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Ask Zac

Zac Childs

Zac Childs is a music insider and historian. He is the host of the acclaimed Truetone Lounge interview series and contributed to Vintage Guitar Magazine for 15 years via his Ask Zac column, and numerous featured articles, product reviews, and cover stories. On his ASK ZAC channel, Zac takes a look at players and gear and also answers guitar-related questions in ways that were never possible via print.

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#286
Yesterday · 29 min
My 5 Favorite Delay Pedals (Plus an Honorable Mention)
Delay is hands down my favorite guitar effect. It’s the ultimate tool for adding space, fattening up your tone, and creating depth, whether you're playing fast country chicken pickin' or holding out ambient chords. In this episode, I share the delay pedals I’ve relied on for years (including one I've been playing since 1991), complete with my favorite settings, live rig applications, and sound demos. Note: This video is 100% unsponsored. Every pedal featured was purchased with my own money from pawn shops, Reverb, or local gear stores. Pedals Featured in This Episode: Universal Audio UAFX Del-Verb – The ultimate solution for a killer Deluxe Memory Man style delay combined with a top-tier spring reverb. Boss DM-3 Analog Delay – My most-used delay of all time. Quiet, warm, and the absolute king of always-on slapback. Boss DD-2 Digital Delay – The legendary 1980s long-chip digital classic used by John Jorgenson and Brad Paisley for punchy, mix-cutting repeats. Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay – A touch-sensitive digital delay with a dynamic, "ducking" quality that gets out of the way of your pick attack. Line 6 Echo Park – The ultimate compact workhorse with tap tempo, versatile voicings, and rock-solid reliability. Honorable Mention: Strymon El Capistan (V2) – The modern industry standard for multi-head tape echo emulation, complete with a favorite switch for fly dates. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & Why Delay is My Favorite Effect 1:28 - Full Disclosure (Unsponsored Content) 1:51 - Support the Channel 2:13 - 1. Universal Audio UAFX Del-Verb 7:54 - 2. Boss DM-3 Analog Delay 12:22 - 3. Boss DD-2 Digital Delay 18:15 - 4. Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay 22:34 - 5. Line 6 Echo Park 25:48 - 6. Honorable Mention: Strymon El Capistan 28:21 - Final Thoughts & Outro www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show
#285
September 8 · 19 min
Richard Bennett's Genius on Steve Earle's “Guitar Town”
On this episode of Ask Zac, we take a deep dive into Steve Earle’s landmark 1986 album Guitar Town and, in particular, the incredible guitar work of Richard Bennett. Bennett’s playing on the title track is a masterclass in taste, melody, and knowing exactly what a song needs. We’ll break down the licks, turnarounds, tic-tac parts, and that fantastic solo, and look at how Richard created so much musical impact with what might seem like a very unusual instrument: a vintage Danelectro six-string bass. I’ll also talk about Richard Bennett’s background, his work with artists including Neil Diamond and Billy Joel, his move from Los Angeles to Nashville, and his growing role in the making of Guitar Town. There’s a great story behind how Richard ended up playing the “guitar solo” on the song, and why the instrument he chose helped create such a distinctive sound. Along the way, I’ll put my own Jerry Jones Longhorn six-string bass through its paces and explain some of the things that make the original Danelectro six-string bass so unique. Richard is one of my favorite guitar players, and I had the pleasure of interviewing him for Vintage Guitar back in 2005. I’ll also point you toward some of the sources I used, including David McGee’s Fearless Heart and my original Richard Bennett interview. So grab your guitar, or just listen closely, and let’s dig into one of the great examples of Nashville guitar playing. And if you haven’t listened to Guitar Town lately, go give the whole record another spin. It’s a classic. My 2005 interview with Richard https://www.askzac.com/post/richard-bennett-interview Steve Earle with Richard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xp4OGarKJo Steve, Richard, and Mike McAdam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yGhm8CviuE www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #SteveEarle #GuitarTown #RichardBennett #CountryGuitar #NashvilleGuitar #Danelectro #AskZac #GuitarSolo Support the show
#284
September 1 · 41 min
My Favorite Seymour Duncan Pickups
