Redd Volkaert - The Telewacker - Ask Zac Player Spotlight - 139
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In August 1998, I was reading the latest Guitar Player Magazine and excitedly read a feature on the new guitarist for Merle Haggard's Strangers, Redd Volkaert. In the accompanying photo, he was captured holding a number of Roy Nichols-era Haggard albums, and cradling a number of vintage Telecasters, including a blackguard. In the article, Redd promoted his new "Telewacker" album and professed his love for Nichols, and I knew that this was the man that was going to bring the Telecaster sound back to the Hag's lead guitar spot. As much as I had loved the 1980s-era Roy and later Clint Strong with their Les Paul and Peavey Session 400 rigs, I had longed to hear the tunes played with a Tele and a JBL-equipped Fender amp. I soon learned that Haggard was playing nearby and I immediately bought a ticket to see Merle and the Strangers for their show on September 4th, 1998, in Corpus Christi, Texas. For the entire show, Redd was on-fire, as he paid homage to his predecessors, yet put his spin on the guitar parts to Merle's incredible catalog of hits. It was one of the best shows I have ever heard.
Today we look at Redd Volkaert and his huge influence on Telecaster players over the last 30 years. Also, we feature a new segment, Zac's book time.
Book link amzn.to/3T0g9DX
Playlist
open.spotify.com/playlist/4DL...
Redd guests quite a bit with the Western Flyers
www.thewesternflyers.com/
Gear Used:
1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis.
Strings:
D'Addarion NYXL 10-46
Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy
Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb with a 60s JBL D120F gray frame speaker with its original cone. Used with AmpRX Brown Box set to 113v
Effects used:
Amp reverb, MXR Clone Looper
#askzac #reddvolkaert #zacchilds
Every day for a year and a half I played Redd's set at the Floyd County Store for my 1 year old because he loved it so much... Not once did it ever get old. It's the best tone and best playing I've ever heard in my life and every time I hear it it's pure joy.
Homerun! Redd is one of the most humble guitar slingers ever. He's an amazing person, and he can play a guitar too!
Redd's shows at The Continental Club in Austin were the best. His playing is so unique, and his shows were always entertaining. And his voice is incredible as well - perfectly suited to the music he does. Thanks for highlighting him!
Agreed! I had a chance to meet Redd several times in Austin as well as hear him at his matinée shows on Saturdays at The Continental Club.
Redd is in a class of his own. Absolute monster of a player.
You should do an episode on another favorite Bill Kirchen.
Working on it
Great video. I saw Merle Haggard in 1979 in Reno at Harrahs. A buddy had said he'd (Merle) hit the $25K Keno. My 1st wife & I lived within walking distance of the Main drag. We hit Harrahs as her Mom worked there, plus I liked the joint.(they were instrumental in curing me of gambling. Long story). I saw Merle was still there, it was a 2 drink minimum ( about $15 ea), he was one of the C&W guys I liked. What a great show. The lead guitarist he had was a white headed "old man" I was 22.That guy was seated, as were most of the band. That guy was playing a Strat, I thought his fretboard was going to burst into flames!!! He was getting the most out of the Strat. Merle was great, someone handed him a bottle of Jack Daniels, he said, he'd have to wait till after the show to partake, or he couldn't sing. The Band HOWEVER, cracked the top & were passing the bottle around. I noticed it came to rest by the guitar players chair! LOL He partook quite frequently, as recall. Terrific video as usual. Gil
I met Redd many years ago during SXSW when I was about 16. I had just picked up my first “real” guitar about a year before, which was a Highway One Tele (still my number one, now an Esquire). I told him he was the reason why I picked up a Telecaster and he simply said “hey, don’t blame me!”
I also met Billy Joe Shaver after a show later that night. Man, I miss living in Austin.
Redd played Akkurat (bar/resturant)in Stockholm Sweden
One of the best performances I`ve ever seen.
2017 o r2018.........
He was just gigantic........
Always a smile and those truckdrivers thick fingers just fly on the fretboard.
It was magic.
The first time I stepped a foot in Nashville I seen Redd with Don Kelly. I didn't know Tele could do that... 😮
My mind was blown!
So glad I've met him and seen him play live with Hag on a Norm Hamlet invite, plus I seen and talked to Redd in Austin a couple times! Great memories!
My friend Joe and I met Redd along with Bill Kirchen at a festival in Wisconsin a couple years back.
They did a guitar workshop first and then a concert. What a great time!
Both super guys, a great show, and great guitar--yep, I bought one of Redd's guitars, and he was kind enough to bring it along from his home to deliver in person.
