martinblasick
Joined: Nov 27, 2019
Posts: 128
Los Angeles
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Posted on May 25 2020 02:56 PM
How does distortion fit into the world of surf instro music? I'm hearing it in some of the modern tracks. Men In Grey Suits has it in some of the new tracks I was just listening to. How much of that is OK? Artists should follow their muse. That's for sure. But when is it or isn't it surf?
Distortion is fun. It takes up sonic space. It feels dramatic, especially while twiddling the lead licks one's self. And I bet there's a lot of guitar players like me here that play multiple genres. But....how much is too much?
Here's why I'm asking - I've been tracking my first surf instro album. It's been a long time coming because of this and that. But it's really taking shape. All those clean tones really reveal the melody. But there's a taste of grit here and there. I grew up following Jeff Beck and all the shredders (as well as the jazzers). So it's tempting here and there to stomp on the distortion box and let it rawk.
But it that surf?
— Squid From Madrid - New Single on Bandcamp
MB Website
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TheFintastics
Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 474
Wichita Falls, Texas
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Posted on May 25 2020 03:29 PM
That is a fine line dependent on the listener. I love that clean, zero overdrive, zero distortion surf music. But, I also really love the added distortion brought into surf songs, even though it starts sounding like instrumental speed metal. I think old-school surf music purists frown upon any type of added distortion brought forth from a pedal when it should be done naturally on a clean tube amp that's being over-driven using its power section only.
There's a guy I follow on youTube that brings surf into the metal category and I simply LOVE what he does with it. If you can imagine this song done with zero distortion, it'd be 100% surf but the added distortion makes it "surf-like". I feel that if surf was to get a re-boot in the 2020's, it'd need a kick like this to get younger audiences listening and enjoying it. Even if it doesn't resemble Pipeline in the least.
— _
Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics.
https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics
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TheFintastics
Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 474
Wichita Falls, Texas
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Posted on May 25 2020 03:32 PM
There are other musicians and bands that follow this pattern of distortion in the world of surf music, some are members on here. I really LOVE what they are doing with the genre.
— _
Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics.
https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics
Last edited: May 25, 2020 15:34:21
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1380
New Orleans
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Posted on May 25 2020 03:52 PM
Not a fan of it for surf. However, metal style played on a clean surf guitar is awesome!
— Daniel Deathtide
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Squid
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1019
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
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Posted on May 25 2020 06:35 PM
There are many different distortion tones. I feel that some are compatible with surf in limited ways, especially when there is strong delay and/or reverb with it. Distortion works best as a change of pace, especially because using the same tone for all (or even most) songs is tiring to hear, even if the tone is splashy. For some tones and some songs prominent distortion works for the entire song (e.g., the attached "Mountain King" from Whimsical Surf Version 2, using a hex-fuzz with gobs of delay and reverb). Even The Shadows use distortion at times to great effect (e.g., Bombay Duck).
— Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com
Last edited: May 25, 2020 18:36:57
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Doc_Sportello
Joined: Apr 15, 2019
Posts: 6
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Posted on May 25 2020 10:43 PM
I love Johnny Thunders version of "Pipeline" and Agent Orange's version of "Mr. Moto." Both use some serious distortion. Songs like those are what initially sparked my interest in surf when I was a teenager in the '80s.
Last edited: May 25, 2020 22:46:30
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2291
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on May 26 2020 03:04 AM
We also use some overdrive most of the time. I like it) But as Gellert said it’s a fine line. Taste and appropriateness.
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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raylinds
Joined: Jul 05, 2019
Posts: 154
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Posted on May 26 2020 08:44 AM
I absolutely love the video that Gellert posted but agree that the distortion makes it surf-like but not truly surf.
I tend to be more of a traditionalist and try to get the first wave surf sound as authentic as possible for my own playing, but it is okay to have different flavors to listen to. Is it surf or not? Who cares it is still fun to listen to.
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arny
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 614
Netherlands, Europe
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Posted on May 26 2020 09:30 AM
Why not? Link Wray is the godfather of instrumental rock and he used tons of fuzz, distortion and other overdriven sounds. And he is one of the big inspirations for surfbands.
For some purist there is 'surf music' and 'surf rock', with the latter not really recognized as 'pure surf music'.
Agent Orange is a great example, they play surf punk and look who's on drums: Dusty Watson, one of the best surf drummers ever!
