THIS Is How You Know a Guitar is Great - Coming to terms with the Nacho Caster

[@JohnSmith-is8nq]

Jake called. He wants you to answer your phone...and his guitar back.

[@anish_99]

Buddy Jake

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

Who is Jake?

[@anish_99]

@@JosePineda-jn8jk Jake is his buddy who gave that guitar to him for trying

[@nekkon1989]

Does Jake know that you let dogs smell and be around guitars?😅

[@charlespeeler2274]

Your making me laugh!

[@philipmarsh3522]

I have a friend like “Jake” too. He has such an amazing collection of guitars, amps and pedals that I could never justify buying on my own (he he) and has generously “loaned” his gear to me often over the years. The best thing about my “Jake” is he never really seems to have a problem with me just … keeping his stuff in my studio without question for years. And on those rare occasions he needs something back, fortuitously for me always something I found wasn’t that great, when I “return” it he always lends me something else to try!

[@Zackryvengelmc]

I was lucky enough to come across a real 1961 “Les Paul”. Still had the P.A.Fs and original pots and switch. It was missing a lot though, needed a bunch of hardware and a refret baaaad. I found some repro parts and other odds and ends and eventually got it playable. I always knew it was a beast of an instrument but it was always finicky because the repro parts were less than stellar and I couldn’t afford period correct hardware so it hung on the wall for many years. I’ve bought all manner of Les Pauls and SGs to find what I knew the OG had and it never scratched the itch. Eventually I bit the bullet and made the decision to make it a player so I did a refin of the refin that was done (literally had automotive red car paint), I went with Pelham Blue and I do not regret it one bit, and I decided to put a stop tail on it and tossed the repro sideways vibrola. It’s been off to the races since and I can’t put this one down. It’s a fabulous instrument and just sings when it’s needs and howls when it has to. It’s the one and does what a slab of mahogany with PAFs is supposed to do.

[@Emperor.of.Organos]

Had the privilege of playing a Nacho Caster at a local vintage shop, was absolutely blown away when I finally looked at what it was and realized it wasn't a legit vintage Tele! The pickups sounded LOVELY through a Headstrong Lil King they had there. The relicking job was, beyond any shadow of a doubt, the most believable I've ever seen. The neck feel was spectacular as well - I forgot all of the shape-name and dimension obsession for a second and felt like I could play it for hours. I've never felt a neck 'disappear' in my hand until then.

[@judyfriedsam457]

Forget about the name on the headstock, and all the hype surrounding any guitar..if a guitar feels good in your hands, motivates and inspires you to pick it up and play it ...well, that's a great guitar !😊

[@BrianTruesby]

I played a nacho for the first time some years back at a friend's house. I'm much more of an acoustic guy but it was immediately evident that was not a "normal" tele. In short, it sounded like it cost. I would normally shy away from the bridge pickup on most any electric but that thing was so musical and approachable in every position. Among the best electrics I've played. I've worked in guitar sales for the better part of a decade. One of the upsides to that is you know pretty quickly after a few notes / chords if a guitar really does it for you.

[@andrewbecker3700]

I've always found that playing every guitar I own, in a continuous rotation. One everyday. Keeps them in better playing condition. If something starts falling out of spec, so to speak. I'm on it like white on rice. If I find myself making adjustments everytime I play it. It gets modified or sold. Peace.

[@maplechill75]

Partscaster’s definitely create a bond with their builder.

[@ojaisherpa]

Thanks for this....Going to grab my no 1while watching the wind and skies out here in Southern CA.

[@eddiejr540]

I think what makes a guitar great is one that makes you prefer it over others…it calls to you to play it…and those “things” are usually intangible and can’t be put into words!!

[@johnosborne3187]

First, how did you know I was on the toilet? Second, some of the most important things in a guitar's sound and feel are passed over. You mentioned setup and pickups; These are very important. I love a low string action, but it can really soften the sound. Low action is great for heavier music, where it will be heavily processed, but for blues you need to get the action up to brighten, tighten, and round out the tone. Pickup height is vitally important to get the punch and clarity out of a pickup. I would suggest you take measurements of all of these things and set up your own Tele to those specs to see if you hear and feel a difference.