I have to say this is way up there on my favorite episodes. Your genuine respect and appreciation shines brightly throughout the entire discussion. I like the new format with the book recommendation at the end. Thank you again for all you do for this community of players.
Glad you enjoy it!
Thanks for promoting Redd Volkaert, I used to see him with the Don Kelly Band when I lived in NV. My jazz fusion trio opened for Andy Summers Group at the Cannery in NV and he and his band were super down to Earth and very encouraging to us. He was playing one of those odd Klein guitars and his road crew said they thought he should go back to his Tele!!!
Another great episode, Zac! I first heard Red in 1986, when I was in a band in Vallejo, CA called the Midnight Riders, and we had brought in a bass player from Canada who knew Red. So this bass player comes up to me and says he has a friend from Canada who’s touring with a vocalist named Jenny (not Joni!) Mitchell, he’s in town and can he sit in on guitar? “Is he any good?” I asked. Dave, the bass player, laughed and said, “You just wait!” So this short round balding guy carrying a gig bag walks up, opens up the gig bag and pulls out a custom red-sparkle Tele with three pickups and an inlay of Mr. Magoo on the headstock. (Red kind of looks like Mr. Magoo.) He plugs into my amp-I think I had a Randall RG-80 back then. I go and sit at the bar, and I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “This guy’s incredible!” I thought. And he was! This was before he hooked up with Merle or moved to Nashville or Austin. He was a real nice guy too. Absolute monster guitar player.
Small world. That bass player, Dave, was my band leader at a large country bar in Hayward for 4 years. And coincidentally, a few years before that, I was in a house band in Van Nuys doing 4 nights a week. It was a trio, and on weekends we would hire a 4th piece. One weekend, we hired a guy named Redd to come in, and he just totally floored us. I remember thinking I'd never heard anyone play double stops that fast and clean. Years later, working for Dave in Hayward, I relayed this story to him, and he told me of his longtime friendship with Redd. Small world
We love Redd ❤ my wife and I are big fans, we went to Austin from California on vacation and meet Redd Redd played my old Fender Esquire and was the nicest friendly Telecaster Superstar I’ve ever met
Thanks Dale, and I agree!
Thanks Zac. I met Redd after an outdoor show up near Boston many years ago. I was hoping that his meaty handshake would have transferred a little magic, but that's not how it works.
Very cool!
Dick Dale played MY Stratocaster many years ago. I swear it sounds different since he played it!🎸
Maybe that’s how it works. Lol🧐
One of my all time favorite episodes about one of my all time favorite guitar players. Thanks, Zac. That was a good'un.
Thanks, Will
Redd Volkaert is one of THE COOLEST guitar players there is (and that's saying a whole lot since I love a TON of Telecaster players)!!
Redd is the best, thanks for shining the light on him.
Thank you, Tim!!
Saw Redd at the Broken Spoke in 2015. Also Dallas Wayne was on bass. Prior to the gig I sat at a table and chatted with them for about an hour prior to the gig. I felt like I’d known both of them for years. Hearing them play for 3 hours nonstop was phenomenal. Such a great experience.
The Redd Volkaert Truetone interview is a blast! I’m rewatching it right now.
Ditto. I saw Redd with The Haybalers at the Continental Club in Austin. His interplay with the pedal steel guitarist was amazing.
I'm gonna crank the Redd in the store today after this view. Love that sound!
EDIT: Your intro was just the sweetest piece of pickin' I've listened to in quite a while.
Awesome! Thank you!
One of the nicest people I've ever met. I used to work on a truck that he used to own and my wife and I would baby sit a dog he used to have when he would travel out of town for extended periods. You're right on about how supportive he is, I can't play to save my life but he always has something to offer along with kind words of encouragement. He's a very rare breed indeed.
One of the best things about the 20-years I ran the TDPRI was that I got to know Redd pretty well. Each year for 5 or 6 years before I sold the sites I'd spend a day with Redd recording "demo" videos of the guitars we gave away each year. The first year he came to my house and each year after that I went to his little "ranch" outside of Austin. We'd head out to lunch and really had a good time. I'd make it a point to see Redd play at Gruene Hall or the Continental Club in Austin. Last bit of Redd discussion was he bought my Bill Crook Paisley Tele body a few years back. Redd is a great Tele player - but as you said, Redd is a GREAT GUY.
Thanks Paul, and thanks for running a great site that meant so much to us all.
Those Floyd County shows are the best thing on CZcams
One of my 3 favs Redd Hiland and Kenny Vaughn. Would love to see an interview with this Robinson kid. He is killing it.
Thank you for continuing to bring your audience so many long-form videos of the true legends. These will be even more treasured as we continue to lose these greats. The Reggie Young interview is unbelievable.
