No, the neck doesn't really get cold as it's got two wood inserts in the neck - the only aluminium that comes into contact with your hand are two strips down the edge of the neck (rather like the binding on a Les Paul) and a strip down the centre of the neck (like the skunk stripe used to cover the truss rod on Fenders). The whole construction feels rock solid.
Yes, it does sustain very well. The combination of the rock solid contruction, aluminium neck and DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups make it sustain more than any other guitar I own. At the risk of plugging my own video, my "If Gary Moore joined Zappa Plays Zappa" video shows off the Kramer's sustain pretty well.
dude, your playing was amazing... if it was only audio, you could easily fool any zappa fan... and dweezil should watch this a bit, and find what he's missing...
Thanks very much indeed. I saw Zappa Plays Zappa in concert a few months ago and I've got to say Dweezil was sounding pretty good himself (although not quite as good as his dad).
Thanks very much. Yes, it's an aluminium neck Kramer DMZ1000 - it's got wood inserts in the rear of the neck, which tend to warm the feel of the neck up a bit. The sustain of this guitar is outstanding - I can't understand why they didn't become more popular.
Kev, I have been listening to Frank Zappa for over 30 yesrs and you may be the greatest guitarist I have ever seen. Do you think you could play Transylvania Boogie?
Thanks very much - that's quite a compliment. I'd quite like to do a cover of Transylvania Boogie - if I can find a backing track, I probably do one in the new year.
@youvinicio If you mean can I compare Zappa to Kev, whose playing does not lack soul, in my opinion, then, yes, I can compare them. I just did, in fact. As did you.
WoW, it's amazing how close you get to zappas style. Very good work. Dou you learned to play like him just by listening his music a lot? or did you studied the sheets and tryed to sound them as close as posible?? in that case, what song would you recomend for practice his licks?
Thanks. Even though I also own the Frank Zappa guitar book, I've never sat down and studied it - although I have listened to Zappa for over 30 years, so that helps. To get the Zappa sound here I just used a couple of Zappa "fingerprints" - i.e. quite a lot of playing on the low notes, displaced rhythms, etc. The choice of scale also helps - this video backing track alternates between an A major and a B major chord. Using an E major scale over this produces a Zappa like effect.
Thanks. I know what you mean about "playing & doing fitness" - these Kramers are on the heavy side, but they're great. You do still see the occasional one on Ebay, if you're ever interested in getting hold of another one.
Thanks very much indeed. I'm afraid I don't have any tabs of this stuff as it's all improvised. However, I do have some transcriptions of Zappa's solos in pdf format if you're interested.
hey man i think you've got a kramer dmz2000 not 1000, all the reviews i found say the 1000 has a body made from 2 pieces of maple with koa strips and the 2000 is one piece of maple, i think thats the case anyway.
by the way excellent playing! alot of zappas best stuff it written around varients of that mode. he uses the same idea for for black napkins, only he substitutes the second major in the chord progression for the relative minor i.e instead of E to D its C#min to D... im rambling now...
Thanks - you could be right about this being a DMZ 2000. I bought the guitar secondhand back in the 80s and the guy in the shop didn't give it a model name. It looks more like a DMZ 1000 to me because every image of a DMZ 2000 I've seen has lighter strips of wood running up the middle of the body - still, I could well be wrong...
Wow, that was great. No idea what scales that was. Definitely beyond your typical pentatonic/blues scale stuff, which is about as far as I (and most guitar players) go.
Thanks very much - although I must tell you that what I'm doing here is really pretty basic. I'm just using a straight Emajor scale and playing over a progression that alternates between an A major and a B major chord. The fact that the progression doesn't resolve is what gives the solo a certain "off" feel. If you'd like to try it, just send me your email address in a private message to my Youtube account and I'll be happy to send you an mp3 of this backing track.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
that's a horrible insult to frank and anybody who knows what his playing is really about. it certainly has little in common with the sensless wanking you did on that video. please take it off of youtube and give FZ the respect that he deserves. in other words: SHUT UP AND SHUT THAT GUITAR UP TOO
very good zappa playing guitar tribute cheers you got it brother crazydave here i be a old zappa and tom jones fun i play very crazy music is whati like too do rock on
Thanks. I've never tried to open a beer with it - although I would imagine it'd very handy for toasting teacakes over an open fire (two at a time, of course).
