WTF IS THAT SOUND?

[@autk]

Dweezil's playing is amazing, even otherworldly almost with some of the stuff he can do, but this sounds like my first zoom effects pedal from decades and decades ago in the early nineties...its artificial, the distortion is so bad and its borderline terrible sounding, it doesn't matter the stereo imaging, who cares when the sound is this bad, literally dozens of tube amps and effects combinations sound superior live, maybe for recording its a thing, ease of transportation, the whole it won't break on tour kind of thing, I've heard those arguments, artists have been touring with tube amps since they were invented, I did it for 30 years. Everyone likes what they like but a great player through this? meh 😑

[@thedweezilzappa]

I've played through all of the real classic tube amps in the studio and onstage. They can be fun for sure but I don't find myself missing anything in terms of tone or feel with my Fractal rig. In my case, I have been happier with the Fractal for the huge flexibility it affords me per pre-set. I have to cover a huge amount of sounds and consider the arrangement and frequency range of each song. In that regard, the Fractal is more like a mini studio setup than a guitar rig. It can be very precise. You can certainly have a preference for what you want to hear in a guitar tone and you can use tubes all day, invariably somebody out there will still say they don't like your tone and tell you to use a different amp and 3 tube screamers etc, so at the end of the day, nothing matters. The Fractal is a fantastic tool that can be used in many different ways and that's exactly what I do with it.

[@autk]

@@thedweezilzappa respect you sir, I can't play my best when I don't sound good, and it's you that has to be pleased, not me, appreciate you and your amazing talents.

[@BungleJoogie68]

Yeah I have never heard the "magic" that a tube amp produces. How is this tone worse than what Eric Clapton gets? The tone sounds fine for what he's doing. You're exaggerating with tenure-signaling.

[@subliminallabs]

Back when Reeves Gabrels did the Earthling album with Bowie... He went Direct In with a bunch of weird new effects, and said in an interview with Guitar Player magazine "I only use amplifiers and speakers now for thump, feedback, and to see my pants flap" This is nothing new, and sounds different and interesting compared to classic tube snobbery... if not way better and way more interesting. It's studio insanity on the floor at your feet good enough sounding to make a live show sound decent - we're not recording the record of the century here - we're playing live shows in shitty sounding rooms that the audio engineer is desperately trying to make sound good, and when you give the engineer a signal that's super easy to patch in and work with in that setting everything live sounds better... A huge part of me agrees with you that the old way is the best way, but I also hold open the door for innovation and the future... I guarantee this sounds better than the original Zoom pedals sounded...

[@jasonjayalap]

If your 90s zoom pedal sounds like this, please tell me the model so I can buy one.

[@thedweezilzappa]

At the point where I introduce the direct signal sound I just realized no-one will hear it correctly because the audio inputs Cooper was using were all taken up for the stereo left and right plus the lav mics for vocals. So I'll have do another video to properly demonstrate the blending of the clean sound.

[@326vince]

Incredible. You and Frank are both incredibly gifted musicians! Was happy to subscribe! Amazing! Thanks again!!!

[@sound-ur1bq]

Hi Dweezil, we still hear what you're talking about, and yes your dad got the genius idea to keep the straight sound that makes the attacks are still heard even a big effect is hearable behind them, enveloping the straight sound, he was not alone to do it but extended the practice full scale, and you more again due to the availability of powerfull equipement like Fractals.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

​@@sound-ur1bqThis is a great example of actually taking an incredibly powerful piece of gear like the Fractal and pushing its limits. I had a roommate that was a bedroom noodler who was convinced he needed an AxeFX to write his magnum opus. He spent years just messing with the same riff through different patches 😂

[@gph2193]

Glorious tones, oh my.

[@idiotburns]

Remember that really cool rock and roll montage you and your brother used to do? I showed the members of my band tonight and it blew their minds!

[@mick_hyde]

Frank would love all this stuff.

[@robert-wr6md]

This is a man who doesn't spend too long looking at vintage Fender Bassman prices on Reverb.

[@fretfix1]

Found this vid while wearing my first tour ZPZ shirt from 2006. Thanks for sharing your journey Dweezil!! Grateful for your playing and equanimity...

