Ask Zac

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This was another topic that I have been asked many times about over the last 10 months. These are my setup tips for Telecasters. I call them hacks, as I tend to not use measurements, and go more by feel and sound. I cover looking at the nut, neck relief, action, and pickup height.

Gear for this video
1967 Telecaster - stock except for steel compensated saddles, and the tone control is wired to the bridge pickup only.

Strings:
Ernie Ball 10,13,15,24,32,42

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
Mirage compressor pedal
Boss TR-2 Trem with AM mod
Boss DM-3
9v power via Truetone CS6 #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show

To Support the Channel:
Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/AskZac
Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac
Venmo @AskZac 
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CORRECTION - The "Stars On The Water" rhythm part was both Albert Lee and Hank DeVito. They played the same part but were panned hard left and right. Hank indicated he used his Esquire and a Vox AC30 on the track. DeVito is an esteemed steel player, guitarist, songwriter, and photographer. As a musician, he was an original member of Emmylou's Hot Band, Rodney Crowell's Cherry Bombs, and later performed with the Everly Brothers. As a songwriter, Hank wrote or co-wrote many well-known tunes including "Queen of Hearts," "Sweet Little Lisa," and "Small Town Saturday Night." His photography graces the cover of a number of albums, including Rosanne Cash's King's Record Shop.

Also, "You're Still On My Mind" was written by Luke/Jeff Daniels in 1959

You asked for it, so here is my look at a smattering of electric country rhythm guitar styles. Here I cover some fun rhythm techniques I stole from James Burton, Albert Lee, Ray Flacke, Brad Paisley, and Pete Anderson.

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/069...

Gear for this video
1967 Telecaster - stock except for steel compensated saddles, and the tone control is wired to the bridge pickup only.

Strings:
Ernie Ball 10,13,15,24,32,42

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
Mirage compressor pedal
Boss TR-2 Trem with AM mod
Boss DM-3
9v power via Truetone CS6 #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show

To Support the Channel:
Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac
Or check out my store at  - www.askzac.com

Albert Lee's playing floored me when I heard it on Eric Clapton's "Just One Night" album. I soon began racing down the rabbit hole learning as much as I could about his playing style, gear, and buying every album I could find that listed him on the credits. This episode is a tribute to Albert, and the huge influence he has had on electric guitar players in Country & all roots-based music styles.

Playlist for Albert Lee
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Vk...

Gear used in Video:
1982 Kubicki Tele body with Danocaster soft V maple neck
Glaser B-Bender circa 1996
APC Adder (Neck) Ron Ellis 60T (Bridge)

Strings:
D'Addario 9.5-44 XL120+

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
Mirage compressor pedal
Boss DM-3
9v power via Truetone CS6 #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

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

This is a walkthrough of Broadcaster/Esquire/Nocaster/Telecaster bridge pickups from 1950-1969. Thanks to Ron Ellis for his invaluable help in making this video. 2-weeks ago, I released an episode on pickups, and I found I had included some erroneous information on Broadcaster pickups. I immediately pulled the video from YouTube, and have now re-shot it with the correct information.

Gear for this video
1967 Telecaster - stock except for steel compensated saddles, and the tone control is wired to the bridge pickup only.

Strings:
Ernie Ball 10,13,15,24,32,42

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

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

Today I spotlight a multi-instrumentalist, and a criminally underrated Telecaster player, Ricky Skaggs. Besides his remarkable guitar work, I also looked at the unique way that he ended up as his own Telecaster player after Ray Flacke left his band. Also, I show some great Skaggs-influenced B-bender and non-bender licks.

Spotify Ricky Skaggs Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5HO...

Gear used in Video:
1982 Kubicki Tele body with Danocaster soft V maple neck
Glaser B-Bender circa 1996
APC Adder (Neck) Ron Ellis 60T (Bridge)

Strings:
D'Addario 9.5-44 XL120+

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
Mirage compressor pedal
Boss DD-2 Delay
TC Chorus circa 1980
9v power via Truetone CS6 #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show

To Support the Channel:
Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac
Or check out my store at  - www.askzac.com

For my 50th episode, I take a look at the guitar reference books that have influenced me the most. I also continue my lick of the week showing some of Joe Walsh's faux steel licks he used in a recent concert with the Eagles on "Peaceful Easy Feeling." Some of the licks Joe used are variations of Bernie Leadon's guitar parts on the original recording.