man, this is the best zappa approximation ever, guitar mags included. any chance you could tab some of the repeating riffs or some of the fast descending stufff or any of it really. im just gettin into modal playin and that would be a great thing if you have time. excellent playing. really fucking good
Thanks very much. It's a bit tricky for me to TAB this out as it's really just an improv - what gives it a Zappa type sound is just the choice of scale. The chord progression alternates between A major and B major - by using an E major scale over these chords the solo acquires a sort of "suspended" feel which Zappa used a lot. I hope that's of some help - if you send me your e-mail address in a private message to my account I'll be happy to e-mail you an mp3 of the backing track.
Not really. The backing track came from an old guitar magazine and it's just a sort of generic FZ reggae groove. Having said that, the title is influenced by the Variations on the Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression.
A review of this guitar? What can I say? The guitar is a Kramer DMZ1000. It's extremely solid to play owing to the aluminium neck - most players are not aware of any lack of rigidity on a wooden necked guitar, but the neck on this guitar is rock solid. The pickups are DiMarzios - the combination of neck and pickups means that the guitar has an extremely long sustain. All accessories on this guitar are 1970s state of the art - Badass bridge, DiMarzio pickups, Schaller machine heads - it's great.
Thanks very much indeed. I take it that your remark about pull-offs was prompted by Jonahhakanson's comment below - and you're quite right, of course. In fact, I think every guitarist utilises licks based on the extensive use of pull-offs at some point. They're a great device.
This is pretty good emulation. Unfortunately, Zappa virtually never does hammer-on/pull-off stuff. Also, it has a lot of what Zappa himself referred to in his autobiography as "weedle-eee-weedle-eee-wee" phrases... and he avoided those like the plague. The modality is correct, the rhythmic patterns are typical late-Zappa. I'd call this a Zappa a la Vai solo.
You had me confused for a second there, but then I suddenly understood! You're quite right - there's nothing quite like a spot of reento-teee-nooooo-neeeeeee-n ooooneeeee. Thanks very much.
Wow - 'made me shiver, that was sooo good! Thank you for sharing.
I'm off to see Zappa Plays Zappa in Santa Rosa tomorrow night... 'so glad there are so many talent blokes like you keeping the music alive... shred-on my friend!
Thanks very much indeed. I missed a chance to see Zappa Plays Zappa in Manchester last year - now that I've seen a DVD of the band, I regret it. Have a good time at the gig.
On this video I'm just using an E major scale over a progression that alternates between an A major and a B major chord, so it gives it that slightly "suspended" feel. It was a favourite trick of FZ's.
Apologies for making you feel that way - that wasn't my intention! And anyway, I suppose you could call a major scale an Ionian mode - so in a way, you were right.
You're welcome, kev. Gotta love that shifting tonal centre. Keeps your brain in a twilight realm yearning to resolve. Better than being fed hackneyed motifs and predictable cadences. I'm gonna pimp you out to my friend Zappa Dave.
This guitar is actually a Kramer DMZ1000 - it's slightly different to a Travis Bean in that the aluminium neck doesn't run through the body. The neck also has wooden inserts, creating the appearance of an aluminium stripe down the back of the neck. I bought it in Liverpool circa 1987 for (I think) £180. I think you can buy them nowadays for around £250.
And finally...if you want to hear more of this guitar, you could download my FREE CD; just click on the link to the right of the video.
sweet il download that Cd when I get on my laptop. So would you recommend this guitar to an intermediate player? If so were could I find one of these?
Yeah, I'd definitely recommend one of these guitars. You do see them occasionally on eBay - or you could try searching on Google for stores selling secondhand ones. Mine cost around £180 twenty years ago, but they don't seem to be that much more expensive nowadays.
No, it's played through a Zoom G2.1u effects box - although the Boss pedals are great. I've still got a few old Boss pedals knocking around the house - an old Boss Octaver, a Hi-Band Flanger and a graphic EQ pedal.
You have a lot of skill... and a melodic sense as well. Nice stuff. I hear some Zappa influence, wonder if you've listened to a lot of Holdsworth too.. there's a similarity in tone and phrasing. You have a lot of speed and fluidity but still use space. Nice work.
