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PODCAST

Ask Zac

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.

music music commentary

All Episodes

18:08

Personalized by Fender: 1969 Telecasters with Factory...

Ask Zac ·

2025/06/09

In 1969, Fender offered a little-known custom option: factory-personalized neck inlays. In this video, we dive into the rare story of a father and son who took Fender up on that offer—ordering two Telecasters inlaid with their names: "Bubba" and "Bob Clawson." These guitars were custom-made at the Fender factory and delivered to Clawson's Music in Corpus Christi, Texas, a Fender dealer since 1964. Join us as we explore the history of Fender’s neck personalization option, examine these two st...

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27:50

Meet Nashville Guitar Great: Matthew Lee

Ask Zac ·

2025/06/09

Meet Nashville Guitar Great: Matthew Lee If you’ve strolled down Broadway in Nashville, chances are you have heard the unmistakable sound of Matthew Lee—an exceptional guitarist whose chops are as sharp as his tone. Matthew shares the story of how music first grabbed hold of him, what led him to Music City, and the major influences that shaped his sound. He also gives us a look at some of his favorite gear, including his go-to axes from Lucky Dog and Crook Custom Guitars. Want to dive deepe...

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21:31

A Tele-Guy Discovers The PRS DGT SE

Ask Zac ·

2025/04/15

Since the DGT was released by PRS in 2007, I have been a fan. I didn't buy one then because I foolishly decided to get a more vintage-flavored reissue 1959 Les Paul, but have regretted that purchase ever since. With the new SE PRS DGT, I was able to scratch that humbucker with trem itch, but at an incredibly affordable price. The PRS DGT SE is a fantastic instrument that can really fill out your guitar arsenal at a great price. To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/As...

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20:41

A Look At Mike Campbell's Heartbreaker Memoir & His...

Ask Zac ·

2025/04/10

Mike Campbell is one of the most significant guitarists of our time as a result of his 40-year stint with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and guesting with everyone from Don Henley, to George Harrison. He recently released his memoir, Heartbreaker, a lovingly honest telling of his life with the help of author Ari Surdoval. We take a look at the compelling story it tells, and the incredible legacy and influence of Mike Campbell. Amazon Affiliate link to Heartbreaker https://amzn.to/4lk9NyX...

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72:31

Joe Fick of Kelley's Heroes & The Don Kelley Band

Ask Zac ·

2025/04/01

Joe Fick, leader of Kelley's Heroes and alumnus of the Don Kelley Band, joins us today. He shares of his time with the Dempsey's, The Don Kelley Band, working movies Walk The Line, and Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, to currently leading Kelley's Heroes. We also discuss the history of the upright slap style, challenges of transitioning from electric to upright bass, and a variety of upright bass playing styles. If you visit Nashville, you must see Joe and the band, Wednesday thru Saturday, at Nashville...

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25:26

Why Leo Fender Never Acknowledged The Influence of...

Ask Zac ·

2025/03/28

Leo Fender was heavily influenced by the work of Paul Bigsby in the late 1940s, yet in all of the interviews he did, he never acknowledged it. Today we look at both the influences, and the reasons why Leo did not give the credit that Paul Bigsby deserved for his innovations that filtered into every Fender guitar. To help us, we have an amazing copy of the 1948 Bigsby "Merle Travis" guitar, that clearly spotlights the influence on the Fender Telecaster, Stratocaster, and just about ever...

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13:10

My Favorite Backup Amp - The 1985 Peavey Studio Pro 40

Ask Zac ·

2025/03/11

I love Peavey amps from the early-to-mid 1980s, because I grew up with them in my favorite music shop, Clawson's Music in Corpus Christi, TX. In my last 80s Peavey episode, I looked at the Special 130, that is a killer amp, but is heavy, way too loud for most gigs, and at times a bit non-intuitive due to the mid-shift and multiple gain controls. My buddy, Mike LoPinto, who plays with Chris Stapleton, clued me into the Studio Pro 40. It checks all of the boxes, as it is easy to carry, has plen...

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16:10

The Modified Broadcaster/Telecaster Blend Control & 2...

Ask Zac ·

2025/03/04

With the recent visit with a real-deal 1950 Broadcaster, I had the chance to experience the unique tonal options that Leo Fender's original blend control offered over your run-off-the-mill tone control. The only problem, was that awful #1 position, that put a suffocating blanket over the neck pickup. I started searching for a modified wiring scheme, and I found my episode from a couple of years ago with Rick Holmstrom, Mavis Staples' guitarist and bandleader. In it, he described his mod...

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21:23

Baxendale Harmony Conversion Guitars

Ask Zac ·

2025/02/17

Scott Baxendale sent me a 50s Harmony H-162 that he had done his conversion work on to check out. So we take a look at it, laying out the conversion process, and also looking at my Baxendale mandocello, and my Dan Lambert converted/repaired Buck Owens American. We end with a look at my refinished Waterloo WL-14, that also has a dual pickup system, and under-saddle, and a magnetic sound hole unit. Support the show

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19:32

Meet Nashville Tele Slinger - Gabe Tonon

Ask Zac ·

2025/02/11

Today we get introduced to Gabe Tonon, and he shows off his 50s Esquire with a long throw Bender, and his two 60s maple-cap Fender Telecasters with Glaser B-Benders. Gabe is a wonderful player you can see opening for Zach Top in 2025 with Jake Worthington. Find Gabe here: https://www.instagram.com/gabe_tone_on/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/askzac/ To Support the Channel: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZac Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @As...

