ChazMatt70
Joined: Mar 02, 2011
Posts: 7
Seattle
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 01:15 PM
Hey there. I've been a lurker here for awhile (since 2011, apparently)and have never really posted anything, preferring to soak up the arcane surf knowledge provided by the folks here. Lately though, I've been working on a surf project, and as I do not currently own Fender/Mosrite/etc, I've been using my Bigsby/P90 equipped TV yellow Gibson Melody Maker for my surf needs, and I'm actually really digging it. I was thinking of selling it to get a Classic Player Jag, but I feel like it's doing the job pretty well.
My question is, does anybody else here successfully use a Gibson or non Fender/Mosrite/etc for surf? I know that Deke Dickerson used a 335 for a while in Untamed Youth, and the guy from the D-Rays uses a huge array of p-90 Gibsons, which sound pretty cool. Any thoughts?
— Thee Imperial Royales- Death Surf
https://theeimperialroyales.bandcamp.com/music
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CrashHardtop
Joined: Jun 14, 2012
Posts: 152
Meridian, Idaho
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 01:22 PM
Absolutely, go for it! Just because most surf has beeen played on Fenders doesn't mean playing it on anything else is "wrong", just different. And different can be very refreshing (remember the Beatles? They were different). Use what you've got, have fun and make great music. That's what it's all about. Best of luck to you!
— More cowbell?? Nah...More Reverb!!
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 01:35 PM
I've used my ES-355 quite a bit in recent years and it was an awesome guitar for surf. I also used a Guild T-100 for a while, and Supro Martinique. The Guild was amazing, the Supro sounded great but was not the easiest to play.
I'm going to use Jags exclusively again, I'm really loving the AV'65 Pickups. They sit in the band mix better than any guitar/pickups I've tried so far.
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2366
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 01:43 PM
Single coil into a reverb unit (or pedal, if you arent too picky with your tone being original or not) into a nice clean amp with lots of headroom. That will get you the surf sound, or a very close proximity thereof.
I played a Gretsch Pro Jet with V Jones Tarmond (dearmond style) pickups at the member Jam at the sg101 convention. I got a few strange looks before I played, then I got a lot of compliments on the sound after I played. It doesnt HAVE to say Fender or Mosrite on the headstock to surf.
Cheers!
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 01:57 PM
Use what you dig, what you know as far as guitar choice.
It's not what you play (instrument wise) it's how you play.
I've used Teiscos, Gretsch, an Epiphone Sorrento with Mini-Humbuckers, Harmony's, Rickenbacker style guitars.......they all seemed like they did the trick for me.
It's sometimes fun to find out that a song was recorded or performed using an instrument that you might not guess.
An example in the Rock world; David Gilmour from Pink Floyd used a P-90 equipped Gold Top Les Paul to play the "Brick In The Wall" solo.
Most folks think that's a Strat when they hear it.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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fenderfan
Joined: Jul 13, 2008
Posts: 780
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 03:17 PM
My Number One is a Reverend Eastsider S, and it covers all necessary territory for my surf/instro band. Three articulate pickups, so it can do the Strat thing; great bridge pickup for major twang; smooth, silky vibrato that is just outstanding; compound radius neck that is so comfortable to play; pull pot so that you can get the neck pickup with any of the pickup combinations; strong locking tuners that have never slipped. Does it all for me. It's on the left in this photo.
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3810
North Atlantic
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 03:23 PM
I used a Gibson ES 335 on some surf tunes years ago. The humbuckers were fine. My other guitar at the time, a Strat, was being repaired. If it sounds good, use it. We're not breaking any laws.
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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ChazMatt70
Joined: Mar 02, 2011
Posts: 7
Seattle
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 03:26 PM
Nice! Thanks for the input. I really like the Reverend guitars. They seem to have a bunch of Fender-like options that would be good for surf. And I agree that basically it just needs to be a single coil pickup into a reverby amp.
— Thee Imperial Royales- Death Surf
https://theeimperialroyales.bandcamp.com/music
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Agent71857
Joined: Apr 15, 2014
Posts: 164
Pittsburgh, Pa
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 04:31 PM
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25581
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 06:26 PM
Insect Surfer Dave Arnson uses a Gibson SG with a tremolo bar.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 06:35 PM
What are opinions about how the shape of the guitar body affect 'surfability'?
My bro-in-law is a real tall lanky dude who loves Strats and hates Les Pauls, which he feels are physically awkward and uncomfortable. The ergonomics of that compact body, perhaps do not jibe with his long arms and hands. I don't have any probs with LPs but do find the body shape is not conducive to tremolo picking. By contrast, I tried out a DiPinto Galaxie IV in a shop and was impressed with the ergonomics, making such picking easy for me. The Gal is an exaggerated take on Fender offsets featuring a very tall lower bout on the bass side, providing a comfortable rest for the forearm.
Anyone want to comment?
— Squink Out!
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 06:39 PM
Chaz,
I would hazard a guess that the Gibson Melody Maker has a bright. crispy sound rather than the cello-like moan associated with Les Pauls, since it's a rather slim slab of mahog and not a huge samwich. Am I right?
