Cesar Diaz - The Ultimate Guitar Tech

[@mikekosmaczewski9865]

i worked for cesar for two years in the late 90s i learned so much from him i cant believe it not just being a great guitar and amp tech but being a focused and comp person he taught me to be the guy people can count on THANK YOU CESAR Gods speed

[@CustomBoardsFinland]

Hi! Thank you for your comments. My hero as well and really influental for me personally when I started guitar teching and do tutorials. I am so happy that I found this video and glad that people can see Cesar's art and work. You can find find tutorials about rig building from our site if you are interested: customboards.fi/pages/the-custom-boards-guide-for-building-your-own-pedalboard Here are also bunch of videos we did. Quality varies, but there are lots of more to come. customboards.fi/pages/custom-boards-videos With Kindest Regards Kimmo Aroluoma Custom Boards Finland Oy Sahaajankatu 14 00880 Helsinki tel: [phone] www.customboards.fi

[@MrDunosan]

@mikekosmaczewski9865 Do you know if he owned the Takamine that Dylan played in 1981 UK and Euro tour? thanks

[@mikekosmaczewski9865]

@@MrDunosan hmmm probly dylan owned everything in theory but cesar stored alot of it he was allways workin on somthin for sombody i remember the first day i started with cesar i looked down on his workbench and writen on the bench was a phone and next to the number wasthe name rick ocasick (from the cars )i was blown away every day i worked for him

[@alanpassat6759]

The world is a poorer place without Cesar.

[@JustRockMySoul]

when he said repairing that 10 buck a piece nut with baking soda and magic glue to save a lot of money is the greatest trick he knows, the man won my heart. you can tell he learned this stuff from the ground up.

[@CustomBoardsFinland]

Hi! Thank you for your message. He really is the guy and I am so happy that I managed to locate this video. It is something that everyone should see. If you are interested in reading long stories and gear analyzes of various guitarists, please check out our blog. customboards.fi/blogs/articles David Gilmour, Randy Rhoads, and Jimi Hendrix are discussed in depth, to name a few. With Best Regard Kimmo Aroluoma/Custom Boards

[@strangequark420]

His ohmmeter ... "there are many like it, but this one is mine." Perfect.

[@muncher64]

Amazing. I had no idea all the things a tech needs to look for and repair. He was a legend.

[@iamjohngalt1000]

I wish I had the tapes of the short sessions we did in two rooms. Red Weather will live on forever. The early 70's in Stroudsburg were the best I ever played because of Cesar. He demanded your best.

[@RaymondMeunierMusique]

“If he doesn’t see you, do it your way” love it 🤣

[@Prousto]

A once-in-a generation guitar guru. He left far too soon, but his legacy is still shining strong within the guitar community; this video is a treasure trove of practical wisdom.

[@historiclp4577]

This is absolutely the best Guitar-Guitar tech video i have ever seen in my life. I have to say…ive been big into guitar since the late 90’s and play and collect Vintage reissue Fender Strats, and Custom Shop Les pauls, Historics, and watch KZbin 99% of the time as my cable platform, and dont know how i have never seen this video until now.I of course knew who Cesar Diaz was, but never found this video, he shows you basic but a little more involved trouble shooting on tube amps ..how to use a drill to wind a pickup in a pinch, fixing a nut slot…this guy was a national treasure

[@DesignRhythm]

I'm a drummer, but I still loved this video. Very cool info and seems like a genuinely awesome guy.

[@valentino3191]

It helped Cesar was a great player in his own right. He knew what he was doing.

[@ronmorey3475]

I really like his analogy when describing why he likes tubes at 52:29.

[@ExilesGate]

I learnt everything from Cesar! He is the sound that you call Tone! LEGEND! Thank you for posting this!!!!!!!

[@jscordoba3]

I was lucky to get to hang with Ceasar a few times as a kid when I had just started playing guitar. He took me to school a few times.