Thank you
Great episode, Zac! Really glad you are shining a light on Redd. My wife and I went to hear Merle Haggard in Houston back in the mid-90's. We arrived 2 hours early and bumped into Redd as he got off the bus. Well, Redd came and sat down with us and was just the nicest fellow you could ever imagine. We had a great conversation about the Teles and amps he and Merle were playing. It was amazing!
That is awesome!
Great, great segment Zac. All your videos are good, but I love Redd and have seen your interview piece with him. This is a GREAT follow up to that. Its apparent from watching and listening to Redd that he is a helluva decent guy and you've said as much. Thanks for the great topic. If I EVER get the chance to see Redd in person, I'll be there.
I got the privilege and opportunity to meet and see Redd at a tiny venue in Vancouver BC this past summer. An incredible show. Had a connection too. He knew a relative of mine (Red Shea) the lead guitarist for the Tommy Hunter show back in the 80s. He told me he had actually filled in for Red Shea for a time when he was ill. Such a cool and nice guy!
Redd is one of my favs, love watching him play and tell stories!!
Saw Redd with Bill Kirchen at the old Continental spot on Washington Ave in Houston years back on the Telewhacker tour. Maybe 30 folks in the place. Got to meet and talk to both. Bill was one of my heroes growing up, Redd I met that night. Now he is too. Redd would not sign a CD for me but he would sign it to my wife who was there as well. Both guys are so down to earth and fantastic to speak to as well as sit and listen to. Much love and respect!
I was surprised that you didn't mention the Twangbangers CD with Bill Kirchen. A pair of Dyed in the wool Tele Guys.
That is a great one!!
I'm going to see Redd play this week! Very excited.
Zac, since Red is living in Virginia he has been doing some shows with some DC Tele players by the name of Dave Chappell and Anthony Pirog. Dave plays a lot of shows with Danny Gatton's bass player John Previti. There is some great interviews on CZcams with John talking about his years with Danny. Also lots of CZcams on Dave and Anthony. Dave and Red are doing a show together on Dec. 9 at JV's restaurant in Fairfax, Va.
What a great video on Redd! I really enjoy it and I appreciate your info and presentation on Redd as well as all of your other videos! Thanks Zac!
Much appreciated!
I knew him in Austin about twenty years ago. James lutz and I helped him move and I was surprised that he had a classical guitar squirreled away next to his bed. Did you ever hear him play with James Lutz and Billy Dee at Ginny's? It was magical. You forgot to mention that Redd is very funny.
Thanks for having a show on Red, great player.
There's an interview with Andy Summers here on YT where he shows his blues playing from the pre-Police years and that is quite surprising, he really can hang with the best of them!
You're right, Redd is an awsome player and Genuine nice guy. He's a long time friend of mine and has played as a guest in my band yeas ago when we had open house at our music store. He lets me know if he's gonna be playing close. Me and a friend first saw him on Music Row in the early 90's and blew our minds. After that night we stayed in touch usually by social media. I saw him with Merle at Renfro Valley and we got a backstage pass for the VIP setting. I'm trying to get him and Scotty Anderson together for a jam..That's where I'll just sit back and watch!!!!!
Good one, Zac! I'd never heard about Redd, when I saw him at this guitar show in Stockholm 10-15 years ago. I was absolutely floored, amazed that a man with these huge fingers could play with such presicion and accuracy, not to mention incredible style and inventiveness. I was hooked!
Later, he stopped by at my guitar collecting friend's house and spotted this super light Tele/Nocaster/Broadcaster (can't remember which). Redd really wanted to bring that guitar back to the States with him, but my friend wouldn't let it go.
I recognise most of your books from my own shelves (I even have that Jimmy Bryant/Speedy West EP, by the way) and big thanks for highlighting that Andy Summers book. I've had it for years without reading it. Gonna start right now!
Don Kelley tickled me calling Redd the King of the pawn shop finds! He has such a cool collection always! Just a great player; really enjoyed hearing Don’s story about Redd waiting for him to let him get up and how they were blown away when he got up finally!
I bet Red’s Tweed Twin weighed *MORE* than 100lbs! Oversized iron, birch ply cab/baffle and a pair of monster speakers.
That’s how I would build an amp for a working musician that uses the amp for performing.
Casters mandatory! Just to get it out of my shop lol!
Loved this Zac!
Thanks for being a great story teller and thanks for sharing🎸🎶
My pleasure!!
Very coincidental, I just re-watched the Truetone Lounge episode with Redd. Great content as always Zac!
