Dan Strain (Danocaster Guitars) Truetone Lounge - Quarantine Edition

[@sirbaronvoncount4147]

Zac is a great guitar player and knowledgeable interviewer. He never rushes stories and allows things to take shape. Thanks Zac!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you, Baron!

[@WillyKidd]

Zac Childs, making 2021 great one interview at a time!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks, Will

[@stilllifewithguitar184]

I want the "Dan Strain: Rabbit Hole" podcast series where he talks about all this stuff in depth.

[@CrookCustomGuitars]

Great interview Zac I can relate to much of what Dan said. He's a great guy and glad to see him happy

[@steviiiii]

I just watched this - literally just after heading to Dan's FB page and seeing what he posted in 2019 about quitting... (I scratched my head)... now I am hearing the story... HA HA - thank you..!! I love your work Zak... Andrew

[@CustomTele52RI]

Absolutely love my 3-tone sunburst '63 Danocaster double cut c. 2014. Working with Dan was a pleasure and an education, too, and he got to park one in his former California hometown. Would sell my car and my house before my Danocaster. Rock ON !! :o)

[@craigmaddenmusic3408]

Epic Zac,....I'm right on it.. .I don't actually have a life....🤠🤠

[@CelentanoPICKUPS]

Thanks for your kind words Dan .. !!

[@Ironworthstriking]

This is probably the best guitar builder interview I’ve ever listened to. I loved hearing the rabbit holes and tiny details he tweaks on his builds. I may never be able to afford a Danocaster but I came away with a serious admiration for Dan Strain.

[@kenevil1]

Great interview of the maker of my favourite guitar. I was lucky enough about 5 years ago to snag an s type and, it remains to be the best sounding and most comfortable guitar I own.

[@jerrymcp]

So glad this interview happened! Love my Danocasters!!!

[@3Bender]

Excellent! You asked all of the questions I have wanted to ask him for years....and more. Thank you

[@TruetoneFX]

Wonderful!

[@briannacery9939]

I would love one of those! Beautifully done!

[@airslashfury]

Been waiting forever to get Dan on an interview! A shop tour would be awesome!!!

[@jonathangreig5939]

I'm so glad that he finally agreed to do the interview! Dan is a wonderful human being.

[@royalslone1285]

Thank you for this so much. You are a great interviewer. It's hard to sit back and let someone talk, which is just what you did. Absolutely fascinating. My Dano is a lifer. I will never sell it. Makes me even prouder to own it seeing what a great guy Dan seems to be.

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you so much!

[@curtisogle4333]

The conflict of artistry and Business. firm believer in doing what your great at, and paying others to do the same. It truly takes a village. Dan was very transparent in this interview. What a frckn’ cool dude. Zac thanks for being persistent and staying true to your craft. It’s the human element that connects us all

[@davemassie3726]

Awesome Zac! Thanks Dan, now I know why your Guitars are so special. I have been looking online for a year now. One day i will find one! Glad your Happy again. Peace

[@jefemaximo2537]

Great to see Dan here. He's one of the greatest guys to deal with in the small builder world. Always great quality, and an honest straight shooter.

[@CarstenGoeke]

While watching this fine video, i´ve purchased one. Can´t wait to play. Thanks Zac and Dan for the inspiration. ✌🏼

[@TruetoneFX]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@christyrpak4378]

Dan- I love your openness, authenticity, and passion. It really shows in the art you create. Thanks for being willing to do the interview. Zac- I have always appreciated how you are a master at steering a conversation even though you NEVER interrupt the person being interviewed. Other channels that constantly cut off the interviewee are tough to watch. On another note, here's a shoutout to Budz pickups even though I'm assuming he isn't making them anymore given that his site is down. Long before I knew they were tied to Danocaster guitars, I ordered a Tele bridge pickup from Dave. It was a coincidental bonus that he lives very close to me. Upon ordering, he wanted to know EVERYTHING about my guitar and my playing style before he wound the pickup- guitar weight, neck pickup, pots, saddles, strings I use, which players I like the sound of, etc. I was blown away at his level of detail. Hopefully he is able to start making them again soon.

[@DylanKay]

Wonderful, just wonderful. So great to hear Dan talking about what he does. I have 3 Danos and they are by far my favourite guitars. Amazing guy.

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@deemdoubleu]

Great interview, thank you.

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rickgoughguitar]

I love my Dano & makes it so much more special knowing how much heart & soul has gone into it. This makes me very happy to see him happy & loving what he is doing again. this is the best yet, thanks Zac.

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you!

[@zenmaestro04]

Great interview Zac! So much respect to Dan for keeping his operation small and quality control up through all the stress and high demand ...

[@numb41]

I’ve known of your work for a lot of years, but you made a fan of me with this interview. You’re very down to earth and sincere. Gotta start saving..!

[@rt88glow]

Great interview, Zac; thanks for putting this together!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Dan-tp3py]

This is one for the ages; A true meeting of the minds. Thank you so much, Zac and Dan!

[@1SensitiveGuy1]

Dan's passion for both music and the minutiae of building instruments really shines through. My Danocaster Tele is a staple of my gigging and recording guitars, and is a joy to behold and to play. Thanks for a great interview.

