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Ask Zac

De : 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.

© 2026 Ask Zac Musique
Épisodes
  • 1960 Danelectro 3923 Double Neck: History, Design, and the SRV Mod

    1960 Danelectro 3923 Double Neck: History, Design, and the SRV Mod
    Oct 15 2026
    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 Timestamps0:00 – Introduction & Overview1:54 – Channel Thanks2:10 – The History of Danelectro & Nate Daniel3:35 – The 1956 U2 Model & Innovation4:16 – Unique Danelectro Specs: Poplar, Masonite & Lipstick Pickups8:05 – The 6-String & 4-String Basses9:09 – Introducing the 1959/1960 Danelectro 3923 Double Neck10:18 – Why a Guitar + Bass Hybrid is So Odd12:42 – Pop Culture, Props & The Beverly Hillbillies14:18 – Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Soest & The Bass 6 Mod15:47 – Jimmy Vaughan, The Fabulous T-Birds & "Tuff Enuff"18:05 – Breakdown of the Mods on This Specific 392319:39 – Playing Demo: Guitar Neck (Bridge, Both, Neck Pickups)22:49 – Playing Demo: Bass Neck (Overdrive & Clean)26:05 – The Sympathetic Resonance / Natural Reverb Trick27:10 – Factory Bass 6 Myths & Modular Dano Designs29:01 – Credits & Final Thoughts1. Danelectro History & Engineering InnovationFounded by Nate Daniel, Danelectro started by building amplifiers for major department store catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Ward. When Fender and Gibson revolutionized the market with solid-body guitars in the early 1950s, Daniel approached guitar design from an engineer's perspective, launching the iconic U2 model in 1956 for just $60, roughly a third of the cost of a Fender Telecaster at the time.Key construction features included:Necks & Nuts: Poplar necks with Brazilian rosewood fretboards and non-adjustable twin steel rods to prevent warping, topped with a metal nut screwed straight into place.Body Construction: Masonite front and back panels built over a hollowed poplar/pine frame with internal wooden support blocks under the bridges.Lipstick Pickups: Bar magnets wrapped in wire inside metal lipstick tubes, yielding a clean, lower-output tone with less noise.2. The 1960 Danelectro 3923 Double NeckIntroduced around 1959 for $175 (plus $30 for the case), the Model 3923 featured a double-cutaway body equipped with two distinct necks: a 6-string guitar neck and a 4-string bass neck.Unlike most double necks of the era, which usually paired a standard guitar with a 12-string or high-octave neck to replicate Les Paul's multi-track studio effects, a guitar/bass hybrid was a strange practical match for live players. For decades, it was often treated as a novelty or comedy stage prop, appearing on album covers like gospel duo Stan and Dan or featured in 1960s TV shows like The Beverly Hillbillies.3. The Stevie Ray Vaughan & Steve Soest ConnectionThe instrument's reputation shifted in the 1980s when Stevie Ray Vaughan sought out a vintage Danelectro double neck. SRV recruited legendary California luthier and Danelectro expert Steve Soest to convert the 4-string bass neck into a 6-string bass.The conversion was popular because Danelectro's modular headstocks and bridges easily accommodated two extra tuners and a 6-string saddle setup. Stevie used this modded setup on stage and featured it prominently in magazine shoots, such as the post-humous Guitar Player tribute cover.4. Special Mods on the Featured Instrument & PlaythroughThe specific 1960 model demonstrated in this video has been upgraded beyond the original factory specs:Added Pickups: Factory 3923 models came with only one pickup per neck. This unit features an added vintage bridge pickup on both the guitar and bass sides.Upgraded Electronics: Features a dedicated neck-selector switch (Guitar / Both / Bass) plus a secondary pickup selector switch that operates both necks simultaneously.Sympathetic Reverb Effect: When both necks are active at the same time, playing notes on one neck causes the strings on the idle neck to vibrate sympathetically, creating a natural acoustic reverb effect through the amp.Mentioned Links & ReferencesBook: Guitars from Neptune: The Illustrated History of Danelectro by Paul Bechtold and Doug TullochVideo Clip: Stevie Ray Vaughan performing on his modded Danelectro double neck alongside Santana and The Fabulous Thunderbirdshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDj2_319CJU&t=735swww.truetone.comTo Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZachttps://ask-zac-shop.fourthwall.comTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZacSupport the show
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    31 min
  • A Look At The Fender Tone Master '59 Twin-Amp (Joe Bonamassa Edition)

    A Look At The Fender Tone Master '59 Twin-Amp (Joe Bonamassa Edition)
    Oct 8 2026

    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 this amp exists, who it’s actually for, and whether modeling has earned a permanent spot in a vintage purist’s rig.