Thanks for that, Andrew. I'm a big fan of Zappa's playing, but I've never really delved very deeply into Holdsworth's playing. He's outstandingly original and has an amazing technique - one day I'm going to get hold of some of his CDs and have a proper listen to his style.
i find it hard to listen to tbh mabye needed a bit more mid or bass on it, kinda painful on my ears, porbably just but, from the notes, seems pretty sweet
Thanks for the comment - and you're probably right about the tone. I think the combination of my camera's condenser microphone and Youtube's audio has thinned the original sound out quite a bit.
I'm using an E major scale over a progression that alternates between an A major and a B major chord, so it gives it a slightly "suspended" feel. It was a favourite trick of FZ's.
Major 3rds, 6ths & 7ths all the way through. Basically, I'm using a straight E major scale (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#), but played in such a way that emphasis is given neither to the E tonic note nor the A subdominant.
Good shit on that solo! My guess is that the "secret chord progression" is more of Zappa's personal "ear" as you hear it all the time in his playing. As a musician I feel like I have my own personal "ear" or scale as well when I create.
Not going to lie: the boom-chuck made me want to throw up into my hands, but other than that it was amazing.
TehCthulhu 3 weeks ago
Very nice.
Keepsu 1 month ago
Sounds like early Steve Vai
themanfromutopia1 2 months ago
The tone is dead-on. Very good rendition, I haven't seen someone play Zappa this close to the real thing.
metalgod27 5 months ago
Fck me ....I just thrown my guitar in the scrap bin .........excellent !!!!!
TheKunig 6 months ago 2
@TheKunig
Thanks very much (for the compliment - not for throwing your guitar in the bin).
Kev3542 6 months ago
@TheKunig Just saw this vid, so it looks like I got 4 months more out of my guitar than you did...but after seeing this, mine had the same fate!!
dwodo21 1 month ago
I've been thinking of finding one of these guitars. What does it sound like clean?
eekleefeld 8 months ago
@eekleefeld
How does it sound clean? Try this searching for "kramer sound test" - I've posted a video with that title that shows the guitar sounds clean.
Kev3542 8 months ago
Oh yeah ,I forgot about those,both have the aluminum neck.does it get cold?
Cometsamba 9 months ago
@Cometsamba
No, the neck doesn't really get cold as it's got two wood inserts in the neck - the only aluminium that comes into contact with your hand are two strips down the edge of the neck (rather like the binding on a Les Paul) and a strip down the centre of the neck (like the skunk stripe used to cover the truss rod on Fenders). The whole construction feels rock solid.
Kev3542 9 months ago
@Kev3542 sounds like it's got massive sustain
Cometsamba 9 months ago
@Cometsamba
Yes, it does sustain very well. The combination of the rock solid contruction, aluminium neck and DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups make it sustain more than any other guitar I own. At the risk of plugging my own video, my "If Gary Moore joined Zappa Plays Zappa" video shows off the Kramer's sustain pretty well.
Kev3542 9 months ago
is that a Travis Bean?
Cometsamba 9 months ago in playlist Zappaesque Stuff
@Cometsamba
No, it's a 1979 Kramer DMZ1000 - it's completely stock.
Kev3542 9 months ago
NICE job! VERY VERY Frank-esque. Seriously - beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
vanceg 10 months ago
@vanceg
Thanks...and thanks for subscribing.
Kev3542 10 months ago
I really enjoyed that! Sounded A LOT like Zappa. Maybe if you grow some facial hair and wear a turban....... lol!
ObnoxiousOldFart 10 months ago
@ObnoxiousOldFart
Thanks. The facial hair is taken care of (please see my more recent videos)...now for the turban. ..
(Thanks for subscribing)
Kev3542 10 months ago
@Kev3542 Thanks... I just noticed. ;-) Seriously good playing..... Wish you MUCH success.....
ObnoxiousOldFart 10 months ago
Honestly,if you'd made me listen to this without telling me anything,I could truly believe it's Zappa playing solo!!
MrKoolmew 11 months ago
I love it!Outstanding!
switzel1 1 year ago
Goddamn, that was good! Overtones of Zappa and Steve Vai!
dveeant 1 year ago
@dveeant
Thanks very much indeed for that.
