To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo - AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com John Leventhal is a favorite, and his work in the early 90s acted as a musical roadmap for a young Texas Honky Tonk guitarist trying to stay afloat in the world of pop/folk/singer-songwriter music. In this episode, I look at 7 concepts that I have stolen from Leventhal, that are very worthy of checking out for yourself. Print interview with JL https://www.askzac.com/post/john-leve.....
Jun 16, 2023•25 min•Ep. 86
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com An old friend texted me on a Saturday morning to see if I was available to play at one of the big clubs in downtown Nashville from 2-6 pm that day. I absolutely said "yes," as I had not played in the downtown area since 2003. It was loads of fun, but also quite the eye-opener to how much Nashville had changed in the last 18 years. Besides...
Jun 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 85
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com My son told me, "Dad, you ought to do a video on your favorite Telecaster licks." So here are my 10 favorite Telecaster licks of all time. 1. Cornell Dupree "Rainy Night in Georgia." 2. Reggie Young "Memphis Soul Stew." 3. James Burton "Suzy Q." 4. Jesse Ed Davis "Six Days On The Road." 5. Pete Anderson "Guitars Cadillacs." 6. Bobby Womack "I'm In Love." 7. Clarence White "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere....
Jun 14, 2023•22 min•Ep. 84
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com After getting numerous emails about doing a B-Bender lesson, here it finally is. In this AZ, I show some of my favorite chord voicings and licks for the B-Bender that you can add to your string bender vocabulary. Gear Used: 2014 Crook Custom Vintage Paisley - APC Adder (Neck) Peter Florance TE-60 (Bridge) Glaser B-Bender http://www.crookcustomguitars.com/ https://www.glaserbender.com/ Pick: Blue C...
Jun 13, 2023•17 min•Ep. 83
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Spotlight on Frank Reckard, Emmylou's Hot Band lead guitarist from 1978-1990. A great player, who is sometimes overlooked as he left the music business after his tenure in the Hot Band to go to law school. Taking the position once held by both James Burton & Albert Lee was a task that Reckard took on ably with talent, hard work, and a fat Les Paul TV P90 tone. In today's episode, we spotlight ...
Jun 12, 2023•21 min•Ep. 82
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com After the last video, I was hooked and wanted to have a new style Glaser B-Bender installed in one of my guitars. The Bill Crook-built Paisley seemed like the appropriate candidate, so I set up a time for an install, and Joe agreed to the entire process being filmed. Besides me removing the strings, and Joe removing the neck, this is the ...
Jun 11, 2023•55 min•Ep. 81
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Joe Glaser is the guru that has kept Nashville guitarists up and running since the early 80s. With help from Brent Mason, Steve Wariner, and Ricky Skaggs, his string benders and 3-pickup Telecaster setups became "must-haves" for anyone wanting to be seen as a serious guitarist in Music City. Today, we look at Joe's recently revamped string bender mechanism, which is now convertible between the B o...
Jun 10, 2023•21 min•Ep. 80
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com I set up an AB switch with my 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb, and 1964 Vox AC10, and I had so much fun switching in-between the 2 amps, that I decided to do a video to show the tonal differences between these two great amps. Fender and Vox have created two of the most iconic amp tones, that besides having different sounds, they also make you p...
Jun 09, 2023•15 min•Ep. 79
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Fender recently surprised me with a new '68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb amp. I was honored, yet a little concerned as I had never really enjoyed single-ended (1 output tube) amps because they tended to sound small, boxy, and to have not-so-great clean sounds. I thought about contacting them to send it back, but decided I might as well plug ...
Jun 08, 2023•20 min•Ep. 78
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Fred Newell is best known for his decade-long position as the lead guitarist on Nashville Now, the hugely popular flagship show of TNN, The Nashville Network. Few are aware of all the sessions he played on that were huge hits for Alabama, George Strait, Jerry Reed, and The Kendalls. In this episode, I cover his early days, move to Nashville, session career, a decade on Nashville Now, and his switc...
