First SG101 post! Hi everyone. Favorite surf guitar?.. I'd have to say a '62 Fender Jaguar in Ice Blue Metallic with matching headstock would be my ideal surf guitar (hence my screen name). I'm currently playing a Classic Series 60's Strat in Lake Placid blue right now (which I love!), but hopefully someday my dream of owning said rare Jaguar will come true! ..along with a '62 Jazzmaster in 3-color burst, a Mosrite Ventures MarkI in Pearl White, and a Fender Showman Amp and reverb tank.. Maybe someday Powerball ticket in-hand.

Welcome, IceBlueJag62 - pretty sweet list. You've come to just the right place to be reminded of those "dreams" all the time, and probably a few that you don't yet know you have

Fady

El Mirage @ ReverbNation

Welcome! I hope your dreams can become a reality!

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

This one I just Bigsbfied. Epi Korina Explorer, roller bridge, otherwise stock.
image

Right now I'm using my Gretsch 5124 more than anything, but my other 2 Gretsch hollow bodies work well too. I have a 5120 with GFS Surf 90s, and a 5129 with Gretsch Dynasonics.

I just revamped my Squier strat a bit. Rewired it so I can get Neck + Bridge sounds, and still have the middle alone. Cut both tone knobs out of the circuit, and one off the guitar. Moved the volume to the middle position, and threw some Ernie Ball 12s on. It's doing pretty well now.

I used to have a J&D Junglemaster (jazzy style) with P90s. It was a killer guitar, but I wasn't playing surf at the time, and it didn't have a sound I could really use so it got sold. I'd buy another though.

Pics of all below in order of appearance in this post.

Still had the TV Jones Classics in there in this shot.

How many guitars are enough?

Just one more...

As much as I want to love the Space Control, it's a tone sucker. The Bigsby Compensated (white guitar) is good, but lacks a little body. The Bar bridge on the orange one has been replaced. It's a really comfortable bridge, but was a little too mellow for me. I like my guitars really bright. Right now I have a Compton bridge on there. Basically a radius correct bar bridge that doesn't rock.

I'm planning on getting Tru-Arc bar bridges for all of them, but have too many other projects that need to be dealt with first.

How many guitars are enough?

Just one more...

Ripley1046 wrote:

As much as I want to love the Space Control, it's a
tone sucker. The Bigsby Compensated (white guitar) is
good, but lacks a little body. The Bar bridge on the
orange one has been replaced. It's a really comfortable
bridge, but was a little too mellow for me. I like my
guitars really bright. Right now I have a Compton
bridge on there. Basically a radius correct bar bridge
that doesn't rock.

I'm planning on getting Tru-Arc bar bridges for all of
them, but have too many other projects that need to be
dealt with first.

Do those space control bridges cut bass?

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

No less an authority than Dick Dale says that a Strat is the only real surf guitar, but I don't agree--one of the best surf tones on record came from the guitarist in the Sentinals, who used a Gretsch Tennesseean--Jazzmasters are good for that too, and even on the Beach Boys' Surfin' USA, the solos sure sound like a Fender Jaguar with both pickups on. That being said, there's a clip on Youtubeof a TV show, called SpeakEasy, that I guest-hosted on Vacaville, CA cable-access TV a few years ago. Go to YouTube, search for Speakeasy-Episode 5 -keyword Rick Rodriguez (he was the host and producer). We did this one on surf music--that's me with the red Strat. I also have a Hallmark 60 Custom (a Mosrite clone), but I didn't have it then. Give me at least two pickups, a vibrato, and some reverb, and I'll get something resembling a surf sound out of it.

Last edited: Feb 15, 2012 04:04:48

abdul_tom wrote:

Rickenbacker 330 with trem and some mods

A 330 with Hi-gains and a A'ccent Vibrato would definitely work for Surf. I liked my 620 solidbody too, but adding an A'ccent was problematical.

I am going to build a Jazzcaster/Telemaster or possibly a Jazzsquire

image

I have a Strat and a Tele and I like my Telecaster waaaay more than my Strat. I've always wanted an "offset body" Fender and reading about how the marriage of the Jazzmaster body with the Tele electronics and hardware gives you a "country punk" look and sound that is like a Tele (which I love) but a little fuller.

I'm starting to collect parts now, you can buy them from some of the custom guys but I don't have the money for that.

Last edited: Mar 14, 2012 09:02:43