[@JalenRawley]

Few people are pushing technology and sound as far ahead as Dweezil is, and what's fascinating is that he's applying it to music that is decades old to try and interpret what is nearly impossible to recreate. The fact that the original tones were done so long ago by someone so forward thinking and spontaneous is incredible. It's like a modern nuclear physicist taking modern knowledge and technology and applying it to the early nuclear experiments of the 1940s, making new discoveries and a more complete understanding from the fundamental building blocks of the science.

[@petergrohmuller1372]

I have the little brother of the Axe-Fx III Mark II, the FM9, and you can play “normal” sounds with it as well. 😊

[@thedweezilzappa]

Ha, thanks!

[@petergrohmuller1372]

@@thedweezilzappa You´re welcome. What fascinates me almost more about my FM9, than the incredible sounds, is the crazy attention to details of the software experts at Fractal Audio. I think that the 2026 update will even take into account the constellation of Jupiter's moons in relation to the tube types in the amp-simulations. 🤣

[@thedweezilzappa]

Thank you for the fun analogy.

[@alguitarchristie]

As a lifetime fan of your dad, I think it's incredible that you get close to your dads feel and tone, it's so impressive. Your dad lives through you and that is really special to me, as we will never see his like again. You are awesome dude!

[@thedweezilzappa]

Thanks so much!

[@benderocks788]

@@thedweezilzappa Dweezil, @15:55, is that Eddie's "Cathedral" chord?

[@thedweezilzappa]

@@benderocks788 Yes it is!

[@benderocks788]

@@thedweezilzappa 🎶👂😁👂🎶

[@muzikmonkeyman1]

I really dig when you play Zoot Allures through the Fractal rig. It sounds amazing. Thanks man, we just love this stuff. Don't stop .

[@seanmurphy26]

Dude Dweeze !! Just wanted to say thank you so much for doing everything you can to bring the music to us !! Sad to see you have to sell gear just to be on the road !! Dude, we acknowledge your great sacrifice !! Can't thank you enough, I need to see you at least 10 more times here in South Texas before I start my crappy garage Zappa band..

[@thisissparta-music6875]

Again another Brilliant video by Dweezil and just can’t get enough of his pedal effect wisdom and explanation!

[@thedweezilzappa]

Thanks. I am working on a video series that shows how I tested dozens of pedals to see if they would work in my touring rig. I hope to add it to you-tube soon.

[@HoraceMash]

Deeelicious flange-wah! Oh, to know the signal chain of shut up and play your guitar, or treacherous cretins, or that cheeky little intro to drowning witch. Maybe one day, all these goodies could be revealed, perhaps as a delightful accompaniment to the wonderful “Zappa gear“ book. Still, in the meantime, it’s videos like these that give me hope I might one day understand such sonic mysteries. thank you Dweezil for keeping this musical flame, burning bright!

[@lousekoya1803]

Thank you for bringing us some videos and stories Dweezil ! Greetings from Quebec !

[@thedweezilzappa]

Coming to Quebec in 2025!

[@lousekoya1803]

@@thedweezilzappa Great ! Thanks for letting me know ! I'll tell my friends !

[@TVoltG]

Such a cool circus of sound. I really love the innovation.

[@thedweezilzappa]

Thanks!

[@wonder6789]

Vote Dweezil for President of the Galaxy 20024 👿👹👾💢💥👽

[@TheRange7]

To me, there are a handful of people that can make the Fractal sound like an old fashioned Valve amp. Dweezil is one for sure. The other is a not well known enough bluesman, Gary Cain. BTW, Dweezil if you read these comments, you're one of the most humble and cool guys in the music industry. Keep being that guy, love ya young sir.

[@thedweezilzappa]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@326vince]

Awsome. It’s rare that a talented musician like FZ has a son that can keep his dads flowing in an incredible manner! Thanks!!!

[@thedweezilzappa]

Thank you!

[@BetterCallJohn]

DZ is one of the best human beings in the multiverse. God (Frank) bless you DZ 💛

[@jasonkennedy1670]

Fractal frat house fridge ⚡️🎸🔥

[@coopercarter]

FTW

[@FoxroxElectronics]

15:34 My ears perked up! 😊 You get the most awesome sounds. And you have the technique to really milk it. Thank you for all you do!

