Dweezil Zappa

In an interview with Premier Guitar Dweezil Zappa's setup, which includes two Fractal Axe-Fx II Guitar Effects Processors, is discussed here:

"The heart of Dweezil's tone comes from a Fractal Audio Systems Axe-FX II. In previous versions of his rig he actually ran two units simultaneously due to the CPU demand that his custom presets required. However, on this “Zappa Does Zappa” tour he runs everything through the top unit and the bottom is used as a backup or for any guests that might sit in. In order to recreate his father's famous tones, Dweezil goes back to the master tapes to study and cop every little detail in order to program the Axe-FX II presets."

In an interview w/ Premier Guitar, Dweezil Zappa's pedalboard is discussed here: "All of Dweezil's effects are run through the front of the Axe-FX II, rather than the effects loop. Along the top is a Bogner Ecstasy Blue, JAM Pedals Fuzz Phrase, SolidGoldFX Formula 76, TC Electronic PolyTune Mini, SolidGoldFX Electroman, JAM Pedals Big Chill Tremolo, and JAM Pedals Red Muck. Along the front of his board is the MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller for the Axe-FX II and four expression pedals–the first one is for volume and the other three change function depending on the preset.

On the far right side of his pedalboard, Dweezil uses a custom JAM Pedals wah along with an expression pedal to control different variables on his JAM Pedals Big Chill Tremolo. In addition to this wah, he also uses a wah within the Axe-FX II depending on if he wants it before or after his distortion pedals."

"Next I got my green Charvel and played through Carvin X100B amps, also from what Frank was using on stage in the early 80's. I used that amp and an Ibanez UE 405 for the "Havin' A Bad Day" album. I remember that the delay in the Ibanez was main thing I used and it was mainly for the song "Electric Hoedown". I used this set up in mono."

"I used those with a variety of rack effects like the Yamaha SPX 90, and TC Electronic 2290, and Eventide H3000 in a stereo set up. A little later I also used a Roland GP-8. Slightly off topic, my Dad liked the sound of many of my presets on the GP-8 so I went to Guitar Center and bought him one. I copied all of my presets into it and he used it extensively on his 1988 tour. The clean sound that you hear him soloing with is him playing his blonde Performance Guitar through the GP-8."

"I used those with a variety of rack effects like the Yamaha SPX 90, and TC Electronic 2290, and Eventide H3000 in a stereo set up. A little later I also used a Roland GP-8. Slightly off topic, my Dad liked the sound of many of my presets on the GP-8 so I went to Guitar Center and bought him one. I copied all of my presets into it and he used it extensively on his 1988 tour. The clean sound that you hear him soloing with is him playing his blonde Performance Guitar through the GP-8."

"I used those with a variety of rack effects like the Yamaha SPX 90, and TC Electronic 2290, and Eventide H3000 in a stereo set up. A little later I also used a Roland GP-8. Slightly off topic, my Dad liked the sound of many of my presets on the GP-8 so I went to Guitar Center and bought him one. I copied all of my presets into it and he used it extensively on his 1988 tour. The clean sound that you hear him soloing with is him playing his blonde Performance Guitar through the GP-8."

"I used those with a variety of rack effects like the Yamaha SPX 90, and TC Electronic 2290, and Eventide H3000 in a stereo set up. A little later I also used a Roland GP-8. Slightly off topic, my Dad liked the sound of many of my presets on the GP-8 so I went to Guitar Center and bought him one. I copied all of my presets into it and he used it extensively on his 1988 tour. The clean sound that you hear him soloing with is him playing his blonde Performance Guitar through the GP-8."

"There was a system by Lexicon called MPXG2 which had a 6 watt rack mounted amp along with a multi effects processor. I used this for a lot of sessions including the Britney Spears cover song "Hit Me Baby One More Time." I liked the idea of such a compact guitar rig option. At the time it was not a complete solution for every kind of tone though."

"This way I would be able to create blended fuzz sounds with attack differentials and also utilize the envelope in the dynaflanger at the very begininng of the signal. I have access to 6 pedals per input of each Fractal. They are remotely switchable via the RJM effects gizmo."