In honor of Seymour Duncan’s 50th anniversary, I’m taking a look at some of my favorite Seymour Duncan pickups, and the guitars I use them in. I’ll start with a little Seymour Duncan history, including the famous story about Seymour, Robbie Robertson, and the pickup that helped set him on the path toward building his own pickups. I’ll also talk about my own history with Seymour Duncan, from buying my first Alnico II Pro Tele bridge pickup to eventually getting involved with the Lost Paisley pickup set for Fender. Then it’s time for the guitars. I pulled out a bunch of my favorite instruments and talk about why I chose the particular Seymour Duncan pickups in each one, including Antiquity humbuckers, Antiquity Tele pickups, the ’53 Tapped Tele set, Hot Strat Stack pickups, Lipstick Tube Strat pickups, the Twang Banger, Vintage Stack Tele pickups, and more. Along the way, I’ll demonstrate how I use these pickups for everything from classic Tele tones and Nashville/Bakersfield sounds to higher-output Strat sounds, slide, recording, and live work, including some of the guitars I take on the road with Brad Paisley. It’s a tip of the hat to Seymour Duncan, a look at some great pickups. Congratulations to Seymour Duncan on 50 years! www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #SeymourDuncan #AskZac #GuitarPickups #Telecaster #Stratocaster Support the show
#283
August 18 · 18 min
Why My Baritone Tele Got a B-Bender
Eight months ago, I built a baritone Telecaster with some friends. Since then, it has traveled with me all over the United States and Europe on tours, stages, airplanes, and 18-wheelers. Through all these gigs, I’ve learned a lot about what makes a baritone work in a band setting, and what doesn’t. In this episode of Ask Zac, I’m taking a deeper look at the evolution of this guitar and the biggest change I’ve made to it: installing a Glaser bender. The guitar is tuned B-to-B, and I’ve found that the lower register makes it a fantastic complement to other instruments. I’ll discuss what I discovered while playing and soloing onstage, including how the lower range encouraged me to play more melodically and simply rather than trying to compete with the fastest players. I’ll also share the practical lessons I’ve learned along the way, such as cutting low end, using more dirt, and experimenting with different string sets before settling on a lighter D’Addario set. I’ll explain why my attempt to use an unwound third string failed and how that ultimately led me to add the bender. Additionally, we’ll take a close look at the Glaser bender itself to hear what happens when you put one on a B-to-B baritone. It delivers a bigger, throatier sound than a conventional Telecaster bender, bringing both unique advantages and drawbacks that open up interesting musical possibilities. Finally, I’ll talk about the Music City Bridge saddles, the Ron Ellis Tele pickups that have been in the guitar for the last seven months, and a few other experiments. Think of this as a sequel to my original baritone Telecaster video, updated with everything I've learned from eight months of real-world use on the road. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #AskZac #BaritoneGuitar #Telecaster #GlaserBender #BBender #FenderTelecaster #BaritoneTelecaster #GuitarGear Support the show
#282
August 10 · 31 min
Remembering Jerry Jones: The Guitar Builder Who Changed Nashville
In this episode of Ask Zac, I’m paying tribute to the late, great Jerry Jones, one of Nashville’s most respected guitar repairmen, builders, and innovators. Before becoming known for his incredible line of instruments, Jerry was the guitar guru for many of Nashville’s top players, including Chet Atkins, Reggie Young, and Sam Bush. He eventually began building his own instruments, creating unique hybrids and, most famously, a whole range of beautifully made guitars inspired by the classic Danelectro designs. We’ll look at Jerry’s incredible Bass 6, baritone, 12-string, sitar, double-neck, and other specialty instruments, and the musicians and records that helped make these unusual guitars essential studio tools. I’ll also talk about Jerry’s work for Merle Haggard, his friendship with Danelectro founder Nat Daniel, the return of the Danelectro name in the 1990s, and the lawsuit that ultimately had a major impact on Jerry’s guitar business. And, of course, I’ll show you one of my favorite Jerry Jones instruments: Brad Paisley’s Bass 6, a guitar Brad bought in the mid-'90s that has appeared on every Brad Paisley record and continues to be an important part of his musical arsenal. Jerry Jones made instruments that were innovative, incredibly useful, and built to survive the road. His guitars became the go-to “niche” instruments for countless players, and his influence can still be heard today. This is a tribute to Jerry Jones, his remarkable instruments, and the lasting mark he left on the world of guitars. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #AskZac #JerryJones #Danelectro #Bass6 #BaritoneGuitar #GuitarHistory #NashvilleGuitars #BradPaisley Support the show
