The Amp That Changed His Life w/ Brad Paisley | The Zak Kuhn Show

Brad Paisley sits down with Zak Kuhn and talks about the guitar amp that changed his life. #bradpaisley #guitarplayer #countrymusic #fenderguitars #guitaramp
0:30 Tracking down two Vox amps at 15 years old
2:36 Where Brad first got his inspiration for his rig
3:24 Calling a shop in England
5:32 Brad's dad teaching him a lesson
7:30 Playing out of Vox amps for the first time
Listen to The Zak Kuhn Show here: pods.to/thezak...
Follow The Zak Kuhn Show on socials:
-Instagram: / thezakkuhnshow
-TikTok: / thezakkuhnshow
-Twitter: / thezakkuhnshow
-KZbin: / @thezakkuhnshow

[@delusgr]

"It's you trying to be your heoes, and you can't. And that becomes you..."❤

[@Blisterish2010]

This hit hard.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

That’s a great line right?!

[@122Music1]

Completely legitamate and true quote. I loved that one.

[@dontuckerjr]

This is a great story that I was unaware of before. I have an AC15C1 that I got about a year and a half ago that I’m very happy with. I’m not going to run out and sell my Fender amp. Each amp has their own unique qualities that I appreciate. Thank you for sharing.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Love it! Pumped you got to check this clip out Don!

[@edhalen]

I am reading Geddy Lee’s book and he says the EXACT same thing. You end up emulating/channeling your heroes.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

So true right? How’s his book?

[@bks252]

I’m with him about The Hellcasters. I have a G&L ASAT Will Ray signature model. Circa 2004. Even has a b-bender. Fantastic guitar. Brad is my favorite country guitar player. He is responsible for me getting into DR Z amps. Fantastic amps.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Great guitar! Greats amps! Thanks for watching brother!

[@martydibergi5228]

yes i have 2 jorgenson ASAT’s maple and rosewood, 2 Comanche prototypes, 3 Legacy’s, All the Fender Japanese Hellecaster models, and one Will Ray Custom shop and one John Jorgenson Custom shop Hellecaster models and one Matchless sc 30. I’m good for a while. John is a Genius❤Every Hellecaster guitar is autographed. I am old now, have to figure out what to do with my gear.😊 Happy picking.

[@JG-no3iz]

Underrated for sure. Maybe because I listen more on the Metal side but happy I stumbled upon Brad Paisley.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

He’s kinda a country metal player in a weird way right??? It’s all shred!

[@wyattheitkamp55]

I watched the full interview the other day and I thought it was awesome! Really informative and pretty funny at moments lol. I’ve grown up listening to Brad’s stuff so I really enjoyed learning more about the beginning of some of my favorite music.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Dude so pumped you got to check this out! Thanks for the kind note!

[@litemetal]

I want that lamp🎉🎉

[@MyLifEcademy-sr4hy]

Gonna shoot an eye out...lamp?

[@johnmauceri9692]

It's from the movie "A Christmas Story ". It's available online.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

We should all be so lucky to have a lamp like that!

[@_DeLac]

Crazy hearing these stories when you grew up in the same town as Brad. Good ole GDVFD.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Love that! Thanks for watching!

[@martydibergi5228]

John is my favourite. Amazing talent and inspiration❤

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Right??? So good!

[@svbarr]

In decades folks are gonna really wake up and say..."There was this Brad Paisley guy who bridged Country and Rock, wrote his own songs, played like a Country Van Halen, had major hits and was loved by all types of people-- liberals and conservatives"...

[@SHREDTILLDEAD]

Nope.

[@Mssrmikeone]

As I think about it, I’m rock not as much country and I’ve seen Brad Paisley live more times than all the others. What a player. Hmmmmm.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

I think so as well!

[@svbarr]

@user-ri3gh6yb5k Yeah he toured Iraq and Afghanistan many times -- supports out troops -- sounds like a patriotic guy to me.. our troops - typo

[@williepete45]

@user-ri3gh6yb5k get help

[@bigpoppa5732]

I got to see Brad at the Florida State Fair with Loretta Lynn, great show

[@thezakkuhnshow]

That’s awesome! I bet it rocked!