[@Tomski1001]

Thankyou so much for yours and your father's music, it means so much to a lot of people. As someone that missed seeing Frank by about a year it's been that much more poignant to see you play it numerous times. I am a Fractal user and only dived in to that universe so I could reproduce Zappa guitar tones and FX, I have managed to get some interesting and sometimes song specific sounds like the feeding back flanged tone of Yo Mama! I know it probably won't happen but I hope you and the Fractal guys release pack of Zappa presets one day, I think a lot of people would be interested in that.

[@rockitlikeawolf]

amazing sounds man. holy shit. i'd love to see the signal path going on. .. so bad ass.

[@youropionmattersnot]

Such a beautiful master of the craft. Always loved the Dweez.

[@tomcoryell]

Frank pushed technology. He would have used Fractals.

[@noturnleftunstoned72]

Best sounding gig in a long time.

[@antman2826]

That Dyna Flanger doubling sound is really effective. Creates a unique tone and spacial effect. Really cool sound to be able to do live.

[@johnsabal777]

Fantastic sounds all around. Layers! Effected mixed with pure tone = big revelation. Especially tasty at 15:14 > 15:27: Hearing modulation subtleties / spirit of Diver Down / 1984 EVH alive and well! Then followed by that luminous "Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy" Cmaj7th tape flanger sound. So cool.

[@jackmanbussey]

Wow , Like Father like Son , Kudo's Dweezil , You're an inspiration , just as Your Father was to Me ! Rock On !

[@Chef_Jeff69]

This is a whole lotta Guitarded Nerd stuff. 🤘🏼

[@fisch723]

Sounds amazing, Dweezil! Keep it up (and Keep it Greasy!)

[@SaberToothGary]

Hey Dweez! REFRIGERATOR!! Coming soon... think, Royal Oak Theater in Detroit... CHEERS!!

[@kellystatley7266]

Dweetz man, 1st time I worked your show as a stage monkey, you had Terry Bozio come in as guest drummer, that kit was being put together with a brother Trey behind me as I was helping set up bass world...after listening to the drum tech tell about Terry's kit that was to big to tour with....and listen from backstage....I then realized that you were going to develop in the footsteps of your dad, a world known legend, Thanks for the memories of yesteryear and keep the sounds amped brother man...peace

[@RoelCyborg]

Dweezil , I think you would have love making synt /keyboard sounds . Tinkering /soundscaping with synthesizers/native Instruments is just endless / infinite .

[@chadgaliano330]

I respect this level of obsession. Madman.

[@adiohead]

Listening with headphones and loving the stereo sounds. I'd love to run a stereo amp rig using a Soldano SLO and a Mesa MkIV for that Silverchair Freakshow tone.

[@hawedehre]

13:25 Thank you very much. This is enough interesting sounds for today. I’ll come back tomorrow for the rest. 👍

[@Batsinthebelltower]

3:23 "if you use analog pedals going into it, it sounds great as youve an analog front end" Ive an axe II XL+ and i do find it to be less pleasing than playing a real tube amp. One way ive gotten round that feel is to use a tubescreamer pedal before the axe unit for a different feel - but a better way, is to use an all analog speaker simulation instead of a digital IR ; the ada microcab after the axe fx gives it a MUCH nice sound and feel , try it out man , its a big difference !

[@tymanngruter1808]

Frank looks down and says..... its good what you do munchkin! 😊

[@stefano.salari]

Whoah Dweezil, this video would deserve a hundreds thumbs up! Personally I don't have the Fractal but with my rig I can split the signal and take some ideas to spice up my sound as well. By the way, I find your playing AMAZING!!! I really wish I had the chance to see you live in Italy... Just to let you know... Think about it. 😅

[@jonn8163]

You the man Dweezil ! 🎸

[@MEGAMIGA]

Fantastic sounds! A true Zappa heritage!

[@lucasalmeida240]

Man, what an incredible sound... Reflection: The guy with equipment that easily costs over 20 thousand dollars... and I want to buy a measly $250 guitar lol

[@Dilla4life]

Get down Dweezle!!! A friend of mine took a pee next to you at one of your shows in Detroit back in the 90’s-ish…so we’re basically brothers

[@roberteffler3382]

Frank would be proud, I know I would be

[@idiotburns]

This is a top tier rig, for any musician, well designed

[@HenritheHorse]

Nice you got that green Foxrox TZF2! Sadly missed out on those, because I thought he'd never make one again.

