Need more Zappa-esque guitar.
May 1, 2013 6:24 PM   Subscribe

After 40 years of ignoring Frank Zappa, I recently bought his "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar" and I'm in love with his playing and tone on that album - especially the tracks featuring his SG copy, which sounds fantastic. What other instrumental guitar albums/players have a similar rich warm tone?
posted by davebush to Media & Arts (8 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
http://bandslikezappa.com
posted by blob at 7:40 PM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


first off, more Zappa! you've got another 40+ albums to check out. Shut Up is mostly 70's era Zappa, so start there. You Can't Do That Onstage Anymore v2 is a good one.

I think he's a really unique guitar player - both his tone and his phrasing are so distinctive. You could start with his son Dweezil, who does a pretty good impression these days with Zappa plays Zappa, or maybe Mike Kineally, who was in the '88 band. Steve Vai also got his start in Zappa's band, but I don't think their styles are that similar.
posted by chbrooks at 11:47 PM on May 1, 2013


Yes, seconding the fact that there is a LOT more Zappa to explore. But if you need a break ... when I think "rich, warm tone," I immediately think Eric Johnson.
posted by jbickers at 6:11 AM on May 2, 2013


Agree on digging further in to Zappa...

and

Check out:

Tom Verlaine (the album warm and cool is fantastic)

The Bevis Frond - sort of a weird mix of neo-psychedelia and garage rock

Buckethead (yes, he shreds but he also does jazz, punk, funk, space music)

Jon Frusciante (his solo albums are weird and very skillful)
posted by bobdow at 7:57 AM on May 2, 2013


Definitely more Zappa, I am crazy for the guitar on One Size fits All, it's a gorgeous warm sinewy marvel. Exemplified in the solo on Inca Roads (from 2:00) Ohh!
posted by freya_lamb at 2:16 PM on May 2, 2013


Response by poster: Thanks everyone - I'm well aware of Zappa's extensive discography, but I'm not a huge fan of his lyrical approach, which is why I've avoided him over the years. I plan to pick up all his purely instrumental work, however. It's that guitar I now crave.
posted by davebush at 3:38 PM on May 2, 2013


check out: Danny Gatton and the Redneck Blues Explosion
Terje Rypdal
http://alexmachacek.com/
posted by ergomatic at 8:59 PM on May 2, 2013


Best answer: I would check out the band Patto, the almost completely unknown guitarist Ollie Halsall used an SG custom and is, to me, superior to Zappa, at least on lead guitar fluidity and speed. They are pretty unsung as a band as well.
posted by tremspeed at 8:49 PM on May 27, 2013


« Older Build-it-yourself wood hot tub - crazy?   |   Recessed ceiling lights, no attic: Ridiculous... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.