Truetone Lounge - Chris Scruggs - Nashville Music Royalty & Torchbearer

Chris Scruggs is the host of his own WSM radio show that runs on Friday nights after the Grand Ole Opry, fronts his own band, The Stone Fox Five, and is a member of the white-hot group backing Marty Stuart, The Fabulous Superlatives. He is also a busy session man with everyone from up-and-comers to hitmakers Kacey Musgraves & Sierra Ferrell, and more recently, he was the youngest member inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame.
In today's episode, Scruggs tells his own story and, along the way, shares plenty of country music lore and spotlights 4 of his favorite guitars, a 1962 Telecaster, a 50s Fender double-neck steel, a 1959 Martin D-18, and a 1938 Gibson L5.

[@davidengedal9566]

Chris Scruggs is a National Treasure! Not only a walking encyclopedia of country music in general, but one of THE most versatile and accomplished musicians you will ever find!

[@danielsyvarth7469]

Saw him with Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives three times and they are ridiculously amazing. Imagine a band so good that a guy who plays guitar and steel guitar like Chris Scruggs can plays bass with the band!

[@plainolded5030]

WOW !!!!! What an encyclopedia. I detect a gentleman with a tremendous knowledge of country music, full of humility and respect. His knowledge of studio work and the practical use of some recording gear and session work is real. If I were still a young man with any ideas of "Neon Rainbows" I would surely want to know Chris Scruggs. Zac and Chris, I enjoyed this immensely and will watch it several times as I am sure I couldn't possibly have absorbed all this program has to offer in one sitting.

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks for listening

[@georgemajor9589]

THIS GUY IS EXTRA EXTRAORDINARY!! Great interview, and check out his interviews with Otis Gibbs… amazing knowledge of seemingly everyone who played with everyone, and when. Loved this.

[@TruetoneFX]

Love Otis!!!!

[@georgemajor9589]

Yep, makes great videos, and a great singer songwriter. By the way…. Love your videos too 👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️

[@scottbookman]

I believe it was John Hartford that said "your style is dictated by your limitations" Fantastic info filled interview !

[@kaiserthegreat]

Chris Scruggs is rad and there isn’t enough of him on KZbin. This one’s gonna be great!

[@davidking2835]

Man I seen him with Marty, Kenny, and Harry. Holy shit!! I’ve been to a thousand shows but these guys had THE BEST tone I’ve ever heard live. Kenny is a “guitar hero” in my book, and Chris is right beside him, and I’m a blues rock player. I think finding someone to fill their shoes will be an enormous task.

[@rustybeltway2373]

I saw Marty back in 2015. Chris was still the new guy. Man! I'm telling ya, what a band! And they know how to pace a show, take you on a journey. Best band in the nation, country or rock. Go see 'em live, folks.

[@mikem4672]

Kenny Vaughn says Chris is the best guitar player in the band. Love their respect for each other!

[@craigmaddenmusic3408]

What a total monster Chris is. Knocks me right out. I could listen to him talk country all day.

[@brettski2532]

Monster player. I saw Chris Scruggs playing with Chuck Mead & The Honky Tonk Heroes on Music Row. Oh and BR5-49 @ Buck Owens Crystal Palace.

[@charlesfaucher6518]

Such a musical treasure. Always dig seeing and hearing Chris with Marty.

[@dwylinmiller]

Just one Brain and sooooooo much knowledge. Wow Chris is amazing and seems so down to earth. Great job on this one Zac.

[@TruetoneFX]

I appreciate that!

[@thebenderbunker]

And now we know why Marty Stuart frequently refers to Chris as "The Professor!" Great Interview - thank you!

[@ksgtrpkr]

Excellent Interview with a Phenomenal musician!! I really appreciate Zach how you bring out the best content and expert advice and tips from musicians without stepping all over their interview! Excellent interviewer bring out the best in your interviews!!

[@gurianboy]

His ability to pickup an instrument and give you a beautifully rendered reading is uncanny. But candied.

[@robertplemmons3321]

Best Truetone interview ever! Props to Zac for all the insightful gear questions. Chris Scruggs is a national treasure.

[@randyfox4611]

I was going to skip around the interview but from the start i couldnt take my eyes off. Mr Scruggs is so very interesting to hear. Its like being in a library of music. Just awsome ..Thanks for the teaching.

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks for listening

[@billpholde4816]

Chris Scruggs, what an interesting, articulate person.

[@calvinbeard2764]

Chris is the PERFECT guy to be running the Musician's Hall of Fame.

