Episodes

  • That Famed EVM-12L Sound
    Sep 10 2024

    In the 1960s and 70s, the JBL D120/K120 was the top choice for the touring pro who didn't want to worry about blowing a speaker on the road. However, in 1983, Electro-Voice released the EVM-12L, and soon after everyone from Eric Clapton & Stevie Ray Vaughan to Mark Knopfler and Larry Carlton were using EV speakers in their rigs. Today, I lay out some history/context, and compare it with my usual Eminence GA-SC64, as we look at the 200-watt, 20 pound, 12" speaker that changed guitar tones throughout the 80s and 90s, the EVM 12L.

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    #askzac #evm12l #zacchilds

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    26 mins
  • Hardtail Stratocaster: The Lowdown
    Aug 27 2024

    The hardtail Strat is a different beast from it's tremolo equipped brother, with a tone, and feel of it's own. Today we look at the history, and spotlight the famous players, all with a beautiful 1957 hardtail Stratocaster.

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    #askzac #hardtailstrat #stratocaster

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    17 mins
  • The Vince Gill Interview
    Aug 20 2024

    Vince Gill is at the top of his game. He recently completed a 4-night run at the Ryman where he played a three-and-a-half hour show each night, still singing & playing the songs in the same keys, or higher. Gill is some kind of superhero, as artists half his age could barely do this. Today we sit down with Vince, as he shares stories about some of his favorite guitars and a life well lived.

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    #vincegill #telecaster #askzac

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Celebrating the Don Kelley Band
    Aug 13 2024

    Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert, Johnny Hiland, J.D. Simo, and Daniel Donato reunited with Don Kelley on August 5th 2024 for a one-time concert to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Robert's Western World. Besides being a fete for one of the longtime anchors of Broadway's club scene, it was also a celebration of Don Kelley, and the incredible alumni of his band over the last 40-years. Today, we discuss both the concert and Kelley's influence on Nashville guitarists.

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    My interview with Don Kelley
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vZWFFIxn14

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

    1957 Esquire

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

    Mirage compressor pedal, Boss DM-3 delay

    #askzac #reddvolkaert #donkelleyband

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    21 mins
  • Fender's Marvelous Mandocaster - The Vintage Fender Electric Mandolin
    Aug 6 2024

    In the Spring of 1956, Leo Fender introduced the greatest little solid body of all-time, the Fender Electric Mandolin. Nicknamed ,Mandocaster, by collectors, they were designed to replicate the sound of Tiny Moore, and Johnny Gimble, the fiery 4-string mandolin playing veterans of Bob Wills Texas Playboys Band. The instrument was not a success as Western Swing's popularity was waning by the time Leo introduced it, but it found new and exciting uses in the ensuing 70 years. Today we look at the instrument, and the inspiration behind it, with a look at the playing and influence of both Tiny Moore and Johnny Gimble.

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    Gear Used:
    1958 Fender Electric Mandolin
    1959 Fender Harvard Amp

    Thanks to the following sites
    www.guitarhq.com
    www.emando.com

    Book Mentioned
    Fender The Golden Age 1946-1970
    https://amzn.to/4duer8P


    #fendermandolin #mandocaster #askzac

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    24 mins
  • The Birth of Light-Gauge Strings
    Jul 23 2024
    Have you ever wondered how we got light gauge strings? To give some context, until 1962, strings were 12-52, or heavier, with a wound third, and nothing lighter was available unless you used a banjo string. How about this, did you ever wonder why every string manufacturer has a 10-46 set that has the exact same gauges, 10,13,17,26,36,46? And the same with 9s and 8s? Today we tell the tale of the maverick guitarists of the late 1950's who wanted lighter strings with an unwound 3rd string, and of the guitar shop owner in Tarzana, California, who was the sole person brave enough to make, market, and sell them.

    Thanks to Derek Brooks and Chris Harrington with Ernie Ball, and to Joe Spann at Gruhn Guitars.

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    #askzac #ernieball #guitarstrings

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    25 mins
  • The Most Underrated Electric Guitar String Gauge - 9.5-44
    Jul 16 2024

    For years I went back and forth between 9s and 10s on my Telecaster, always frustrated with both gauges for different reasons. 9s, although easy to bend, were just not as full sounding, and I had to be careful not to "overplay" them, as they really needed to be played with a light touch. 10s, while certainly fatter sounding, always felt a bit too stiff for my liking. There just seemed to be to much of a difference in tension between the two sets. Finally, a friend clued me into the 9.5-44 D'Addario set, and I found to be the perfect happy-medium between the 9 and 10 gauges.

    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 - https://my-store-be0243.creator-spring.com/

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

    2023 Danocaster single cut in Duco red

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

    Mirage compressor pedal

    #askzac #guitarstrings #daddariostrings

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    19 mins
  • The Story of Cling Foil & the Blue Flower Telecaster
    Jul 2 2024

    In the summer of 1968, Fender released their most unconventional finishes to date, the Blue Flower & Paisley Red finishes. Available on only the Telecaster and Telecaster Bass, their striking appearance was made possible by a new product line from Borden Chemicals of Columbus, Ohio, "Cling Foil." This new "beautifully embossed" & "beautifully printed" foil was a product designed to go on refrigerators, tv-trays, cabinets, and boxes of all types to make them look more hip and modern. Somehow, Fender decided to take this existing product being sold in hardware stores and paint shops, and glue it to the front and back of their non-contoured Telecaster. Today we take a deep dive with an original 1968 Blue Flower Telecaster, and look at the differences between it and a standard Tele, detail the novel finishing process it required, and theorize as to why these are so much harder to find than their paisley brothers from 1968-69.


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    22 mins