Tweed + Echo for Surf

ColtsSurf

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
United States

Posted on May 23 2008 08:23 PM

This may sound heretical, considering that the surf "ideal" appears to be an early to mid 60's Fender type amp plus a tank.

However, I was wondering whether anybody played surf songs through a tweed amp with analog delay?

Paul

—

Paul

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on May 23 2008 08:43 PM

Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape echo and digital before analog seems to be the school of thought.

Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume, the price, and the danger of damage and loss.

Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps.

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CaptainSensible

Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 650
Leesburg, VA
United States

Posted on Sep 23 2011 10:03 PM

JakeDobner wrote:

Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape
echo and digital before analog seems to be the school
of thought.

Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really
practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume,
the price, and the danger of damage and loss.

Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps.

Dammit, Jake. I have a hankering for a tweed amp, and you're raining on my parade. Well, sort of, since it is based on a post from three years ago.

—

Sean

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2384
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Sep 23 2011 11:44 PM

JakeDobner wrote:

Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape
echo and digital before analog seems to be the school
of thought.

Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really
practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume,
the price, and the danger of damage and loss.

Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps.

Paul Johnson usually plays a tweed Fender. His surf cred is pretty good.

Bob

—

Bob

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elreydlp

Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
11 Calendar Pins

Posted on Sep 24 2011 12:34 AM

JakeDobner wrote:

Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape
echo and digital before analog seems to be the school
of thought.

Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really
practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume,
the price, and the danger of damage and loss.

Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps.

Jake-you're espressing your personal opinion-not fact. Delay is not really a part of "first-wave" Surf, and I'll bet a lot of those early discs were played through tweed amps (The Ventures definitely were). I prefer a digital delay, because my amps are all-tube and pretty "warm". Since I play in duo and trio formats my melodies need to be clear.

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Diggey

Joined: Sep 23, 2007
Posts: 571
State College

Posted on Sep 24 2011 06:41 AM

I've cleaned a few tweed style amps up with a Tube swap or two, slapping in a AY7 a few times. The Pro (1x15) would be interesting.

In addition, Newer waves have used delay, Man or Astro for sure among others.

If you want to then whats the harm? I say get after it and break some moulds.

—

Peace to you, not on you

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psychonaut

Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1304
2 Download Pins

Posted on Sep 24 2011 07:40 AM

I recorded our new abum mostly with a '57 bandmaster and tank and echoplex. As far as breakup goes, that's what the volume knob is for. Use whatever works for you.

—

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Sep 24 2011 10:57 AM

CaptainSensible wrote:

JakeDobner wrote:

Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape
echo and digital before analog seems to be the
school
of thought.

Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really
practical due to the ease of breaking up, the
volume,
the price, and the danger of damage and loss.

Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf
amps.

Dammit, Jake. I have a hankering for a tweed amp, and
you're raining on my parade. Well, sort of, since it
is based on a post from three years ago.

Exactly! Go and buy one! Just make good music!

Tweed just isn't ideal in a live setting, which is where my original post came from. Studio/home doesn't matter, as brilliantly pointed out; "That's what the volume knob is for".

And I do stand by the analog delay statement. I love analog, but I'd take an echo unit or digital delay over analog for the type of surf echoes I enjoy.

Elrey, I hope it didn't come off as my stating fact. And never use the Ventures as a counter-example for me! I'm not a big fan... to say the least. There is some good stuff... but then there is... the stuff that makes me cringe. I see them as an integral bridge to the creation of surf music.

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tubeswell

Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
Antarctica

Posted on Sep 27 2011 03:45 AM

Surf can sound really nice through a slightly grindy tweed amp with a bit of 'verb. Some earlier surf recordings belie amp sounds that weren't really super-clean. Same with later ones (some of the Bambi Molesters tracks where their (blackface?) amps are up so loud they sound positively growly)

But back to tweeds: a tweed tremolux (the later 5G9, fixed bias 6V6s and LTP inverter with hypnotic Bias-vary trem) is a great lower-powered surf amp (about 15W), esp with a stand alone reverb in front. Clean but not too clean, and not too grindy either, but trem to slobber over.

For that matter a later ('58 or '59) tweed bassman or tweed twin with SAR unit in front would also be great.

