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Post subject: Surfin' strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 3:05 pm
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So, though I love surf music, I've never really played it much.

Now I'm thinking of giving it some try, and would much appreciate any tips, like which gauge of strings are more suitable on a strat for that music, and whatever else you guys found particular about that style!


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Post subject: Re: Surfin' strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 4:33 pm
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Flatwounds (with a wound "G") were pretty common during the original surf era, often strung on a Jaguar or Jazzmaster.

Of course you'll also need a blond 6G14 Showman Amp with matching reverb tank......

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Surfin' strat?
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 10:48 pm
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Keep the Surf alive, Sérgio. :D
I’m a 60s teenager from the Westcoast where surf ruled for a period. One of the first songs I learned on a Strat was Pipeline followed by Walk Don’t Run, and I agree with Arjay. I learned those songs on a buddy’s Daphne Blue ‘62 Strat in ‘65. ‘62 was the year Jag (taken from the Jazz Master) was introduced.

We used a Bandmaster with an outboard Fender reverb at that time. 11 gauge was common and 12s could also be found amongst the brave. 18 - 58 graced Dick Dale’s axe (now 16s I believe). Higher gauge can bring other issues though with the bridge, nut, frets, tension and more. Today’s gear can make a lot of compensation for tone so you might get by with 10s as I have done without a nut change. I would not use less than 10s though, and I have gotten good tone with 10s doing A/B comparisons with modeling and DAWs. Hank Marvin is quoted as using 11s. He has used many brands and dual amps and he has long lost vintage reverbs and delays so he will use a variety of gear here too. Single coils were the majority in the 50s/60s with Surf beginning in the late 50s.

Arjay is right about the Jaguars and Jazzmaster (amongst the Mosrites, and others to a lesser degree). I wouldn’t put too much into any of them as they all shine in their own way, as the Ventures have shown with differences in sponsorships.

The Jag noted for a Spring loaded rubber string mute (for those who prefer palming) was often removed as some called it a tone killer, although that is questionable. However, it could be a problem when it moved the intonation holding lockable floating vibrato bridge out of position. Jag’s electronics and switching without question are part of Surf’s history. Unfortunately or fortunately Stratocaster and Telecaster were Fender’s bread and butter, and Strat held that mark in Surf while Jag never quite got the love promoted, and the warmer sounding Jazz Master never got the love from jazz artists causing it to migrate to a successful Surf career.

All three guitars with different tones will be fine for Surf, although, in my neck of the woods back then Stratocasters ruled because of overall versatility should one jump the Surf ship.

Other than preferential Showman and Dual Showman, and, perhaps, Band Master, most every Fender amp Twin or Deluxe or Super Reverb, Vibrolux, and others can fill the mark.

IMHO the key is the reverb. The SPRING reverb. For me it’s the ‘63 spring reverb. YMMV. There are some very good pedals and combo reverbs; but, this guy has a bias from owning a ‘64 Parisienne with a spring reverb under the dash. :P Sproing!

And how about that drip? Gotta have Surf drip, ‘cause anyone can have reverb. :lol:



FSB

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Post subject: Re: Surfin' strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 3:37 am
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Wow, FSB - that might be the best Surf-Music-101 I've seen.

I'll only add pick-hand technique, pick-hand technique, pick-hand technique...
And hang ten.
:wink:


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Post subject: Re: Surfin' strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:25 am
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Thanks, jmattis. You’re too kind. I’m definitely no pro and others here may have more experience, but singing Motown in North Dakota isn’t the same vibe as living next door to Berry Gordy in the 60s; although it all can be very good indeed. :lol: Needess to say with surf, been there done that, and I am still keeping the classics alive while digging some new and original stuff.

I bought a new bathing suit every year, and we played on the local beaches where some university dude made a “black box” converter for AC from the cars and trucks so the tunes could blast the beach.

I added the earlier video just as an example to prove modern day electronics can do a pretty good job, and without A/B comparison it would be hard to tell what was what, unless it was embedded in your brain and the vibe was in your blood.

Why, golly gee hodad, just playing Underwater by the Frogmen helps me to recall the E string tuning.



Pick hand technique for sure. Oh, one other thing. Similar Wipeout laughs are used on all sorts of Surf tunes so you’ll want to practice that, unless you have a cool versatile single stroke drummer. Here’s my laugh. :lol:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: Surfin' strat?
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 11:09 am
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Thanks, jmattis. You’re too kind. I’m definitely no pro and others here have more experience, but singing Motown in North Dakota isn’t the same vibe as living in Detroit next door to Berry Gordy in the 60s (or lurning Country music in Tokyo); although, it all can be very good indeed. I’m one of the few with Surf vibe in the prairies now. :lol: Needess to say with surf instrumentals, been there done that, and I am still keeping the classics alive while digging some new and original stuff.

I bought a new bathing suit every year, and we played on the local beaches where some university dude made a “black box” AC/DC converter for the cars and trucks so the tunes could blast the beach.

I added the earlier video just as an example to prove modern day electronics can do a pretty good job, and without A/B comparison it would be hard to tell what was what, unless it was embedded in your brain and the vibe was in your blood.

Why, golly gee hodad, just playing Underwater by the Frogmen helps me to recall the E string tuning.



Pick hand technique for sure. Oh, one other thing. Similar Wipeout laughs are used on all sorts of Surf tunes so you’ll want to practice that, unless you have a cool versatile single stroke drummer. Here’s my laugh. :lol:
FSB
PS No heavy metal bracelets or platform boots, and a Hawaiian shirt is optional.

Good luck on your Surf journey, Serg’.

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