[@rsmallfield]

Great playing, great guitar, great hair … what more could one want from a KZbin channel?

[@brettreeves8410]

Was very moved by that introduction…wonderful music😇

[@peteolinski7471]

Love the channel John and the music. I agree there are some guitars that almost “play themselves”. Also a firm believer that if it doesn’t sound good unplugged it won’t sound good amplified.

[@illbehereagain]

I love my PRS Silver Sky SE, the way it responds to my heavy-handed (bashing really 🤣) style is just the right response. Why it's a great guitar (for me) is difficult to put into words, it's much more a "feel" thing. By "feel" I don't necessarily mean physical feel ... more how the notes and timbre comes out of it, sounds weird but I'm fairly sure you'll agree 🙂

[@JamminJim42]

I've found over the years that the old adage "you don't pick a guitar, a guitat picks you" is often true. I've gone into many guitar stores and tried guitars that appeal to me look-wise only to find that I didn't really like it. (not always the case.....lol) Then I try another guitar for whatever reason that just makes me want it. It may even be something I don't totally like the looks of but for some reason it just works for me. It even holds true for less expensive guitars. The universe works in strange and mysterious ways !! Cheers John.

[@joetaska]

This is absolutely true! You have to pick up and play every guitar to find the true best guitar for you!

[@BeachJazzMusic]

So true, I just had this happen to me.

[@charlespeeler2274]

I never thought of that way. That hapend to me with my Telecaster. It's such a good guitar

[@marcelbelanger4424]

I recently played a bunch of new guitars in a shop. I was surprised that the most expensive one I tried was the least enjoyable one I played. I liked cheap copies of that model better. That's probably not usually true, but you have to spend time with a guitar and tweak it for you before you know if it's really great (for you).

[@the_kings_musician]

When the guitar and a set of 9s sounds incredible through a Fender Twin or model thereof, and you can play very dynamically without force … that’s how I judge my guitar. And that’s my Harley Benton Fusion-T Pro. I have a G&L ASAT that comes in as no. 2

[@musiccreation1198]

On a second listen to your playing here...and just wow...that is the best I've heard you sound ...easily. I wasn't that interested in a Tele...now, I may have to save up for a Nacho. Spectacular.

[@jotwea]

Hello John, I bought 2 old used guitars last year, a Starfield from 1991 and a Gibson SG from 2013. Both guitars have something that none of my newly purchased guitars have. Except for a "new" G&L, which had also been hanging at the dealer for 5 years before I bought it recently. There is something like soul in these old used guitars. I was a bit astonished. My new unused guitars are high quality, also have great necks, modern pickups etc. Some were quite expensive (e.g. Fender USA). The old guitars don't necessarily have the modern features like coil split but they are much more inspiring and I notice more and more that I use the newly manufactured guitars less and less.

[@dbkinghorn]

Really nice melodic development on that improve!

[@willhaylock3769]

All my guitars have to have the truss rod adjustment at the headstock because I cannot love a guitar if I cannot easily adjust the neck relief :)

[@RyanMcQuen]

What about the Music Man style spoke wheel?

[@willhaylock3769]

@@RyanMcQuen Musicman are kind of on my radar but I only remember them as bass guitars in the 60s 70s - I'm not currently inspired by them.

[@RyanMcQuen]

@@willhaylock3769 they are phenomenal.

[@willhaylock3769]

@@RyanMcQuen I'm sure it woud be fine too, but it's not on the guitars that interest me.

[@chad_kaya]

I’ve been playing for 25 years, owned around 12 guitars (all around the $700-$1,500 range), and can honestly say I’ve never owned I guitar that I thought was great. They were always just good enough. I haven’t particularly been hit with a eureka moment with any of the instruments I’ve owned. I’m saving a little cash in the hopes that I’ll be able to pull the trigger when I come across the one that will do that for me. Love the vids!

