I hear all sorts of stuff like: Get a Jazzmaster, You need guitar X or Y. So here is my question...

What makes a good Surf music strat. I have a couple of strat's that I really like. A great CS for blues, I have a MIM that I like to try different configs in....

So given that I have a DG EMG's pickguard laying around, I have some CS Texas Specials, and right now I have in the MIM Neck, Middle (CS 59's and a TS in bridge) or I can wire up another pickguard. What would you all suggest for a reto-fit.

Also I have a supersonic 22 that has a nice clean channel that I can use or my SuperChamp XD.

Thank you all in advance for the suggestions.

Buy a surf green body, maple neck (capped if possible), kluson deluxe tuners. Get a cream pickguard. Just get stock Fender pickups.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

All you need is a clean sound. That and plenty of reverb. You might need a pedal for that, depends on how well you like the reverb on your amps. I've heard using the reverb makes the Supersonic noisy. Don't know for sure because I've never tried one. I would think you could use the "blues" guitar just fine. If you want to sound like Dick Dale, I think his signature guitar uses the Custom '54 pickups.

For surf stuff, a MIM is fine, although you might want to consider upgrading the pickups to CS Fat 50's or '54's. Most of the surf sound comes from technique, lots of practice, and plenty of reverb. Boss has a pedal, the '63 Fender Reverb FRV-1, that will give you all the reverb you need at a price way less than the real reverb unit...

After all, the "King of Surf Guitar", Dick Dale uses a Strat...

To be honest, I think a stock Strat could pull it off. It's sort of like the handyman of guitars considering it can do a little bit of just about anything.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

oh yah strats can do that surf sound....

come to think of it, you can make a strat do any genre of music, even if it takes a little tweak or two....

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Kid: "Hey Smokey! Where did you get your name?"
Smokey the Bear: "Well..."
(former user jimbo612)

I am still up in the air a bit. I will play the strata I have and see where it goes. I did ask my lgS if the can get a jazz master in to try out. They are bringing in one form me to try. I spend a lot of time and $$$$ at my lgs so they are very good to me

I am going to play a het with my star and some emgs see what happens. I also have my lgs getting in a Jazzmaster. They don't have one in the shop and want one anyway so. I am going to play it for a cuple of lessons as well and figure out what I want.

I have a great lgs that helps me out a lot

Thank you everyone