The Elusive Billy Gibbons ZZ Top Guitar Tone (My attempt...)

Guitar tone fascinates me, and there's a certain gritty nastiness to the sound heard in the video of ZZ Top playing live on "The Tube" from 1983, it's so vicious and delicious that I had to try getting some of that out of my rig. Did I do it? You be the judge...
I also realised that when turning the guitar volume down it sounded a lot like that 1980 live from Germany video, which is another cool tone.
The audio wasn't well recorded here because I wasn't planning on filming a video and therefore didn't bring my recording equipment. The phone camera audio will have to do for now until I record a better version.

"No extra charge for the mistakes" as Guthrie Trapp always says.

Gear:
Harley Benton Les Paul copy
Power Booster/Overdriver kit
Supro Tremolo (w/o tremolo)
ZT Lunchbox amp (old version)
ZT Lunchbox external cab

Content:
Intro 0:00
1983 The Tube Tone 3:50
1980 Germany Tone 7:25
Gear run through 13:00

Support me and get tabs etc:

Tip Jar:

Find my original music here:

[ttswan]

Yea, that bass proximity effect works, and it applies to 4x12 cabs as well where the sound is bigger than you'd expect a 12" speaker to be. The response of the speaker is still 12" quick but hits like a 15" - cool

[ttswan]

Man, that was great to hear a talented Tonemeister like you playin what he loves and doin it so well! What's that Power Booster/Overdriver Kit you're using in this video based on? Glad to Sub you, lookin forward to what's comin. And that ZZTop The Tube TV show in the UK, checked it out. Billy's tone was smokin heavy, loved it - you're so right! Thanks for the heads up.

[shawneec]

Killer tone, what was your amp settings? I was able to get my early Zz top tone from my Marshall sv20c using treble at 7 o clock, middle at 1 o clock, bass at 12 o clock and presence at 9 o clock. I also used a older vintage bright Jensen speaker in the Marshall. if you take a listened to billy gibbons tone closely he’s anti treble. He wants his amp to sounds a lot like tweed

[atticusfinch]

Sounds pretty spot on!
Great Demos as always!
I saw that Deguello tour here in Baton Rouge.
I guess growing up listening to ZZ I still prefer the tones of the early albums

Love the Flying While Blind!