[@KG5SNU]

Nacho casters may play great even though there are numerous who have moved on from this guitar for the same reasons everyone moves on from a guitar, meaning it’s not the end all, be all as some claim but if the company won’t warranty its own product to protect the customer and their huge investment, I question that company. This comes directly from their website under terms and conditions: “The aging process of our instruments includes a good deal of usage and basically converts them into actual old guitars, therefore our products are sold as used merchandise and come without warranty.” To me, that is a business excuse to possibly avoid returns and responsibility. If you won’t support me, I won’t be supporting you either. Regardless of the youtube hype.

[@perudolux]

It‘s a guitar…. What could go wrong?

[@kimmolingonheimo]

This ( to me ) really silly aging/relickin business has gotten out of hands: why dont they just rent their new built guitars to teenagers punk bands for 5 years, and see whats left after that, ha & ha...!!! Ive got 7 Yamaha Pacifica strats bought new, and just love the little sctraches done by me and time...

[@perudolux]

@ your yamaha pacifica ain’t have a nitro finish and will never age like that

[@Nightshade1881]

@@kimmolingonheimo new guitars don’t age like a nitrocellulose finished guitar Even new nitro stuff won’t age like the 50s and 60s guitars did. These relics feel worn in Most of us don’t have 50+ years to play and wear down a guitar 🤣 so that’s where these relics come in. Now I wouldn’t pay the prices these big and small boutique companies want.

[@goswo]

@@perudoluxstrings could break or go out of tune…

[@cactusbedGC8]

Have you noticed that the lower part of the neck pocket isn't aligned symmetrically with the neck?

[@Nightshade1881]

They probably pushed the neck up a bit so the high E doesn’t slip off Normal stuff for vintage guitars or new guitars made to vintage specs I have a few and yup it sucks It shouldn’t be like that.

[@JBAikensMusic]

For $8k

[@Sheegog1972]

I often find that when someone can’t afford something, they work real hard to discredit that product. Guitars, cars, or houses can make some folks jaded.

[@williamdevlin366]

Great playing & awesome guitar dude!!! Thank you!!! 🇺🇸

[@friedrudibega6384]

NotMyCaster😢 there’s a vibe from that guitar. A quality. Inspires one to play.

[@Jim-ro5sl]

please ask jake if I can borrow it next

[@leftymike5625]

I just bought a LSL T style guitar online. It arrives tomorrow. Hoping it is everything I want it to be. 🤞

[@willrowe9920]

I have an LSL , T style, with a P90 in the neck and humbucker in the bridge, big fat neck. Acoustically, it rings forever. Fantastic guitar. Sure you’ll love it!

[@martoneill]

DI sounds fantastic

[@robinr.2233]

The Nachocaster sounds like it frets very cleanly, how is the action?

[@BobMaulucci]

Love the Nachocaster! For me, I love thin varnish that isn't sticky. I prefer a nice slightly thicker neck with rounded edges; that is really the key for me. Rounded edges all all round. The sound acoustically matters, too.

[@slawsonscot]

think that's one of the nicest guitars I've ever heard, and certainly the best I've heard you play.

[@blueskyguitar772]

Your playing is always incredible but there does seem to be something special in this guitar.

[@rustyking5321]

Hey John, do you float the bridge on your blue K-Line, or do you deck it?

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

Looks like your action is super high, would not have expected that with all the legato

[@andrewchristie6483]

I think Jake could make a profit if he sells to you right now🤣 Seriously, it sounds awesome, even through KZbin compression, etc. My polyurethane 1996 US Tele wasn’t really doing it for me. Lacquer chipping off, frets in bad shape, just didn’t sound great. But I’m keeping it as it’s been my only real gigging guitar, so sent it off to rehab for a month (tech) and it came back like a new instrument. Difficult to pinpoint what but definitely now has an acoustic quality that you can feel when you play at any volume. A new guitar isn’t always the answer.

