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Ask Zac

Zac Childs

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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  • 26 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 27 min
  • English

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Episodes 26

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  • #266
    March 17 · 2 hr 7 min

    James Pennebaker Interview

    Best known for his longtime work with Delbert McClinton, James Pennebaker has been one of the most tasteful and versatile guitarists in Nashville for decades. Starting his professional career at just 19 years old with McClinton, he went on to become a key part of the band on and off for more than forty years. But Pennebaker is far more than just a sideman. He’s a true multi-instrumentalist—equally comfortable on electric guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel, fiddle, mandolin, and more. Over the years he’s recorded and performed with artists like John Fogerty, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Lee Roy Parnell, and many others. Support the show

  • #265
    March 10 · 24 min

    The Gibson ES-335 - Their Best Design

    The only Gibson model I’ve ever really connected with is the ES-335. While I’ve always gravitated toward Fender, the 335 is one Gibson that I think absolutely got right. Much like the Fender Telecaster, it’s simply a brilliant piece of guitar design. The magic of the 335 is in how balanced the concept is. The semi-hollow body combined with the center block gives you the warmth and air of a hollowbody while still delivering the sustain, focus, and feedback resistance of a solidbody. The result is a guitar that can cover an incredible amount of musical ground. Blues, jazz, country, rock, a great 335 seems to sit comfortably in all of those spaces. In this video, I spend some time talking about what makes the ES-335 such a successful design and why it continues to be one of the most versatile electric guitars ever built. I’m using a vintage 1964 ES-335 as the reference point, a guitar from Gibson’s golden era that really shows the design at its best. We also compare it to a more recent ’63 reissue built during the Gibson Memphis years to see how modern versions stack up against a true vintage example. And because not everyone is shopping in the vintage market, we also talk about some of the more affordable ES-335-style options out there today that capture a lot of the same spirit and sound without the vintage price tag. Support the show

  • #264
    March 3 · 37 min

    Don Rich, Buck Owens & the Telecaster That Vanished

    In this episode, Joe Spann and I dive deep into the legacy of Don Rich and one of the most fascinating lost instruments in Fender history, his 1964 Gold Sparkle Fender Custom Telecaster. Joe breaks down exactly how Fender created the Gold Sparkle finish using crushed mirror material, why it was so visually striking under stage lights, and how unusual the process was for the era. We also discuss the many Buck Owens hits Don Rich recorded while using this Telecaster, and how central it was to his tone, image, and the Bakersfield sound. Finally, we explore the leading theories behind how the guitar disappeared, when it was last seen, why it was likely never recovered, and what makes it one of the great “what if” stories in vintage guitar history. This is a deep-dive into Don Rich’s influence, Fender’s experimental finishes, and one legendary Telecaster that vanished without a trace. Support the show

  • #263
    February 17 · 33 min

    The Holy Grail Telecasters At Gruhn Guitars with Joe Spann

    We went behind the scenes at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville for a tour of the 'Tele Vault' with legendary vintage archivist and researcher Joe Spann. We aren't just looking at vintage guitars; we’re looking at the DNA of the Fender company. Joe walks us through the history and technical specs of some of the most significant instruments on the planet, including George Fullerton's personal 1949 prototype, a guitar that predates the Broadcaster and Telecaster as we know it. The Lineup: 1949 Fender Prototype: George Fullerton’s personal guitar. 1951 Nocaster: The bridge between the Broadcaster and the Telecaster. 1963 Custom Esquire: A minimalist masterpiece in rare Custom trim. 1967 Custom Telecaster: Featuring a rare factory-installed Bigsby. 1967 Telecaster: A pristine late-60s classic. Massive thanks to Joe Spann and the team at Gruhn Guitars for opening the vault for us. Support the show

  • #262
    February 10 · 17 min

    The Octave 12-String Mando-Guitar - The Tool For Jangle Magic! -

    Ever heard a song that has a shimmering, "angelic" jangle that sits perfectly above a mix? Or how Buddy Miller creates those haunting, rootsy textures on songs like Lucinda Williams' "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," or Daniel Lanois on Emmylou's Wrecking Ball album? The answer isn't a mandolin, it’s the Octave 12-string guitar (often called a mando-guitar). In this video, we’re diving into the world of these high-tuned wonders, exploring the gear, the tuning, and the legendary players who made them a staple of modern atmospheric production. Support the show

  • #261
    February 3 · 17 min

    Why Even "Clean" Tones Need Some Hair & Grit

    Think your clean tone should be 100% pure? Think again. In this video, we’re looking at why "perfectly clean" guitars often sound thin in a mix and why adding a little "hair" or grit is the secret to a professional sound. There is a common "studio secret" that pro mixers have used for decades: subtle harmonic distortion makes everything sound better. Whether it’s a vocal, a drum bus, or a "clean" electric guitar, adding a touch of saturation provides the weight and character that a dry signal lacks. Support the show

Showing 21–26 of 26 episodes