[@122Music1]

I wonder if the Brit Vox amps he bought were designed for EU 220V wall outlet power ? Running a 220V EU amp at 120V USA (American wall volts) would make the amp sound more sagged out and Brown... IE; "Starved Voltage".... It sounded pretty cool when I tried it...Sans volume

[@larrypresnall5360]

My thought exactly! I bought a used Hiwatt head in the 80’s in a Birmingham, AL guitar shop and they said, “oh, we don’t have the power cord for it…”. I said, “it’s ok, I know a guy who can make me one (I was 17 at the time and didn’t have the entire clue). Took it to the guy and he said, “well, you need a whole new transformer if you’re going to use 110V and we’ll have to swap out some other bits too.” Turned out that converting the head to use in the US cost as much as the amp to begin with.

[@scottdunn2178]

Amps set to 220v will have more kick than same amp running at 120v as you're using the entire primary of the power transformer and not just a secondary tap. Marshalls especially...

[@Chuck_Tronique]

And you will blow your power transformer in the long run by doing so...

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Some great info here. Love this thread!

[@JN-North.Guitars]

Music Ground, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England was my local music shop. I lived close. Great shop. 🤘 A Vox amp with a Yorkshire accent. 😂 Thats why they sound so good. 😊 Sadly that shop is closed!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Ahh man that’s a bummer! But thanks for checking this clip out friend! Pumped you found it!

[@robertashton8069]

I have 3 yr old Vox 40 watt modeling amp made in Vietnam. Single 10-inch, 1 12AX7 in the preamp stage. I can get every tone and effect I want. It's a world-beater. Still want an AC30!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Dude that’s killer! What do we have to do to get you an AC30?? Let’s make it happen!

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I have a Clapton Strat and a 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb . ✨🎸✨☮️🇺🇸🇨🇦🏆

[@steveb9325]

Reissue?

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Dude that’s awesome! Some great gear right there!

[@tymanngruter1808]

What an amp can do in your live...... unbelieveble amazing! 🙏

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Crazy right? So true!

[@glenngarver687]

Love the Lamp by the window! 😂

[@aschule5684]

I was just going to comment "it's the lamp from A Christmas Story" 😂 love it 👍

[@thezakkuhnshow]

😂 so good right??

[@Phoebedumplings]

I bought one of my amps from Music Ground in Doncaster 😊

[@thezakkuhnshow]

No way! That’s so cool! Thanks for checking this clip out!

[@fab.silva1119]

0:56 - very Van Halen - like. I dig it!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Yessss!

[@lazur1]

ADA stereo tapped delay into twin Mesas? That was "a cool rig for certain things "? That's a GREAT rig!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Right??? You can have some fun with that one. Is that what you play?

[@lazur1]

@@thezakkuhnshow Yes, except that my Mesa seems to be a one-off, and has no twin that I can find. (KZbin: “My Strange Mesa” to see it.)

[@gitarman666]

What does he think of modeling AxeFx, Helix, ect.. I personally hate them and I’m happy to drag the old heavy gear to jobs

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Always best to bring real amps if you can. Sometimes it’s not an option though. I always fight for real amps though!

[@gitarman666]

@@thezakkuhnshow Always warms my heart to hear that players are still “tubing” I’m a session and studio player for over 45 years with a fare amount of road time, I don’t like touring and I hate in ear mons Old school and old tech always worked for me but I do own Fractal AxeFx3 and a Kemper the Fx are fine but the amp models are nothing like my real rigs, ✌🏻

[@deemdoubleu]

Got an original 1964 AC30 with blue backs upstairs somewhere

[@thezakkuhnshow]

No way! That’s a killer amp!

[@jerrygeist1677]

What an awesome show , wow thanks!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Thanks so much for watching Jerry! I’m pumped you got to check it out!

