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This is the only surf song I play that I really dislike playing. I don't know why, because I like listening to it just fine. I never play it the same way and am always searching for something to bring it back to life for me.
The only time I really can get into it is if somebody comes up to dance to it...then it gets fun.

http://blueruins.bandcamp.com

I haven't played this since the 80's, so I have no idea how much I butchered it.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

Actually that's a Duo-Sonic. I only played one of the Squier reissues so far, but the ingredients (2 singel coils, simple switching, short scale, string through body) make an interesting combination. Personally I missed the trem... And I could not stop thinking of Mike Bloomfield, who used one in his early days. Whether that helped my playing or not others have to judge.

But as far as I know (and hear) Jim Fuller only used the Duo-Sonic in the early sessions over at Paul Buffs Studio in Cucamonga, which yielded the "Surfer Joe/Wipe Out" single and the infamous "Lost Album". The leads on the first LP (Play...) sound very different and were in all likelyhood recorded with a Strat.

Speaking of which: I will have to check whether this "right way" to play Wipe Out is consistent on single and album version. My guess is that Jim Fuller played "all eight notes" himself once he got used to the song, which was kind of made up on the spot when they recorded "Surfer Joe".

By the way: According to Kent Crowley's (sometimes unreliable) book "Surf Beat" the kid with the Telecaster was Pat Connolly, who soon after this photo changed from guitar to bass.

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"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

Last edited: Aug 29, 2013 11:31:36

Matt22 wrote:

I can't help but notice the following "Non-Surf Guitars."

A: Telecaster
B: Mustang (or is it a Musicmaster, I can't tell due to the fading of the pic)

Looks like a first phase duo sonic to me. And tele's have a great sound for surf as well. Very bity.

IMO.

Oh, forgot to tell: When you listen closely to the different versions the Surfaris did of Wipe Out you will notice, that there is simply no consistency in respect to the single quarter or the two eights, sometimes it's the one way in the first one or two bars of a verse, then again it's the other.

So the good news is, that we don't play it the "wrong way". If we play it at all.

Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

Re: Wipeout. Here's a re-cap of my classic "you're playing it wrong" moment: When we were recording tracks for "Pounding Surf!" in a local studio, we were doing a take of Wipeout with PJ and myself on guitars and Tracy Longstreth on drums. Somehow, the lead guitar chores fell on me, and as we began, I noticed that the late Jim Pash was setting up his timbales in the control room for his segment on the CORRECT way to play the drum part. I'd never met him, but knew that he could occasionally be a prickly guy, and that he guarded the Wipeout legacy with great zeal. So, I thought that I would get off on the right foot and play the sucker JUST like the record, including the above-mentioned quarter-notes. I absolutely nailed the solo, note-for-note. After the take, I went into the control room to introduce myself, expecting at least a begrudging "not bad". First thing out of his mouth was, you guessed it, "you played that wrong!". Turns out that I had missed one note on the turnaround, and I proceeded to get a 15 minute lecture on how "Jim Fuller couldn't play that in '63, here's how you really play it". BUT---he did say I played it better than most! Thanks, Jim!

reventlos wrote:

"you're playing it wrong" ...lead guitar...

By all accounts, "Wipe Out" was a last minute throw together because the band needed a B-Side. I don't know if this story is hyperbole, but compared to other, more crafted, songs of the day, "Wipe Out" is a simple tune with a basic blues progression. Since it's a classic riff-rocker, I'm gonna guess that the solo was improvised, and not written– a rare chance for a surf rocker to play some licks. So, did Jim Fuller play it the same way every time? Is it important to play it as canon? Personally, I'd rather hear Matt do his own thing. I know PJ wouldn't have played it note for note (maybe he was intimidated by Pash being in the studio?).

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