Show Notes
On today's episode of Ask Zac, we are diving deep into the life, career, and brilliant innovations of one of the most important former Fender employees and guitar builders in history: Phil Kubicki. While many modern bass players know him for his radical, headless Factor Bass from the 1985 era, Kubicki’s impact on the guitar world started decades earlier. We track his journey from building classical guitars at age 15 to walking into the Fender factory in January 1964, where he was hand-picked...
More from Ask Zac
In this episode of Ask Zac, we take a deep dive into an unusual vintage instrument: the 1960 Danelectro 3923 Double Neck. From the early history of Danelectro to playing demos, modding options, and the famous Stevie Ray Vaughan connection, here is a full breakdown of this unique guitar/bass hybrid. Chapter Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & Overview 1:54 – Channel Thanks 2:10 – The History of Danelectro & Nate Daniel 3:35 – The 1956 U2 Model & Innovation 4:16 – Unique Danelec...
Why would a legendary tone snob with Dumbles and real '59 Tweed Twins put his name on a digital amp? On today's episode of Ask Zac, we take a deep dive into the new Fender Joe Bonamassa Tone Master '59 High-Powered Tweed Twin, and what happened when I took it out on the road. Fender sent over one of these digital tweed powerhouses to review. As someone who uses digital and solid-state gear on stage (including recent televised Grand Ole Opry performances), I share my honest thoughts on why th...
On today’s episode of Ask Zac, we dive into the world of guitar wireless systems, specifically when and why you should consider ditching your instrument cable. From small casino stages to massive stages with thrusts, we look at how going wireless impacts your stage presence, overall safety, tone, and performance workflow. I also share a few embarrassing lessons I’ve learned the hard way (including a dropout mid-solo on a giant stage) so you can avoid making the same mistakes! Key Topics Cov...
Delay is hands down my favorite guitar effect. It’s the ultimate tool for adding space, fattening up your tone, and creating depth, whether you're playing fast country chicken pickin' or holding out ambient chords. In this episode, I share the delay pedals I’ve relied on for years (including one I've been playing since 1991), complete with my favorite settings, live rig applications, and sound demos. Note: This video is 100% unsponsored. Every pedal featured was purchased with my own money f...
On this episode of Ask Zac, we take a deep dive into Steve Earle’s landmark 1986 album Guitar Town and, in particular, the incredible guitar work of Richard Bennett. Bennett’s playing on the title track is a masterclass in taste, melody, and knowing exactly what a song needs. We’ll break down the licks, turnarounds, tic-tac parts, and that fantastic solo, and look at how Richard created so much musical impact with what might seem like a very unusual instrument: a vintage Danelectro six-strin...