In this week’s Ask Zac, I’m cooking up a little Tele Gumbo, as today’s show is a mix of guitar talk, gear love, and practical tips:

A better way to stretch your strings, one that keeps your tuning stable and won’t damage your nut.

Why Tele bridge covers (ashtrays) are actually useful — especially for protecting your strings and saddles when your guitar’s in a gig bag.

Book Review: In-Law Country by Geoffrey Himes — a must-read for fans of Emmylou Harris and her circle of musical friends.

Gig-Ready Gear: Why I love Headstrong Amps and Danocaster Guitars — no mods, no tweaks, just plug in and play.

It’s a hearty serving of tips, tone, and talk — grab a coffee and dig in!

#AskZac #TeleGumbo #Telecaster #GuitarTips #HeadstrongAmps #Danocaster #GuitarTalk

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When you’re young and dreaming about hitting the road, touring sounds like the ultimate adventure, until you actually do it.

In this episode, I look back on my first tour experience with the long drives, bad gigs, and all the hard lessons that came with it. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me things I still carry with me every time I step onstage.

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From 1967 through 1981, Fender used the now-infamous F-stamped tuners on many Telecasters, Stratocasters, and the majority of their product line. For some players, they’re a charming piece of CBS-era design; for others, they’re a headache.

In this episode, I dig into the full story of why Fender switched from Kluson tuners in 1967, who actually made the F-tuners, how they changed through the 1970s, and what their strengths and weaknesses really are.

I also cover how the original version 1967-75, have no modern replacement, and the only option is to buy used originals. For the 1975-81 F-style tuners , I look at the modern replacements that fit the original footprint, and which offer better performance. We’ll also look at the modern reissue F-Tuners, which are based on the latter style made by Schaller, yet they were used on reissues that should have had the earlier style.

By the end, you’ll know how to identify each version, how to keep them working smoothly, and the best paths for replacement or restoration, whether you’re chasing originality or reliability.

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