Posted on Jan 27 2021 11:46 AM
Here are some random thoughts of mine on the topic:
First of all, I have no resentment for "Stairway to Heaven". It may have been played to death since its release, but it's hard to deny, that it had a huge cultural impact and is still pulling people toward 70s rock, who previously had no connection to that kind of music. I always liked the finger style sections and the overall dynamic development of the song more than its lyrics, but that's just me.
Having said that, there are two problems I suspect in the context of the proposed experiment:
[1.] The concept of "guitar solo": Even though surf music is at its core instrumental guitar music, guitar solos in the classical sense are not a key component of surf tunes. Sure, there is some soloing in the blues/r'n'b based tunes sometimes, like in "Toes on the Nose" by Eddie & the Showmen or in Dick Dale's adaptation of the Bo Diddley rhythm "Surfing Drums" (aka "Jungle Fever"), but these are basically rock'n'roll solos played with a lot of reverb. The more melodic tunes usually rather feature a sax solo. (Or am I completely worng here?)
So, my question would be, how many of you/us/surf guitarists actually play guitar solos? How do you approach them?
(Actually, I have slots for solos in a few songs in our set, but I keep them very simple, short and kind of thematic/repetitive and I conciously stay away from anything too much rock or blues, because for me, it does not really work in the context of our songs.)
[2.] The solo section in "Stairway" itself: If you listen to the rhythm section on the original recording or Rick Beato's re-recording, what happens is actually pretty far away from surf music, especially what happens with the drums. The solos in Rick Beato's video work, because they all stay in the realm of "classic rock" or its sucessors. I don't know whether playing surf on top of the same backing track would yield an equally rounded result.
Having said all that, I would probably try it out anyway. 
Edit: I just remembered Eddie Bertrand's improvised piece at the Surf Museum, so that would be a rare example of something not based mostly on blues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US4dSbnwOfk
—
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!
January Birthdays 
