Ask Zac

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 a partially hollowed-out body, and a stylized Pearloid pickguard released in 1968. To spruce up the model in late 1971, the model was completely revamped with a new bridge, pickguard, Wide Range humbuckers, Bullet Truss Rod, and Micro-Tilt neck adjustment. In this episode, we will detail the differences between the standard Telecaster, and the version I & II Thinline models. We will also look at the important differences that Seth Lover engineered into his 50s Gibson PAF humbucker model, and the 70s Wide Range he later designed for Fender.

Gear Used:

2022 Vintage II Fender 72 Telecaster Thinline 
1967 Fender Telecaster

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

#askzac #telecasterthinline #zacchilds

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

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 players kept them on, but by even the mid-50s, players were taking them off to palm mute for chugga-chugga rhythms or swampy low-string licks. It soon became known as the ashtray, and Leo's functional and decorative cover was used by smokers who set them on their amps and knocked out the contents at the end of the night. Soon, most players retired them permanently to their case or lost them altogether. The lone exception to this was Iceman, Albert Collins, who not only kept his cover in place but decorated it with eye-catching reflective tape. Today we dive deep, into the story of Leo Fender's Telecaster bridge cover.

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:
StringJoy Pure Nickel Round Core 10-44 (10,12,16,24,34,44)

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

#askzac #stringjoy #zacchilds

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

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 early 50s with their innovative cabinet and circuit designs, and also due to their use of a speaker that could produce a much clearer and louder tone than the less expensive pressed frame speakers being produced by Jensen and others. Stars from Chet Atkins to Speedy West began using Standel models over Fender, and the boys in Fullerton began to take note. Leo Fender, whose goal was always to make a great instrument at a more pocketbook-friendly price, continued to use lower-cost Jensen units until he finally relented in late 1959, producing the Vibrasonic amp, which was his first factory-equipped model with a JBL and the first Fender with Tolex covering and forward facing controls. 

In today's episode, we will look at some of the myths about them concerning brightness, the actual weight of the popular alnico magnet D120F & K120 models, and the differences between cast frame and pressed from speakers. Also, we will discuss the polarity issue and the frame thickness of the later D120F and K120 models that can require modifications to be utilized in some amps.   

A short list of guitarists that have used JBL speakers during important phases of their careers would include, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Albert Lee, Albert Collins, James Burton, Jerry Garcia, Roy Nichols, Duane Allman, Chet Atkins, Dickie Betts, Vince Gill, Mick Taylor, Keith Richards, Jesse Ed Davis, and Eric Johnson.

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'Addario NYXL 10-44 (10,12,16,24,34,44)

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

#askzac #jbld120f #zacchilds

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 #tuberattle

Support the show

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 eye.

As important as these players and their stories are, today we get to hear Don's story of growing up in Texas, serving in Vietnam, moving to Nashville to play with Joe Stampley, and how he came to lead his band and guide the careers of some of the finest guitarists in the world.

#askzac #donkelleyband #telecaster

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis.

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46 Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/3uD1WnZ

Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy

Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb with a V30 speaker. Used with AmpRX Brown Box set to 113v

Effects used:
Amp reverb

#askzac #guitartech  #telecaster

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 Carter, or the footnote of him being Robbie Robertson's mentor in the Hawks. Today we bring Fred Carter's playing outside the shadows.

Johnny Darrell "Why You Been Gone So Long"
   • Johnny Darrell "W... 

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1cD...

Additional photos of Fred through the years and all the links below are on my website
https://www.askzac.com/post/fred-cart...

Fred Carter Jr - "Voodoo Woman"
   • Fred Carter Jr. -... 

Fred Carter Jr. - Sitting on Mama's Knee - Nuggett
   • Fred Carter Jr. -... 

Fred Carter Jr. - River Boy - Nuggett
   • Fred Carter Jr. -... 

Gear Used:

1957 Fender Esquire with "New Tall" Ron Ellis neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Rewind of bridge pickup by Ron Ellis.

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46 Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/3uD1WnZ

Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy

Amp:
1959 Harvard with AmpRX Brown Box set to 113v

Effects used:
MXR M300 on Spring setting

#askzac #fredcarterjr

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 it is a bit inevitable to the gigging Tele player.

Gear Used:

1957 Fender Esquire with "New Tall" Ron Ellis neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Rewind of bridge pickup by Ron Ellis.

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46 Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/3uD1WnZ

Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy

Amp:
2021 Fender Vibro Champ Reverb

Effects used:
amp verb

#askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show

To order Ron Ellis Pickups:  [email protected]

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 responsible for each step of the process.

#askzac #ronellis #ronellispickups

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

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 precisely what the song needs.

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1EZ...

Our Truetone Lounge interview with Steve
   • Truetone Lounge |... 

Gear Used:
1982 Kubicki body, 2022 Danocaster Neck, Glaser Convertible Bender, 80s Duncan middle, Ron Ellis 50/60 Tele pickup set.

Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb with Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, and bright cap clipped on the vibrato channel.

Effects used:
amp verb, Boss DD-2

#askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show