[@tommywattmusic]

Obviously everyone knows Cesar's connection to SRV. I noticed it looks like Cesar is wearing the same outfit during parts of this video that SRV wore in the Live at Carnegie Hall CD. I know all the players on that album Room Full of Blues, Dr John, Jimmie Vaughan, etc. also wore the same outfits that night in NYC. I wonder if Cesar played as well that night? Either way the guy is a true legend, and could do practically anything!!!!

[@acupofcoffee6414]

its so great that even after years of technological advancements we still stick to traditional ways of guitar setups and maintenance, something that stays preserved same as the older days. don't fix something that isn't broken right? that's why guitar is so beautiful.

[@CustomBoardsFinland]

Hi! Thank you for your comment. This is well said and I totally agree. If you are interested in more videos and tutorials, please check out our Pedalboard Building Guide, which should be to most comprehensive out there: customboards.fi/pages/the-custom-boards-guide-for-building-your-own-pedalboard With Best Regards, Kimmo Aroluoma

[@jdranger203]

Met Cesar,back in the 80's,in DC.He was a cool guy.A tough guy,but a good friend.

[@johnjanetatos6903]

I bought a Deluxe Reverb from Angela Music, right outside DC, in 1981, maybe 82. I didn't know who Cesar Diaz was at the time. I think that it was Cesar that sold me the amp. He told me he had to restore it and sold it to me in pieces, but it sounded great. I've used it on countless gigs over the years. A few years ago, I took it to a tech in NYC for service, and he told me that Cesar had signed his name on the side of the chassis. I never noticed this before. Since you knew him JD, was he working at Angela then? The guy who sold me the amp at Angela sure looked like Cesar. Dude was very chill, a super nice guy.

[@MrDunosan]

Do you know where that Takamine on 1981 UK/Eu Dylan tour ended up? thanks

[@Hespeakstruth]

Cesar is where SRV got his sound.

[@brownmonkeybananayellow]

thanks so much for uploading this. that hour went by quick. he was a natural

[@6StringPsychedelic]

WIld, i just happened to hear about this old VHS tape.. and it popped up today.. Awesome!

[@Snowy0123]

This guy is a Legend. .what I wouldn't give for one of his Amps

[@dougbrunelle7170]

I miss Ceasar dearly! Godspeed and thank you for the greatest musical experience ever Brother.

[@FindBigfoot]

There are many like it, but this one is mine

[@armurano5093]

I never knew what that notch was for on the string winder. Now I do. Thanks Caesar.

[@Lymanization]

Absolutely incredible! He seemed to be Perfect in every meaning of the word itself! God Bless him and his!

[@legchyloyanishevskyyvolod3005]

What a useful video. Also, I think that black tele and silver tele are Bob Dylan's cause he used the same ones around the same time

[@Dream-Academy]

30:17 He kept the order of the tubes but put them back in different sockets! As a guitar tech, I was amazed that he planned the Brazilian fingerboard down about 8 times on SRV No.1 '63 Strat rather than LEAVE THE RW THERE and level the crowns of 6000 Dunlop wire and then recrown? Also, he thought that the guitar (which was previously owned and played by Christopher Cross) had 59 pickups in it when anyone who knows anything knows that vintage Strat pickups were not dated until early '64. They simply were 63 black bottoms.

[@thegreatconsummation6939]

Thanks for posting this! Its almost impossible to find a copy on DVD or VHS!

[@JRAFF145]

"If he doesn't see you...do it your way."

[@TechMetalRules]

This video inspired me to always change my strings outside.

[@museken]

I knew him.. He died.. The most intellectual guy in music.. He played for Bob Dylan.. He's on KZbin. with Bob Dylan Cesar gets no respect..His wife kept a company in PA His inventions .Amplifiers.. to guitar.. WOW... SIR DIAZ.. Should be honored in the Music Hall of Fame.. Anything less is unforgiving in my eyes..l.. Cesar Diaz was a friend of mine.. He invited me into his house.. 444 N courtland street.. PA.. I could feel his presence when I was invited into this house. We did not talk much.. We knew each other somehow.. Tech.. yes.. Music.. Diaz killed it dead.. Unsung hero..of music.. I'm nobody but I'm standing for more RESPECT for ,Cesar.

