ZZ Top’s bassist, Elwood Francis, is a force to be reckoned with on stage. His low end drives the band’s signature sound, and his presence is undeniable. However, there’s one aspect of his performance that brings him more sighs than smiles: the infamous 17-string bass.
In a recent interview with Guitar World, Francis revealed a surprising regret surrounding the outlandish instrument. “I did it to myself. I hate playing that effing bass. I found it late at night while internet surfing on one of those Chinese websites,” Francis revealed.
As the bassist puts it, “The son of a bitch went viral… I was cringing.” Here’s the story behind the monstrous bass and why it brings the ZZ Top bassist less joy than you might think.
Battling the 17-String Beast
Playing the 17-string bass wasn’t just a challenge for Elwood, it was a logistical nightmare. He revealed that the guitar tech barely managed to get the instrument ready for a show, and ZZ Top famously doesn’t do soundchecks. “It was a baptism by fire while we were out on stage,” Francis said. He faced the daunting task of mastering this complex instrument with no preparation, live in front of an audience.
The outlandish bass didn’t just create on-stage difficulties, it exploded online. Many fans assumed it was a joke when pictures and videos went viral. Francis thought he’d seen the last of it, but the internet had other plans.
“I woke up to all these messages and links to all this f*cking bullshit,” he recounted. The viral fame of the 17-string bass turned out to be a double-edged sword for the bassist.
From Standard to Outlandish
Stepping into the shoes of ZZ Top’s legendary bassist Dusty Hill wasn’t easy for the former guitar tech. He began by playing a standard 4-string bass, but his journey took a surprising turn. The now-iconic 17-string bass entered the picture, and what started as a joke became a defining part of his tenure with the band.
Francis himself admitted the switch to the 17-stringer was initially lighthearted. In a social media post, he revealed, “I thought I’d use this bass once or twice for no other reason than amusement.” The sheer absurdity of the instrument was meant to be a fleeting gag for the band.
However, the 17-string bass had other plans. The unexpected online attention it garnered forced Francis to acknowledge the instrument’s creator, Jared Dines. It seems the joke had legs, and Francis now had to give credit where credit was due.
Elwood and the Not-So-Angry Inventor
Elwood isn’t shy about admitting the limitations of the now-infamous 17-string bass. He’s even gone so far as to call it a “Chinese-made POS” and a “mid-copy” of the real deal. Francis worries that Dines might be offended by his basic playing on such a complex instrument.
“He’s probably all pissed off,” Francis mused, acknowledging Dines’ superior musical skills. However, Dines himself took to social media to dispel any rumors of resentment. Under Francis’s post, Dines commented, “Not pissed at all!”
The popular YouTuber and musician even admitted to initially believing photos of Francis playing the bass were fake. Dines seems to embrace the whole situation, acknowledging the tradition of instrument modification and expressing his delight that Francis found enjoyment with the unusual instrument.
Watch Francis fumble his way out playing the monstrous bass below.