#281
August 4 · 20 min
The Danelectro 6-String Bass I Used on the Today Show w/ Brad Paisley | "This Town" Breakdown
On today’s Ask Zac, I’m talking about playing in the context of a band, specifically how I used a Danelectro 6-String Bass (Tic-Tac Bass) with Brad Paisley on the Today Show. A lot of players talk about the history of instruments like the Fender Bass VI or Danelectro 6-String Bass, but not enough people talk about how to actually use them in a song. These instruments can be amazing when they complement the arrangement instead of fighting for space. I’ll break down my part on Brad Paisley’s song “This Town” from the Tackle Box album, including: * How I approached the Tic-Tac Bass part * Playing simple parts that support the song * Doubling Telecaster licks for a bigger sound * Using tremolo, overdrive, and EQ to make the instrument fit in a band * Why avoiding full chords and staying out of the bass player’s way matters I’ll also share the story behind playing “This Town” and “Home Sweet Hotel” on the Today Show, including the gear I used, the Danelectro Hodad 6-String Bass, and how I approached the live performance. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Today Show with Brad Paisley "This Town" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMIJe18WeJg #AskZac #Danelectro #BassVI #TicTacBass #BradPaisley #Telecaster #SessionGuitar Support the show
#274
July 30 · 22 min
Why I Don't Like Overdrive Pedals & The 4 That Make The Cut
If you grew up on the pristine, dynamic guitar tones of the 1950s and early 60s, standard overdrive pedals can often sound artificial, overly compressed, and flat-out unnatural. For years, I avoided them entirely because I preferred the sound of a guitar plugging straight into a great, clean tube amplifier. But sometimes, a little grit is totally necessary. Over the years, I’ve had to find overdrive pedals that actually work for a "clean tone purist." In this video, I’m breaking down the 4 overdrive pedals I’ve ever genuinely enjoyed, and exactly why they work where other dirt pedals fail. If you hate the typical "mid-hump" and compression of standard overdrives, this list is for you. Ibanez Mostortion (MT10): The secret weapon. Thanks to its unique CMOS circuit, it clips more like a real tube amp, and the 3-band EQ lets you dial out any artificial boxiness, and has a ton of tone shaping abilities Xotic RC Booster: A wonderful low gain drive/boost, with just a touch of mids Menatone Red Snapper (2004 3-Knob): An incredibly open, uncompressed, and amp-like low-to-mid gain drive with an upper presence that keeps your pick attack perfectly intact. Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive: A Tube Screamer for people who hate Tube Screamers. The magic clean-blend knob lets you layer your pristine clean tone directly over the grit. GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO: Guitar: Fender Vintera rosewood Tele neck with ash body, Dimarzio Muscle T pickups Amp: Vintage Fender 1968 Princeton Reverb with Fat Jimmy C1025 speaker Cables/Power: D'Addario cables, Truetone CS6 power www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #GuitarPedals #OverdrivePedal #ToneChaser #IbanezMostortion #XoticRCBooster #Menatone #SparkleDrive #GuitarTone Support the show
#275
July 30 · 24 min
Tracking Brad Paisley's Tackelbox Album & His 2026 European Tour
Brad Paisley recently started rolling out tracks for his ongoing project, Tacklebox, and I had the absolute honor of sitting in the studio to track these songs. But the craziest part of this project is the "butterfly effect" story of how it actually came to life. It all started in early 2025 during a random dinner with my buddy Dan Strain (Danocaster Guitars). A college-aged waiter recognized us, and fast forward a few months to the Nashville Vintage Guitar Show, I ran into him again. He was trying to sell his Brad Paisley Silver Sparkle Road Worn Telecaster to buy a much-needed acoustic guitar. I took him over to meet Brad to get it signed, and they ended up in a deep conversation. Turns out, this guy was a Belmont graduate who had interned at SeaGayle (Brad's publishing company). He started rattling off unreleased song titles from Brad’s massive '90s songwriting vault, tunes written back when Brad was a professional songwriter aiming for cuts by Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, and George Strait. That conversation lit a spark, leading Brad to dig those tracks out of the archives, play them for the label, and head straight into the studio. In this video, I’m taking you behind the scenes of those tracking sessions at the historic Castle Recording Studio in Franklin, TN (a former Al Capone party house!). I break down the 1990s country session mindset, show you the handwritten legal-pad charts, and do a mini-guitar lesson on the actual