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Which guitar was used?
Joined: Nov 16, 2011 Posts: 106 Illinois 
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 09:45 AM
I'm still trying to identify which guitars were/are used on surf songs. Anyone know what was used on "Let's Go"? Also, even though Carl Wilson was always photographed with a Jaguar, I wonder if he ever traded guitars with Al Jardine's Strat - or David L. Mark's Strat for that matter? —How's your digestion now? |
Joined: Apr 29, 2010 Posts: 2472 Venice, CA
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 10:56 AM
Perhaps it's just my ignorance with the Beach Boys catalog, but I don't know of a song called "Let's Go." Are you referring to "Let's Go Trippin'?" Maybe "Let's Go Surfin'?" Or possibly "Let's Go Away for Awhile?" In fact, he used them so much that they created a Carl Wilson signature model.
Insect Surfers |
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Joined: Nov 16, 2011 Posts: 106 Illinois
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 11:01 AM
Sorry, that was a confusing post of mine. Let's Go is by the Routers. The very early pics I've seen of Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) usually showed him with a Jaguar. —How's your digestion now? |
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 1683 Georgia
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 11:05 AM
There are pics and footage from very early on showing Carl with both the white Jag and the Rick. I don't know if there was a period of time where he used only one before getting the other. —The Mystery Men? |
Joined: Dec 20, 2009 Posts: 611 Jax, FL
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 11:26 AM
Although...in the old BB videos in the other thread, Carl is playing a Ric 360-12, not the six-string. —Shoot the Pier on Bandcamp My Country EP ... Florida Dirt Fire My French Love Songs ... I really needed a change... |
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Joined: Nov 16, 2011 Posts: 106 Illinois
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 11:28 AM
I've seen him using a Ric, but I thought it was a 12 string. Thanks for the info! I wonder what he used on their version of Miserlou. —How's your digestion now? |
Joined: May 14, 2007 Posts: 1753
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 11:33 AM
Let' Go . . . Just to touch on the Carl Wilson Jaguar/Rick tone.... You can't always tell what is being played on which surf recording, but this is one clear case of two different sounds. I prefer Carl's Jag tone generally. |
Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2687 Ventura, CA
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 11:43 AM
I saw the Beach Boys when the Surf's Up album came out in 74(?) and Carl played a hollow body Guild the entire show. |
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Joined: Dec 20, 2009 Posts: 611 Jax, FL
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 11:55 AM
More importantly...what chord is he playin in that photo above? Is he thumbing a G#...then I thought he was barring a Db with his little finger...I guess just a G#major on the lower strings. Seems like I remember old chords books instructing thumbing the E string on certain chords. —Shoot the Pier on Bandcamp My Country EP ... Florida Dirt Fire My French Love Songs ... I really needed a change... |
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Joined: May 14, 2007 Posts: 1753
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 12:02 PM
Stormtiger wrote:
Yes...found this clip from '65(!)showing Carl already had a Guild in his arsenal! |
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Joined: Nov 16, 2011 Posts: 106 Illinois
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 12:09 PM
Do you know which Guild model? I have a Starfire IV. —How's your digestion now? |
Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1907 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 12:09 PM
I've always read that Carl and David Marks had Stratocasters early on. Here's an early early clip, maybe the first footage of them playing. around the 1:30 mark, it shows both playing strats. —"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" |
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Joined: May 14, 2007 Posts: 1753
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 12:46 PM
^ Surfbones wrote:
It looks like the fancier Starfire V?? Guild experts? Last edited: Nov 30, 2011 12:48:07 |
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Joined: Nov 16, 2011 Posts: 106 Illinois
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 01:46 PM
I think the Guild Starfire V had a Bigsby, where the Starfire IV does not. Anyone have a picture of Carl's Guild? —How's your digestion now? |
Joined: Jul 29, 2009 Posts: 2605 Boss Angeles, CA
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 06:58 PM
Carl was primarily a Jaguar guy in the early days. That's what he played on the Surf/Hot Rod era recordings. In several books it's mentioned he picked up the Rick post Beatles Invasion. He was an instant fan of the band when he first saw them.
BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS! Last edited: Nov 30, 2011 19:19:48 |
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Joined: Jul 29, 2009 Posts: 2605 Boss Angeles, CA
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 07:57 PM
Dug up some more early Carl pics from '62. He apparently used both a Strat and a Jag in the early days. However, from what I've read and seen the Jaguar was his main axe until he switched to the Rick. These pics are from David Mark's excellent book, The Lost Beach Boy. David played a Strat during this time, then switched to a Jag for The Marksmen.
BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS! |
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Joined: Jul 29, 2009 Posts: 2605 Boss Angeles, CA
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Posted on Nov 30 2011 09:25 PM
Surfbones wrote:
Can't find a pic of Carl's Guild, but through the late sixties and seventies he's pictured quite often with Gibson and Epiphone Hollowbodys. Mostly the Gibson. —BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS! |
Joined: Jan 25, 2007 Posts: 1568 Brighton UK
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Posted on Dec 01 2011 05:29 AM
SurferBill wrote:
I use my thumb to barre chords quite often. Gives my index finger a rest. — |
Joined: Jan 30, 2007 Posts: 448 50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
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Posted on Apr 01 2012 01:07 PM
If anyone is still interested, here is a picture of Carl with an early version of the Fender 12 String. He used this guitar around the time that Glen Campbell was with the band. Carl was gracious enough to pose for this picture while I positioned myself with the Brownie camera. It took me a while, and he held that smile long enough for me to get a great shot. I think I released the shutter just in time. |
Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 110 Melbourne, Australia 
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Posted on Apr 04 2012 08:15 AM
Louie7 wrote:
Wow, must be a buzz having a pic like that in your collection!! With the amount of money the BB's made, it wouldn't surprise me if Carl had somewhat of a collection. I distinctly remember seeing him playing a white Telecaster with a Bigsby on a filmclip many years ago, although I can't remember what the song was. One thing that does throw me is his 12-string in this pic. To me it looks more like a Epiphone of some sort, but you can clearly see Gibson on the headstock! Anyone know what this model Gibson is/was? Last edited: Apr 04, 2012 08:21:16 |
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