Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, Finland

Apparently, Billy liked my blue guitar and stopped back to make me an offer but I was gone. By the way, the finish on the guitar is Daphne Blue, not Sea Foam Green. It is indeed a great guitar. It's extremely articulate. It has small vintage 6230 frets and a 7.25" neck radius. The pickups are Fender Custom Shop 54's. The bridge assembly is Callaham with a full size steel block. The neck is substantial and I have it set very straight with almost no relief. It has soft-V contour and a nitro finish. The whole instrument is vintage spec. You can hear more of it on this video shot by a retired economist in Copenhagen who heard me on the street and asked if he could record me.

That guitar was assembled by a gifted luthier in Pennsylvania from excellent parts selected by me. Most of the parts were purchased over eBay. You don't need a name brand instrument today to own a great guitar.

I have another excellent parts Stratocaster with a cherry red body by MJ Tele that I won in an eBay auction. It has a somewhat thinner C-shaped neck, 9.5" radius, and 6105 fret wire, tall and narrow, although I like the fact that they are quite worn down now. The rest of the hardware and pickups are the same as in the blue one. A few videos:

For anyone who is interested, my PhD dissertation was a psychometric study of musician personality and occupational stress. I collected data from about 1,400 musicians over the Internet using an in-depth survey that contained 60 items measuring the Big Five dimensions of personality as well as items measuring stress and numerous musician-related variables. It's a free download.

Nine clusters of musicians emerged using a robust algorithm that sorted musicians based on the similarity of their personality profiles. Each musician's personality profile consisted of scores for Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. I ordered the clusters by Neuroticism because this personality dimension was the strongest predictor of occupational stress and psychosomatic troubles. It turns out that the cluster highest in Neuroticism and lowest in Agreeableness (cluster 9) had a disproportionate number of jazz and rock musicians. Musicians in that cluster were also low on Extroversion and Conscientiousness. They reported the highest levels of stress and psychosomatic troubles.

Best wishes,
Emmanuel Angel, PhD

[randypoffo]

I met Billy in Ontario Canada while shopping at a cigar shop. We both liked the same cigars and he bought me mine. Helluva nice guy.

[jeremystone]

I bet he LOVES the fact that he can just stand there and play without being swarmed by the fans

[el_chief_dannyboy]

I can’t believe people are just walking like nothing passed a legend!

[razorsharpe]

Billy is a very humble guy. He was nice enough to talk to me for about 15 minutes at my work one day . I told him ZZ was the first concert I had ever seen and that Just Got Back from Baby’s was my favorite tune of theirs. And he goes “ Aw man those are still some of my favorite licks.” while doing a little air guitar riff. He actually remembered the tiny venue I saw them at. He also asked if I was from Texas and shook my hand after. Just a down to earth great musician.

[HandsomeCat-wedq]

Nobody has a clue it's Billy. A guitar LEGEND!!!!

[Vinylfiend]

Billy is one of the greatest blues guitarists in the world. A national treasure. 😁

[mikehayden]

I didn't believe it at first, but that sound, nobody else can replicate that.

[Eric_W_Bell]

There is not a cooler guitarist than Billy Gibbons. The man has never had a bad tone ever either.

[ythinder]

Absolute legend, he's in disguise not wearing his cheap sunglasses

[bryanturner]

Often overlooked, he is one of the best blues guitarists ever.

[marcblum]

Most guitarists would be proud to record such solo in the studio. BG just drops it when walking by. Legend.

[cato]

Even using a strat through a street players amp he sounds like the reverend. What a tone that man produces.

[Plowguitarist]

You could literally give Billy ANY guitar and amp and he’ll sound great. Mad respect for this super cool cat 🫡

[MrPotatochips]

You’re busking, Billy Gibbons walks by. Handing him your guitar is the only sensible move. OK I'll watch it again.

[chrisn.]

Billy is one of those guys that picks up any guitar and it still sounds like Billy.

[robertcowan]

Man, dig that sound. That's Billy laying down greatness on a regular sunny afternoon. Doesn't get any better.

[kevins]

Gibbons is all about the groove/feel. Most guitarists would show off a bunch of flashy licks at a moment like this but BG actually compliments the backing track. He is a true artist.

[williamwilson]

Man, if I was walking down the street and Billy Gibbons was playing his guitar like that, I would lose my freakin mind.

[jmooch]

That is hilarilous🤣 People passing by the equivalent of Jimi Hendrix! I love Billy’s playing. Legend.

[nbl]

This proves that people don't care about music anymore. Just the entertainment and celebrity aspect of it.