Thanks
Zac, I looked foreword to your column when you wrote for Vintage Guitar and always anticipate every episode of your channel. Book time is GREAT! 🎉
Wow, thank you!
Absolutely love Redd Volkaert ❤
Zac, I got to hear some of those signature licks the other day. I provided an amplifier for Ben Haggard here in my hometown and he played a 59 toploader that belonged to Merle, through it. It was as delightful as it sounds. Got to hang with the whole crew a little bit and meet Scott Joss for the first time. It was a great day.
Wow! Banner day!
Thanks Zac!!! You are quite the picker good on ya!!! Keep on doing what you do!!!
Redd is so dang good. I am always amazed when listening to him.
Thanks Zac! Redd is the best and your work is priceless. All the best
Much appreciated!
Tremendous! Thank you Zac
I met him in Fort Worth he talked to me for almost an hour. Super nice guy!
I saw Redd at the Richmond Folk festival some years ago. He was playing a Hahn T style through a Peavey amp. I think it was a solid state amp and the tone was fantastic!! I try to listen to everything he’s recorded. Just one of my favorites ever. Thanks for this one Zac.
Cool!
Funny how connected the music industry is. Very enjoyable just like your Kenny Vaughan episode
I consider myself the luckiest telecaster fan in the world, I live close to the Floyd Country Store and am able to see Redd live every Thursday that he is in town. I think most here would agree that Danny Gatton is the Master of the Telecaster, so I guess that makes Redd the Grand Master, definitely my favorite.
Lucky man!
Saw Merle with Redd playing Tramp's in NYC in the late 90s. That was going to church.
I'm glad to see your hands are getting better Zack. That was a wonderful intro you played!
Thank you very much!
@@AskZac thank you Zac, I can't wait to learn it.
Redd lives near me and plays locally at the store. I’ve been meaning to go see him and after watching this, I definitely will 😊
You should!
Great video 🙌. Redd is a legend.
Agreed
I had no idea Redd was my age....great player! I think I saw them here in San Antonio, quite a while back....thanks Zac Have heard of the book "Can't Stop a Comet"...by SRV road manager Cutter Brandenberg....It is quite an interesting book that is no longer around...I might have an extra copy.
I'd love to check it out
I enjoyed your take on Home in San Antone! Had a chance to see Redd on the Outlaw Country Cruise a couple of times, will again in Feb. Love his jazz influenced style. Favorite track on Telewacker is Truck Drivin Man:) cheers from Denver👍
My son goes to VaTech. I'll be at Floyd's in Jan to see Red. Thanks for the tip.
Dude, Zac! You made telewackwer my soundtrack of the week…! Fun fact, it actually led me down a Bill Kirchen rabbit hole…maybe a future episode? As always, the leading source in telecaster coverage , leaving us wanting more, appreciated…🙏
Love it!
Great episode Zac! I'm a big Red Volkaert fan his instrumental 'Granny Grunt' is a big favorite of mine. However now I've got soooo many more questions on Redd's gear! 🙂 The Andy Summers book review was great too! It is one of my favorite music-bios. Andy really changed the way pop guitar was played in the 80's. I'm also a really big fan of his post release recordings as well.
Thanks
Beautiful.
Awesome video, love me some Redd guitfiddle!!!!
I really enjoy ur informational videos. Merle was the bomb, so was Buck. Try to make it to bakersfield and see Bucks palace. His gutars are displayed there. Also. In Orange county at the Fullerton musium they have a Loe Fender Telecaster historic display
Great episode Zac, thanks. I’m ashamed to say I was unaware of Redd until I heard him on the Los Super Seven album Heard It On The X. Needless to say I’m now a convert! Nice playing at the beginning Zac and I like the book review item. Keep up the good work.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Ian
Thanks Zac! I’m another Redd fan, and I’ve just reserved a copy of Andy Summers’ “One train later : a memoir” from my library.
Great read
Important to remember that Clint wasn't hired to replace Roy, he was replacing Tiny Moore, an OG jazzer. Clint and Roy were both in the band when Clint started. I saw Tiny with Merle and Clint, and Red, and they were all...perfect, in my eyes and ears. Merle was the best there ever was or will be for me. Love the gear talk!!
I learned about Redd from being a huge Brad Paisley fan. He's a monster player. Thanks for the video!
⚓️ Thanks Zac 😎
Redd’s trio gigs from Floyd’s Store CZcams are priceless. Great vocals, tasteful fills, and stellar leads…Tele graduate studies, for sure.
Yes they are!
Such a fine somewhat low profile player and man. He plays it the way it was meant to be played. Will see him in December at JVs in Falls Church Va.
Have liked all your video's on Redd.