[@thedweezilzappa]

It's great! I love it!

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Hey Dweezil, you're really great at explaining gear!

[@thedweezilzappa]

Thanks, I might do some video tutorial stuff soon.

[@jettbarlaan1824]

​@@thedweezilzappawould be really cool! If you've got time, think you could do a tutorial on how to setup splitting your signal like in this current rig iteration?

[@Tognar]

Dweezil... your live tone melted my face!!! You're able to do that much processing of tone, but it still cuts. The FX are not in the way. I could not put my finger on what was going on, but it was just killer.

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

The dual wah tone was excellent.

[@JEM133]

Saw Dweezil in August, Reno, great show! Let me talk about you, like you're not here,thanks Dweezil!

[@robertdouble559]

I know you asked us not to listen on a phone, but I did, and it still sounded freakin BADASS!!!

[@bbingtube]

Love ya brother Dweezy ❤

[@skaterdave5650]

Maestro del tono!

[@davejackson8376]

Outstanding, you Sir are a guru of advanced tone.

[@jamesmackay4652]

Yip,and you have your own intoneations,terrific.

[@jayboy6895]

Dweezil. Please come back to the Uk 🇬🇧

[@123jkjk123]

Hey. some guy is making off with the Les Paul! 16:54

[@Paul-dw2cl]

it’s ok, he’s with BLM

[@graemehyndman394]

Dweezil is a monster guitar player!, could do one heck of metal record !

[@thedweezilzappa]

Maybe one day...

[@mikerobo2112]

Sounds cool.

[@tungtobak]

Nice. I'm gonna try the dual wah thing left and right with the stuff I have and see what comes out. A Palmer splitter, a Boss FV50 dual output expression pedal, a TWA Triskelion on the left and a Moog Minifooger Drive on the right, both with sweepable frequency through expression.

[@abacad]

This is incredibly inspiring-thank you! 🎨

[@JRP3music]

I miss my rack gear, I still have it. I used ADA MP-1 for ever. Rocktron Replifex and Intellifex. I currently use 3 channel tube heads w/reactive load. Send the out if the reactive load to my stereo fx chain. Return to 2 Two Notes Torpedo Cab M plus IR DI boxes split to PA and stereo power amp. I am happy with my gear now. I am looking at the old Fractal AX8. Only as a grab and go option.

[@badabbotexists]

12:00 Cool !!

[@SharpEdgeStandardOfficial]

Dweezil, you are the God Father of the Fractal rig world that sounded absolutely amazing. How are you triggering the pedals in them drawers from the pedalboard? Through the FM12?

[@theguitarexplorium]

I still have my Wiggy head - that should definitely be in the rig! 😁

[@thedweezilzappa]

I need to make some videos showing what it does!

[@theguitarexplorium]

@@thedweezilzappa yes! it's a unique bit of kit, I think people will dig it 👍

[@6Stringers]

its cool to see someone like Dweezil using FR cabs. Ive been torn between building a rig around my fm3 using fr or power amps and cabs. I kinda dont want to use guitar cabs because it seems to defeat the purpose of having all the great sounding cab simulation in the fm3 just to turn it off, but on the other hand Ive read some bad stuff about fr as well. Seeing Dweezil using fr kinda renews its viability for me in my setting

[@thedweezilzappa]

I've always preferred using the FR set up. It is great for live and in the studio. Way more flexible.

[@pedroleal7118]

Will you ever made a demo of what your father called "the blue box"? It's was a kind of 'slicer'+ 'octaver+phase shifting'...Take care! ps used maybe used in the 'Shut up and play your guitar' solos series. Can't remember the title...

[@thedweezilzappa]

This is the second mention of the blue box. I don't know of anything other than the MXR rach units, Flanger Doubler and the delay units he had. Do you have an interview link or source where dad discusses the blue box? I'd love to know. Thanks.

[@MrHellfinger]

Like number 777 reporting in. Great video. Dweezil is amazing. I love his vibe and approach to mastering his father's music. Truly a virtuoso of the instrument.

[@brucewood6126]

"Willie The Pimp" is Sick!!! 👍😎

[@nickbellinger1047]

good vid man, i will benefit from the bit about doubling for sure .....legend

[@johnmcdonough666]

Johnson Millenniums could do cool stereo stuff wayyyyyy back in the day.