[@TruetoneFX]

Very cool!

[@THEItchybruddah]

This. Was. Delicious. Again, thanks for taking the time to unearth data we had NO idea we needed!

[@RandyRugarMusic]

I've been curious about this cat for a minute, Great episode Zac! Also the heck with Howard's mom! 🤣

[@TheDullBoy]

Great interview! Now we need one about his vintage guitar collection, or some chronology of some special vintage ones he had during the years. Thanks Zac!

[@335gc]

Dan has a very interesting story. Great interview, Zac. Dan's guitars look and sound great.

[@Grant_Ferstat]

Fascinating. So many cool thoughts. One of those interviews where I found myself nodding a lot! Thanks Dan, and thanks as always Zac.

[@TruetoneFX]

You are very welcome, Grant!

[@Grant_Ferstat]

And....one day I will get one of Dan's guitars! I've known what I've wanted for years now. :-)

[@kevinhart6331]

Great interview, Zac. I love that T-Shirt Dan's wearing. ;)

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

Love your style of interviewing! It is so relaxed !

[@iamgcase]

Dan has a similar view of guitar making as I have. It was good to be assured by his demeanor. Good interview, Zac!

[@jamesemerson4102]

Dan's voice kind of reminds me of John Mayer's. Awesome interview! thanks to both of you for doing this.

[@meanmud1]

Wow - Dan has always been a real gentleman through email correspondences, and he backs it up here with a great interview!

[@andrewjones8488]

Great interview , love the passion Dan has for his guitars

[@JeffSeale]

Super cool interview, Zac. Thanks!

[@TruetoneFX]

My pleasure!

[@sireel]

I love my 2 Danocasters. They're amazing and Dan is a nice guy, very talented.

[@cletussea-ray944]

Amazing as always...thank you Zac and Dan

[@TruetoneFX]

Our pleasure!

[@jerrymorganjr]

Dan has given me a lot of tips on aging and stuff like that. I asked him and he messaged me on Instagram. He was kind enough to share with me and I’m a nobody guitar builder. I have much respect for him for helping me.

[@alexandergriggs9934]

So much of what Dan said resonates, when you are the waiter, cook and dishwasher in a business, and you don't get a break - and eventually get burned out and depressed. But his story is great, coming back, redemption, etc.

[@vayabroder729]

Great interview; the fact is that most of the vintage Telecasters were medium weight. I had a ‘69 Bigsby Tele with a nice round maple neck that was heavy as a boat anchor but sounded like a million bucks. Ironically with Les Pauls it’s come to the point where players choose them by their weight (preferring lighter), color and grain (in the case of Bursts) and not by the way they sound or play. Funny that Les Paul himself always acknowledged that his guitars were heavy. As Dan says; the important thing is THE NECK!!! That’s what you fall in love with.

[@lukasschwengeler8094]

I'm getting to know Dan so great! I have an S-style from him. What a great instrument and a great guy.

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

Dan is a really interesting guy. Awesome interview Zac.

[@SCgroove]

Great interview. Unfortunately I found out about Danos a little too late to have taken part in the gold rush like sweepstakes of his original runs. But great to catch up on the awesome history of this legendary artisan. He’s a funny guy too. I never heard anyone bail on more sentences midway through. Lol. Three words in and he’s already rethought and upgraded what he’s trying to say.

[@pbever76]

loved this interview. Dano's are great guitars

[@scottbookman]

Thanks for this one ,great to hear the Dano story.I have a danocaster tele that i love .best neck ever !

[@TruetoneFX]

Very cool!

[@johndennis9838]

Love my Danocaster. Play it everyday. Better than any fender custom shop and scary close to my ‘54 tele. If you have a chance, get one.

[@jaybe813]

Excellent interview!!

[@skrewflanders]

Glad to hear he's doing well, it was very sad to see some of his posts about how unhappy he was. Though I'll probably never own one, I love seeing his work.

[@frankswildyear]

What happened to him?

[@bryantcoleman5619]

Great show. A well known Tele pickup winder is currently going through the same scenario Dan described here. I hope he pulls through, too.

[@fve1352]

I get attracted to Danocaster because of their look. But the reason I bought one was the fact that he is a real musician and mentioned that he not only just puts them together but really works on them till they are sounding great. That fact alone made me buy that guitar with a very good feeling. And after over one year and almost 200hr of playing on it I can say that this guitar will stay with me till the end. My searching for Tele‘s is over now... the only bad thing is that I am a Strat guy and my Strat is getting very lonely lately....

[@joeldowdy404]

I loves Dan's approach to making guitars. I agree totally, once you start putting new hard ware and things but want a vintage guitar, its not vintage, its a new guitar. To each their own but I like the quirkiness of old Tele's (50's, 60's. 70's) whether that is true vintage or fender custom shop vintage or guitar makers like Dan that do true vintage builds and maintain those specs as close they can.

[@joeriffanucci]

Thanks for this Zac! So great to hear his story. That lace painted tele is fantastic. I almost like it more than paisley.

[@TruetoneFX]

Totally agree!