[@BOSSenjoyer]

If it was a $500 guitar that felt exactly the same would you be able to tell that it's "special"?

[@joeltunnah]

The higher the price the more "special" it is to the owner, I've found.

[@Tomekkplk]

No because people love to believe the price adds to it being "special" in some way.

[@johnnylayton1672]

You should pick up a DGT to compare because that's purportedly how DG wants to feel when he grabs a DGT off the rack for fly date gigs, classes, etc.

[@syynful]

Please just buy the damn Nachocaster :)

[@dylanapivor3743]

Jake is like a mythical person

[@Mexxx65]

You've got to unbolt the neck, to do a quick neck adjustment, on your blue K-line?

[@BOSSenjoyer]

If it's like a Fender you gotta remove the pickguard and use a right-angle screwdriver

[@starspaintskies]

I bought your Ampero stomp 2 presets and there are 2 IRS in the folder namely JC CAB AND OH412 mes( where to use which one can you tell)

[@jjmatashi]

What gauge strings do you have on the Nacho?

[@phishphan5732]

Six grand for about $100 in wood and $300 in parts ? Wow....the mark up on these things is unbelievable. 🤔

[@GuyNarnarian]

Does the Nacho have a vintage 7.25" radius? Just curious. I'm guessing probably not.

[@karmadave]

What modeler and preset were you playing through at the beginning of this video? I’m curious…

[@jazzzfer]

This sounds better than your k-lines

[@BeachJazzMusic]

I wonder if all the Nachocasters are like this.I don't even know if he custom builds them for people or you just have to buy them when they come up for sale.

[@asublimationpoint72]

You’re one of my favorite players and teachers, that said, I miss your opening tracks as lead ins to your talking points. For me, those tracks gave mystery and ambiguity that made me very interested in whatever point you want to make after that. This current format where you lead in with your topic feels too detailed with no mystery for me.

[@TLMuse]

I totally don't get the relic thing. Not that it looks bad, but why pay someone to do that? That said, this guitar just sounds fabulous when you play it. My first guess is it's mainly the pickups, making me wonder if they sell the pickups alone. But it may be that the feel of it is as important, not so much for directly impacting the tone, but for impacting your playing and thus the tone. I have a custom Olson acoustic guitar (I hasten to add I purchased it before James Taylor started using them and the price went through the roof). It's truly inspiring to play. Besides sounding great, the playability is also great-a difficult song that I'd been trying to learn for months on my inexpensive acoustic I was able to get under my fingers right away on it. Regarding what you said about immediately creating satisfying new music-singer/songwriter and outstanding fingerstyle player David Wilcox said of Olson guitars that "They just have more songs inside them." Maybe that's what's going on with the Nacho for you. -Tom

[@GreenpointRemembers]

I keep hearing about Jake but I never hear from Jake. How is he doing?

[@BlugubriousMusic]

The next great guitar I have will be the first. Always had limited resources... so, I try to play stuff that I care about on not so great guitars.

[@13jcarey]

I'm quite a new guitarist but have already owned quite a few (more than I should have!) guitars in a short time. For me, a guitar needs to be lightweight (if it's heavy it's a massive turn off), be nicely resonant before you even plug it in, and have a neck that is comfortable in the hand, almost like your hand feels like it's returning to a familiar place each time you pick it up (hard to explain). Really hard to bond with a guitar if it doesn't have those characteristics

[@mikemorgan4774]

Yes, a great guitar makes you want to play it. That is enough.

[@costabotes7308]

Seems like what makes a guitar great is that it’s owned by Jake.

[@JohnSmith-is8nq]

John: Do you have "bad guitar days" ? Days when your playing is nowhere near as good as it normally is?

