Hey, all. Last week, the local indie rag did a little article about me and my gear preferences. Whoa. I am not an expert. I don't follow the rules exactly. Sometimes I even use a BD-2 or a RAT or an EP preamp pedal as a boost. (Heresy! Ssss!) Anyway, the nice young fellow emailed and asked if I'd be interested to talk on the phone about how to get the "surf sound," like it was some kinda magic or something. So he rang me up and I went off on him big time. And, I'll be damned...he printed nearly every word of it! Many non-musician people have come up to me quite bewildered since. Apparently, they should have printed a glossary.

I am decidedly ambivalent about posting this. First, this is not news to anyone who frequents this site. Second, I am as much an expert as anyone else around here. Third, as always happens, the reporter kinda mangled my bio intro, rendering it inaccurate in some minor respects. Fourth, reposting it here seems awfully egocentric.

But I was overjoyed to be able to talk about surf gear! Man, that was an invitation I didn't think I would ever get! And, at least, I am helping to get the word out to the streets, right?! Okay, I am done rationalizing. So...a fellow whom I respect on this site encouraged me to post a link. Here goes nothing: Phoenix New Times | Trey Rhodes Still Is All About Classic Surf Sound

SSIV

Last edited: May 25, 2018 20:14:07

Did I make it seem like a brownface amp was the only way to get a good surfy tone? Aw, shoot. I sure hope not! Not my intention at all! And, most certainly, not true. I have been using my Quilter Steelaire a lot lately, for instance. That one could not be farther from a brown Showman in some ways. Still very nice to my ears. Same goes for the Twin Reverb. Love those.

They don't print everything a windbag like me says. I found it amusing how much had to be parenthetical. I must talk fast. This guy was probably going nuts trying to make sentences out of it. Ha!

DeathTide wrote:

Cool interview, I liked the thoughts about child sized guitars. The sample video sounded great! I want to disagree with the brownface being the only way to get that real surf tone, but the sad truth is I haven't heard one in real life. I'd have to compare my guitar tone on it to have any opinion...

Dan

SSIV

Last edited: May 25, 2018 20:43:32

I apologize I totally put words in your mouth, my shameful mistake. I guess I wondered why other awesome surf amps weren’t mentioned? I also respect you posting that, must have been weird.

Daniel Deathtide

I think it's a good primer for the uninitiated, who will be the ones reading that for the most part. I also agree on the point of the importance of a bass and/or rhythm background and keeping time. When we're playing I make a conscious effort to listen to our drummer. When I only play around on "lead" guitar by myself, without the benefit of time-keeping, later on I realize that I was doing it very sloppily.

The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31

JohnnyMosrite wrote:

LHR,
This is not something I'd do. My gear is my business. Yeah, there's some drips and drabs about it here on the site and some (make that one) SG101er who has even seen my gear; other than that, you'd never know.

Let's see - a local newspaper interviews local you about your gear.
Not wishing or hoping it happens but you just increased the odds that you may get some of your gear stolen. Think it highly unlikely a potential thief won't get ideas from reading the article? Don't bet the Stratocaster on it.
Hopefully you have serial numbers, distinguishing characteristics, etc. of your gear documented. It won't stop a thief but it will assist greatly in recovering gear from a theft.
I just take the preemptive approach - I just (mostly) shut up about my stuff. Ego has to be disciplined and restrained at times - especially in today's world.
All my humble opinion of course which can be freely ignored in a free country.
J Mo'

Duly noted. Thanks for your concern. As it is, I can barely locate all my gear come showtime. Maybe it is time to get a better handle on assets. I've decided to take some photos for insurance purposes. Couldn't hurt!

SSIV

LHR,
I read the article.. you more or less learned as I learned guitar. I started out playing bass patterns to get my fingers coordinated and learning to keep time. The "Play Guitar With the Ventures" Vol 1 LP was my first "music teacher".
But from there, I went to lead guitar; rhythm guitar was last - my fingers took their time in getting to work as a unit. That full 1st position "C" chord and barre chords were a bear to learn.

You have some pricey stuff.. I'm sure some of it is quite irreplaceable.

Something perhaps for you to ponder -
There is a brand of thief that I have come to dread. It's not the usual mercenary-steal-for-profit thief; it's the aficionado thief - the type that steals to possess the stolen goods for his own use.

A brief case in point:
A REAL Stradivarius violin was stolen backstage at Carnegie Hall in NYC in the late 1930s. It was never to be found - it just disappeared from the face of the planet. Flash forward to the early 1950s and a southern woman is selling off items from her late husband's estate. Down in a the basement she finds a "violin". It turns out to be the stolen Stradivarius. It gets returned - with apologies -to its rightful late owner's estate. Seems her husband, an amateur country musician, kept the theft to himself; the violin was hidden and only played by him when no one was home. The violin stayed hidden in the basement and never saw the light of day for at least 15 years. That's the guy I worry about.

Point being:
You have a rare - by your own words - Brownface Showman. I'd keep that thing under lock and key and attack dog. If I took it out to play a gig, I'd never take my eyes off it.

BTW - nice take on "Margaya"

My - well, 5 cents worth -
J Mo'