Ditto everything u said about redd and his playing and perfect tele tone!
saw him a few times at the continental club when i lived in austin back when congress street wasn’t all…well, i’ll just leave it at that…🙌👍
Great show, I love Red, he is such a cool guy and awesome picker. Zac, you did a great picking job on your opening tune! You are a helluva picker my friend!
Thanks so much!
Redd is amazing! I’m hoping to catch him at the Floyd country store this week here in Virginia!!! Side note……if you could find out how to play the guitar parts in Merle haggards skid row I would love to see it!
The Guitarbuilder Daniel Schippers, who did a lot of stuff for me, builtca complete Guitar for Redd. And delivered it personally to the man. If I remember right, it was a teleish instrument with a glued in neck and a Charly christian pickup.
Love Redd’s playing. Redd plays so smooth and tasty. And although I’ve never met Redd personally he sure comes across as a very kind soul of a man. Great episode as they always are. Zac.
Thanks!
I saw Redd playing with Alan Jackson in Vancouver a few years ago. Great show! Johnny Reid and Miranda Lambert opened.
Red is GREAT. I can not say enough good about that man and his playing.
I wish I could find a good copy of 2 Guitars Country Style! I’ve searched and searched, it’s a tough one to get an original copy of. Great vid, I learn so much from this channel!
The copy I play is from the French EMI label.
@@AskZac Is that with both parts 1 and 2? I noticed the few that are available are in 2 separate releases
I believe that Johnny Hilland also lives in this 'we LUV us some Outlaw Country/Old Time/Bluegrass & Grateful Dead' part of South-Central VA & North-Central NC, Zac. The Legend, Charlie Poole, lived, flourished briefly, and drank himself to death here.
oh yeah, . Got to see The Police early on when they playing big-ish clubs like Uncle Sam's in Syracuse NY between weekend gigs ... by their 'GHOST IN THE MACHINE' record, Andy Summers was 'in his stride' (as some writers say about an artful human being in order to lay claim to "discovering" them. Andy had an aesthetic which was unique, already awesome, available, and hidden in plain sight.
Summers had/has cred by the buckets:, with 0-degree of separation from a vast cadre of mind-blowing bands, musicians and singers like Soft Machine, Ringo's mad touring circus, Joan Armatrading, David Essex, Robt Fripp, and Kevin Ayers.
The first times I heard the songs 'SECRET JOURNEY' & 'INVISIBLE SUN', the metronomic picking patterns were a revelation that affected how I fingerpick ever since.
'Be The Clock'
good stuff..really good
Glad you enjoyed it
Hello Zak. VERY rasty pickin. Thank you
dude, i was playing guitar with david allan coe at that show. i bought telewhacker that night.
Awesome!
Cool episode. And.......I bought that shirt from you.
Thanks Hal!!
Redd is the greatest!
I enjoy Redds sense of humor when he's playing and he will throw a Led Zeppelin Solo in the middle of a country song
I think The Edge stole Andy Summer’s spotlight a bit, but I think Andy created the 80’s.
His main Pete Cornish pedalboard from back in the day and how he used it is worth an episode on it’s own.
Nice intro Zac!
Thanks!
REDD VOLKAERT!!! ONE OF THE GREATS OF ALL TIME!!!
I've got a great Lucky Tomblin Band album with Redd on it and the live Twangbangers album- he's with Bill Kirchen on that and he also had a Barden pick up in his old "coal burner". I can remember Bill and his band going off to France to do a Twangbanger concert with Redd back in 2007. Here is the title of a video of them recoded there up on YT- Bill and Redd- sheer Tele perfection: The Twangbangers en concert en France - Programmation: Georges Carrier
This Redd Volkaert vid is going to be a hit! Zac, do you have any resources for us to learn Home in San Antone like your intro?
Book recommendation: "Clapton's Guitar: Watching Wayne Henderson Build the Perfect Instrument by Allen St. John".
Was that “Still A lot of Love in San Antone” in the intro? I was friends with Lou Rochelle,(PSG) player, that co-wrote that song with A.L. Owens.
My home in san antone
Great episode! What song are you playing in the beginning? I'm going to try and learn that.
David Allan Coe deserved more of a shout out than that. Guy’s a legend.
Redd has played The Floyd County store??? I live 25 minutes from there. Wow.
GO!!!!
@@AskZac absolutely! Gonna keep a check on their schedule. I always thought of it as a mainly Bluegrass scene. Crazy that both he and Johnny Hiland live in VA.
Also check out Reddhead, a better solo album than Telewhacker inmho. Thanks for the vid Zac, big fan of Redd and of your show too