[@2dazetake]

One of most intelligent players you have ever had on your show, Chris is a gentleman and a scholar,one of the best interviews I've ever seen on youtube,thumbs up Zak. 😊👍

[@guitarman4242]

Chris is nothing short of music genius. Every time I hear him I realize my tele in my hands would best be used as a rowing oar. He is so good.

[@jpb1231000]

Chris Scruggs is AWESOME... I'm 53 and thinking about buying my 1st lap steel.... Glad I watched!!!

[@deanbanks3392]

This is an interview that reaches a very high academic level. Chris Scruggs possesses a deep knowledge and understanding of the history of Nashville, the evolution of stringed instruments, style changes, players, artists--too much to list.

[@Superjenson]

Chris is so great. I saw Marty with the Superlatives in Berlin last year and it was pure magic.

[@TruetoneFX]

Cool!

[@Superjenson]

@@TruetoneFX It was in an old church, a venue for about 600 people. Support was Sam Williams and i had to walk 5 minutes to get there. What more can you ask for :) Btw. this channel is awesome. So many great and in-depth talks with the people making the sound we love. Thank you!

[@mc051961]

Fascinating man Love to hear more from him More steel

[@danielerickson5175]

Thanks for such an amazing time!

[@albertflasher5739]

Went to The White Horse in Austin a little less than a month ago, sat down at the bar looked over at the stage to see Chris setting up that steel. I could not believe my own eyes. What a night that was.

[@tinfoilsuit]

Great guest. Rewatched entirely and so impressed by talent, ability to explain, and old-timey stories. Very cool interview, Zac!

[@MulaMusic67]

Loved every second of this! Thanks Zac & Chris. 😎

[@TheDullBoy]

Lots of great stuff in here! Thanks Zac!

[@TruetoneFX]

You bet!

[@beachidiot]

OMG i loved this. When can we have him back? Thank you so much for all the great Truetone lounge interviews.

[@drwilliamlarge]

What a fantastic human being and a great interview. Thank you.

[@TruetoneFX]

Our pleasure!

[@roberthastings708]

Zach!! What a great interview!! You're really good at it. Thank you. And thanks to Chris Scruggs. He's a fantastic player. I appreciate you both.

[@TruetoneFX]

Much appreciated!

[@mauricioveiranoguitar6141]

Amazing interview; thank you Zac!!!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@FaithHopeLove77]

The more I watch these which are all great, thank you. The more I realize no one plays like Johnny Hiland. His command of the pocket and melodic lead is just off the charts.

[@jimknudsen7542]

Great interview!

[@jeffclark7888]

Outstanding! A traditional country music archive! Keep the Bakersfield Sound alive.

[@danross146]

Every time I listen to one of your interviews I feel like I haven't even been born yet! So much history and information! I really enjoy these interviews!

[@brynjones7371]

Fabulous interview, Mr Scruggs has a wonderful knowledge of country music history, an absolutely superb musician and raconteur.

[@roberthdahlquist]

I’ve watched this quite a few times by now - it’s a wealth of information and history! Thanks again you guys!

[@TruetoneFX]

Our pleasure!

[@johnkucin4482]

Just saw and truly enjoyed seeing Marty Stewart anr band this weekend during Bristol music festival, Rhythm and Roots, 9/10/2023. Chris is amazing, well the entire band is exceptional. What a great guy and musician!

[@angiejones3733]

What great fun to be able to pick Chris Scruggs country music brain. Such an awesome musician.❤

[@TruetoneFX]

Couldn't agree more!

[@TotallyTuberous]

Fantastic interview, start-to-finish. His great work on the steel, pulling behind the bar had me laughing in disbelief. Such a great talent. Thanks, Zac!

[@markhafkenschiel3872]

Thanks! Great interview with a down to earth, tremendous Nashville musician what talent!!

[@TwangThang57]

Great stuff, thanks guys!!

[@rosssoutherland8118]

Oh great! Chris mentions Walt at 1:16:08 Too Cool! Walter was one of the greatest guys ever. He sure taught me a lot standing beside him for 9 years. For many years I owned & played his original 1963 Fender Twin Reverb Prototype amp (built for him by Leo) Walter Carter sold it for me. I have a video of the amp on KZbin if you wanna check it out. Type in my name Ross Southerland Fender Twin Reverb Prototype. Man I miss it! I’m gonna send this video to my old band mates. 🙏🏻 thanks again

[@tinfoilsuit]

Damn. A prototype Twin? That's saying something! I'm on the brink of checking out a Tone Master Twin. But then i never did own any tube amp...i played bass for main instrument.

[@wildeman1253]

Really enjoyed this! Thanks boys.