fills, B-Bender licks, volume swells, and chorus-drenched parts I played on tracks like "Without You," "This Town" (where I played 6-string bass), and "Overnight Low." I also talk about tracking a wild harmony bender part with Brad on "High Ho Silverado" featuring David Lee Murphy. Plus, I give you a real-time studio floor tour showing off my rig, Randall Currie's steel setup, Kenny Lewis's bass rig, and Brad's legendary, re-covered red Vox AC30 from the 1960s. By the time you watch this, I’ll be out on the road with Brad across Europe for the month of June! TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - The "Butterfly Effect" Backstory: A Dinner with Danocaster 3:56 - The Nashville Vintage Guitar Show Encounter that Sparked Tacklebox 6:06 - Opening the 1990s Songwriting Vault (Writing for George Strait & Brooks & Dunn) 7:51 - The Call to Play & Tracking at Al Capone’s Old Castle Studio 9:58 - The '90s Country Session Mindset & Handwritten Charts 11:16 - Mini-Lesson: SWELLS & FILLS on "Without You" 14:55 - The Session Pedalboard: Original TC Chorus & Mirage Compressor 15:17 - 6-String Bass on "This Town" & Twin Harmony Benders on "High Hole Silverado" 16:42 - The Hallmark Christmas Movie Detour 17:55 - Heading to Europe: The June Tour Rig (Glazer Tele, Baritone, & Electric 12-String) 19:34 - BONUS: Exclusive Studio Room Tour (Brad's Red Vox AC30, Steel & Bass Rigs) GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO / SESSION: Fender Custom 3-Pickup Telecaster (Seymour Duncan Pickups, Music City Wiring Blend Control, B-Bender) Vintage 1968 Fender Princeton Amp (Studio demo) / Headstrong Amp (Tracking session) Original TC Electronic Stereo Chorus Flanger (Modded for DC Power) Mirage Compressor, Line 6 Echo Park, & Strymon El Capistan Stream Brad Paisley's Tacklebox tracks here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46ym8csh8mKzAia5pZikdu?si=53a544359fde4ee1 www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #BradPaisley #Tacklebox #AskZac #GuitarLesson #BBender #NashvilleSession #CountryGuitar #TheCastleStudio #VoxAC30 #Danocaster #Telecaster #Guitarist Support the show
#276
July 30 · 19 min
The Phil Kubicki Story - From Fender To Factor Bass
On today's episode of Ask Zac, we are diving deep into the life, career, and brilliant innovations of one of the most important former Fender employees and guitar builders in history: Phil Kubicki. While many modern bass players know him for his radical, headless Factor Bass from the 1985 era, Kubicki’s impact on the guitar world started decades earlier. We track his journey from building classical guitars at age 15 to walking into the Fender factory in January 1964, where he was hand-picked to help launch their new acoustic division. From there, Phil moved into Fender’s R&D department, where he had his hands on some of the company's most iconic historic releases, including the Telecaster Thinline, the Starcaster, the three-bolt neck micro-tilt system, and Fender’s high-end archtops like the LTD and Montego. Most famously, Phil is the man who hand-built the legendary All-Rosewood Telecaster used by George Harrison on the Apple Corps rooftop concert. We’ll also look at his post-Fender years in Santa Barbara, his fascinating early partnership with Seymour Duncan (the short-lived K&D Guitars), and look at some incredibly rare Kubicki instruments and parts up close—including a very unique short-scale travel guitar and my own personal 1982 Kubicki Telecaster body with a great country music pedigree. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction to an Unsung Innovator: Phil Kubicki 1:59 - From Classical Guitars to the 1964 Fender Factory Tour 4:05 - The Fender R&D Era: Thinline, Starcaster, and Archtops 5:27 - Hand-Building George Harrison’s Iconic Rosewood Telecaster 6:02 - Leaving CBS Fender & The Seymour Duncan Connection (K&D Guitars) 7:32 - Gear Deep Dive: My Personal 1982 Custom Kubicki Tele Body 9:06 - High-Stakes Luthiery: Routing Albert Lee’s B-Bender 10:33 - The Rare Kubicki "Vintage Guitars" Tele Prototype 12:02 - Demo: The Early 80s Kubicki "Arrow" Short-Scale Travel Guitar 15:07 - John Fogerty’s Famous "Centerfield" Baseball Bat Guitar 16:26 - The 1985 Factor Bass, Later Years, and Phil’s Legacy GEAR FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO: 1982 Custom Phil Kubicki Telecaster Body (Swamp Ash, Single Bound) Early 1980s Phil Kubicki "Arrow" Mini Guitar (Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder Pickup) Rare Kubicki "Vintage Guitars" Contoured Telecaster Prototype www.truetone.com SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: Pick up an Ask Zac T-Shirt or Coffee Mug: https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Join the Patreon Community: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip Jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #PhilKubicki #FenderHistory #AskZac #GuitarHistory #GeorgeHarrison #SeymourDuncan #CustomGuitars #VintageFender #Guitarist #Luthier #FactorBass #JohnFogerty Support the show
