Ask Zac – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Ask Zac

Zac Childs

Music

Frequency: 1 episode/4d. Total Eps: 274

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.

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 USA - musicCommentary
09/08/2026
#100
🇺🇸 USA - musicCommentary
06/08/2026
#94
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
04/08/2026
#92
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
03/08/2026
#69
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
28/07/2026
#73
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
27/07/2026
#60
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
26/07/2026
#40
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
23/07/2026
#80
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
17/07/2026
#77
🇨🇦 Canada - musicCommentary
16/07/2026
#47

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/askzac
154 shares
https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/telecaster
122 shares
https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/guitartech
116 shares

https://paypal.me/AskZac
229 shares
https://my-store-be0243.creator-spring.com/
72 shares
http://www.texastoastpodcast.com
51 shares

https://www.patreon.com/AskZac
423 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 58%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

Hardtail Stratocaster: The Lowdown

Episode 208

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 • Duration 17:24

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.

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 @AskZac
Or check out my store for merch - https://my-store-be0243.creator-spring.com/

#askzac #hardtailstrat #stratocaster

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

The Vince Gill Interview

Episode 207

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 • Duration 01:30:29

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.

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/

#vincegill #telecaster #askzac

Texas Toast
The #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

Tele Pickup Height with JD Simo and Dan Strain

Episode 198

Saturday, June 1, 2024 • Duration 26:38

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/

A discussion with my friends, JD Simo, and Dan "Danocaster" Strain about how they set pickup height on Telecaster type guitars. The discussion begins with a look at Simo's 2nd Danocaster, and how he had just changed the pickups to a set of Budz 58s, that then evolves into a discussion on pickups as JD adjusts his new instrument. We also discuss pickups that favor harmonics over fundamental tones, and how JD and I love our Headstrong Lil King amps.

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

Danocaster Guitars
https://danocaster.com/

#askzac #jdsimo #danocaster

Texas Toast
The #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

TOP 5 Episodes of 2021 - Ask Zac 105

Episode 105

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 • Duration 19:35

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

As I was contemplating my last AZ episode of 2021, I realized that 4 out of 5 of my top videos of the year were all focused on amps. So this episode both looks at the importance of amps and lends some additional insight into those amp videos. I take a look at my videos featuring the Deluxe Reverb, Tone Master Deluxe, Vibro Champ Reverb, and the episode on how small amps got big.

Gear for this video:

1957 Fender Esquire with added vintage neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Rewind of bridge pickup by Ron Ellis.

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46

Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy

Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb with Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, and bright cap clipped on the vibrato channel.

Effects used:
amp verb

#askzac #guitartech #telecaster #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show

A Vintage Amp Snob Goes Direct - Ask Zac 104

Episode 104

Monday, July 3, 2023 • Duration 20:56

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

You don't change until you have to.....

I have always been an amp guy, and have always had a preference for tube amps. With a recent fly date I did with Paul Bogart, I ran into a situation that caused me to finally make the jump to using a direct setup. In the video, I cover how I began to see more and more of my friends and heroes go direct when the situation called for it. My solution was the Strymon Iridium with a Tone Junkie Celestion Vintage 30 IR pack. With it, I could get a nice BF Deluxe Reverb sound, along with the V30 IR to give me a sound I was comfortable with. Though others I spoke with used the Kemper or Line 6 HX, I chose the Strymon as it had actual knobs, and was much easier for me to use on the gig.

This is my beginner's guide to going direct.

Gear for this video
1957 Fender Esquire with an added neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Bridge pickup re-wind by Ron Ellis

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46

Pick:
D'Andrea MH 351

Pedalboard
Turbo Tuner
Mirage Compressor
Karma MTN-10 Mostortion
Boss DM-3
Strymon Flint
Line 6 Echo Park
Strymon Iridium
9v power via Truetone CS6JBL powered speakers for this video

Robbie Robertson - Tele-Man of The Band - Ask Zac 103

Episode 103

Sunday, July 2, 2023 • Duration 26:14

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

Robbie Robertson and The Band turned the music world on its collective ear with the release of Music From Big Pink. Extended guitar solos, fuzz, psychedelic references, and screaming vocals were nowhere to be found. Instead, the listener found the understated guitar, storytelling songs, thoughtful arrangements, and brother-like vocal harmonies. In today's player spotlight, we take a look at Robertson's early days with the Hawk, through the mid-era of The Band, mainly focusing on the period of time that Robertson played a Telecaster. We also take a look at the black Tele he was gifted by Dylan, which was modified through the years and was his main guitar through much of the Band era.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/65w...