—

He who dies with the most tubes... wins

Surf Daddies

Last edited: Sep 27, 2011 03:53:22

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ColtsSurf Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 477	Posted on May 23 2008 08:23 PM This may sound heretical, considering that the surf "ideal" appears to be an early to mid 60's Fender type amp plus a tank. However, I was wondering whether anybody played surf songs through a tweed amp with analog delay? Paul — Paul Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on May 23 2008 08:43 PM Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape echo and digital before analog seems to be the school of thought. Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume, the price, and the danger of damage and loss. Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps. Top
CaptainSensible Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 650 Leesburg, VA	Posted on Sep 23 2011 10:03 PM JakeDobner wrote: Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape echo and digital before analog seems to be the school of thought. Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume, the price, and the danger of damage and loss. Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps. Dammit, Jake. I have a hankering for a tweed amp, and you're raining on my parade. Well, sort of, since it is based on a post from three years ago. — Sean Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2384 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Sep 23 2011 11:44 PM JakeDobner wrote: Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape echo and digital before analog seems to be the school of thought. Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume, the price, and the danger of damage and loss. Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps. Paul Johnson usually plays a tweed Fender. His surf cred is pretty good. Bob — Bob Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Sep 24 2011 12:34 AM JakeDobner wrote: Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape echo and digital before analog seems to be the school of thought. Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume, the price, and the danger of damage and loss. Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps. Jake-you're espressing your personal opinion-not fact. Delay is not really a part of "first-wave" Surf, and I'll bet a lot of those early discs were played through tweed amps (The Ventures definitely were). I prefer a digital delay, because my amps are all-tube and pretty "warm". Since I play in duo and trio formats my melodies need to be clear. Top
Diggey Joined: Sep 23, 2007 Posts: 571 State College	Posted on Sep 24 2011 06:41 AM I've cleaned a few tweed style amps up with a Tube swap or two, slapping in a AY7 a few times. The Pro (1x15) would be interesting. In addition, Newer waves have used delay, Man or Astro for sure among others. If you want to then whats the harm? I say get after it and break some moulds. — Peace to you, not on you Top
psychonaut Joined: Dec 08, 2007 Posts: 1304	Posted on Sep 24 2011 07:40 AM I recorded our new abum mostly with a '57 bandmaster and tank and echoplex. As far as breakup goes, that's what the volume knob is for. Use whatever works for you. — https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger http://coffindaggers.com/ http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Sep 24 2011 10:57 AM CaptainSensible wrote: JakeDobner wrote: Analog delay isn't really a surf type of echo. Tape echo and digital before analog seems to be the school of thought. Nobody really owns tweed amps. They aren't really practical due to the ease of breaking up, the volume, the price, and the danger of damage and loss. Do they sound amazing? Sure, just not really surf amps. Dammit, Jake. I have a hankering for a tweed amp, and you're raining on my parade. Well, sort of, since it is based on a post from three years ago. Exactly! Go and buy one! Just make good music! Tweed just isn't ideal in a live setting, which is where my original post came from. Studio/home doesn't matter, as brilliantly pointed out; "That's what the volume knob is for". And I do stand by the analog delay statement. I love analog, but I'd take an echo unit or digital delay over analog for the type of surf echoes I enjoy. Elrey, I hope it didn't come off as my stating fact. And never use the Ventures as a counter-example for me! I'm not a big fan... to say the least. There is some good stuff... but then there is... the stuff that makes me cringe. I see them as an integral bridge to the creation of surf music. Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Sep 27 2011 03:45 AM Surf can sound really nice through a slightly grindy tweed amp with a bit of 'verb. Some earlier surf recordings belie amp sounds that weren't really super-clean. Same with later ones (some of the Bambi Molesters tracks where their (blackface?) amps are up so loud they sound positively growly) But back to tweeds: a tweed tremolux (the later 5G9, fixed bias 6V6s and LTP inverter with hypnotic Bias-vary trem) is a great lower-powered surf amp (about 15W), esp with a stand alone reverb in front. Clean but not too clean, and not too grindy either, but trem to slobber over. For that matter a later ('58 or '59) tweed bassman or tweed twin with SAR unit in front would also be great. — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Last edited: Sep 27, 2011 03:53:22 Top

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Tweed + Echo for Surf