#277
July 30 · 16 min
My Frankenstein 12-String & Bass 6 Danelectro Double-Neck
When you get the gig playing auxiliary and utility guitar for a world-renowned Telecaster master like Brad Paisley, you run into a unique problem: How do you cover parts that include electric 12-string chime, and 6-string bass parts in a fast-paced live set without swapping guitars every single song? My solution? Build a monster, constructed out of late-90s Danelectro parts. In this video, I’m doing a deep-dive breakdown of my Frankenstein double-neck guitar. It features an electric 12-string on top and a baritone/6-string bass on the bottom. I’ll walk you through how I sourced the late-90s Danelectro components to get that authentic lipstick-pickup chime, the unique challenges of piecing it together, the electronics/switching setup, and exactly how I’m using it out on the road during Brad’s tour to fill out the live sonic landscape. GEAR & SPECS: Custom Double-Neck Specs: Built using late-90s Danelectro parts & lipstick pickups. Strings Used: D'Addario Signal Chain: Mirage Comp, Sawdust Overdrive, Boss TR-2, Strymon El Capistan, 1968 Fender Princeton Reverb. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #DoubleNeckGuitar #Danelectro #BradPaisley #TourGear #GuitarBuild #12String #BaritoneGuitar #SixStringBass #Guitarist #GuitarTone #LiveMusic #GuitarDemo #Luthier Support the show
#278
July 30 · 19 min
What It's Like Playing The Grand Ole Opry
Have you ever wondered what it's really like to play the Grand Ole Opry? In this episode, I share stories from my most recent appearance with Brad Paisley, including an unexpected guitar solo, the history and traditions of the Opry, and the gear I used on stage. We'll talk about: • What it's like backstage at the Opry • How the Opry has changed from the Ryman Auditorium to today • Why the Opry once banned drums and horns • The incredible Opry staff band • The Fender Tone Master amps provided on stage • The guitars and pedals I used, including my Glaser Telecaster, B-to-B baritone, and custom Fender Electric XII • Breaking down my impromptu solo on "Out Behind the Barn" and the country guitar influences behind it • Stories from touring Europe with Brad Paisley and meeting Ask Zac viewers along the way Playing the Grand Ole Opry is still one of the greatest honors a country musician can experience, and I hope this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what makes it such a special place. Watch the full Grand Ole Opry performance here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Yyfjf8NPXhs Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and leave a comment letting me know about your own Opry memories, or what you'd like to see on Ask Zac next. #AskZac #GrandOleOpry #BradPaisley #Telecaster #CountryGuitar #Nashville #Guitar #Fender #BaritoneGuitar #GuitarHistory www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show
#279
July 30 · 24 min
The Wicked Stepchildren of the Telecaster - The 70s Tele Custom & Telecaster Deluxe
Ever wondered why the 1970s Fender Telecaster Custom and Telecaster Deluxe are some of the most misunderstood guitars Fender ever built? In this episode of Ask Zac, we take a deep dive into these "wicked stepchildren" of the Telecaster family and uncover what makes them so unique. We'll explore the fascinating story of Seth Lover's Wide Range Humbucker, why Fender hired the inventor of Gibson's legendary humbucker, and how these guitars were designed to compete directly with Gibson in the 1970s. Along the way, we'll compare the Telecaster Custom and Deluxe to a traditional Telecaster, discuss the CBS-era design changes, demonstrate their unique tones, and look at the famous players who made them part of their sound, including Keith Richards. In this video: • The history of Seth Lover's Wide Range Humbucker • Why Fender created the Telecaster Custom and Deluxe • CBS-era features: Micro-Tilt, bullet truss rod, and three-bolt necks • Gibson-style wiring and why it makes these guitars so versatile • Tone demonstrations and pickup blending • Keith Richards • What makes these once-overlooked guitars collectible today www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Thanks to my Patreon supporters and everyone who helps support the channel! #Telecaster #Fender #VintageGuitars #AskZack #GuitarHistory #WideRangeHumbucker #SethLover #KeithRichards #TelecasterCustom #TelecasterDeluxe #ElectricGuitar Support the show
#280
July 30 · 20 min
The Album That Changed Eric Clapton Forever - J.J. Cale's Naturally