    We walk through the amp's features, tone flexibility, studio usability, and real-world gig results, including:

    Why Joe Bonamassa Went Digital: The real-world realities of touring, component drift, finicky 12AX7 tubes, and why consistency reigns supreme on the road.

    Tonal Features: Exploring the Normal vs. Bright inputs, the padded #2 inputs, mid-range grit, built-in digital reverb, and the rear-panel power selector (from under 1 watt to 85 watts).

    Modern Upgrades: The switchable FX loop (ideal for big solo boosts and delays), direct XLR output with IR cab simulations, and custom Celestion Joe Bonamassa Neodymium "blackback-style" speakers.

    Road-Test Results: How the amp performed on stage during big shows, lightweight transport benefits, dialing in the Vintage vs. Tight switch, selecting IR presets, and how it paired with my Danelectro doubleneck and baritone Telecaster.

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 - Intro & Welcome to Ask Zac

    0:51 - The Fender Joe Bonamassa Tone Master '59 High Powered Tweed Twin

    1:53 - Patreon Thanks & Why I'm Doing This Video

    2:44 - Why Fender Sent Me This Amp & My Experience with Tone Masters at the Opry

    3:11 - Why Would Joe Bonamassa Do a Digital Amp? (The Consistency Factor)

    5:33 - XLR Direct Out & Modern Gigging Maintenance Realities

    7:08 - Power Attenuator / Output Selector Switch Features

    8:01 - Tone & Input Demos (Normal vs. Bright, Padded Inputs)

    10:07 - Onboard Digital Reverb & FX Loop Walkthrough

    11:40 - Cosmetic Build & Leo Fender’s Favorite Circuit

    12:39 - Celestion JB Neodymium Speakers & Mid-Range Push

    14:28 - Why Keith Richards & Big Tweed Fans Love High-Power Twins

    15:09 - First Impressions & Studio Verdict

    16:47 - Road Test Addendum: Taking the Amp Out on the Road

    17:40 - Direct XLR Experience & In-Ear Monitor Tweaks (Bass & Tight Switch)

    18:52 - Selecting IR Preset #2

    19:18 - Stage Photos & Guitars Used (Dan Electro Doubleneck & Baritone Tele)

    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



    If you enjoyed the video, please give it a Like, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment below—would you gig a digital Tweed Twin?

    #AskZac #Fender #JoeBonamassa #ToneMaster #TweedTwin #GuitarAmps #GuitarGearReview

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    22 min
  • When and Why To Use A Guitar Wireless

    When and Why To Use A Guitar Wireless
    Sep 29 2026

    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 Covered:

    Why Go Wireless? The freedom of stage movement, safety from electrical shocks, and eliminating trip hazards/cable management.

    When to Make the Switch: Why cables work fine on tiny stages, but wireless becomes essential as stage size and performance expectations grow.

    The "Soundcheck Hack": How wireless lets you step out front into the audience area to hear what your rig actually sounds like through the PA.

    Tone & Pickup Buffering: Does wireless ruin your tone? We break down capacitance, signal buffering, and do an A/B audio comparison between a cable and a wireless unit.

    Pedalboard vs. Rack Units: Choosing the right tool for the job, when a pedalboard unit works vs. when you need a professional rackmount setup with external antennas.

    Video Chapters:
    0:00 - Intro: Talking to My Younger Self
    1:25 - Do You Need Wireless on Small Stages?
    3:00 - Stage Size & Showmanship Expectations
    4:25 - Real-World Story: Cabling vs. Stage Movement
    6:00 - Entertaining the Audience & Stage Freedom
    7:20 - Big Stages, Thrusts, and Cable Nightmares
    8:30 - Does Wireless Ruin Your Tone?
    11:08 - Stage Safety & Shock Prevention
    11:39 - Gear Review: Shure GLXD+ Pedalboard Wireless
    14:08 - Bodypack Placement & Guitar Switching Tips
    15:57 - Soundcheck Hack: Hearing Yourself Out Front
    16:37 - A/B Sound Test: Wireless vs. D'Addario Cable
    18:23 - Pickup Buffering & Capacitance Explained
    19:15 - What to Avoid: Cheap Units & Big Stage Dropouts
    20:50 - Final Thoughts on Showmanship & Wrapping Up

    Gear Featured in This Episode:

    Shure GLXD+ Digital Wireless Pedalboard System

    D'Addario Instrument Cables

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow gear head. Thanks for watching!

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    22 min
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