[@ledaswan5990]

Great interview. What a way to grow up

[@stevehobbs6686]

Thank you so for bringing us Chris, I learned so much.

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@piggycity]

What an amazing interview!

[@timbothe1st]

This was fantastic. Thanks, Chris and Zac

[@TruetoneFX]

Our pleasure!

[@Jokkmokk21]

This is the first time I’ve seen your channel, and thought I would check out this interview with Chris, since I’m seeing Marty and the Superlatives in September. I saw the interview was almost 2 hours, and thought I would try a few minutes. An hour and 44 later, I’m looking at Kenny Vaughn and you , and who knows who I’ll watch and learn about next! Great interviews with great musicians! Thanks! Subscribed !!!

[@GerryJensen]

Chestnut Mare, Truck Stop Girl. Great show, lots of fun, stories, history thanks Zack

[@txtele]

I heard Kenny Vaughn say I believe I might be a little wrong on this but that Chris was the best drummer steel guitar player and guitar player and maybe bass player in Nashville he's an incredible musician and a great person it seems have never met him personally but will one day thanks for the interview great job you guys are great keep up the great work

[@SeeCSeesCC]

❤ extraordinary person and talent. great video

[@randyadamshack2785]

Great interview with Chris Scruggs, great player!

[@frankd4875]

Fantastic interview!! Now that's a great musician, a true student constantly learning and honing his craft. Thank you Chris and Zac for one of the most entertaining and informative interview chats I've heard, a real pleasure.

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikesharpsongs]

Jay McDowell was my first guitar teacher and a local rockabilly guitar slinging star, before he left our "small" town for Nashville & BR549; he's now the multimedia archivist for the Musician's Hall of Fame in Nashville. Chris is also amazing and this is yet another stellar interview!

[@nilsnordstrom4131]

Just been listening in depth to classic country and western. So I do hope the multi talented Chris Scruggs will do his version of 'The black veil'⁷. Hoodee from Sweden!

[@danielerickson5175]

I just saw Marty and the Superlatives in Jacksonville at the Florida theater last week and they blew my mind… I love each and everyone of these great musicians and great guys! You can tell that they all care for each other very much and that they love what they do. You can also tell that they have all been doing it since they were kids and have been doing nothing else! their attitude towards country music is the approach that I really love as well… their playing is somewhat aggressive as if they have a rock and roll attitude

[@larrynorgaard5730]

Sit Chris down, start him up and out comes Nashville/country music history. How good is that!

[@markshfr1]

Chris Scruggs talks about all the stuff I like to hear about

[@jamescarroll7359]

Hey Zac. Great interview with Chris.

[@peppers776]

Priceless info! 🤙😉

[@larryholland7192]

Awesome interview!!

[@danross146]

Another bullseye, Zac! Keep it up brother!!!

[@bjorntannberg1581]

Wonderful. What a musician...

[@markhoesly3838]

More than one thumbs up

[@jeffsurtees847]

Excellent interview!

[@timclary1963]

I saw Marty and the Superlatives exactly one month ago today at the Lincoln Square Theater in Decatur Illinois. And it was an evening of pure country music magic. And c'mon May for the new record by them.

[@BHJ7115]

So much talent!

[@michaelgregory2231]

Another great one, Zac!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheVirginianRambler]

Here about 42 mins in. So about Marty, one as we all know who have worked with him, hes amazing and such a great person! I had the luxury of setting up stage for marty WHILE Chris played with him!!! Ill never forget asking the guitar tech about the Clarence White guitar, not even knowing who Clarence White was at the time! This mustve been about 2017 or 2018. It was in Lynchburg VA. But I remember setting up the Fender Silver Face amps. And then picking up the Clarence guitar and when I got told about it, as careful, and gently as I could, I sat it down. Didnt strum it, pick a string, get a feel of the neck, NOTHIN! I knew I wasnt nearly a good enough player yet. And i want to be good enough to play it and appreciate it one day! That was the show that made me start wanting a Tele. Now I have my own custom made by Mel McCullough (Indiana Luthier). I cant stop playing teles thanks to marty! Thanks chris for being extremely Kind during that time as well. We exchanged a very few words after the show when tear down happened. I barely remember it but I remember you being kind.

[@smelltheglove2038]

Dang, how this one got by me is a mystery! Glad I decided to check out the channel.

[@crustafari]

Saw the Superlatives a couple months ago - Chris was awesome!

[@banjopete]

I really enjoyed that one…brilliant.

[@TruetoneFX]

Many thanks!

[@ronnieking1025]

The Best Picker In Nashville .