Kev3542 1 year ago
dude, your playing was amazing... if it was only audio, you could easily fool any zappa fan... and dweezil should watch this a bit, and find what he's missing...
pedalla 1 year ago
@pedalla
Thanks very much indeed. I saw Zappa Plays Zappa in concert a few months ago and I've got to say Dweezil was sounding pretty good himself (although not quite as good as his dad).
Kev3542 1 year ago
Wow! That was fantastic man! As a guitar player myself, I can say you've inspired me to practice! BTW, is that one of the famed aluminum necks?
BitterBosh 1 year ago
@BitterBosh
Thanks very much. Yes, it's an aluminium neck Kramer DMZ1000 - it's got wood inserts in the rear of the neck, which tend to warm the feel of the neck up a bit. The sustain of this guitar is outstanding - I can't understand why they didn't become more popular.
Kev3542 1 year ago
fantastic Frank tone. Good work. Will be looking at playing some frank myself now!
Artimus666 1 year ago
Nice job!
lofi73 1 year ago
Kev, I have been listening to Frank Zappa for over 30 yesrs and you may be the greatest guitarist I have ever seen. Do you think you could play Transylvania Boogie?
susanspringbrook 1 year ago
@susanspringbrook
Thanks very much - that's quite a compliment. I'd quite like to do a cover of Transylvania Boogie - if I can find a backing track, I probably do one in the new year.
Kev3542 1 year ago
Nice. To my ears, it sounds a bit more fluid, a bit less angular than FZ's lead work but still a very finely played homage.
olflatop 1 year ago
Whatever it is, it sounds great. Good job, very reminiscent of Zappa.
And a good tone too.
Njal55 1 year ago
HE's got that Zappa "strangled goose" tone.....ill say that much
7Beyonder 1 year ago
Real nice!!!!
qpine 1 year ago
Awesome!
Really like your take on Zappa's style!
Keep up the good work!
Could you ping the backing track over to me if I sent you a private message?
Cheers
Dave
helveticascenario 1 year ago
@helveticascenario
No problem - if you send me your email address in a private message, I'll email you the backing track.
Kev3542 1 year ago
Sounds great!
johnmac4912 1 year ago
@johnmac4912
Thanks very much.
Kev3542 1 year ago
No offence to Kev, but I think that you need to listen to a bit more Zappa.
alanpitfall 1 year ago
sweet guitar
Shinybeastchase 1 year ago
This goes way, way beyond Zappa in terms of precision, technique, and fluidity, in my opinion. This is really hot.
richcapo 1 year ago
@richcapo
Thanks very much indeed.
Kev3542 1 year ago
@Kev3542 Your in your apartment
Frank would have been doing 100 other things at the same time.
That said - Your stll brill :-)
spacehopperballs 1 year ago
@richcapo Can you compare a good (but without soul) imitation with an immense production of an artist that marked the history of music?
youvinicio 1 year ago
@youvinicio If you mean can I compare Zappa to Kev, whose playing does not lack soul, in my opinion, then, yes, I can compare them. I just did, in fact. As did you.
richcapo 1 year ago
is nice. killer
memalley 1 year ago
this sucks lol
kind of have the zappa sound but not the feel or any of the greatness
AdrianMutu87 1 year ago
@AdrianMutu87 exactly just feels like too much rushing
santanaincubus 1 year ago
WoW, it's amazing how close you get to zappas style. Very good work. Dou you learned to play like him just by listening his music a lot? or did you studied the sheets and tryed to sound them as close as posible?? in that case, what song would you recomend for practice his licks?
PD: I have the Frank Zappa Real Book
Sorry for my english
aaronilai 1 year ago
@aaronilai
Thanks. Even though I also own the Frank Zappa guitar book, I've never sat down and studied it - although I have listened to Zappa for over 30 years, so that helps. To get the Zappa sound here I just used a couple of Zappa "fingerprints" - i.e. quite a lot of playing on the low notes, displaced rhythms, etc. The choice of scale also helps - this video backing track alternates between an A major and a B major chord. Using an E major scale over this produces a Zappa like effect.
Kev3542 1 year ago
Kev,
Great playing and tone........
Im sad to say i had one just like yours...a blonde DMZ-1000.
And i sold it!!,,to a guy in france.
People...if you can pick one up.......do it!
