Ask Zac

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Ever wondered how Leo Fender came around to making the G&L Broadcaster after a decade of Music Man guitars, and the early G&L designs with active electronics and too many knobs and switches? The truth is better than fiction here, and you're going to love to hear what motivated Leo to return to his roots, with a twist to save his pride. I also share the story of the early G&L ASAT I use in the video that was formerly owned by John Jorgenson and is now in the possession of Brad Paisley.

Gear used:

1987 G&L ASAT formerly owned by John Jorgenson, now owned by Brad Paisley

Strings: 

EB 10-46

Pick:
Pick Boy Small Jazz, Tortoise Shell, 1.00mm

Effects: Boss DM-3

Amp:
1964 Vox AC10.

#askzac #gandlguitars    #telecaster

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We kick the episode off with a direct comparison using my 2023 Danocaster guitar which is equipped with a bridge that handles both top loading and string thru. We then take a look at the history of Fender's top loader Telecasters, and the possible reasons for changing the construction of them during that era. To reveal Fender's pattern, we analyze the models that featured toploading bridges beforehand, the Musicmaster, Duo Sonic, and the revamped 1957 Precision Bass. 

Gear used:

2023 Danocaster Single-Cut with Budz 58 pickups. 6.4 pound, ash body, .91 maple V neck.

Strings: 
D'Addario NYXL 95-44
https://amzn.to/41rnl0V

Pick:
Pick Boy Small Jazz, Tortoise Shell, 1.00mm

Effects: Amp reverb

2023 Headstrong Lil King amp with a 12" Alessandro 64 Speaker

#askzac #danocaster   #toploader

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John Leventhal returns to go in-depth on his first solo album, Rumble Strip. We discuss his process of composing, recording, and the gear he used to create the 16 poignant tracks on the album. Leventhal also discusses his signature acoustic guitar tones that utilize both the natural "acoustic" sound, plus an "electric" sound hole pickup run-through effects and a tube amplifier. He also weighs in on the 30th-anniversary re-release of The Wheel, his first collaboration with his wife, noted singer-songwriter, Rosanne Cash.

John is a multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and musician. A short list of Leventhal's collaborators includes Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin, Rosanne Cash, William Bell, and Sarah Jarosz. 

Rumble Strip - Release Date January 26th, 2024
https://music.apple.com/us/album/rumble-strip/1713810040


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#askzac #johnleventhal #rosannecash

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After rebuilding my board numerous times depending on if the gig was an amp or direct situation, I decided to have a pedalboard built that could easily do one or the other, or both if needed. I started off with my favorite pedals, then added the UA Dream 65 amp modeler, and a Walrus Audio Canvas Line Driver. This would allow me to go direct. To be amp-friendly, we needed a junction box that would bypass the Dream 65 and Canvas. Since we were adding the junction box, and there was space available,  we also included insert jacks (before delays, and after overdrives) to allow me to use a volume pedal or other effects in the right position in the signal chain.  

Gear used:
Turbo Tuner, Mirage Compressor, Analogman Boss TR-2, Ibanez Mostortion, Boss DM-3 analog delay, Line 6 Echo Park. UA Dream 65, Walrus Audio Canvas Line Driver, Metro 24 board, and a Truetone CS6 power supply.

#askzac #pedalboard  #Xacttonesolutions

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Eldon Shamblin was Leo Fender's favorite guitarist, playing in his favorite band, Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys. Fender supplied the Playboys with amps and steel guitars but he wanted badly to get his new Spanish guitar, the Broadcaster, in their guitarist's hands. Unfortunately, Eldon had no interest in the plank with strings and politely passed on the offer. A few short years later, Leo was still bent on converting Shamblin, so he had his crew build a one-of-a-kind gold Stratocaster in the summer of 1954, and gifted it to the Playboy guitarist during one of their regular visits to the Fender factory. Eldon at first refused the golden solid body, but Leo convinced him to take it with him and try it on the bandstand. Shamblin soon dropped his hollow-body Gibson and became a lifelong Stratocaster player, using them until his passing on August 4th, 1998. Today we take a look at Eldon Shamblin's importance as a guitarist and arranger for Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, and the fantastically rare and beautiful golden 1954 Stratocaster that Leo Fender gave him. 