Jun 07, 2023•25 min•Ep. 77
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com The Nashville Flood of 2010 was devastating. Lives, homes, businesses, and a huge amount of guitars were lost. The day the rain started, I took my pregnant wife and 1-year old son to a guitar festival in Leiper's Fork, TN, just south of Nashville. While there, I saw Larry Carlton, Reggie Young, Jack Pearson, and Robben Ford perform and had the chance to view some of the finest and rarest vintage g...
Jun 06, 2023•26 min•Ep. 76
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Since I first heard John Jorgenson with the Desert Rose Band, I have been a huge fan. I first saw John play in 1994 with the Hellecasters in Nashville, with Brad Paisley in tow. Brad was 21, and I was 20 with a fake I.D. Paisley told me as we got to the door, "If you don't get in, I'm going in without you." Many years later, I had the chance to interview Jorgenson for the Truetone Lounge, and then...
Jun 05, 2023•29 min•Ep. 75
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com The 3 pickup Tele is commonplace now and is often referred to as the "Nashville" Tele setup. Joe Glaser pioneered it in the early 80s with the help of test pilots, Brent Mason, Ricky Skaggs, and Steve Wariner. For Mason, it was hot-rodding his 1967 Tele, for Skaggs and Wariner, Joe made the equivalent of formula one racers from the ground...
Jun 04, 2023•24 min•Ep. 74
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Roy Buchanan took the Telecaster, and guitar playing in general to a new level with his groundbreaking use of volume swells, tone control "wah" simulations, pinch harmonics, and feedback. Although influenced by Buck Owens and Roy Nichols initially, while living near Bakersfield, he would go on to take in a host of diverse musical styles a...
Jun 03, 2023•33 min•Ep. 73
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com With the blessing of Redd Volkaert, who has an album by the same name, this Roy Nichols episode is titled "No Stranger To A Tele." Roy of course was the guitarist in Merle Haggard's band, The Strangers, from 1965-1987, but there is so much more to his story than just his time with Merle. Today we look at his story that takes flight during...
Jun 02, 2023•33 min•Ep. 72
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Buck Owens & Don Rich set the world on its ear with their bright, twangy guitars, and their incredibly tight vocals. In today's episode, I take a look at the Bakersfield Dynamic Duo that influenced everyone, including the Beatles. I also look at their gear, and elements of their playing styles. Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.co...
Jun 01, 2023•29 min•Ep. 71
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com In 2020, I checked out the original Black Tolex Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb and thought it was pretty good, but not great. In my video, I mentioned the virtual bright cap, the verb, and the speaker as being in need of upgrades. Well, Fender did just that with the new Blonde Tone Master Deluxe Reverb, hence "revenge" in the title. In ...
May 31, 2023•16 min•Ep. 70
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com I have tried to be a Vox guy for years; buying and selling them over and over and never finding the right one. I had to come to the point of giving up when a friend let me borrow his 1964 Vox AC10, and I finally found the tone I had always been looking for. In this episode, I discuss probably the least known of the JMI era amps, going thr...
May 30, 2023•28 min•Ep. 69
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com The first pedal compressor, and somewhat of a misunderstood effect. Today we will look at its history, including the changes in the pedal throughout the 70s, users, and how compressor pedals have gone from a "sometimes" effect to an "always-on" box for many. Amazon link MXR's reissue script logo box with the can CA3080 https://amzn.to/3bPkJl6 Gear for this video 1957 Fender Esquire with added Ron ...
May 29, 2023•22 min•Ep. 68
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com In today's lesson, we look at a fun technique for helping you learn inversions up and down the neck to help both your rhythm and solo work. In the lesson, I cycle between G major and A minor inversions on the D-B strings, G-E strings, and A-G strings. I also run G6-G9 up and down the fretboard. Gear for this video 1957 Fender Esquire with added Ron Ellis "New Tall" neck pickup. Restoration and agi...