[@roscoenyc]

Enjoyed that thoroughly!

[@TruetoneFX]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Strumbum01]

Great interview Zac! I would love to own one that matches the green he used on his personal Dano.

[@allstopblue5717]

Wow, the discussion towards the ends about weights is wild. I have a 7.5 pound tele and I’ve always thought it was super light. They’re saying 7.5 is kinda the limit to what they really like.

[@nm725]

Loved this one..been wanting to know more abt dan...his guitars have a realistic class that comes through and the sales show that he has dialed in his game...i was all ears hoping he would let some finishing secrets out! Lol

[@mgcnashville6615]

Mario is a good guy! Guitar mill in Murfreesboro,Tn. That’s where I get my bodies and necks. Def great quality!

[@0Imtheslime0]

Would pick a Danocaster over a Custom Shop any day. Dan is the man to get the relic absolutely correct. As authentic vintage-looking as you can get em..

[@BoxcarJohnnie]

Dan Strain did I meet you in San Juan Capistrano in early 2000's? You would,nt remember a Busker with a Old Emperor Regent BIG BLONDE GUITAR, probally, but you spoke about the Dano- Blaster (?) Overdrive, All Kinds of Built in Effects. By the Drug Store in SJC

[@tommc49]

As I'm listening, I'm thinking about the 4 Danos that have passed through my hands including one Freakin'.... Especially the gold one with a vintage gold foil in the neck.

[@reversewound]

what was the gold foil in the neck like? Was it "better" than a normal neck pickup?

[@Billywagner22]

Dan's the man!

[@johnmirabile3535]

What a humble good guy....i wrote him an email 2 days ago....i want a dano....if hes too busy gonna buy one used..

[@joeywilliams4975]

Love it!

[@TruetoneFX]

So glad!

[@vincentsanfuentes3057]

Knew Dan in HS and remember that white strat!!

[@marknorris3769]

another masterpiece of rock music journalism , dan's wife seems to be a significant part of the danocaster journey , guess she declined a cameo

[@frankiecalabro2617]

Does Dan make guitars now, or is he retired? I love his products…

[@TruetoneFX]

He is still building

[@michaeldickerson5584]

is Don Kelly on your interview list? He sure sounds like he could fill in some holes in the history of the live music scene in Nashville. keep up the great work, thanks.

[@TruetoneFX]

Have not been able to make that happen, yet.

[@michaeldickerson5584]

@@TruetoneFX don is from my town and friend of mine talks to him every week so if you need contact info let me know, since he comes up in every other interview thought it'd be really interesting. thanks

[@TruetoneFX]

send me an email zac(at)truetone.com

[@ericblaich7681]

Dan has to work out his “small business problems “ as they are what is causing all his ongoing, stress, depression, anxiety etc. The guitars on Instagram is a debacle any way you look at it. Learn some business etiquette and tell the dealers how much You charge for your guitars, treat it as a business, if you do not have the business acumen to deal with demand hire somebody that can have the skill set.You are a talented guitar maker do not dilute your brand by trying to make excuses for the past. Onwards and upwards. People fighting over who ordered your guitar first and all this crap is not what we need right now, embrace digital tech for orders and do it professionally. Kudos to you for doing what you love.

[@TruetoneFX]

Dan is doing a great job.

[@timothythompson6549]

Is the ash shortage because of the emerald ash borer?

[@dezionlion]

How much for the green lace tele?

[@silvertoneize]

Somebody that didn’t get a guitar gave a thumbs down. 😡

[@alanbaral3546]

Picking up one of Dan's tele's at Clif's shop in Burbank tomorrow (@lavintagegear). ....:)

[@TruetoneFX]

Sweet!

[@MWright95186]

@ 45 mins in... can you talk to Vince Gill about old tele's/ just a thought... ;0) M

[@perudolux]

Great itv

[@galactictravels224]

Zakk gets hydrated at 40:44

[@TruetoneFX]

I wasn't very subtle there.

[@galactictravels224]

Hahaha just helping the algorithm your doing great your interviews keep getting better and better

[@terryeaster1]

If you did ebay you'd be kicking cash outta the way to build guitars

[@mikefromusa6902]

It’s a sickness for sure

[@colinwallace5286]

Apologies for watching old stuff. Needed a Zac & Tele fix after installing some new light fixtures in the basement, and then watching thunderstorms in the wee hours. 😯😳🫤That shelf behind him is both very interesting, and just a tad cruel. Those bodies are stacked like old books, for goodness sake. So sadistically casual.🤣😂 As for Fender, you could have called them “Quarter Panel”, and their legal team would say it’s too close.🙄🤣 I’m a shiny guitar guy, since I’ve had mine a while. My “new” guitar, my headless HOHNER, dates back to 1992 or so. It really could use a new zero fret, since it’s developing a couple of nicks on B and G, and an open zing because of it, unless the action is pretty high. I’ve used it at home and at work on the road over the last thirty years or so (Just driving, I’m not some seasoned travelling performer.). You often forget the sheer passage of time when you start wondering why your guitar isn’t doing what you expect. Thanks for giving me some ideas on things to try.