Its like playing and doing fitness at the same time ;)
kr509 1 year ago
@kr509
Thanks. I know what you mean about "playing & doing fitness" - these Kramers are on the heavy side, but they're great. You do still see the occasional one on Ebay, if you're ever interested in getting hold of another one.
Kev3542 1 year ago
that is really good! great job!
futant15 1 year ago
Great video, love the aluminum era Kramer.
nciviero 1 year ago
hi i am a songwriter from India, i wonder if we could collaborate, i tried to attach a few of my recordings but i think i did not do it right
tafxkz 1 year ago
@tafxkz
Yeah, I'd really like that - I'll send you my email address in a private message to your Youtube account.
Kev3542 1 year ago
Great!
agaton99 1 year ago
As an old Zappa head - Just AMAZING, Can you post tabs? Great album btw. Thanks!!
defmind 1 year ago
@defmind
Thanks very much indeed. I'm afraid I don't have any tabs of this stuff as it's all improvised. However, I do have some transcriptions of Zappa's solos in pdf format if you're interested.
Kev3542 1 year ago
Thank you so much, what did songs did you tab? That must have been impossible...
defmind 1 year ago
VERY nice. Very Zappa-esque, indeed. Even Frank-ish in it's overall shape.
vanceg 2 years ago
if i had to put zappas style into words: "I'm gonna let this improv take my fingers wherever the fuck they wanna go cuz i know im a fuckin genious"
FlyingFooBalls 2 years ago 2
hey man i think you've got a kramer dmz2000 not 1000, all the reviews i found say the 1000 has a body made from 2 pieces of maple with koa strips and the 2000 is one piece of maple, i think thats the case anyway.
by the way excellent playing! alot of zappas best stuff it written around varients of that mode. he uses the same idea for for black napkins, only he substitutes the second major in the chord progression for the relative minor i.e instead of E to D its C#min to D... im rambling now...
lobonapier 2 years ago
@lobonapier
Thanks - you could be right about this being a DMZ 2000. I bought the guitar secondhand back in the 80s and the guy in the shop didn't give it a model name. It looks more like a DMZ 1000 to me because every image of a DMZ 2000 I've seen has lighter strips of wood running up the middle of the body - still, I could well be wrong...
Kev3542 2 years ago
This is great man. Respect.
FRANKyyyyy100 2 years ago
Thanks very much indeed.
Kev3542 2 years ago
Very Zappa-esque! Good job!
It's nice to see people keeping his uniquely wonderful style alive. Cheers!!!
DarthKazi 2 years ago
haha this is awesome...great guitar playing...you're such a dink! (not really) lol
Diggity6470 2 years ago
Wow, that was great. No idea what scales that was. Definitely beyond your typical pentatonic/blues scale stuff, which is about as far as I (and most guitar players) go.
1Doz 2 years ago
Thanks very much - although I must tell you that what I'm doing here is really pretty basic. I'm just using a straight Emajor scale and playing over a progression that alternates between an A major and a B major chord. The fact that the progression doesn't resolve is what gives the solo a certain "off" feel. If you'd like to try it, just send me your email address in a private message to my Youtube account and I'll be happy to send you an mp3 of this backing track.
Kev3542 2 years ago
Same type of progression that's used on Inca Roads. Alternating between Lydian/Mixolydian. Really nice playing :)
Parvenu333 2 years ago
Id like this backin track very much please. FZ 4ever!
CommBreakDown 2 years ago
Amigo Gracias!
Im learning the SHUP UP N PLAY YOUR GUITAR BOOK....im very happy to find musician like you.
Thanks bro!
GraveyarDisciple 2 years ago
yes you are good
hutrputr 2 years ago
You certainly caught the essence. Bravo!!! Thanks from a Zappaniste.
MrBrucio 2 years ago
Nice .......Just made my day....... and my day was shitty!!!!
LONG LIVE ZAPPA
Thanks
ashenhooves 2 years ago
proud of you kev.
doc2earth 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
nice playing but your sound is pooo
anniegog 2 years ago
Hardly wanking. Clean and crisp with good scales. Its a good little jam session and it does remind me some of zappa.
devax1986 2 years ago
Brilliant playing there mate :) Really enjoyed that. Subscribed without a doubt!
Frag52954 2 years ago
Thanks very much indeed...and thanks for subscribing, too.
