Shinedown guitarist Zach Myers joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols on The No Cover Charge Podcast for an honest, hilarious, and deeply insightful conversation about guitar, songwriting, and life on the road.

Zach shares stories from touring with Shinedown, working alongside Brent Smith, and learning firsthand from legends like B.B. King. They dive into tone vs. feel, why “less is more” still wins, the pressure of writing hit songs, and how great players like John Mayer balance technique with melody.

From gear talk (PRS, whammy pedals, and signature tones) to the reality of internet criticism and imposter syndrome, this episode is packed with real talk for guitar players and music fans alike.

🎸 If you're a fan of Shinedown or care about songwriting, tone, and what actually makes a great guitarist—this one’s for you.

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

By popular demand, the Weird Gear episode is back! In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols explore bizarre, experimental, and downright confusing guitar gear—from MIDI guitars and synth pedals to phone-based effects and mutant fretboards.

Expect unexpected tones, hilarious trial-and-error moments, and a reminder that weird gear is where creativity lives. Some of this stuff might be unusable… but some of it might just change how you think about guitar forever.

Whether you're into guitar tone, pedals, or just love seeing musicians experiment, this episode is packed with inspiration, chaos, and pure gear nerd fun.

Use Code nocovercharge for 30% off any Neural DSP plugin.

Thanks to Neural DSP for sponsoring this episode.

Thank you to @NeuralDSP for sponsoring this episode! Use code *nocovercharge* for 30% off select plugins: https://bit.ly/NEURALnocovercharge

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

Step inside Nerdville East with Joe Bonamassa for one of the most in-depth guitar conversations with the guitar legend yet. In Episode 30 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols talk vintage tone, legendary Les Pauls, rare Fender finds, and the real truth behind guitar collecting.From pristine 1959 bursts to historic road-worn Strats, Joe breaks down what actually matters in great guitars, how gear myths get started, and why “hearing with your eyes” might be more real than you think. Plus—cigars, stories from the road, and behind-the-scenes access to one of the most insane guitar collections on the planet.If you love guitar tone, vintage gear, blues rock, or just great musician hangouts, this episode is a must.

Thank you to the sponsor of our show, Roswell Pro AudioCheck out their microphones: https://bit.ly/RoswellProAudio

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

The cosmic country king Daniel Donato joins Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols on Episode 29 of the No Cover Charge Podcast for a deep dive into guitar, tone, and the philosophy behind his genre-blending sound. Daniel shares stories from his early days playing Nashville’s Broadway circuit, the players who shaped his style, and how rhythm guitar, Telecaster tone, and improvisation all play a role in his musical identity.

The conversation moves from gear and pedals to songwriting, touring life, and the spiritual side of playing music. Along the way, the guys jam, break down iconic influences, and explore how great guitarists balance technique, feel, and individuality.If you love guitar, country, jam bands, tone talk, and honest conversations about the craft of music, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

Thank you to Neural DSP for sponsoring this episode! Use code *nocovercharge* for 30% off select plugins: https://bit.ly/NEURALnocovercharge

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

In Episode 28 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols sit down with Nashville guitarist and educator Kent Crawley for an inspiring deep dive into guitar technique, musicality, and creative improvisation.

Kent breaks down his unique approach to the fretboard, from chromaticism and voice leading to gospel and jazz influences that shape his playing. Along the way, the conversation explores tone, custom guitars, pickup choices, ear training, and the importance of connecting what you hear with what you play. Kent also shares stories from his musical upbringing, his father's role in developing his ear, and how influences like fusion, blues, and church music helped shape his sound.

Expect plenty of jaw-dropping guitar moments, practical lessons for players, and a fascinating look at how great musicians actually think about music.

If you're into guitar improvisation, fusion concepts, and learning how pros approach the instrument, this episode is packed with insight.

Click here for all things Kent Crawley

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

What happens when you plug a real 1959 Gibson Les Paul into Gary Moore’s actual 1966 Marshall Bluesbreaker JTM45… in a Nashville garage?

In Episode 27 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols crank up Gary Moore’s original amp and Guv'nor pedal, pair it with a legendary ’59 Burst, and chase the iconic tones of Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Paul Kossoff, Joe Bonamassa, Slash and more.

From the B.B. era Bluesbreaker roar to classic 1959 Les Paul riffs, this episode is pure vintage tube-amp chaos — and yes… the power literally goes out mid-jam. The boys still do not know if a presence lives in the studio as a result...

If you love vintage Gibson Les Pauls, Marshall JTM45 tones, PAF pickups, and the mystique of Burst history, this one’s for you.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

Please enjoy this bonus mini episode featuring one of the godfathers of rock 'n roll, George Thorogood. Lonesome

George has cultivated a 50+ year career through talent, hard work, and an incredible energy that you can't help but be magnetized to, and even though this short interview is only 15 minutes, you can rewind it back again to pick up new pieces of gold that may have gotten overshadowed by George's awesome presence.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

In Episode 26 of the No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols recap their wild trip to the NAMM Show: 6 a.m. flights, surprise jam sessions, insane vintage guitars, creator run-ins, booth takeovers, and some of the most unhinged (and hilarious) moments we’ve had yet.

We jammed our way through California, from LA to Anaheim, and ended up running into YouTube heavyweights, testing bizarre gear, and filming a mini acoustic episode in the creator lounge with @ChrisBuckGuitar and @ArielPosen — this episode captures the beautiful, disjointed madness that is NAMM week.

Thank you to NeuralDSP for sponsoring this episode!

Use code *nocovercharge* for 30% off select plugins.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.