ChazMatt70 wrote:
Hey there. I've been a lurker here for awhile (since 2011, apparently)and have never really posted anything, preferring to soak up the arcane surf knowledge provided by the folks here. Lately though, I've been working on a surf project, and as I do not currently own Fender/Mosrite/etc, I've been using my Bigsby/P90 equipped TV yellow Gibson Melody Maker for my surf needs, and I'm actually really digging it. I was thinking of selling it to get a Classic Player Jag, but I feel like it's doing the job pretty well.
My question is, does anybody else here successfully use a Gibson or non Fender/Mosrite/etc for surf? I know that Deke Dickerson used a 335 for a while in Untamed Youth, and the guy from the D-Rays uses a huge array of p-90 Gibsons, which sound pretty cool. Any thoughts?
— Squink Out!
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ChazMatt70
Joined: Mar 02, 2011
Posts: 7
Seattle
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Posted on Oct 20 2014 06:45 PM
JObeast wrote:
Chaz,
I would hazard a guess that the Gibson Melody Maker has a bright. crispy sound rather than the cello-like moan associated with Les Pauls, since it's a rather slim slab of mahog and not a huge samwich. Am I right?
Pretty much. It definitely doesn't have that mid range throaty thing that a LP with hum buckers would have. Despite having one pickup, my MM is pretty versatile sonically. Just a little tone knob twist and you can really warm it up, or open it up fully and get a pretty nice trebly twang.
— Thee Imperial Royales- Death Surf
https://theeimperialroyales.bandcamp.com/music
Last edited: Oct 20, 2014 18:45:31
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Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Oct 21 2014 04:13 PM
Chaz, between my Epiphone Les Paul Jr. 90, Gibson Les Paul Special (Faded Double Cut) and Gibson Melody Maker, I've pretty much completely fell in love with P90 pickups; to the point that I have in the works a partscaster "Tele" that I'd ordered from Warmouth with P90 routes, and routed for a Strat tremolo. Sometime in the future, I'd love to buy a Gibson SG with P90s; having tried a couple at two different Guitar Center stores.
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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ChazMatt70
Joined: Mar 02, 2011
Posts: 7
Seattle
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Posted on Oct 21 2014 09:35 PM
Surfabilly wrote:
Sometime in the future, I'd love to buy a Gibson SG with P90s; having tried a couple at two different Guitar Center stores.
Yeah, I absolutely love P-90s. I had a double cut LP special faded like the one you mentioned, years ago. I've had several different Juniors over the years. My back up right now is a Gibson SG Junior. It's a fantastic guitar.
— Thee Imperial Royales- Death Surf
https://theeimperialroyales.bandcamp.com/music
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jdmcduders
Joined: Jan 14, 2013
Posts: 137
Indianapolis, IN
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Posted on Oct 22 2014 06:32 AM
As you can see my pic, I use a Les Paul with P90s. I think it does a great job of getting the sound I'm looking for.
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matt
Joined: Oct 18, 2010
Posts: 652
Boston, MA
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Posted on Oct 22 2014 08:38 AM
I use a Guild S60-D with a bigsby and some porter vintage strat pickups. and I just got a reverend PA-1 hollowbody with filtertron type pickups. I used it the other night for the duo show because it's thicker, but I way prefer the guild for everyday use!
— Matt Heaton & the Electric Heaters
Boston's Premier Surf/Noir Combo
http://www.heatonsurf.com
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Oct 22 2014 01:28 PM
I'm a pawnshop/dimestore feller myself. Danelectro Hodad (2000 thereabouts) Sears Silvertone 1457, a Dano Convertible, Yamaha EGV103 (one of the cheap ones) and a Kay Vanguard II 1967 with the Bushwacker headstock and De Armond pickups. I do have a Silvertone SS11 Revolver made by Samick. I am sure Strat fans are horrified by this but your know what? It's a great guitar for me. And it fits the rest of the stable. And it's got Silvertone on the head in perty script. And I swear I got it for under $130.
Oh and I got a Rondo SX Liquid MN R PBU. It's almost too smooth deep and throaty for most of my surf stuff but it plays sweet as honey-drops! And I got a Harmony Rocket that needs a total overhaul but I got a guy lined up for that. That's the highlights.
— Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest
The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/
http://sharawaji.com/
http://surfrockradio.com/
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Oct 22 2014 01:49 PM
Syndicateofsurf - I dig and relate to all of your guitars.
I also have a Spectrum Strat style guitar from maybe the early 2000's, probably came in a beginner starter package, my in-laws found it at a garage sale for $5.00. After replacing some missing saddles and giving it a quick set up it rings, plays great and sounds perfectly fine. The woods, metals and pick ups are all "garbage" quality but the guitar plays and sounds fantastic.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3810
North Atlantic
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Posted on Oct 22 2014 02:32 PM
Slightly off topic, but I played a show using a Marshall half stack (with my reverb tank). It was excellent. I used a 5150 half stack another time as well.
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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