Zacky Vengeance

Zacky Vengeance

Zachary James Baker, (born December 11, 1981) better known by his stage name Zacky Vengeance, is the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for the American metal/rock band Avenged Sevenfold.

Biography

Baker taught himself how to play the guitar when he was thirteen. He attended Huntington Beach High School, and formed Avenged Sevenfold there with M. Shadows and The Rev. Before Avenged Sevenfold, he was in a punk band called MPA*, which stands for Mad Porn Action. He implied that they were not successful. Baker came up with his stage name "Zacky Vengeance" because he wanted to get back at all the people from his youth who doubted his potential. He also came up with Johnny's stage name "Johnny Christ," saying it suited him. Vengeance was also responsible for the creation of the initialism "A7X".

Despite being left-handed, Vengeance recalls the first guitar he learned to play on was actually a right-handed his parents had bought him for his thirteenth birthday. He learned by playing upside-down, watching his favorite bands and other people he knew who played, and practiced as much as he could. He would also read each edition of Guitar World cover to cover, learning the tabs of the songs published there and watching the professionals perform them until he could play just as well. His influences in his style are Rancid, Misfits and Bad Religion. Vengeance's favorite bands also include Metallica and Guns N' Roses.

In high school he played baseball. He claims that if not for his music career, he would have played in college and might have gone pro. He was scouted by the New York Yankees. He played first base, third base, and catcher for his high school baseball team. His favorite Major League Baseball team is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has an Angels tattoo behind his left ear.

Equipment

Guitars

There is a Zacky V lookalike in the adamsmith college in Fife its AMAZING!!!!

Vengeance uses Schecter Guitars, and endorses the company.

• The Vengeance standard
• The Vengeance Standard model
• The Vengeance Standard model (rebel flag as seen in "Walk" at Ozzfest in 2006)
• The ZV special designed by Zacky Vengeance
• The ZV Blade
• The ZV special with FR (as seen behind the scenes in the Live in the LBC DVD)
• The ZV mirror
• The ZV "Gynecologist" with blood splatters. This version is different to the others as this comes with Seymour Duncan Invaders instead of his usual Seymour Duncan SH-4 "JB" set
• Vengeance has many custom shop S-1 models made exclusively for him.
• All models are loaded with Seymour Duncan JB Pickups.
• Formerly a Gibson SG left-handed was used by him (as seen in Warmness on the Soul music video)
• Seen using a Schecter PT series custom at the HEAVY MTL 2010

Amps

• Marshall JVM205H
• Marshall Cabinet 4x12

Effects units and accessories

• Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
• Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
• Line 6 PODxt Pro
• Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher
• Radial JDX
• Ernie Ball "Skinny Top, Heavy Bottom 10-52" strings
• Dunlop Tortex Yellow plectrums 0.73mm (Avenged Sevenfold logo)
• White Get'm Get'm Sergeant Stripes Strap

External links

• Official website
• Official twitter
• Official Avenged Sevenfold website