Kev3542 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
that's a horrible insult to frank and anybody who knows what his playing is really about. it certainly has little in common with the sensless wanking you did on that video. please take it off of youtube and give FZ the respect that he deserves. in other words: SHUT UP AND SHUT THAT GUITAR UP TOO
vvalerro 2 years ago
Silly little bugger.
Kev3542 2 years ago
@vvalerro: Insult?! You're the only one here being insulting. Kev is a good guitar player.
And then you go on to mention respect? You no not of the word respect.
In other words: mayhap you should get off YouTube; no one wants to read your ignorance.
Shut up n' play yer guitar, kthx?
LightningStrat 2 years ago
hand back your ears this minute .................i'm waiting.grrrr
dekekyo 2 years ago
shut the fuck up
thelatedavidsmith 2 years ago
very good zappa playing guitar tribute cheers you got it brother crazydave here i be a old zappa and tom jones fun i play very crazy music is whati like too do rock on
davedrunkicide 2 years ago
Thanks very much...and thanks for subscribing, too.
Kev3542 2 years ago
smoking.
pandafuryface 2 years ago
great stuff...
lens2optic 2 years ago
BEERCAP? YOU COULD CHOP DOWN A TREE WITH THAT THING. zAPPA MADE Me pick up the guitar
jirizary73 2 years ago
can you open a beer bottle with that guitar?
great playing!
stevieVantanna 2 years ago
Thanks. I've never tried to open a beer with it - although I would imagine it'd very handy for toasting teacakes over an open fire (two at a time, of course).
Kev3542 2 years ago
Nice chops! Way to do Zappa justice!
ScumArmy 2 years ago
Is that one of those kramer aluminum neck guitars?
WoWintosh 2 years ago
Indeed it is - it's a Kramer DMZ1000.
Kev3542 2 years ago
Man... I love that forked Headstock... =]
forgetfulguy1305 2 years ago
man, this is the best zappa approximation ever, guitar mags included. any chance you could tab some of the repeating riffs or some of the fast descending stufff or any of it really. im just gettin into modal playin and that would be a great thing if you have time. excellent playing. really fucking good
dunnged 2 years ago
Thanks very much. It's a bit tricky for me to TAB this out as it's really just an improv - what gives it a Zappa type sound is just the choice of scale. The chord progression alternates between A major and B major - by using an E major scale over these chords the solo acquires a sort of "suspended" feel which Zappa used a lot. I hope that's of some help - if you send me your e-mail address in a private message to my account I'll be happy to e-mail you an mp3 of the backing track.
Kev3542 2 years ago
Hi kev,
Can you help me to get the tone Zappa uses on the Trance Fusion album, specifically 'A cold dark matter'?
You have a big, kind heart!
rhungri 2 years ago
nice tone,, nice playin.,.,.,.,
STEVEFINNERTY 2 years ago
Is there a particular tune or composition you had in mind here?
ss11s 2 years ago
I'm guessing it's a nod to Frank Zappa's Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progession.
bingefeller 2 years ago
Not really. The backing track came from an old guitar magazine and it's just a sort of generic FZ reggae groove. Having said that, the title is influenced by the Variations on the Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression.
Kev3542 2 years ago
you are ridiculously awesome.
doodoohead37 2 years ago
..and you are very kind to say so. Thanks.
Kev3542 2 years ago
excellent!
gordonkemp 2 years ago
cool stuff... i miss the real `thing` Zappa himself but it`s great to hear someone who`s definitely been touched by the maestro. Good lick mate.
simontatt 2 years ago
can you do a review of this guitar? clean & dirty.... thx
sexpistolio 2 years ago
A review of this guitar? What can I say? The guitar is a Kramer DMZ1000. It's extremely solid to play owing to the aluminium neck - most players are not aware of any lack of rigidity on a wooden necked guitar, but the neck on this guitar is rock solid. The pickups are DiMarzios - the combination of neck and pickups means that the guitar has an extremely long sustain. All accessories on this guitar are 1970s state of the art - Badass bridge, DiMarzio pickups, Schaller machine heads - it's great.
Kev3542 2 years ago
GJ very frank like.
He did use pull offs. If you watch the Baby Snake DVD you can see him practicing them and then he later employs them during the punky's whips solo
metafunj 2 years ago
Thanks very much indeed. I take it that your remark about pull-offs was prompted by Jonahhakanson's comment below - and you're quite right, of course. In fact, I think every guitarist utilises licks based on the extensive use of pull-offs at some point. They're a great device.
