Ask Zac

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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 together to launch their careers. These integral ingredients can be distilled down to hard work, risk-taking, and timing/luck. All 3 of these are incredibly important, and the house quickly falls if any one of these elements is absent. To illustrate, I share anecdotes from my interviews with John Jorgenson, Pete Anderson, and JD Simo showing how the elements of hard work, risk-taking, and luck played out in their careers.

Gear Used:

Baxendale Kay Mandocello

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35

Amp:
2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.

Effects:
Boss Analogman mod TR-2, MXR Reverb

#askzac #zacchilds

Support the show

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 Tele to the #2 position, and it was soon traded to his bandmate Bob Warford for a Nobel acoustic guitar.  Wanting to also use a B-Bender, Warford & his dad engineered their own system based on Gene's original design, but with a few improvements including the allowance for a slimmer body to fit in a standard guitar case. Once learning the ropes of the mechanism, Bob would feature the B-Bender-equipped Tele with such greats as the Everly Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Herb Pedersen, and Chris Hillman. Today's video drills down on the modifications done to it, and we look at the ingredients to his rig to produce the memorable tones he featured on Ronstadt's "Willin'" and "Dark End Of The Street."

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kK...

Bender plans and photos
https://www.askzac.com/post/bob-warfo...

Gear Used:

Crook Paisley Tele.

Strings:
Webstrings pure nickel 9-42

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35

Amp:
2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.

#askzac #clarencewhite  #bobwarford

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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 pedalboard.

#askzac #donkelley #lukemcqueary

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 that time, he made quite a few modifications to the instrument, including changing pickups, bridges, hardware, and even a neck swap or 2. Today's episode spotlight all the changes the guitar went through in the years he used it as his main guitar for both the studio and the road.

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/47J...

Gear Used:

Crook Paisley Tele.

Strings:
Webstrings pure nickel 9-42

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35

Amp:
2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.

#askzac #jamesburton  #zacchilds

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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 original bridge pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis. Pickguard design by Jay & Kristi Smith of Juicebox Designs.

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35

Amp:
2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.

#askzac #jamesburton  #zacchilds

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 & Kristi Smith of Juicebox Designs.

Strings:
D'Addarion NYXL 10-46

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35

Amp:
1984 Peavey Special 130

#askzac #peaveyspecial130 #zacchilds

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 1969 Telecasters.

Book link Memphis Boys https://amzn.to/3XdioY6

#askzac #musicianshalloffame #jamesburton

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 levers. His work on "Peaceful Easy Feeling" is an excellent example of the sound the device allows and is by far the most accessible and most often heard example of a guitarist using it.  Today we take a look at Leadon's work through the years, spotlight some of his session work, and discuss his original Pull-String equipped Telecaster. We also cover how he ended up on the History of the Eagles tour, and the spartan setup that he used for the 170 dates back out on the road with his old band.

Buddy Emmons book - Amazon Affiliate link  https://amzn.to/3zHaqfy

Bernie Leadon Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/72M...

Gear Used:

Crook Paisley with Glaser B-Bender

1959 Harvard amp

Boss CS3 comp, MXR Reverb, MXR Looper

Bass - Danelectro Bass 6
Rhythm - Baxendale Kay Mandocello

#askzac #bernieleadon #eaglesband

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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, Redd promoted his new "Telewacker" album and professed his love for Nichols, and I knew that this was the man that was going to bring the Telecaster sound back to the Hag's lead guitar spot. As much as I had loved the 1980s-era Roy and later Clint Strong with their Les Paul and Peavey Session 400 rigs, I had longed to hear the tunes played with a Tele and a JBL-equipped Fender amp. I soon learned that Haggard was playing nearby and I immediately bought a ticket to see Merle and the Strangers for their show on September 4th, 1998, in Corpus Christi, Texas. For the entire show, Redd was on-fire, as he paid homage to his predecessors, yet put his spin on the guitar parts to Merle's incredible catalog of hits. It was one of the best shows I have ever heard.

Today we look at Redd Volkaert and his huge influence on Telecaster players over the last 30 years. Also, we feature a new segment, Zac's book time.

Book link https://amzn.to/3T0g9DX

Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4DL...

Redd guests quite a bit with the Western Flyers
https://www.thewesternflyers.com/

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.

Strings:
D'Addarion NYXL 10-46

Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy

Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb with a 60s JBL D120F gray frame speaker with its original cone. Used with AmpRX Brown Box set to 113v

Effects used:
Amp reverb, MXR Clone Looper

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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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 band California Country Rock, with dashes of Bluegrass, Bakersfield, and Byrds for good measure. But despite John's sizeable contributions, the group was a true sum of its parts; a father of Country Rock, the finest harmony singer on the planet, a wunderkind guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, a legendary steeler, and a veteran bassist and drummer of the highest order. Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson, Jay Dee Maness, Bill Bryson, and Steve Duncan were the finest band to hit both the road and the airwaves since Emmylou's Hot Band, Buck Owen's Buckaroos or Merle Haggard's Strangers. Although their stint with the original lineup only existed from 1985-1991, they made an indelible impact on Country Music. Studio guitarists in Nashville pointed to Jorgenson's tones and began using real amps, electric 12-strings, and six-string basses, and being more adventurous with effects. Songwriters were encouraged to create honest material that focused on sometimes difficult subjects, and road bands everywhere rehearsed more, and still shuddered at the thought of following the Californians, with great songs, amazing harmonies, and top-drawer instrumentalists. The irony of their blowing the doors open in so many avenues was that the Desert Rose Band was soon overtaken in popularity by the "New Country" of the 1990s, which they helped lay the groundwork for.

This is my tribute to a band that has given me innumerable hours of enjoyment, challenged me, and is also the chief reason that I bonded with Brad Paisley during our University years. Later, during my time as Paisley's guitar tech, he would routinely tell me if we could not have a soundcheck to "Just make my guitar sound like "Hello Trouble.""

Thank you, Chris, Herb, John, Jay Dee, Steve, and the late Bill Bryson for the music that meant so much to me.

Jorgenson's gear notes
https://www.askzac.com/post/the-deser...

Their "Greatest Hits"
https://open.spotify.com/album/6HMY1K...

The Deep Dive
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uO...

To Support the Channel:
Patreon 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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