Gear used:
1959 Fender Harvard with stock Jensen P10R

1957 Fender Esquire with added neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Bridge re-wind by Ron Ellis

Strings: D'Addario NYXL 10-46Pick:Medium-Heavy

How Small Amps Got Big - Ask Zac 102

Episode 102

Saturday, July 1, 2023 • Duration 27:15

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

Ever wondered why the amp world shifted from 100-watt amps to 25-watts or less? The short answer is the advancement of P.A. systems. In the not-so-distant past, the typical P.A. was only capable of handling 2-3 vocal mics. Because of this, the guitar amp, and it alone, had to make the guitarist heard in whatever venue or situation they were in. This "amp dependency" was most often the case all the way up until the 1980s when it began to become more common for instrument amps to be reinforced through the more advanced P.A. systems that could handle the additional work. Thus the shift to smaller amps allowed the stage volume to be lowered and gave the vocalists a much-needed break.

A Celestion Blue Alnico speaker is in the amp for the entire video

Gear for this video
1957 Fender Esquire with an added neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Bridge pickup re-wind by Ron Ellis

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46

Pick:
D'Andrea MH 351

Amp:
Fender '62 Princeton Amp - Chris Stapleton Edition #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Hot-Rodding The Brown Princeton - Ask Zac 101

Episode 101

Friday, June 30, 2023 • Duration 19:20

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

I couldn't help myself, I had to mess with the amp that really did not to be messed with. In this video, I tell how using different tubes and speakers in the Chris Stapleton Princeton changed the sound. Just to be clear, I thought it was great out of the box, I just wanted to hear how the amp could be steered differently both in its gain, and tone.

An Eminence GB128 speaker is in the amp for the entire video

Gear for this video
1957 Fender Esquire with an added neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Bridge pickup re-wind by Ron Ellis

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46

Pick:
D'Andrea MH 351

Amp:
Fender '62 Princeton Amp - Chris Stapleton Edition #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Support the show

Read moreCollapse

'62 Princeton Amp - Chris Stapleton Edition - Ask Zac 100

Episode 100

Thursday, June 29, 2023 • Duration 15:40

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

Owning and loving both a 1965 Deluxe Reverb and a 1959 Harvard has caused me to become more and more curious about revisiting the brownface amps of 1960-1963. The last time I owned a brown amp, I was in High School. I looked around and realized that Fender had recently released a hand-wired 62 Princeton. Kindly, they sent me one to check out. In this video, I take a look at the history of the Princeton from the tweeds through the BF model, and of course, put Fender's new Chris Stapleton Edition amp through its paces.

Gear for this video
1957 Fender Esquire with an added neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Bridge pickup re-wind by Ron Ellis

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46

Pick:
D'Andrea MH 351

Amp:
Fender '62 Princeton Amp - Chris Stapleton Edition

Effects used:
Boss DM-2 Delay
Boss RV-2 Reverb on PLATE setting
#askzac #chrisstapletonprinceton #telecaster

Al Anderson - NRBQ's Big Man of the Telecaster - Ask Zac 99

Episode 99

Wednesday, June 28, 2023 • Duration 28:12

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

NRBQ was one of the most talented, versatile, and wacky groups to ever play together. From 1971-1994, Big Al Anderson held the guitar seat, usually with a Telecaster in hand. Al's singing, writing, and playing helped define the group during his 23-year stay, yet he was to go on to even greater heights as a hit songwriter in Nashville, TN. In today's spotlight, we cover his story, some bits of his playing, and the gear he has used through the years.

Tom Bukovac demonstrating Al's rhythm guitar style
• Homeskoolin’ Volu...

Spotify Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2p6...

Gear for this video
1957 Fender Esquire with an added neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Bridge pickup re-wind by Ron Ellis

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46

Pick:
D'Andrea MH 351

Amp:
Fender '62 Princeton Amp - Chris Stapleton Edition

Effects used:
Boss DM-2 Delay
Boss VB-2W Vibrato #askzac

Ask Zac – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Ask Zac – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Youtube99+

Other66

Patreon1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Youtube99+

Other66

Patreon1

Apple Podcasts

Spotify