Kev3542 2 years ago
really nice feel.....
good stuff!
WillGreenwood9 2 years ago
This is pretty good emulation. Unfortunately, Zappa virtually never does hammer-on/pull-off stuff. Also, it has a lot of what Zappa himself referred to in his autobiography as "weedle-eee-weedle-eee-wee" phrases... and he avoided those like the plague. The modality is correct, the rhythmic patterns are typical late-Zappa. I'd call this a Zappa a la Vai solo.
jonahhakanson 2 years ago
a chicken chasing a spider..thats how frank described his playing...
many hammer ons and pull offs...listen again.
WillGreenwood9 2 years ago
Shut up ´n play yer guitar and keep on "Reento-teee-nooooo-neeeeeee-nooooneeeee. Nice work Kev3542
fidothree 3 years ago
You had me confused for a second there, but then I suddenly understood! You're quite right - there's nothing quite like a spot of reento-teee-nooooo-neeeeeee-n ooooneeeee. Thanks very much.
Kev3542 3 years ago
good zappa style.
HotRats73 3 years ago
what guitar is that?
I've never seen one like that ;)
It kinda looks like a Gibson
Nathantjee 3 years ago
It's a 1970s Kramer DMZ1000 - it's got an aluminium neck, DiMArzio pickups and a Badass bridge.
Kev3542 3 years ago
Wow - 'made me shiver, that was sooo good! Thank you for sharing.
I'm off to see Zappa Plays Zappa in Santa Rosa tomorrow night... 'so glad there are so many talent blokes like you keeping the music alive... shred-on my friend!
rickeyFitts 3 years ago
Thanks very much indeed. I missed a chance to see Zappa Plays Zappa in Manchester last year - now that I've seen a DVD of the band, I regret it. Have a good time at the gig.
Kev3542 3 years ago
Great !! And I love the Kramer !
jpxlb 3 years ago
Thanks very much.
Kev3542 3 years ago
What mode(s) are you using, prey tell? I know Zappa loved the Phrygian and Lydian modes.
Shinmeiryu 3 years ago
On this video I'm just using an E major scale over a progression that alternates between an A major and a B major chord, so it gives it that slightly "suspended" feel. It was a favourite trick of FZ's.
Kev3542 3 years ago
beautiful indeed my friend....thnx
SirYellowShark 3 years ago
Oh, I feel stupid.
Shinmeiryu 3 years ago
Apologies for making you feel that way - that wasn't my intention! And anyway, I suppose you could call a major scale an Ionian mode - so in a way, you were right.
Kev3542 3 years ago
Its all within the B mixolydian mode.
gilbretto1 3 years ago
between that and lydian which doesnt really resolve. thus gives a suspended feel. cool effect.
AhYaOk 3 years ago
never mind. i guess he resolves to E at the end.
AhYaOk 3 years ago
the modal vamp in which he is jamming contains all the seven notes of the B mixolydian mode, which are shared by the E ionian mode (major scale.)
gilbretto1 3 years ago
Exelente continue postando mais de você. Parabéns. (from Brasil)
Mulacighana 3 years ago
Awsome! Controlled chaos Zappa style in best possible performance!
ugliestpartofyrbody 3 years ago
is that a kramer? awesome! wondeful playing.
misterbuckethead 3 years ago
Thanks very much. The guitar is a Kramer DMZ1000.
Kev3542 3 years ago
Zappatastic!
erroneousapostrophe 3 years ago
Thanks very much - and thanks for subscribing, too.
Kev3542 3 years ago
You're welcome, kev. Gotta love that shifting tonal centre. Keeps your brain in a twilight realm yearning to resolve. Better than being fed hackneyed motifs and predictable cadences. I'm gonna pimp you out to my friend Zappa Dave.
erroneousapostrophe 3 years ago
Im a huge fan of Travis Bean guitars, but there so hard to find... how much did this one cost you? If you dont mind me asking...
Cheers. x
PrivateJH 3 years ago
This guitar is actually a Kramer DMZ1000 - it's slightly different to a Travis Bean in that the aluminium neck doesn't run through the body. The neck also has wooden inserts, creating the appearance of an aluminium stripe down the back of the neck. I bought it in Liverpool circa 1987 for (I think) £180. I think you can buy them nowadays for around £250.