[@TomDavisVideo]

He'd come play my gig every now and then ... when someone would say "it's too loud" he would say... "hey if it is too loud you can leave" LOL

[@museken]

@@TomDavisVideo Always loud the louder the better.. He was right.. Everybody looks... No one listens ... As long as I'm standing that guy put me into music.. ....Am I a writer who flows with music..Yes.. I will prove it ask me anything I will write a song in 10 seconds..You provide the music..

[@BillDerBerg]

Cesar Diaz should have trademarked the term Boutique because i remember in the 80s the name Diaz was synonymous with boutique gear

[@edwincarrillo54]

My Brother,The Best!!!Edwin Carrillo Diaz San Juan,Puerto Rico

[@Dad-Gad]

Your brother will always be regarded as a legend by knowledgeable guitarist's 👍

[@paulcowart3174]

God bless him Man he knew his stuff I've got all of his pedals Great stuff

[@MrDunosan]

Hi, Bob Dylan played a Takamine In his 1981 UK and Europe tour, do you know if Cesar had it? thank you so much. God bless!

[@major-Mihailo-Madzarevic]

*Not just that he was a genius, but I adore his hair style !!!*

[@FuriousMess]

very cool video. thanks for posting

[@dtx2130]

Incredible! Life changing.

[@TacianoCanassa82]

Wish i had meet him! Legend!

[@topangacreek]

Cesar, thanks for showing me how Bob Dylan plays his D chord, and for selling me Bob's 30th anniversary amp. (plus so much more, RIP)

[@MrDunosan]

Do you know where’s the Takamine that Dylan played in his 1981 UK and Europe tour?

[@topangacreek]

@@MrDunosan I wouldn't begin to have a clue about that. Good luck.

[@hoboroadie4623]

Greetings topangacreek, I am getting a Blue 1X12 on Tuesday to go with the 4X12 and that CD-100. It doesn't have a serial #, does it? A prototype, I reckon... 🎸

[@uplaywithfire7564]

Much thanks for playing this.i can't seem to find a copy of Caesar's instructional videos anywhere!! Can anyone guide me in the right direction? Much thanks!

[@klauscottonswab2322]

4:46 The Wasp Bend !

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

He made a pickup in 10 seconds 😂 I always say pickups are the biggest scam in the business. They want you to think there are thousands of types of pickups. They want you to think it’s an art😂

[@eddiebernar314]

If your spacecraft needs some work before heading to Alpha Centuri, Diaz would be my choice of mechanical space craft engineer to check my spaceship before the journey. 😊

[@jonbarr9195]

Thanks for sharing! Very cool

[@SourSnatch]

Rock On!!!

[@mariannwatt2678]

Diaz marshall mods are a legend i wish i could of had him mod one of my 68 plxi 50 w heads before we lost him i played thru one here in los angeles at S I R in hollywood it was a monster lots of gain and no fuzzyness RIT bro

[@creationinspired200]

Dino drill most impacts are smaller 😅 everything in this video screams vintage the man knows his stuff love the video!

[@triplescale]

Thanks for sharing this ✌🏻

[@davidallen346]

When you work on someone's guitar as personal pride and joy it should be treated with utmost respect and care , some self labeled guitar techs do a sloppy job and passed it off as a common practice should be ashamed of themselves. Not Cesar Diaz right he was a Legend. I'm not gonna poke around the back of guitar amplifier with a screwdriver while the amp is plug in tho.

[@Juswahh]

why was there music over cesars playing when he was showing the pedal sounds

[@actionjackson8439]

Can anyone elaborate on what Caesar said about tubes and esoterics? 29:59

[@historiclp4577]

Could someone please tell me what he said he was using to clean the pots on the Amp?? “Cremaleen”?? I cant make out what he said

[@goodun2974]

Cramolin. A two-part contact cleaner and contact preservative system, originally made by Craig Labs but no longer available. The cleaner was okay but the preservative sometimes caused corrosion of certain metals rather than "preserving" them. The current Caig Labs product is called De-Ox-it.

[@igorbogdanoff6751]

@@goodun2974does de-ox-it remove lubrication in the pots?