[@Tyson-u3m]

Not a cuntry fan AT ALL! BUT... I enjoy him as a guitar player, he's very knowledgeable. Slayer rules!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Ha! I love Slayer as well! Thanks for watching brother!

[@theirritatedirishman5440]

My buddy Bernie who was a smoking guitarist passed away and the Train Wreck I sold him went to a collector in Japan and the other was purchased by Brad himself. I do believe it blew up like a month later but I could be wrong?

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

I took guitar lessons from Bernie

[@theirritatedirishman5440]

@@buzzedalldrink9131 : He was up there with all the best! I saw him on stage with Steve Vai at the Burch Hill and on stage with Warren Haynes and the State Theater. He left both them guys speechless!

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

@@theirritatedirishman5440 I was not there but was told Vai looked like his ego got bruised

[@theirritatedirishman5440]

@@buzzedalldrink9131 : I’m telling you that Vai was stunned! Everyone in the audience was. Everyone has to learn that Bernie was a blues/rock player. He was a “Fusion” player. He had a lot of Bebop runs in his solo’s. Steve Morse mixed rock/country/classical and Bernie was a rock/jazz/blues mix. Still fusion just a different take.

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

@@theirritatedirishman5440 I heard that. Theres no doubt Bernie was a great player. He was just not the right teacher for me. I only took lessons from him for about six months. I did go see him play a few times. I was sorry to hear about his passing.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

I saw Brad on the Time Well Wasted tour and his tone was amazing. He had tons of Dr Z amps on the stage. After the show I walked back behind the curtain and there was literally a white, (handwired I'm assuming), AC30 sitting there with a mic in front of it and I started laughing because I knew where he was REALLY getting that great tone from. I'm a total Vox nerd myself and there is just absolutely no amp on earth that match the glory of a cranked AC30. No Fender. No Marshall. No Boogie. No anything can match that sound. I will go to my grave saying that. Another great thing about Vox amps is no two Vox players sound the same. Brad sounds nothing like Edge. He sounds nothing like Brian May. He sounds nothing like Rory Gallagher. He sounds nothing like me. Yet well all use Vox amps. That's a great testament to them if you ask me.

[@brianwalton6283]

Trainwreck Rocket is a VOX AC30 perfected. AC30 has quite a few issues Ken Fischer improved the circuit in both tone and feel. Not a massive fan of the Vox cab, a vintage Ampeg cab with Pre-Rolla 30s in it is a much improved sound with that circuit (also Ken Fischer's choice)

[@keithremedy]

No offense but I’d put up anyone of my two rocks over a Vox any day. They not only have headroom and a frequency range and touch sensitivity that dwarfs other amps but they are built like tanks and they don’t die during gigs and they last. A well maintained hand wired AC30 are great amps but there’s other circuits out there that have taken that base and improved upon it. Josh smith used one with a super reverb for years and eventually switched to Vintage Deluxe with another amp either being a Morgan or a Fender

[@mikezaite1335]

So after attending a Brad Paisley concert you were able to go back stage after the show, right ! That story is not true. Not sure if Brad views this video , but if he does he can set the record straight.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@mikezaite1335 No I didn't go "backstage". The arena in Knoxville wasn't completely sold out so there was a whole back part of the seats you could walk through. So I did and wound up behind and above the stage to look down on the stage and what was behind the curtain on the stage and that is where an AC30 was sitting with a mic in front of it.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@keithremedy Josh uses Morgans now and Morgan amps are basically "boutique" AC30's. I've got an AC30 combo and I've got an AC30 head that I pair with the Morgan cab that comes with the Morgan AC20 and the cab is basically meant to function like the speakers of a vintage AC30. It has a blue and a cream in it and it's awesome. Honestly the cab itself sounds better than the actual combo amp with the greenbacks in it but I love them so much I AB and run them together. The thing about Vox is each player that uses them sounds vastly different from every other player that uses them. Fenders generally are easy to spot no matter who is playing them. Others can get LEGENDARY tone out of Fenders but I've had many and I've never been able to personally accomplish the sound I want with a Fender but a cranked AC30 is the sound I desire more than anything and it's the only amp I've ever found that can give me that. I know what Brad means when he talks about that.