1. The Guitar Book, by Tom Wheeler

2. The Fender Telecaster by A.R. Duchossoir

3. Fender: The Sound Heard Round The World by Richard Smith

4. The Beauty of the Burst

5. The Blackguard Book: Nacho still has a few copies, but the prices are even higher than I stated in the video. Since my purchase of one a couple years ago, they have risen to $250. You can reach Nacho here: info(at)nachoguitars.com

Honorary mention: Arlen Roth's Complete Electric Guitar

Gear Used:
2014 Crook Custom Vintage Paisley with Adder Neck, and underwound Florance TE60
http://www.crookcustomguitars.com/

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Strings:
Ernie Ball 10,13,15, 24, 32, 42. Nickel-Plated Steel.

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
TC Polytune
Mirage compressor pedal
Line 6 Echo Park
9v power via Truetone CS6 #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

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

Today I take a look at our obsession with vintage guitars. It all started with a good friend calling me and informing me that he was going to sell a high-end boutique amp and guitar, so he could afford a vintage guitar. Although I supported him in doing it, I also had to look at what drives me and so many others to become obsessed about owning instruments that were made before many of us were born. Being that I also own, and feature in my show, guitars built by current builders, I look at what amazing instruments we have to choose from in modern built instruments. Without getting too edgy, I try to expose how the vintage guitar market is firmly in the "collectibles" category, and how volatile values can be, and how pricing is actively manipulated so the values of them will continue to rise. As a bonus to those that make it to the end, I am ending each episode by showing a lick or playing concept. 

Gear for this video
1967 Telecaster - stock except for steel compensated saddles, and the tone control is wired to the bridge pickup only.

Strings:
Ernie Ball 10,13,15,24,32,42

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
TC Polytune
Mirage compressor pedal
Boss DM-3 delay
9v power via Truetone CS6  https://amzn.to/38S9rZK #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

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 the continuing series, of how the various components affect tone, today's chapter is on wood. As to not spread too wide of a net, I stick to old-school Fender used woods ash, alder, pine, and basswood, when covering bodies, and solid maple, maple cap, and rosewood board necks. #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

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 remember vividly seeing this "new" guitarist play on TV in the early 90s. He had this crazy-looking gray Tele, with a mini in the neck, a Strat in the middle, and boy howdy could he play! Of course, that guitarist was Brent Mason, and he has gone on to be one of the most recorded, and influential players to ever set foot in Nashville, TN. Today we take a look at the new Fender Brent Mason Telecaster, walk through some of its cool features, and talk a bit about Brent too. 

Spotify Playlist for Brent Mason
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Ub...

https://www.askzac.com/post/brent-mas...


Gear used in Video:
2020 Fender Brent Mason Telecaster
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electri...

Strings:
D'Addario 9.5-44 XL120+

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
Mirage compressor pedal
Boss Volume pedal
Boss DD-2 Delay
TC Chorus circa 1980
9v power via Truetone CS6  https://amzn.to/38S9rZK
#askzac #brentmason  #telecaster

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 love relics when they are done well, but must say that there are few things uglier than when aging is done badly. In today's AZ, I retell the story of seeing Joe Glaser age a pickup cover in a restoration project, long before the beginning of the Fender relics.  I also dispel the often-told story that the Relic series happened after Fender sent some guitars to Keith Richards, and he indicated "Go beat them up, they look too new." It never happened according to the former head of the Fender Custom Shop, John Page, Master Builder J. Black, and Vince Cunetto. I end the episode showing an old-school hot lick, that is guaranteed to turn heads.

Gear used in Video:
2019 Danocaster Blackguard (1953 Telecaster Style) with Ron Ellis 52T (Bridge) and Julian Lage (Neck)
https://danocaster.com/

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10,12,16, 24, 34, 44.

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
TC Polytune
Mirage compressor pedal
9v power via Truetone CS6  https://amzn.to/38S9rZK #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show