a video on string gauges. He compares the tone of heavier strings with lighter ones. I went down to MIghty Slinkys which are 8.5-40. I love them!

[@TheRiotguitar]

i have a hard time digging in for rhythm stuff with those but they feel good!

[@Phocasa]

It has made me learn to play with a lighter touch with both hands. The bends are easy and the low end is tighter. The neck pickup on my LP and DGT have a little more definition. Less fatigue too. BB was right. Not sure so could go down to 7s like BG. That high E must feel like a spider web.

[@6stringcodger450]

Not sure the "Hertz Cross" is useful today when we all have phone apps etc. Great tip though on the tone with the EQ! Now if I still had my Magnatone from 1974 I could try it! Great story and I think it interesting how my favorite guitarists (new and old) with the tones I love seem to have naturally converged and spend so much time together...maybe that's Nashville magnetic force at work.

[@waynegram8907]

SHANE, How do you use the Hertz Cross? You tune your guitar HIGH E string to 330hz and the LOW E to 82hz?

[@TheRiotguitar]

It's not so much for tuning it's basically just a reference chart to communicate frequencies to the sound man for tweaking. Sort of a "color wheel" for frequencies. I don't use it myself. I thought it would be interesting to include because it shows how deep into EQ and tone Billy goes.

[@waynegram8907]

@@TheRiotguitar Yes I get it but it seems that Billy tunes his guitar NOT to A440hz?

[@TheRiotguitar]

@@waynegram8907 hmm I'm not sure about that sorry. Maybe he tunes down a half step? I'm pretty sure when we did the taping it was A440

[@waynegram8907]

@@TheRiotguitar The Hertz Cross says that the A110 , NOT at A440. I'm not sure why Billy Gibbons ZZ top is tuning his A string to A110? and not at A440

[@TheRiotguitar]

@@waynegram8907 That's correct. An open 5th string A in Hertz is 110. 440 would be the A above middle C on the staff. On guitar this would be 5th fret 1st string. Again this is not for tuning, it's to call out frequencies on guitar in the ballpark of the actual hertz to communicate with sound guys.