Billy Zoom

PG: And how did you get hooked up with Gretsch in the first place? Was it just because you played one of their guitars? BZ: Yeah, well, because I was so strongly identified with that one model, the Silver Jet, which was a really unique guitar. They reissued them so they don’t seem that unusual anymore, but back in the ’70s and ’80s mine was the only one people had ever seen and they assumed that it was custom. The actual guitar became sort of an icon. When Fender got involved with Gretsch, [product manager] Joe Carducci called me up and we started working on the Billy Zoom tribute model.

PG: And how did you get hooked up with Gretsch in the first place? Was it just because you played one of their guitars?

BZ: Yeah, well, because I was so strongly identified with that one model, the Silver Jet, which was a really unique guitar. They reissued them so they don’t seem that unusual anymore, but back in the ’70s and ’80s mine was the only one people had ever seen and they assumed that it was custom. The actual guitar became sort of an icon. When Fender got involved with Gretsch, [product manager] Joe Carducci called me up and we started working on the Billy Zoom tribute model.

In a Premier Guitar Rig Rundown, Billy Zoom discusses his use of the modified Gretsch Guitars G6122T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Hollowbody with Bigsby, as reported by Ted Drozdowski.

In a YouTube video interview by Gretsch Guitars, Billy Zoom confirms that he uses the Gretsch 6129BZ Billy Zoom Tribute Silver Jet in place of his original Silver Jet.

According to Ted Drozdowski from Premier Guitar, Billy Zoom uses a vintage DeArmond 602 volume pedal as his sole effect. This pedal assists him in controlling feedback that may arise during performances, as he positions himself directly in front of his amplifier.