[@chadm9653]

I thought he was saying " let's pray". Oh....he said lets spray the pots.

[@huskvarsm]

sweet thanks man.

[@nand0000]

Wowwww que genio !

[@toneswithtommyrobbie450]

Just discharged the death caps like a truck starter

[@samuelhenandez8032]

I wonder how many people died that way

[@HK-21]

Not as many that went bald from doing it.

[@bluemagic5829]

song at 13:17?

[@bobbarcus8310]

He used to fight all the time with Lee Dickerson that’s Eric Clapton‘s amp and guitar tech Dickerson always that he knew more than Caesars and they would fight in magazines

[@justoncline3530]

Any way I could get a download of this from you?

[@jonnathanmadrigal9378]

What song is 23:12?

[@greek42069]

What is the song playing in the intro

[@carrillospeed]

I think it’s an original song. I have the CD I might upload to KZbin in the near future...

[@Brandon-youtube]

Discharging filter caps... with a metal screwdriver....

[@hsj687]

So you really wanna ride the lightening kids?...just skip to the amp section lol

[@biketopia]

Iron Guns T He’s definitely been working dangerously.... haha But he’s so savvy

[@samuelhenandez8032]

I got scared when he started discharging things with a damn screwdriver

[@HK-21]

LMFA😂…electro therapy Bzzz-snap!

[@paulcowart3174]

Thank goodness that Peter McMahon from Homestead amps is carrying the torch on Cezars behalf He worked with Cezar for years and has the mojo and tone of the older stuff that CD introduced us too

[@carrillospeed]

Peter has no association with the Diaz family. Also he never worked on Amps with Cesar... Homestead stole the designs and schematics from Diaz amps without permission and has paid ZERO royalties

[@l8tapex]

plumber charges you $175.00 to unclog your pipe but all he did was wrap on it with a wrench. $75 for the call out $100 was knowing where to hit the pipe.

[@cobowe]

And how hard to hit it with a stilson

[@KennyE1957]

what hat are you wearing

[@stevemineer2857]

Cesar contacted me about a 12 string Rickenbacker I had for sale that was signed by Roger McGuinn. He offered to trade one of his pedals and some cash. I turned him down. About a month later I heard he died.

[@jeffreyswanson3798]

And also by the way this is our most guitar players on the road or arrogant and I already know how to do all that stuff so what are they going to do pay you ten bucks a day come on bro then you get a sit there and listen to how awesome they are gimme a break I am not cutting you down just saying....

[@jeffreyswanson3798]

I like your video but a floating tremolo system like a Floyd Rose is different you know that I know that you know that

[@jonbarr9195]

Where would you get a strobe tuner like that nowadays?

[@SSvebor]

Try Peterson strobe tuners.

[@craigshewchuk9018]

Hahaha I always restring my guitars the same way

[@greg6L6GC]

Only one thing I disagree with. Shorting fully charged caps to ground with a screwdriver. You should use a bleed resistor to act a current limiter. Afterwards short them out.

[@hoboroadie4623]

If you wear safety goggles the spattering molten metal is unlikely to cause much damage. I always clip a resistor into the circuit, but I am not a trained professional 😉

[@hoboroadie4623]

I like this guy, he plays better than me, but he bangs the strings like I do. No pick.

[@djangoknight]

🙏🏽🐐🤌🏽

[@Bellabaddi]

I just found out after over 20 yrs…I’ve been doing everything wrong!!?

[@Diazamps]

This is piracy fyi

[@chraffis]

...and you’ll notice we have a syringe....to shoot heroin while we wait...er, I mean hot wax on the pick up.

[@CustomBoardsFinland]

Hi! Thank you for your message. For further inspiration please check out our “Pedalboard Building Guide” customboards.fi/pages/the-custom-boards-guide-for-building-your-own-pedalboard Please check out also our “Pedalboard Gallery” customboards.fi/blogs/custom-boards-gallery If you have any questions about our services or our products, I am more than happy to help. Best regards Kimmo Aroluoma

[@mikej7475]

Visuals suck, explanations are vague, and demonstrating on the easiest guitar to work on.