How to Dial In "Waitin' for the Bus" by ZZ Top - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Waitin' for the Bus"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Super Lead. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Runs straight into 'Jesus Just Left Chicago' with no gap, and on the album the two are effectively one piece — worth knowing before you learn it in isolation. Billy Gibbons's tone is the thing to chase and it is mostly hands: he plays with a peso coin instead of a plastic pick and uses very light strings, which produces that sharp attack and slack, vocal bending. Recorded 1973 at Ardent in Memphis with Bill Ham. Standard tuning. The riff is a syncopated boogie figure with heavy muting and pinch harmonics, so keep the mids well up and the gain moderate — Gibbons's sound is warm and mid-heavy rather than scooped, and the squeals come from picking technique rather than distortion.
Common Questions About the "Waitin' for the Bus" Tone
What guitar did ZZ Top use on "Waitin' for the Bus"?
ZZ Top tracked "Waitin' for the Bus" on a Les Paul (released 1973). The Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Waitin' for the Bus" need?
On a Super Lead: Gain 5.5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Waitin' for the Bus" without a Super Lead?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Waitin' for the Bus" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Waitin' for the Bus" by ZZ Top are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.