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Zac Childs
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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. 

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    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

    17 min

  2. 20 JAN

    50s Guild Aristocrat - A Vintage Sleeper - (It's Not A Tele Vol 1)

    The 1950s Guild Aristocrat is one of those vintage guitars that somehow slipped through the cracks, and that’s exactly why it remains such a sleeper today. Built during Guild’s early New York era, the Aristocrat was a serious professional instrument: a small, yet fully hollow body, carved spruce top, and the legendary Franz single-coil pickups that deliver clarity, punch, and a voice all their own. This was Guild's attempt at an improved Les Paul, that was lighter, and just enough wider to seem not like a toy. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show

    13 min

  3. 13 JAN

    Why I Needed a Baritone Telecaster Guitar

    Baritone electric guitars live in that perfect middle ground between standard guitar and bass, and once you understand what they do best, it’s hard to live without one. In this video, I’m diving into baritone guitars, why a typical 27” scale baritone is very different from a Bass VI (usually 29–30” scale), and how each one functions in a band context. While they can look similar at first glance, they play, feel, and sit in a mix very differently. I also talk about classic effects choices for baritone, especially tremolo and vibrato, and why those sounds pair so perfectly with the baritone’s extended range and piano-like low end. A huge influence for me was Pete Anderson, particularly his baritone work with Dwight Yoakam on tracks like “Little Ways” and "Buenos Noches From a Lonely Room." Seeing Pete on Austin City Limits in 1989, playing a baritone Telecaster, impacted me as a young player, as it was the first time I really understood how powerful a baritone could be in country music. Fast-forward to touring with Brad Paisley, I was using a Bass VI on “Whiskey Lullaby”, but quickly realized it wasn’t quite right. Brad played a baritone on the original recording, and once you hear that, you can’t un-hear it. That experience really cemented the difference for me between the two instruments and when each one truly shines. I also break down my personal baritone guitar, which is a bit of a Frankenstein in the best way possible: Allparts baritone conversion neck Music City Bridge saddles Killer Vintage and Adder pickups Custom Emerson wiring harness, with the tone control only on the bridge pickup MJT pine body A one-of-a-kind blue burst finish and relic paint job done by Brad Paisley himself The final piece of the puzzle was the nut, fretwork, and setup, expertly handled by Aaron, Nick, and Max at Glaser Instruments, who absolutely nailed the feel and playability. If you’ve ever wondered whether a baritone is right for you, how it differs from a Bass VI, or how players like Pete Anderson and Brad Paisley have used them so effectively, this one’s for you. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show

    31 min

  4. 7 JAN

    Inside the 1962 Fender 6G3 "Brown" Deluxe Amp

    The 1962 Brown Deluxe (6G3) sits in one of the most fascinating, and misunderstood, eras of Fender amplification. It’s often lumped in with other brownface amps, or treated as a short stop between tweed and blackface. But the truth is: the Brown Deluxe is its own animal. In this video, we take a deep dive into what really sets the ’62 Brown Deluxe apart, sonically, electrically, and historically. Brown Deluxe vs Tweed Deluxe (5E3) Why the Brown Deluxe is tighter, punchier, and more controlled than the loose, saggy tweed, and how Fender was clearly responding to players wanting more headroom and definition. Brown Deluxe vs Blackface Deluxe (AB763) How the Brown Deluxe’s mid-forward voicing, earlier breakup, and raw edge contrast with the cleaner, scooped, hi-fi nature of the later blackface circuit. Why the Brown Deluxe Does Not Sound Like Other 1962 Brownface Amps The Brown Princeton and Vibrolux from the same year often get mentioned in the same breath, but they’re fundamentally different circuits, power sections, and feel. Same era, totally different results. ’62 Brown Deluxe vs ’65 Blackface Deluxe Reverb A direct tonal comparison between grit and refinement: Brown Deluxe: raw, aggressive, chewy mids BF Deluxe Reverb: cleaner, wider, glassier, more polite Two iconic Fender voices aimed at completely different players. Bias Tremolo vs Photocell (Opto) Tremolo Why the Brown Deluxe’s bias-vary tremolo feels deeper, swampier, and more organic than the photocell tremolo found in blackface amps—and why many players consider it Fender’s best tremolo design. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show

    27 min

  5. 23/12/2025

    Why The Telecaster Bridge Is the Heart & Soul of the Tele

    If you want to understand why a Telecaster sounds and feels like a Telecaster, you have to start with the bridge. The Tele bridge isn’t just a place where the strings anchor, it’s the heart of the instrument, and the single biggest reason a Tele responds the way it does. Leo Fender’s original design brilliantly combines the bridge, tailpiece, and pickup mounting system into one integrated unit, creating a level of coupling, attack, and clarity that no other electric guitar quite matches. In this video, we explore: -Why the Tele bridge defines the guitar’s tone and feel -How the steel bridge plate acts as both bridge and tailpiece -Why the bridge pickup is mounted directly into the bridge -The often-overlooked pickup elevator plate, and how it allows precise height adjustment Decades later, the Telecaster bridge remains one of the most elegant and effective designs in electric guitar history. Support the show

    16 min

  6. 09/12/2025

    Lou Toomey Interview (Brooks & Dunn, Keith Whitley, Faith Hill)

    Today we sit down with Lou Toomey, one of the most successful and enduring road guitarists in Country Music. In this conversation, Lou walks us through his unbelievable first pro gig as Keith Whitley’s lead guitarist during the height of Whitley’s all-too-brief but iconic career. From there, we follow his journey through the ’90s as he hit the road with Faith Hill, and into his remarkable three-decade run with Brooks & Dunn, all legendary Country touring acts. We dig into how he landed each of those gigs, the gear that shaped his tones across the years, and the mindset and work ethic that have kept him at the top of his game for nearly 50 years. www.truetone.com To Support the Channel: Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/AskZac https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Tip jar:  https://paypal.me/AskZac Venmo @AskZac Support the show

    1h 30m

  7. 25/11/2025

    How I Ended Up Playing on Brad Paisley’s Snow Globe Town (and the Tonight Show!)

    This year has been one for the books. In this video, I’m sharing the unbelievable story of how I ended up performing on Brad Paisley’s new Christmas album, Snow Globe Town, and the fun we had in the studio bringing those tracks to life. I also dive into what it was like hitting the road with Brad on his November–December 2025 Canadian tour, from the gear I brought, to backstage routines, to the moments that made this run unforgettable. And to top it all off… The Tonight Show. I break down how that opportunity came together, what the day-of looked like behind the scenes, and the surreal feeling of stepping onto that stage under the bright lights. NEW MERCH SITE! https://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.com Support the show

    17 min

  8. 18/11/2025

    Early ’60s Telecasters: What Changed & Who Made Them Famous

    Early ’60s Fender Telecasters are legendary, but what really changed between 1959 and 1964? From rosewood “slab boards” and “veneers” to pickguard and hardware tweaks, we break down the details that shaped the classic early-’60s Tele look and sound. We’ll also highlight the famous players who made these Teles iconic, from country twang masters to R&B pioneers, and explore why 1961–1964 Telecasters are relatively rare compared to other Pre-CBS years. Support the show

    20 min
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About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Zac Childs
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ask Zac
  • Show Website
    Ask Zac

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