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 low down on my 5 nights of gigging with @austinskinner in Las Vegas. Being that the venue had a Boss Katana amp, I decided to leave the Strymon Iridium at home, and try it out. I also took a mid-70s Cry Baby Wah, and my 2008 R9 Les Paul to have more tonal offerings than just my '57 Esquire & my grab-and-go pedalboard. I also had a...
Aug 30, 2023•29 min•Ep. 150
Enter promo code "ASKZAC30" to save 30% Truefire https://prf.hn/l/LbY3nGL 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 Between my work with the Truetone Lounge and Vintage Guitar Magazine, I have interviewed many award-winning musicians with long and storied careers. It struck me recently that every one of them had a pivotal moment in their story where 3 important elements came toge...
Aug 28, 2023•18 min•Ep. 147
Enter promo code "ASKZAC30" to save 30% Truefire https://prf.hn/l/LbY3nGL 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 Today we spotlight Clarence White's former #1 Telecaster, which he used on some of The Byrd's "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" tracks, and likely the "Nashville West" recordings. After Gene Parsons installed the B-Bender on his sunburst backup Tele, it knocked the white Te...
Aug 26, 2023•21 min•Ep. 146
Luke McQueary was Don Kelley's final guitarist in his long line of amazing players. Today we sit down and talk about his beginnings and the importance of Don's tutelage in his progression as a musician and performer. Though Don Kelley is now retired, the tradition lives on with Kelley's Heroes Wednesday through Saturday, 6:30 -10:30 PM at Robert's Western World. Luke also shows off his rig which includes a specially ordered Custom Shop Telecaster Thinline, vintage Deluxe Reverb, and a small peda...
Aug 24, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 145
Enter promo code "ASKZAC30" to save 30% Truefire https://prf.hn/l/LbY3nGL 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 1969, Burton put his 52 Telecaster into semi-retirement, and would use his 1969 paisley Telecaster all throughout the 70s and 80s playing on countless recordings, and touring with Elvis, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Costello. During tha...
Aug 22, 2023•19 min•Ep. 144
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 history of James Burton's iconic 1952 Telecaster. From his parent's purchase of it in 1952, through all of the aesthetic variations, it underwent until its current incarnation of a red finish and a white pickguard. Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/29f... Gear Used: 1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and ori...
Aug 20, 2023•25 min•Ep. 143
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 tale of the greatest $200 amp on the planet, the 80s Peavey Special 130. Amazon link to Peavey book https://amzn.to/3F0YlFl Gear Used: 1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis. Pickguard design by Jay &a...
Aug 18, 2023•32 min•Ep. 142
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 recently went to the Musicians Hall of Fame with my friend JD Simo and was just gobsmacked the entire time as we walked through it. Today, I champion the Hall and tell a bit about its late founder, Joe Chambers. If you come to Nashville, this is an absolute must-do. Also, you get a look at JD and I goofing on James Burton's 1952 and 196...
Aug 16, 2023•25 min•Ep. 141
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 Bernie Leadon played guitar, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel, and sang harmony vocals on the greatest-selling album of all time, Eagles Greatest Hits, Volume 1. For many guitarists, he is known as one of the earliest exponents of the B-Bender, a mechanical device that allows the "B" string to be raised a whole step via a system of cranks and...
Aug 14, 2023•31 min•Ep. 140
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 August 1998, I was reading the latest Guitar Player Magazine and excitedly read a feature on the new guitarist for Merle Haggard's Strangers, Redd Volkaert. In the accompanying photo, he was captured holding a number of Roy Nichols-era Haggard albums, and cradling a number of vintage Telecasters, including a blackguard. In the article,...
Aug 12, 2023•29 min•Ep. 139
On October 2nd, 2022, the Desert Rose Band played their final show at the Country Music Hall of Fame as the finale to the opening of the new exhibit, Western Edge: The Roots & Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock. At this final show, Chris Hillman introduced guitarist John Jorgenson as the architect of the Desert Rose Band. This a true statement, as it was John that had the vision to see Hillman's material that was being performed by a small acoustic combo in the early 1980s, as full b...
Aug 10, 2023•36 min•Ep. 138
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 Telecaster Thinline story begins with Fender's engineers experimenting with the removal of wood under the pickguard to lighten the weight of heavy ash bodies. They found that the weight loss was insignificant, so Fender's engineers set out to make an entirely new model. The resulting Telecaster Thinline was a standard Telecaster, with...
Aug 08, 2023•22 min•Ep. 137
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 Leo Fender spent a great amount of time and money to create a cover for the bridge and pickup assembly on his Esquire & Broadcaster guitars in 1950. It protected the bridge & pickup assembly from corrosion, it shielded it to help with noise, and it was an ornamental hand rest that made his guitar look more professional. Early play...
Aug 06, 2023•17 min•Ep. 136
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 JBL began producing efficient, high-wattage speakers in 1948 with the introduction of the D-130 model 15" speaker. The speaker was mainly used in public address (PA) systems until 1953 when Bob Crooks decided to spare no expense with his new Standel line of guitar amps, and factory install D-130's in them. Standel became the Dumble of the...
Aug 04, 2023•31 min•Ep. 135
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com After last week's 2-hour interview with Don Kelley, I decided something shorter was in order. My old Deluxe Reverb started exhibiting a funky rattle, and I had to fix it. Usually, I play while a friend pushes on the amp's tubes one at a time with a pencil eraser. I show how to use a looper pedal to help you find the rattle. #askzac #guitartech #t...