May 28, 2023•14 min•Ep. 67
Today I take a look at the Big-3 delay pedals that Boss released in the 1980s, the DM-2, DD-2, and the DM-3. They were all revolutionary when released, and are now considered important delay classics. They are all favorites of mine for different reasons as all three have strengths and weaknesses. To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Pictures of the settings I used can be found on my site https://www.askzac.com Gear for this video 195...
May 27, 2023•25 min•Ep. 66
When Vince stops singing, his Telecaster takes over. Gill was a big part of keeping the Telecaster front and center during the 90s, Country Music's most popular era. Besides covering some of his history and gear, I also showcase some Vince-isms that are an indelible part of his playing style. To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Some Gear Shots I took back in 2003, including his 53 Tele, and the settings he uses on his CS-3 compresso...
May 26, 2023•23 min•Ep. 65
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com I have always had a jaundiced view of the Fender Jazzmaster. I thought it was only for surf, punk, or players with extremely large pedalboards. I learned I was horribly wrong after spending time with Dan Strain's 1965 Jazzmaster. They are beautiful sounding instruments that have their own very identifiable sleek & sinewy sound. As a k...
May 25, 2023•18 min•Ep. 64
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Rhythm guitar techniques in the styles of Ry Cooder, Keith Richards, Jimmie Vaughan, and Jesse Ed Davis. I had so many comments on how players had both enjoyed and incorporated concepts from my "Country Electric Rhythm Guitar," that I decided to do a companion piece covering more roots/rock styles. Gear for this video 1957 Fender Esquire with added Ron Ellis "New Tall" neck pickup. Restoration and...
May 24, 2023•18 min•Ep. 63
Ray Flacke is another Tele-favorite of mine. I became aware of him through his work with Ricky Skaggs and soon started scouring the record bins for anything he had played on. I found that I had a great affinity for his singular style, which utilized low-string bends, an aggressive attack, and a sense that at any moment he might fly off the tracks. In this episode, I lay out his history, gear, and some licks that are very "Flacke" sounding. To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZa...
May 23, 2023•28 min•Ep. 62
Sometimes when I am practicing, I just end up playing the same things over and over again. Recently, I started trying to find a good method for busting myself out of my practice rut. I found it by transposing licks & patterns to other areas of the guitar. It's an incredibly simple and effective way to open up all sorts of other musical possibilities using what I already know. To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Link to the digit...
May 22, 2023•16 min•Ep. 61
To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Jesse Edwin Davis made a huge impact on the guitar during his relatively short career. He influenced Duane Allman to learn slide, was an earlier user of the Leslie/Vibratone on guitar, and was a session man for Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, and so many more. Today we pay tribute to Jes...
May 21, 2023•18 min•Ep. 60
The story of Brad Paisley's Christmas present to me, the ensuing effort on my part to reciprocate, how it led to a new Dr. Z amp, and a further push for Celestion to make a higher wattage alnico speaker. #askzac #guitartech #telecaster Support the show
May 20, 2023•13 min•Ep. 59
The story of the restoration process, and the wonderful participants who helped out. Much thanks to Dan "Danocaster" Strain, Ron Ellis, Nick at Glaser's, and the lovely Val "Valocaster" Strain. I had no idea the joy that would come from the restoration of a vintage, Pre-CBS, Fender guitar To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com Here are the before shots, so you can see what we started with. https://www.askzac.com/post/my-1957-f... More ...
May 19, 2023•20 min•Ep. 58
To Support the Channel: Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Or check out my store at - www.askzac.com The story behind my guitar safari to Guitar Gallery in Tuscaloosa on Haloween, and picking up this gem of a 50's Fender for the first time. The "before" shots, so you can see how far we had to go. https://www.askzac.com/post/my-1957-f... Gear for this video 1957 Fender Esquire Strings: D'Addario 10-46 Pick: Blue Chip TPR 35 RB Amp: 1959 Fender Harvard with original Jensen P10R #askzac #guitartech ...
May 18, 2023•21 min•Ep. 57
