Brad Paisley is not just a great country guitar player; he is a great guitar player period. On his new album, Mud on the Tires, Brad jumps stylistically mid song, going from Albert Lee to Jeff Beck in a heartbeat. It is his best effort to date and we had the pleasure to sit down and talk with Brad while he was in Japan.

PCI: This is your second time to perform at the Country Gold Concert in Aspecta, Japan.

Brad: Yes it is. It is an honor to be asked back. And it’s a real treat to get to spend some time in Japan again.

PCI: What have you done on your time off here in Japan?

Brad: Eat as much sushi as I can and enjoy soaking up the culture.

PCI: Did you have any trouble getting around?

Brad: No, I had an interpreter most of the time, and crossed my fingers and pointed at the menu the rest.

PCI: Any interesting stories?

Brad: Well there was an incident with my drummer, but its not fit for print.

PCI: Then I guess we better hit the important stuff.

Brad: Ok.

PCI: Your playing on this record is even more adventuresome than your past efforts. What can that be attributed to?

Brad: I felt the freedom to push the envelope a little on this one. In the past I approached my records more as a session guitarist, on this one I wanted to put more of my individual stamp on it.

PCI: The tones on this record are fantastic.

Brad: Thanks, we spent a lot of time getting the right sounds.

PCI: Who are some of the guitar players that influenced you tone wise?

Brad: A lot of guitar player have influenced me, but John Jorgenson was probably one of the biggest.

PCI: What was it about his sound?

Brad: The rawness of it. He was using AC 30’s and he used a lot of different guitars and pedals.

PCI: Like what?

Brad: He was using things like electric 12-string and danelectro six string bass guitars when no one else was in Country Music. He also used a variety of Boss pedals, like the Dimension C and Vibrato units.

PCI: How did you begin using Dr. Z amps?

Brad: I was using 2 Vox AC 30’s out on the road, a 1962, and a 1963.

PCI: Were they top boost models?

Brad: Yes, they were both back panel add on top boost models.

PCI: Continue.

Brad: Well at one point one of them took a bad fall and I realized I didn’t want to take them out on the road anymore. They were just too fragile, and quite valuable too. I immediately started looking for something that was currently being made, and could get the sound I was used to getting out of the AC 30’s.

PCI: How did you find out about Dr. Z amps?

Brad: I went to a music store south of Nashville by the name of Mike E’s. He had a Mazerati 2-10 combo. I played it and was blown away by its tone. I then took it home and plugged it into a 2-12 cab with vox blues in it and the final part of the sound was complete. We later put it in a 2-12 cabinet. It was the first 2-12 Mazerati combo.

PCI: Why do you prefer the Celestion Blue Alnico Speaker?

Brad: They have a natural compression to them, and they never sound harsh. I think it’s the best 12-inch speaker.

PCI: What is the appeal of the Mazerati?

Brad: I think it captures the things I liked about a great vintage AC30 with an even thicker sound. For me it’s the ultimate amp. I love the single input and one volume and one tone control.

PCI: Do you find the single tone control limiting?

Brad: No, in fact it makes it much easier to dial in the sound I want. The design makes for a very pure raw tone that amps with a bunch of knobs just can’t produce.

PCI: Do you use it to record with also?

Brad: Yes, it is on my new album, Mud on the Tires.

PCI: Do you use any other Dr. Z amp models?

Brad: I have a Maz 18jr, a couple of Carmen Ghia combos, and a Z28 Head.

PCI: When do you use these other amps?

Brad: I like to use them in combinations. When I play the Grand Ole Opry, I like to use a Carmen Ghia with a vox blue speaker. Sometime I will use a Mazerati and a Ghia live. For a while I have been using 2 Mazeratis’ and a Z28.

PCI: What kind of speaker do you use with the Z28?

Brad: A JBL D130F fifteen inch speaker. Redd Volkaert turned me onto JBL alnico speakers. I like them re-coned with paper dust caps, and have been using the Z28 with one ever since.

PCI: What about the Maz 18jr?

Brad: Sometimes I will use it instead of the Z28 head in my 3-amp rig.

PCI: Your guitarist Gary Hooker also uses the Z28.

Brad: Yes, He is using 2 Z28 heads into a stereo Z-Best cab. That’s a great rig also. It’s like a Fender Deluxe on steroids.

PCI: Do you use many effects?

Brad: Mostly delay, sometimes tremolo, vibrato or overdrive. I try to start with a great guitar/amp tone and then add a little bit of color.

PCI: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

Brad: It was my pleasure.

Zac Childs (Guitar tech for Brad) and Dr.Z Amp Mazerati 2X12 Combo

Brad Paisley Official Site: http://www.bradpaisley.com/

Dr.Z Amp Official Site:http://www.drzamps.com/