Aug 02, 2023•9 min•Ep. 134
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com A short list of the veterans of Don Kelley's band includes Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert, Johnny Hiland, Guthrie Trapp, JD Simo, Daniel Donato, Porter McClister, and Luke McQueary. Kelley was bandleader and coach for these giants, helping each of them hone their playing and tone by playing 5-6 days of the week, 4 hours a night, under his watchful ey...
Jul 31, 2023•2 hr 21 min•Ep. 133
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com In today's video, Bill Keck and I re-install the 1954 neck pickup that was rewound by Ron Ellis. Bill passes on some important solder skills, and I show my hack for setting pickup height. To boot, you get a ton of under-the-hood shots of my 1957 Esquire. Gear Used: 1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restorati...
Jul 30, 2023•31 min•Ep. 132
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Today we take a look at the man who brought the Telecaster sound to Nashville, Fred Carter Jr. Besides being a Tele specialist, he was also one of the great session utility men, playing everything from bass to mandolin on tracks ranging from Muddy Waters to Willie Nelson. Many are only aware of him because of his daughter, Country star Deana Cart...
Jul 29, 2023•32 min•Ep. 131
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com I played a show in Norman, Oklahoma, on a Saturday, and everything sounded fantastic with my 1957 Esquire. I picked her up on Tuesday, and there was no sound when I went to the neck pickup. I checked solder joints and metered it, and sure enough, the Esquire's neck pickup was dead. This episode is about how Tele pickups die, and how to a degree i...
Jul 28, 2023•22 min•Ep. 130
To order Ron Ellis Pickups: ronellispickups@gmail.com To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Ron Ellis is one of the premier pickup winders, and a great friend to boot. I headed out to San Diego to see his new facility, and to meet the team he has put together to meet the high demand for his pickups. Ron kindly walks us through the pickup-making process and the guys that are responsib...
Jul 27, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 129
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Steve Gibson has worked with everyone from Beatle George Harrison to Randy Travis. And if you have enjoyed George Strait's work since the early 90s, then that's Steve and Brent Mason covering all of the guitar work on the Texan's hits over the last 3 decades. In today's episode, we spotlight a guitarist whose style has always been to play precise...
Jul 26, 2023•14 min•Ep. 128
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Use the code ASKZAC to get $20 off B-Stock. They also have a mailing list signup code for free shipping. https://www.brownbox.rocks/shop/p/sal... In 2002, Brad Paisley introduced me to the idea that old tube amps require lower voltages to sound their best. He showed me how to use a Variac and a voltmeter to set the voltage going into his 1962 Vox...
Jul 25, 2023•20 min•Ep. 127
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Baz Luhrmann's Elvis movie stars Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, and Presley's timeless music. The unseen star of the music is guitarist JD Simo, who was tasked by Lurhmann and Dave Cobb to replicate the original parts and tones played by Scotty Moore, James Burton, Hank Garland, Reggie Young, and Tommy Tedesco. In today's special collaboration with Tr...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 126
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com The late Andrew Gold was a mere pup when he walked into the studio with Linda Ronstadt to jumpstart her career with the tracks "You're No Good," and "When Will I Be Loved." His arrangement ideas, harmony vocals, and most noticeably his iconic guitar work, placed the "Gold" stamp on what would end up being two of her greatest hits. Today we will l...
Jul 23, 2023•24 min•Ep. 125
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” is one of the most well-known songs of the last 50-years. She recorded the tune in the summer of 1973 and it has continued to be a perennial favorite, from one of the world’s favorite singers. Today we get the rare privilege of hearing the two main guitar tracks isolated from the original 16-track master recording. The tra...
Jul 22, 2023•20 min•Ep. 124
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com I bought a Kubicki Telecaster out of a local Nashville Buy/Sell paper called the Trader’s Post in 1997. The purchase was to replace my 52 reissue Telecaster that had just been stolen. I thought the single-bound body was cool, but the ebony fretboard neck was not my cup of tea. At $350, it was all I could afford at the time, and I knew I could hot...
Jul 21, 2023•16 min•Ep. 123
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com In life, you are blessed to have great teachers. Sometimes teachers go above and beyond and become mentors. My musical mentor, Pat Grogan, took me on his gigs, watched me play, and then we worked on my shortcomings in our weekly lessons. He was also a former Big D Jamboree staff guitarist, played on Bruce Chanel's huge hit "Hey Baby," and perform...
Jul 20, 2023•17 min•Ep. 122
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com In 1990, Guitar Player Magazine released an amazing series of albums through a partnership with Rhino Records titled The Legends of Guitar. The series covered Blues, Rock, Jazz, Classical, and Country. I picked up vol 1 & 2 of the Country series, and my eyes were opened to the founders of the style. These albums launched me down many rabbit h...
Jul 19, 2023•12 min•Ep. 121
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com While there have been many great Western Swing guitarists, Junior Barnard was one of the most exciting players of the genre with his ear-catching style and aggressive tone. Today, we look at how of all the swing guitarists, Barnard is the most accessible to modern players, and how you can steal from him to add some spice to your playing. Spotify ...
Jul 18, 2023•19 min•Ep. 120
To Support the Channel: https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com My 1981 Martin HD-28 has been by my side for close to 30-years. It's seen time in bars, churches, studios, and even a time or two on the Grand Ole Opry. Today, I look a bit at the history of the D-28/HD-28 Martins and then tell the story of how I bought my HD-28, and some of the gigs I have used it on, including one with JD Simo that included an ...
Jul 17, 2023•21 min•Ep. 119