[@AmericanNationalist852]

We all have those days, bro. Especially after not playing for a few days. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[@noctilux7799]

@@AmericanNationalist852 Exactly. Another thing that can drive you crazy is when the guitar simply won't tune properly. Everything is actually correct, but somehow the guitar sounds “weird”. Next day: everything is ok again. Santana is said to have once smashed one of his SGs on the wall because it drove him crazy.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Hmm. Interesting. So plug it DI and a good guitar will speak for itself. Nice. It has a chime to it. Tuned like a bell. Almost makes the partscaster sound like it has ten year old strings on it (no insult intended).

[@nlumby]

...these Nacho Casters are great guitars ...but still, will you find another like this one?

[@nlumby]

...I'm not a remarkable guitarist but I have an early Jap 57 Stratocaster back in the UK which is the only guitar I'd find hard to part with because it transforms my playing and somehow takes me to 'other places' ...lol

[@nesharm]

Am i the only person who can hear that the mic is too sensitive, so there is background noise while John is speaking?

[@Doty6String]

you sound great on a tele dude

[@marcbeaudin761]

For me, fenders feel like 2×4 and sound thin and trebly.

[@marcsullivan7987]

Most guitars are great. It’s a guitar! Some are just more greater than others.

[@acecarolino101]

Sorry man, your partscaster has that metallic sharp slap that I hate in telecasters

[@thecrankedamps]

You already have lots of guitars, one more isn't going to change your life. It's just a guitar. With 6 strings. This obsession players have with more and more gear is ridiculous.

[@TeleTonemonkey]

Guitars can be great for where you are in your evolution as a player … my ‘71 Tele was a forever guitar, it’s now on Reverb. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@BrentAdams]

A "Great Guitar" doesn't get in the way...... nothing to hinder you and your playing.

[@andrewbecker3700]

So you already have a Cordycaster. But want a Nachocaster? Are they much different? Find a roasted maple neck for it, and call it good. Peace.

[@Old-Skull.]

The honeymoon thing , hahaha , by now more than a honeymoon you are having a torrid affair... with your best mate's girlfriend , shame on you John , what kind of a friend does that ? , shame , shame , shame . I have a Tele, a 52' copy , I bought it online 🤷‍♂I know, but I wanted a vintage Tele so badly ... I like that guitar, it feels great, the neck is amazing it's one of the most comfortable for my hands but the body is made from Ash , and I suspect the Ash is not dry enough bc it weighs a ton , I would never have imagined that a Tele could be that heavy , I barely play it and it's bc of the weight.

[@RDHamel]

How did you know I was in the toilet… I’ll be having the place swept for cams. Hansen guitars since you were asking, though i heavily mod them. I was going to bore on, but everyone has stopped reading so tin whistle and maracas mostly lollipop tea caddy mitten.

[@3l84r70]

A great guitar? Has a great neck (frets and fretwork, nuts, tunning machines, stability), is loud and resonant when unplugged, and inspires you to play more. The rest can be replaced, upgraded.

[@ScotYount2025]

Just buy the guitar!!!

[@silverfishla]

Take it apart. Show us the insides.

[@tuentc4817]

John, that guitar is crying out to be played without so many effects... only a real tweed, a little reverb and that's it. Otherwise you can't appreciate its greatness.

[@matthewmp111]

I think he appreciates it’s greatness just fine.

[@nikolaki]

I spend more time playing my electrics unplugged or straight into an amp with no effects. In other news... 2025 will be the year I will not buy a guitar.

[@TheJamieAbraham]

Brian May's red special is, apparently, not a great guitar!! Unless you're Brian May of course.

[@markw9512]

Teles are ugly little bastards but man they can do anything. And they respond to nuance better than anything I’ve ever played. I’ve got Tom Anderson Hollow T And it’s just outstanding, my go to every time

[@rare_grooves_shack_1983]

really gets to the point... NOT

[@herroglop7411]

14 min and you say nothing.......impressive.

[@BeachJazzMusic]

Thank you so much John, while I'm not personally effected by the wildfires I have a few friends that have had to evacuate and they don't know if they still have a house or their possessions and the biggest one in Pacific Palisades is only 11% contained. On a happier note, great playing and sound. That tele looks delicious.