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 ...
Why Leo Fender Never Acknowledged The Influence of Paul Bigsby
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 every instrument that Leo designed.Amazon affiliate links:The Bigsby Book by Andy Babuikhttps://amzn.to/4iwxtO6Sixteen Tons, By Merle Travis & Deke Dickersonhttps://amzn.to/4hgE6mC 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 - https://my-store-be0243.creator-spring.com/Support the show
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25:26
My Favorite Backup Amp - The 1985 Peavey Studio Pro 40
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 plenty of volume, a full sound with an Eminence 12 inch speaker, and is pretty cheap at the current going price of $100-$200. For me, it is a great grab and go amp, and the perfect amp to take to the gig as a backup to my Headstrong Lil King, or my Fender 1965 Deluxe Reverb. 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 - https://my-store-be0243.creator-spring.com/Support the show
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13:10
The Modified Broadcaster/Telecaster Blend Control & 2 YT Channels I love
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 modified Broadcaster blend wiring that made the first position just a slightly lower volume, and slightly darkened neck pickup sound in position 1. I tried it, and loved it, and am sharing it with you now. I also share 2 YouTube Channels I have been enjoying, Adam Levy's, and Shane Theriot's.https://www.youtube.com/@AdamLevyGuitarhttps://www.youtube.com/user/TheRiotguitarInfo on the wiring:https://www.askzac.com/post/rick-holmstrom-mavis-staples-my-birthday-trip-to-new-orleans-ask-zac-162Follow 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 - https://my-store-be0243.creator-spring.com/Support the show
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16:10
Baxendale Harmony Conversion Guitars
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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21:23
Meet Nashville Tele Slinger - Gabe Tonon
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 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 - https://my-store-be0243.creator-spring.com/Support the show
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.
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