And finally...if you want to hear more of this guitar, you could download my FREE CD; just click on the link to the right of the video.
Kev3542 3 years ago
sweet il download that Cd when I get on my laptop. So would you recommend this guitar to an intermediate player? If so were could I find one of these?
Cheers x
PrivateJH 3 years ago
Yeah, I'd definitely recommend one of these guitars. You do see them occasionally on eBay - or you could try searching on Google for stores selling secondhand ones. Mine cost around £180 twenty years ago, but they don't seem to be that much more expensive nowadays.
Kev3542 3 years ago
sweet sounds!
suprhwk 3 years ago
wow!!!
i woulden't mind living next door to you:)
that was amazing!!!!
scullpolisher 3 years ago
It's really nice to see people keeping Frank's unique and amazing style alive.
Thank you!
DarthKazi 3 years ago
jazz from hell cover? good job!
FrankCastlez 3 years ago 2
You got a TS-808 on that? and a DM-2?
burrencrawler 3 years ago
No, it's played through a Zoom G2.1u effects box - although the Boss pedals are great. I've still got a few old Boss pedals knocking around the house - an old Boss Octaver, a Hi-Band Flanger and a graphic EQ pedal.
Kev3542 3 years ago
I like it, i like your style
Fiat85 3 years ago
Thanks very much, Henry...and thanks for subscribing, too.
Kev3542 3 years ago
You have a lot of skill... and a melodic sense as well. Nice stuff. I hear some Zappa influence, wonder if you've listened to a lot of Holdsworth too.. there's a similarity in tone and phrasing. You have a lot of speed and fluidity but still use space. Nice work.
westcoast1965 3 years ago
Thanks for that, Andrew. I'm a big fan of Zappa's playing, but I've never really delved very deeply into Holdsworth's playing. He's outstandingly original and has an amazing technique - one day I'm going to get hold of some of his CDs and have a proper listen to his style.
Kev3542 3 years ago
WOW!! Can I borrow a cup of your skills? :)
DinsdalePiranha67 3 years ago
i find it hard to listen to tbh mabye needed a bit more mid or bass on it, kinda painful on my ears, porbably just but, from the notes, seems pretty sweet
Valefore6447 3 years ago
Thanks for the comment - and you're probably right about the tone. I think the combination of my camera's condenser microphone and Youtube's audio has thinned the original sound out quite a bit.
Kev3542 3 years ago
nice buddy!
ruiz95100 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this, sounds like FZ to me.
btmiller88 3 years ago
You're welcome - and thanks for the compliment.
Kev3542 3 years ago
Excellent playing and response to the remarkable Zappa style.
rationalimperative 3 years ago
Thanks very much indeed.
Kev3542 3 years ago
Super excellent realy love the late eighties style. myself it's more of the late seventies
kind. You're a real pro, very classy and sweet
sound.
jfmayer 3 years ago
what's the progression and which scales to use when soloing?
GrenouilleOnline 3 years ago
I'm using an E major scale over a progression that alternates between an A major and a B major chord, so it gives it a slightly "suspended" feel. It was a favourite trick of FZ's.
Kev3542 3 years ago
Indeed. It creates his typical 'sound area' which I like a lot - don't know how to say it - I'm not native english :o).
Major sevenths or just majors?
Thanks for the reply by the way; it's always nice to see people following up their videos' comments.
Nice playing!
GrenouilleOnline 3 years ago
Major 3rds, 6ths & 7ths all the way through. Basically, I'm using a straight E major scale (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#), but played in such a way that emphasis is given neither to the E tonic note nor the A subdominant.
Kev3542 3 years ago
I see.
I'm going to make myself a backing track and practice it.
Thnx for the explanation and keep on uploading cool videos!
GrenouilleOnline 3 years ago
Good shit on that solo! My guess is that the "secret chord progression" is more of Zappa's personal "ear" as you hear it all the time in his playing. As a musician I feel like I have my own personal "ear" or scale as well when I create.
juliusas 3 years ago
excellente!
andrewjon 3 years ago
Takes balls, good job.
SteveSparx 3 years ago
Def got the Zap thing goin .... Excelllent !!!!!!
meegmah 3 years ago