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  1. Artists
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Buy their sound: Zakk Wylde

News
By Total Guitar ( Total Guitar ) published 28 October 2014

Budget or blowout, nail Wylde-worthy tone...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

There's only only one Zakk Wylde. Good thing, because the planet couldn’t cope with two.

As rock stars grow ever more soft-spoken and clean-shaven, the Black Label bandleader and one-time Ozzy sideman remains a viking-haired, polecat-bearded, expletive-spewing berserker whose blur-speed alternate-picked solos seem unfeasibly hard. Even now he’s quit drinking, Zakk remains Wylde - and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

You wouldn’t expect the big man to settle on a la-di-dah setup, and true to type, Zakk advocates the simple pleasures of an EMG-powered Gibson Les Paul and a Marshall JCM800 (“There’s no bells and whistles,” he notes. “There’s not a lot of shit that can go wrong...”).

On the flipside, Zakk isn’t shy of a signature deal or six, having launched a fistful of bespoke LP designs over the years - the most iconic being the Bullseye finish based on the poster for Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo - and collaborated with Dunlop and MXR on his array of custom stompers.

Here we take a look at two setups - one budget, one blowout. Throw in a mic stand that looks like a broadsword driven through a pile of human skulls, and you’ve got yourself rock’s most brutally effective live rig.

Of course, that's only half the battle - you'll also need to learn to Play guitar like Zakk Wylde.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul

Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul

BUDGET: It’s gotta be a Les Paul - and the Bullseye is still the most iconic Zakk finish.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Marshall MG50 CFX

Marshall MG50 CFX

BUDGET: No valves, but drive, delay and phaser get you in that brutal BLS ballpark.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Bodymax Dumbbells

Bodymax Dumbbells

BUDGET: Alongside the speed-picking, Wylde wannabes will need to work on their guns. Man up with these dumbbells from powerhouse-fitness.co.uk.

Total spend on budget rig: £827.99/$1,130.99*

(*approx. based on web prices)

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Gibson Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul

Gibson Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul

BLOWOUT: Yeah, we know: ouch. But if you’re going to blow your wad, do it on a genuine EMG-equipped Zakk Gibson.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Marshall DSL40C

Marshall DSL40C

BLOWOUT: Not quite Zakk’s JCM tower of power, but this much-rated combo features the same ECC83/ EL34 valves.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Dunlop ZW45 Cry Baby & MXR ZW44 Berzerker Overdrive

Dunlop ZW45 Cry Baby & MXR ZW44 Berzerker Overdrive

BLOWOUT: Stompers aren’t cheap - but this pair give you the best shot at replicating Zakk’s seething tone.

Total spend on blowout rig: £4,307.98/$5937.98*

(*approx. based on web prices)

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
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