Gretsch Billy Bo “Live From Texas” Billy Gibbons
Gretsch Billy Bo “Live From Texas” Billy Gibbons
Billy “BFG” Gibbons is known for his incredible collection of great instruments. But even though ZZ Top has been touring for nearly half a century (or close to it), the thousands of concerts the band has played have not been enough for him to take all his precious custom guitars on the road. Therefore, when he chooses one, it has to be particularly striking. And when he chooses one for a live DVD, it has to be especially special.
You might recognize this white Billy Bo since you’ve probably seen it on the cover of the 2008 DVD, Live From Texas, a ZZ Top concert best-of filmed at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas, on November 1, 2007. This DVD was a huge success, going multi-platinum and topping video charts in many countries. Throughout the entire concert, Gibbons plays this Gretsch.
It was specially made for him in Japan with a hollow body to make it lighter, then heavily customized. The ebony fingerboard was painted white for a “total white” effect, larger side markers were added on the fingerboard (essential when filming a live DVD to avoid fixing mistakes in the mix), and the incredible pinstriping was designed by Gibbons himself. Finally, the inevitable finishing touch for a guitar played live by ZZ Top is, of course, the “Beer” logo on the back, added by Gibbons’s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis.
Like all guitars from Billy Gibbons’s collection sold by Matt’s Guitar Shop and purchased directly from Gibbons himself, this historic Gretsch is signed by the Reverend on the back of the headstock and comes with a signed certificate of authenticity, a photo of Billy holding the guitar, a photo of Billy signing the guitar, and a photo of Billy signing the certificate. This is our way of guaranteeing that you are truly buying his instrument.
Billy Gibbons, the Boss and the Reverend of Rock’n’Roll
Billy Gibbons is the undisputed boss. The boss of guitarists, with that sensual vibrato and thick, burrito-like tone he draws from his Les Paul. The boss of singers, thanks to that gritty, twang-laden voice. The boss of bandleaders, at the helm of ZZ Top, the trio that has remained together since 1969. The boss of style, too, with his innate sense of look and stagecraft. And finally, the boss of collectors: his warehouses house several thousand guitars amassed over the years. Rumor has it he owns one of every model, from every year, from all the major brands—and it may well not be just a legend! Among the known gems of his collection are “Pearly Gates,” his legendary 1959 Les Paul that has never left his side, a ’54 hardtail Stratocaster often used as a complement, and countless custom instruments in the hot rod spirit (often matching his cars!).
His career began in 1967 with The Moving Sidewalks, a Texas psychedelic rock band in the vein of the 13th Floor Elevators. The band opened for Jimi Hendrix before breaking up in 1969, the year Gibbons founded ZZ Top.
Initially, the trio played raw, traditional blues rock, before moving toward a more electronic approach starting with Degüello (1979). This evolution continued with the trilogy Eliminator / Afterburner / Recycler: three albums where Gibbons’ greasy blues merged with the era’s synthesizers and drum machines. The blend won over a wide audience, thanks both to hits like Gimme All Your Lovin’ and Rough Boy and the band’s memorable videos, omnipresent on MTV and in any solid American rock’n’roll playlist.
Later, ZZ Top returned to a heavier, more organic, fuzz-saturated sound. Gibbons multiplied guest appearances on other artists’ records and even pursued a solo career. Perfectamundo explored Cuban sounds, while Big Bad Blues returned to his first loves—somewhere between Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley.
Billy Gibbons’ collection inspires, fascinates, and amazes—so much so that it prompted a book: the famous Rock + Roll Gearhead brings together many of his favorite guitars, accompanied by entertaining anecdotes. Whether in this book or on the walls of Matt’s Guitar Shop, these instruments embody much of the American rock’n’roll ideal!
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