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31:01

The Fender Broadcaster Story

Ask Zac ·

2025/02/04

Today we look at one of the rarest and coolest members of the Telecaster family, a December 1950 Fender Broadcaster. To give some context, I cover what Fender was up to in late 1949 through the Summer of 1950 with the single and dual pickup Esquire, and how the addition of a truss rod caused the Broadcaster to be born. We also take a look at what makes the Broadcaster different feature wise from the later Telecasters, including the unique blend control that would be phased out in 1952. ...

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22:22

A Glaser Strat With A B-Bender?

Ask Zac ·

2025/01/21

Today we look at this cool Glaser B-Bender equipped Strat that I put together using a Glaser made neck from the 80s, and a non-tremolo swamp ash body. We get to hear the Seymour Duncan Hot Strat Stack pickups, and get a bit of history along the way. Much thanks to Jason Cornelius for the buddy deal on the Glaser neck, and to Brad Paisley for donating and painting the body.Get a Glaser bender on your Strat or Tele herehttps://www.glaserbender.com/scheduling-and-optionsFollow me on Instagr...

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25:30

Flat-Wound, Pure Nickel, and Ground-Wound Strings on...

Ask Zac ·

2025/01/14

A comparison between flat wound, pure nickel, and ground wound strings on my Tele. I was inspired to do this by the back of a set of D'Addario strings, showing a chart of their string offerings, from mellow to bright. Today, we start at the mellow end of the spectrum with the flat wound, going mid-way through the chart to the all-steel half-round set. Thanks to Andy Pitcher at D'Addario for supplying the various strings.Follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/askzac/To Support th...

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20:14

A Real Road Worn 1952 Telecaster

Ask Zac ·

2025/01/07

I love honest, beat-up, Telecasters. Today we tell the story of one of the most aged butterscotch Telecasters I have laid eyes on. Besides telling its story, we also compare it to a near mint 53 Telecaster. Thanks to Andy T, for letting me borrow his beautifully aged Tele. Follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/askzac/To Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch ...

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61:05

The Tim Lerch Interview

Ask Zac ·

2024/12/24

Today I sat down with one of the finest solo-Jazz guitarists of our time, Tim Lerch. We discuss how a non-jazz player might get into solo guitar, his influences, his highly modified Fender Nocaster, and how he approaches tone and touch. Much thanks to Tim for taking the time for this interview while he was in Nashville teaching at a guitar seminar.Follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/askzac/To Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://pa...

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18:57

The Resurrection of my 1970 Buck Owens "American" Guitar

Ask Zac ·

2024/12/17

Earlier this year, I did an episode on the Buck Owens "American" guitars made by Harmony from 1969-1971. Mine was in pretty good condition, but missing its headstock overlay, and having survived a neck break. The day after I released that show, the head broke off again on its own. With learning there was a major structural issue, I turned to a Harmony restoration specialist, Dan Lambert, of El Paso, Texas. Dan had to rebuild the neck and extensively repair the headstock. Today we look at all ...

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29:47

Vintage Solid State? Lab Series Amps

Ask Zac ·

2024/12/10

Gibson has never been known for their amps. Though we may revere certain models, they pale in collectability with those made by Fender of the same era. After years of slow amp sales, Norlin, the owner of Gibson from 1969-1986, decided to start a new amp division under its own name, Lab Series. To design the new line, they turned to another division they owned, Moog, and they were tasked with making a transistor amp that sounded like a tube amp, and looked traditional, yet cutting-edge circuit...

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50:05

Tone Snob Confessions With Barry O'Neal of Xact Tone...

Ask Zac ·

2024/11/26

We all have a tone obsession, but when is it healthy, and when is it not? I asked Barry O'Neal of Xact Tone Solutions to have a discussion on the "tone suck" of certain pedals, and it quickly morphed into a philosophical discussion on the potential pitfalls in the pursuit of tone.Follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/askzac/To Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch ...

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77:27

Luther Dickinson Interview

Ask Zac ·

2024/11/19

Luther Dickinson is an acclaimed sideman, solo artist, and producer, noted for his work with the North Mississippi Allstars, Phil Lesh, and the Black Crowes. We begin with a discussion of his legendary producer/musician father, Jim, and how he nurtured his son's playing and his work ethic. We also dive into how Luther became a devotee of open tunings via his dad's obsession with Bo Diddley. Dickinson is currently out playing shows with JD Simo and drummer Adam Abrashoff.Follow me on Instagram...

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18:04

A Look at the "Champ Killer" 1954 Wide-Panel Fender...

Ask Zac ·

2024/11/05

Built from 1953-55, the Wide-Panel Princeton was short-lived, yet in that brief time had 5B2, 5C2, and 5D2 iterations with earlier versions using octal preamp tube, and the latter using a 12AX7. Though both the tweed Princeton and the Champ were single-ended (single power tube) amps, the mighty Princeton throughout the 50s in most years had a bigger speaker, larger cabinet, and the addition of a tone control. For fun, we go all the way back to the first year of the amps production, 1946, and ...

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250 results

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