Photos and video on my site
www.askzac.com/post/eldon-shamblins-1954-gold-stratocaster

Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1efYMv1CjoK8jpJp7sqS55?si=77fd65af7a7b4568

Gear used:

2023 Headstrong Lil' King with 12" Eminence GA-SC64 speaker
https://headstrongamps.com/lil-king-amp

1955 Stratocaster built by my old college buddy, B. Paisley, using a mix of old and new parts. Ron Ellis 50/60 middle and neck, Duncan Twang banger in the bridge.

https://www.ronellispickups.com/

Strings: 
D'Addario NYXL 10-46
Affiliate link
https://amzn.to/494qQ1y

Pick:
Pick Boy Small Jazz, Tortoise Shell, 1.00mm

Effects: Amp reverb

#askzac #eldonshamblin #stratocaster

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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What started as a walk-thru, became Dan Strain sharing a gold mine worth of tone-tips for Telecaster fans. We talk about tuners, string trees, saddles, bridges, pickups, neck pockets, swapping necks, and the Duco red color that was chosen for this guitar.

#askzac #telecaster   #danocaster

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Duke Levine's resume is filled with a catalog of stellar solo albums, high-profile sideman gigs, and essential session work. We have Tom Bukovac to thank for making this interview happen, as he had requested Duke on a recent session here in Nashville, that gave us a chance to catch up in person with the Boston-area great. To kick off, we begin with a discussion of his latest gig, touring with Bonnie Raitt.  Via the new gig, he has had his first experience with using in-ear monitors and having amps off-stage. We also cover his early gigs with Jonatha Brooke & The Story, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and how he got a record deal in the early 90s. Levine also talks about the eternal tone hunt, covering his move away from using compressor pedals to replacing them with low-gain overdrive pedals. We also cover his pedal board where he uses a Radial switcher to keep his tone as pure as possible by removing unused items from his chain.

#askzac #dukelevine #telecaster

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For years I have had pedalboard envy. Not for a huge board with tons of effects, but for the super clean and buttoned-up look of the pro-built boards. Xact Tone Solutions has built my favorites, so I finally decided to have a larger board built around a UA Dream 65 amp modeler, yet that could also go to an amp, or both. I also decided to get the XTS treatment on my tried and true grab-go board. This is a walk-through of my board with Barry and Eric, who have no issues with adding their valuable input or giving me a hard time. 

Gear used:
Turbo Tuner, Mirage Compressor, Analogman Boss TR-2, Ibanez Mostortion rehoused by XTS, Boss DM-3 analog delay, Line 6 Echo Park. Mono board. Truetone CS6 power supply

#askzac #pedalboard  #Xacttonesolutions

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

To Support the Channel:
Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/AskZac
Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac
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The Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive is one of the best overdrive pedals of all time due to its groundbreaking clean mix control. Released in December of 2000, it could cover the standard TS-type tones, yet also be the finest transparent overdrive due to its ability to mix one's dry signal back in. The ability to mix one's clean signal along with a Tube Screamer circuit allows for in James Santiago's words, "jangly highs, tight lows, and the overdriven midrange from the TS circuit."  

Today we revisit this classic effect and also get the full story of its creation from the guys who birthed it, Josh Fiden, Voodoo Lab Founder & CEO, and former Voodoo Lab VP, now UA Senior Product Designer, James Santiago. I also reveal a great setting for using the Sparkle Drive to warm up your tone.

Gear used:

2023 Headstrong Lil' King with 12" Eminence GA-SC64 speaker
https://headstrongamps.com/lil-king-amp

1955 Stratocaster crafted by my old college buddy, B. Paisley, using a mix of old and new parts. Ron Ellis 50/60 middle and neck, Duncan Twang banger in the bridge.

https://www.ronellispickups.com/

Affiliate link Seymour Duncan Twang Banger
https://amzn.to/3QG4vze

Strings: 
D'Addario NYXL 10-46
Affiliate link
https://amzn.to/494qQ1y

Pick:
Pick Boy Small Jazz, Tortoise Shell, 1.00mm

Effects:
Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Amp reverb, and Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

#askzac #voodoolab #sparkledrive

Support the show

To Support the Channel:
Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/AskZac
Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac
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The story of how JD Simo played the Ryman with Chris Isaak using my Stratocaster built by Brad Paisley. I also go in-depth on the Stratocaster that my old college buddy crafted for me. 

Gear used:

2023 Headstrong Lil' King with 12" Eminence GA-SC64 speaker
https://headstrongamps.com/lil-king-amp

1955 Stratocaster built by my old college buddy, B. Paisley, using a mix of old and new parts. Ron Ellis 50/60 middle and neck, Duncan Twang banger in the bridge.

https://www.ronellispickups.com/

Strings: 
D'Addario NYXL 10-46
Affiliate link
https://amzn.to/494qQ1y

Pick:
Pick Boy Small Jazz, Tortoise Shell, 1.00mm

Effects:
Amp reverb and Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

#askzac #jdsimo #chrisisaak

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