[@BillLarkinmusic]

I love all this !!!!

[@captainsouth4460]

I could live the rest of my life at a ZPZ show !

[@mikeunderforester]

Sounds awesome 👍

[@InternetTRex]

Just as I started to GAS over an Axe III, the youtube algorithm has absolutely killed it icl

[@BAXTEREATSPOO]

I could watch this stuff for hours instead of practicing. Thanks for the distraction.

[@massapower]

Nothing bears ANALOG BABY... If Frank Zappa was able to do it, then so be it😎👊

[@PJCobi]

*_Digital has come a long way!_*

[@GabeHelma]

Sounds like you could do some cool Hendrix type sounds with that rig too

[@evanward4303]

How are the guitars panned in the FOH mix? Do you cheat L and R towards center? If so, how much?

[@thedweezilzappa]

My FOH mostly leaves the panning set forth in the presets. He may adjust panning from FOH if need be but usually it stays wide.

[@jangrndahllorenzen3176]

Dweezil please Come back to Denmark or the Zappanale festival in northern Germany

[@SharpEdgeStandardOfficial]

I wish we could have heard the famous guitar+violin patch! Can’t find any videos online of it:(

[@hustlinc3540]

So its basically a miracle that frank even made any music back in the day :D

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

Frank cut a lot of tape, man, like, way more than you’re thinking.

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

^ so, yes.

[@liveprofessorcn]

the efx are wide and sparkle , mean while very clear~~~ very different from traditional serial signal .

[@adeladnani3713]

Awesome 💥💥💥💥

[@walterevans2118]

Like a harmony/ ring modulator in stereo? That’s interesting 😮.If you had two wah wah pedals on the same channel not in stereo they might cancel each other out so the stereo is important. But I might have that wrong….That riff reminds me of VH riff of Cabo Wabo actually…Is that Dad’s SG there running through the rig ? (Paul)

[@bruceniblett959]

Dweezil rocks

[@aamar00]

I've been trying to set up a stereo sound that suits me for a long time, but I haven't been able to. There are several tips here that I wouldn't have thought of-excellent advice, and as always, your tone is perfect. I hope to see you live someday. Greetings from Chile

[@johnhotz1400]

I hate my tone sounds like a.m radio not getting a good signal!

[@jamesmackay4652]

Great sound for Camarilo Brillow.

[@Dilla4life]

Also…I love refrigerator sized racks

[@Abyss60]

Good evening Frank was interested in the fractal world, ho an application for dweezil's material. which became the famous blue box that we knew on stage in 1978/84…

[@thedweezilzappa]

Not sure what you are referring to. The blue boxes I recall in his rig were the MXR flanger doubler and the delay unit that he used for looping phrases.

[@gadymarcus2362]

Bello/Magnifico.🙏✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️👑

[@skipneumann1]

Are your presets available? Cool sounds!

[@attherateofarobase]

Hi Dweezil, does your FOH engineer then mix the band in full stereo for the audience to hear the full spread of your tones, or do they mix it in mono so that it sounds the same in all parts of the venue, and if so do the sounds collapse well to mono without phasing issues?

[@thedweezilzappa]

The sounds I use are mono compatible for the most part because we do play in a lot of venues with mono PA systems.

[@kaneduke581]

you know how hard this is to program in an axe fx 2 but its a journey i get it

[@silvansky]

Great trick with parralel wah pedal sound, gonna use it. ;) Please tell us about this SG guitar, what are these additional controls for?

[@thedweezilzappa]

Cool. The guitar has a preamp and an eq circuit. The extra knobs are there to add gain and change the eq curve.

[@silvansky]

Thanks! I see you really like active guitar circuits, great! I have a sustainer in one of my guitars and it's circuit acts as a preamp even when the sustainer mode is off, I found that guitar sounds really brighter with the active circuit. Thinking about experiments with others. =)

[@No.0.o.0]

Still want that violin cello patch

[@MourningTalkShow]

What the hell is going on with that guitar case on the floor? It looks like you can see the speaker right through it...

[@AmundBlixAaeng]

Soooo cool , love it! What cabinets are you using Dweezil?

[@thedweezilzappa]

QSC K12

[@ToddHastings-ji5lp]

You need a Stratocaster with a whammy bar....

[@chriskrueger1865]

Total tone geekery