We like to combine surf with punk, garagerock and even metal. I think only 2 or 3 songs in our set are played with a clean guitar with only reverb....
— www.alohasluts.com
Aloha Sluts on BandCamp
www.arnyzona.com (my photography)
Aloha Fest on facebook
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JonnyAngle
Joined: Jun 21, 2012
Posts: 26
Maple Grove, MN
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Posted on May 28 2020 07:38 AM
My clean sound is what a lot of people would consider pretty dirty. I think it is fine.
Surf has no official sub genres, unlike metal, which lumps everyone into one category.
If you're playing the Ventures covers, you prob won't need a lot of distortion, but maybe it fits in with your music?!?!?
— JonnyAngle.Bandcamp.com
DroppingAcidPedalEtching.com
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1380
New Orleans
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Posted on May 28 2020 10:49 AM
What I discovered after really diving into surf, is that a clean tone brings out the wonderful sound of the guitar instrument. Distortion creates a nice atmosphere and emotion but it cannot help but mask these wonderful tones of the guitar instrument. Also a clean tone allows one to truly appreciate the skill of the player, whereas distortion kind of just sounds like wanking to me.
For surf music it kind of never works for me. But in other styles I absolutely love it! For example, black metal.
— Daniel Deathtide
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martinblasick
Joined: Nov 27, 2019
Posts: 128
Los Angeles
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Posted on May 28 2020 10:03 PM
I agree about hearing the purity of the actual playing. I think that’s what I love most about it. I grew up with Vai and DiMeola. And I’ve also always loved the pure clean tone of the jazzbo players. Surf was always a guilty pleasure. It most often plays the melody and doesn’t seem to be as much about the improvisation. I guess I’m ready to admit to myself how much I love melody and the surf tone.
— Squid From Madrid - New Single on Bandcamp
MB Website
Last edited: May 28, 2020 22:07:43
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22SeaDo
Joined: Oct 30, 2018
Posts: 99
Mojave Valley, AZ.
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Posted on May 28 2020 10:58 PM
https://youtu.be/hqfvc4dnkqE
— "Here's to the man who drinks dark ale and goes to bed quite mellow. He lives as he ought to live and dies a jolly good fellow"
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SamDBL
Joined: Sep 19, 2016
Posts: 246
Tampa
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Posted on May 30 2020 10:30 AM
There is a definite vibe that totally clean gives with surf stuff. I dig it. However, for my own stuff, I tend to use a light overdrive (Timmy) if the amp itself doesn’t provide some grit. I’m talking very minimal. But my big influences for this stuff, tone wise, are Brian Setzer and Link Wray. Their classic tones definitely don’t approach metal distortion... but there is some grit there. I guess that would be bringing the ‘garage’ element into the sound. So I guess it depends on what overall vibe you are going for. I try to keep things not sounding too modern or hifi. But I also don’t want to be tethered to a purist’s idea of tones because I’m, personally, not a purist.
— Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law
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montereyjack66
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 646
LA -ish
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Posted on May 30 2020 02:39 PM
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artdecade
Joined: Aug 30, 2012
Posts: 399
Twangsville
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Posted on Jun 03 2020 12:14 PM
Some people want surf music to be a museum. If you like some dirt with your surf, enjoy it. I don't think we need to treat surf like a 2 thousand year old dead language.
— To Boldly go where no Tiki has gone before...
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1380
New Orleans
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Posted on Jun 03 2020 02:29 PM
artdecade wrote:
Some people want surf music to be a museum. If you like some dirt with your surf, enjoy it. I don't think we need to treat surf like a 2 thousand year old dead language.
I fully, with the entirety of my soul, agree with that. However it’s easily achievable without distortion. I feel that in surf, distortion is the poor man’s “something different.”
— Daniel Deathtide
Last edited: Jun 03, 2020 14:30:22
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JonnyAngle
Joined: Jun 21, 2012
Posts: 26
Maple Grove, MN
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Posted on Jun 05 2020 07:42 AM
Moons of Uranus distorted tone is pretty safe, IMO. It's basically a really overdriven amp, not necessarily distortion. I don't really want to argue semantics, but I think you have a great tone goin got, keep it up!
— JonnyAngle.Bandcamp.com
DroppingAcidPedalEtching.com
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