In this episode of Ask Zac, I take a deep dive into Naturally (1971), the landmark debut album that quietly shaped the playing of Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty, John Mayer, and countless others. We'll explore the story behind the album, how "After Midnight" and "Call Me the Breeze" helped launch J.J. Cale's career, and why his understated touch, groove, and phrasing became the foundation of what many call the "Tulsa Sound." I also demonstrate some of Cale's signature guitar licks and explain how his simple, tasteful approach influenced generations of players. Whether you're a longtime J.J. Cale fan or hearing Naturally for the first time, this album deserves a place on every guitarist's essential listening list. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac #JJCale #Naturally #EricClapton #MarkKnopfler #JohnMayer #TomPetty #Guitar #GuitarLessons #AskZac #VintageGuitar #TulsaSound #BluesGuitar #ClassicRock Support the show
#270
May 20 · 21 min
Learn to Feed Yourself Musically (Don't Be Spoon-Fed)
Most players hit a wall the same way, cycling through the same licks, searching for something new, and ending up lost in endless videos. Here’s a better way. In this video, we break out of that loop by using a simple, lifelong skill: take a song you love, learn the melody, and learn how to harmonize it. No tabs. No shortcuts. No spoon-feeding. This is how you build real musical independence, and actually start growing every time you pick up the guitar. Support the show
#272
May 20 · 30 min
Tales From The Tele Town Concert
The lowdown on Fender's concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium to celebrate the Telecaster's 75th Anniversary. What a night at the Mother Church of Country Music. On May 4th, I had the honor of hosting and performing at the Tele Town concert celebrating 75 years of the legendary Fender Telecaster at the historic Ryman Auditorium. This recap captures some of the unforgettable moments from an incredible evening filled with world-class players, iconic tones, deep musical history, and a whole lot of Telecaster magic. From blazing solos to emotional tributes, the night brought together generations of artists who have helped shape the sound of modern guitar music. Featuring performances and appearances from an all-star lineup including Brad Paisley, Brent Mason, Brothers Osborne, James Burton, Ricky Skaggs, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Zach Top, Guthrie Trapp, Trey Hensley, Jack White, Billy Gibbons, and many more. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the instrument that changed music forever. The Telecaster’s story is still being written, and this night was proof that its spirit is alive and well. Support the show
#273
May 20 · 25 min
Standel & The Tragic Genius of Bob Crooks - The Man Who Invented the Boutique Amp
The Man Who Invented the Boutique Amp: The Tragic Genius of Bob Crooks Before Dumble was a household name, and before Mesa/Boogie revolutionized the high-gain stack, there was Standel. In today’s video, we’re diving into the legendary twenty-year original run of Bob Crooks, the man who provided the sonic blueprint for the 1950s, yet spent his final years feeling like the industry had robbed him blind. High Fidelity in a Low-Fi World From his early days at Lockheed to his "almost" collaboration with Paul Bigsby, Bob Crooks didn't just build amplifiers; he engineered precision instruments. We explore how Standel became the "must-have" rig for the Mount Rushmore of 1950s legends, providing the pristine, hi-fi clarity demanded by icons like Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Joe Maphis, Speedy West, and Buddy Emmons. The Innovations Leo Fender "Borrowed" According to guitar historian Deke Dickerson, Crooks was a man fueled by deep-seated bitterness in his later years. The reason? Many of the features we now consider "Golden Era" standards were pioneered in the Standel workshop long before they appeared in Fullerton. We're talking about: Separate Treble and Bass controls (at a time when most amps had a single "Tone" knob). Forward-facing controls for ease of use on stage. Tolex covering and Piggyback head/cab designs. The integration of premium JBL speakers as a standard. The Great Pivot: Tubes to Transistors We also examine Crooks’ controversial shift in the early 1960s. As an early adopter of hybrid and eventually full solid-state circuitry, Crooks inadvertently chased "perfect" clean headroom just as the rest of the world was falling in love with the warmth of tube distortion. It was a classic case of a genius being too right for the wrong era. The Rebirth: 1997 to Today Finally, we cover the modern resurrection of the brand. 1997: The initial rebirth with Danny McKinney and Bob Crooks himself back at the helm, focusing on the legendary 25L15. 2023: The new chapter under Owen Duffy, who has begun producing reissues of Standel’s later catalog, bringing much-needed attention to the overlooked masterpieces of the brand’s twilight years. Support the show