[@loosieclocker]

How good are the fabulous superlatives when Chris plays BASS? Omfg, the talent

[@agork]

The other guy before Scruggs were no less awesome.

[@oneida41859]

What a treasure and genuine nice guy!!

[@CBGypsy03]

Don't really know a lot of the names being mentioned, but damn great interview. Keep it up truetone, and Zak never disappoints. Good stuff 👏 👍🏼

[@kevinboyle4929]

dynamite player Saw him at Hammondsport NY .....Great player loved the show!...what a talent!!...✌️

[@Jamestele1]

What a talent and pedigree!

[@Ithumpify]

Saw Chris and the boys in Germantown (Memphis) last year and going to see them in Senatobia Ms. in March. I absolutely love this band. I've been playing bass for years and know music. Their balance was perfect and I don't think I saw them tune unless it was a sitar or 12 string maybe.

[@williamvolz4096]

Amazing Knowledge!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you liked it

[@anitadavideduo]

Great Chris!

[@rockinredneck57]

I've heard a quote attributed to Kenny Vaughn where he says Chris is the best guitar player in the band. That's definitely believable, but also hard to fathom with Kenny and Marty there, as great as they both are.

[@dutch1909]

Loved the interview, and I was surprised that he never mentioned his dad (Gary Scruggs) or his paternal grandfather (Earl Scruggs) in the interview.

[@bobparsonsartist564]

Dont get me wrong here, but if anyone could catapult the "Nerd" look into a national trend, this guy could do it. He's a freaking genius.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

Speaking of Clarence White, his best B-Bender playing was his last stuff. That being his playing on fellow Byrds bassist Skip Battin's solo album, "Skip". Often referred to as 'the Byrds last album', *Skip Battin 'Skip'* is a classic. Skip grew up right here in Gallipolis, Ohio. Although I'm from Columbus, I live here now. Check out ' Last show at the Filmore East The Byrds', Battin solos with drummer Gene Parsons ( who incidentally built the first B-Bender for Clarence, and built a business from the idea born from Clarence having Gene bend the b string behind the nut while he played in the studio and realizing Gene had a machinist background could build something to do the job).

[@silvrface]

Re Marty's Tele previously owned by Clarence White - Marty had someone rewind the bridge pickup, which was either broken or he didn't understand its "quirks". As explained to me by Clarence White (and how many of us have used them for decades) - the original wound by Red Rhodes (which later became the Velvet Hammer VHTBX) had a low-output primary coil and very hot boost coil (switched on and off using 2 tabs of an old phase switch). In the studio and on club jobs he'd run his amp(s) just below the top of headroom with his guitar controls rolled off a bit - then he could turn up to get more clean volume for solos or hit the "boost" switch, kicking things into saturation. It takes a while to learn how to use the setup but is incredibly useful, with a range from sweet and bell-like to sledgehammer strong!

[@jeremycline9542]

Hmm...that signature note in Ernest Tubb's phrasing, that "sixth" note...was he getting that from non-pedal steel players?

[@mairianncullen8753]

Riveting interview from start to finish. No wonder he's in the Musicians' Hall of Fame! His super-talented mother, Gail Davies, clearly did a grand job of raising him

[@robertlottmann]

Awesome musician.. I seen that Rick fall... Didn't know it was damaged

[@paulstrojan947]

Chris should do a lap steel method.

[@J.C...]

There's a guy I follow on another social media thing named Freeman Arthur that's really good, IMO. I think he might be around Nashville? I found him through a vid of him teaching his wife to play. It was quite funny 🤣

[@J.C...]

Lol. I bought a set of 10-46 D'addario with a wound 3rd to see how they were. First time I tried a full step bend on that wound 3rd, I found out real fast that it wasn't gonna happen with my normal bend using muscle memory 🤣 I was like "oh! Wait a minute! That didn't work 🤣"

[@dananthony6258]

I need a neck for my American Tele I just can’t decide on one. I’ve been going through this for years now it’s a little ridiculous. I can’t decide on American fender to keep it trad but then want a higher radius or do I go the warmoth ? 😢 so I keep play other guitars but I know that would be my favorite guitar if I just got it right.

[@MrTwangstaable]

Please get greg Koch on. I love your work. Thank you for it all.

[@jrgenlundsgaard9479]

how do you get that fantastic distorted sound on intro

[@TruetoneFX]

That is Al Perkins on a Fender lap steel with one of our Son of Hyde pedals

[@johnrichardson1917]

What happened to the Sunday night shows at the club Chris did with the Stone Fox Five. Did Covid kill the place?

[@TruetoneFX]

He does not do it as regularly as he seems to be busier on the road.