[@CamiloVelandia]

Awesoe story!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Thanks for watching this clip brother!

[@harveysmusicschoollizaman2290]

😱That lamp shade is real? I thought is was a movie prop ...

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Or it’s real!

[@Lollygagger-k4p]

I would hazard a guess and say that the first $million probably had more effect.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

🙌🙌🙌

[@brianwells4507]

I dunno, to me his rig sounds like any 6L6 tubed Fender amplifier? Clean with a lot of bite

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Interesting take. Is that your go to rig?

[@brianwells4507]

@thezakkuhnshow not really now, at the level I'm capable of playing and for the sake of my neighbors. But I did have a '63 Super Reverb in the 70's, you could hear it down the block because it wouldn't break up until it was at 5 or 6 volume. It was very clean and loud and the rig reminded me of it's tone. I did see Dave Mason a few years back and got to meet him. Dave's rig was a Fender drip edge Deluxe and a Vox AC30 piggyback. He obviously sounded phenomenal with a Stratocaster. My amps now are 5-18 watt's, old Supro's with 7369's or 6V6's with 12AX7 pre amps. Or EL84 Fender and Peavey's with a master volume

[@mikef3855]

NICE!!!!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@onefatstratcat]

Guy can play

[@thezakkuhnshow]

He sure can! Thank you for watching!

[@silverwings1843]

I remember when Brad finally broke thru the barrier and became an excellent Lead Guitarist. Bar None. But before his solos always sound like a guitar falling down a long flight if stairs. Not anymore !!!!

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Boom!

[@somebrains5431]

Ac30s were hoarded by noise bands ala Sonic Youth, REM alt clones, various rockabilly bands 80s - 2000s. Thats why you had those bug $ boutique clones start up like Buddha and the other one.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

It’s hard to find those real vintage ones! There are some great clones on the market though, like you said!

[@scottdunn2178]

Vox... meh. I'd rather have a Trainwreck Express or Liverpool 30. I miss Ken Fischer...

[@thezakkuhnshow]

Ha! If you can find them, i’ll take them every time! 😀

[@scottdunn2178]

@@thezakkuhnshow $40,000

[@michaelstevenanderson4961]

Why would anybody listen to Brad. He campaigned for Obama & played with the Dixie Chicks ?. (Lol).

[@thezakkuhnshow]

I don’t get it?

[@michaelstevenanderson4961]

@@thezakkuhnshow You're right, you don't, and never will.

[@tony-brook-music]

So you can take an Amp that is set up for a 230 and just change the power cord and run it on 110. Bull shit. I know.better, but it's a good story.

[@davidd.bennett6863]

Most amps back then had a plug that you turned to get the different voltages.

[@davidd.bennett6863]

At least on Marshall's and Voxes.

[@thezakkuhnshow]

🎸😎🤘

[@mmatthewias280]

Remember when Brad Paisley tried to tell us all to get poked with the Govt vaccine? I do. Play music Brad and ditch the politics. You have one less fan because of it.

[@DutchDangle]

A lot less fans my friend! Fuck this guy!

[@joellemaster998]

yeah it is terrible when someone tries to save your life, aint it....

[@DutchDangle]

@@joellemaster998 that experimental drug they pushed did more harm than good. Simp.

[@jeffmariajenson9751]

And yet here you are listening. Your loss, not his.

[@mmatthewias280]

@@jeffmariajenson9751 You must not understand the entertainment business. He is in the entertainment business and it's literally his loss if me (and or others) don't listen to him and or go to his shows because of his fear mongering, govt oppressing beliefs.

[@robertpeters3924]

Can’t stand him

[@thezakkuhnshow]

But you still watched the clip?

[@martydibergi5228]

John is my favourite. Amazing talent and inspiration❤

[@thezakkuhnshow]

So good right?? Thanks for watching friend!