#268
April 7 · 19 min
I Built My Perfect String Sets For My Telecaster & Baritone With D'Addario
Most players settle for whatever string set is on the shelf, but I’ve been piecing together custom sets since the early ’90s. In this video, I build my perfect custom string sets using my preferred D'Addario NYXL strings through their Custom String Shop. For my 1957 Fender Esquire, I dialed in a set gauged 10, 12, 16, 24, 34, 44 balanced for feel, tension, and snap. It’s based on their NYXL 9.5–44 set, but with slightly more robust high E and B strings. Then I went further, building a baritone NYXL set that doesn’t normally exist, with gauges 14, 18, 24, 44, 56, 70, including an unwound 3rd string for better bending and overall playability. The best part? D'Addario’s Custom String Shop lets you spec everything exactly how you want, and the sets show up beautifully packaged with your name on them. If you’ve ever thought, “these strings are close… but not quite right,” this is how you fix it. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show
#267
March 31 · 13 min
A Look At A 1949 Bigsby Guitar - Rarer Than Rare!
Before the Telecaster… before the Les Paul & the Strat… there was Bigsby. In this video, we take a deep dive into a 1949 Bigsby electric guitar, one of the earliest solid-body electrics ever made, and a true cornerstone in the evolution of the modern guitar. Built by Paul Bigsby, these instruments weren’t mass-produced, they were individually handcrafted works of art. Bigsby guitars are incredibly rare, as he built around 27 guitars from the mid-1940s through the late 1950s. Each one was custom-made, often for top-tier players, making them some of the most elusive and historically significant electric guitars in existence. Most famously associated with Merle Travis, Bigsby’s designs introduced features that would later define the electric guitar as we know it, including a solid body, a six-on-a-side headstock, and a sleek, functional aesthetic that clearly influenced Leo Fender and the birth of the Fender Telecaster. This particular instrument has its own incredible story. Created on August 7, 1949, this guitar was built by Paul specifically to be photographed for one of his early catalogs. Because of that, collectors have long referred to it as “the catalog guitar.” Even more special, the owner generously allowed me to take the instrument to my studio for a couple of hours so I could film this episode. Getting hands-on time with a guitar like this is a rare opportunity, and I’m excited to share it with you. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show
#266
March 17 · 2 hr 7 min
James Pennebaker Interview
Best known for his longtime work with Delbert McClinton, James Pennebaker has been one of the most tasteful and versatile guitarists in Nashville for decades. Starting his professional career at just 19 years old with McClinton, he went on to become a key part of the band on and off for more than forty years. But Pennebaker is far more than just a sideman. He’s a true multi-instrumentalist—equally comfortable on electric guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel, fiddle, mandolin, and more. Over the years he’s recorded and performed with artists like John Fogerty, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Lee Roy Parnell, and many others. Support the show
#265
March 10 · 24 min
The Gibson ES-335 - Their Best Design
The only Gibson model I’ve ever really connected with is the ES-335. While I’ve always gravitated toward Fender, the 335 is one Gibson that I think absolutely got right. Much like the Fender Telecaster, it’s simply a brilliant piece of guitar design. The magic of the 335 is in how balanced the concept is. The semi-hollow body combined with the center block gives you the warmth and air of a hollowbody while still delivering the sustain, focus, and feedback resistance of a solidbody. The result is a guitar that can cover an incredible amount of musical ground. Blues, jazz, country, rock, a great 335 seems to sit comfortably in all of those spaces. In this video, I spend some time talking about what makes the ES-335 such a successful design and why it continues to be one of the most versatile electric guitars ever built. I’m using a vintage 1964 ES-335 as the reference point, a guitar from Gibson’s golden era that really shows the design at its best. We also compare it to a more recent ’63 reissue built during the Gibson Memphis years to see how modern versions stack up against a true vintage example. And because not everyone is shopping in the vintage market, we also talk about some of the more affordable ES-335-style options out there today that capture a lot of the same spirit and sound without the vintage price tag. Support the show

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