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rileydog22 View Drop Down
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Points: 8844 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Zappa's "shimmering" tone
    Posted: November 24 2008 at 18:04
Does anybody know how Zappa got that kind of "sparkling" guitar tone featured throughout the Grand Wazoo?  It's most prominent in beginning of the title track, but it's heard elsewhere on the album too.

I'm not looking for specifics, I'm just curious as to the general method for getting that kind of tone. 

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jammun View Drop Down
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Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2008 at 21:07
Your best bet is to try to find a FZ interview from say Downbeat or Guitar Player, from the era.  He'd usually get into the technical stuff of this or that particular album.
 
I remember one interview where he mentioned all of the guitar on Zoot Allures was played/recorded through a PigNose amp, which one would never realize listening to the album.
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Points: 95 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 25 2008 at 18:42
Well he has an auto-wah and maybe a bit of phaser as well.  But during that era he managed to get a real "acoustic"-y sound out of his electrics, I don't know how.  My guess is either compression to exaggerate the attack, or micing the guitar itself and mixing it with the original signal...or both.
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ProgBagel View Drop Down
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Points: 2819 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 25 2008 at 20:46
So much of his equipment was customized it gets ridiculous. Not only can he compose and play, but he was a genious in developing accessories for his guitars. Best be finding interviews as someone above stated. He really explored different recording methods as well.
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Points: 95 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2008 at 04:12
Originally posted by ProgBagel ProgBagel wrote:

So much of his equipment was customized it gets ridiculous. Not only can he compose and play, but he was a genious in developing accessories for his guitars.
 
That's true. I wouldn't be shocked if he was experimenting with piezo pickups or something like that back then.
 
 
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Rabid View Drop Down
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Points: 512 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 10 2008 at 11:36
Sounds like a combination of Sherman filter-bank and Wah-Wah position. It's lovely ! Tongue
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