Spending some dough on a rig

sig

Joined: Oct 15, 2012
Posts: 28
Auckland
New Zealand

Posted on Dec 25 2021 02:55 PM

After spending what seems like a life time finishing my PhD and recovering from subsequent mental breakdown, I am back in the workforce and have some money to spend on building my surf rig. Currently I have a stock Squier VM Jaguar running into some Behringer pedals then into a Bandit 112. For my next purchase I’m thinking of buying a Surfy Bear Metal. The thinking being buy once buy the best you can afford. Eventually I’ll upgrade the whole rig but what do people think of this idea rather than say a Danelectro Sring King and Pipeline tremolo? Thanks Sig

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2338
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Dec 25 2021 03:39 PM

Welcome to SG101, Sig! You'll be very happy with the Surfy Bear Metal. I have one, and absolutely love it.

—

Bob

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subdigit6

Joined: Oct 27, 2010
Posts: 116
Centennial, Co
United States

Posted on Dec 26 2021 10:43 PM

Congrats on the PhD!!! I hope you're okay... I have the Surfybear Metal and I absolutely love it! For the record, I also have a vintage '64 Fender reverb unit and a Gomez G-Spring. They're all amazing, but the Surfybear is my daily driver due to size and the sound is spot on. Good luck!

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Merlin

Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 111
Brampton, ON
Canada

Posted on Dec 27 2021 02:48 PM

Good news is the OP’s Bandit 112 makes a pretty nice surf amp.

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Toneschaser

Joined: Jun 14, 2012
Posts: 462
Ohio!
59 Calendar Pins

Posted on Dec 27 2021 03:00 PM

I think I have owned all of the reverb pedals at this stage in the game.
My fave is still the Topanga. To my old ears it is the best alternative to my vintage 6G15 reverb unit!

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sig

Joined: Oct 15, 2012
Posts: 28
Auckland
New Zealand

Posted on Dec 28 2021 03:33 PM

Thanks for the info and the welcome. I’m planning on ordering the Surfy Bear on Friday.

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ArabSpringReverb

Joined: Jul 13, 2012
Posts: 490
San Diego CA
United States

Posted on Dec 29 2021 02:08 PM

You wont regret that Surfy Bear metal purchase ..and you wont be upgrading it either because while you can spend more on a fancier outboard tank , it wont sound better . Take my advice , order the Surfy BAG along with the metal tank ..holds and protects the unit perfectly , very happy with mine, worth the money easily .

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sig

Joined: Oct 15, 2012
Posts: 28
Auckland
New Zealand

Posted on Jan 17 2022 04:00 PM

The Surfy Bear is here and hooked up. Some issues with power but all sorted now.

Next question is guitar upgrade. I know they’re different beasts but I’m thinking of moving from a Vintage Modified Jag to a MIM player Strat. Apart from guitarist difference is there a quality upgrade in doing that?

Thanks

Sig

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LosVenturas

Joined: Feb 10, 2011
Posts: 443
Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium

Posted on Jan 18 2022 01:58 AM

Before spending a lot of money.. Are there any friends of you playing different sorts of guitars? Maybe you could try them out and see what you like. Cheers, Andy

—

www.LosVenturas.be

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2533
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Jan 18 2022 05:47 AM

A Strat can't be beat as an upgrade guitar. It is the perfect platform for any type of music. So many ways to upgrade s start is you choose to in the future. Depending on where you are located, also look at a used American Standard.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on Jan 18 2022 08:24 AM

-

Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 02:25:10

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2533
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Jan 19 2022 04:45 AM

Gilette wrote:

Maybe add a 'neck-on-switch' or a blender pot mod? That's my favourite on a Strat.

The blender pot takes a multi-dimensional guitar to yet another level for surf.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Top

cosmonaut

Joined: Apr 02, 2019
Posts: 339

Posted on Jan 26 2022 04:23 PM

current MIM quality is good, but some of my squiers are VERY close for much less money. my mexico jazzmaster I bought online had the bridge posts off center so the high e falls off the fretboard when fretted. i prefer the jaguar vibrato to a strat vibrato so much that the jag gets played more, however… the strat may be a little more versatile. especially when modding a strat like below:
Gilette wrote:

Maybe add a 'neck-on-switch' or a blender pot mod? That's my favourite on a Strat.

i second this. ignored my strat for 10 years before I added a neck+bridge option. i did two volumes and master tone, but will do a blend pot instead next time I go inside of it. keeping neck and bridge even level is such a great sound (telecaster and jaguar territory), and then roll back the neck a little for more focused staccato picking. absolutely necessary to me.

made me love strats all over again.

Last edited: Jan 26, 2022 16:25:53

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sig Joined: Oct 15, 2012 Posts: 28 Auckland	Posted on Dec 25 2021 02:55 PM After spending what seems like a life time finishing my PhD and recovering from subsequent mental breakdown, I am back in the workforce and have some money to spend on building my surf rig. Currently I have a stock Squier VM Jaguar running into some Behringer pedals then into a Bandit 112. For my next purchase I’m thinking of buying a Surfy Bear Metal. The thinking being buy once buy the best you can afford. Eventually I’ll upgrade the whole rig but what do people think of this idea rather than say a Danelectro Sring King and Pipeline tremolo? Thanks Sig Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2338 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Dec 25 2021 03:39 PM Welcome to SG101, Sig! You'll be very happy with the Surfy Bear Metal. I have one, and absolutely love it. — Bob Top
subdigit6 Joined: Oct 27, 2010 Posts: 116 Centennial, Co	Posted on Dec 26 2021 10:43 PM Congrats on the PhD!!! I hope you're okay... I have the Surfybear Metal and I absolutely love it! For the record, I also have a vintage '64 Fender reverb unit and a Gomez G-Spring. They're all amazing, but the Surfybear is my daily driver due to size and the sound is spot on. Good luck! Top
Merlin Joined: Feb 03, 2011 Posts: 111 Brampton, ON	Posted on Dec 27 2021 02:48 PM Good news is the OP’s Bandit 112 makes a pretty nice surf amp. Top
Toneschaser Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 462 Ohio!	Posted on Dec 27 2021 03:00 PM I think I have owned all of the reverb pedals at this stage in the game. My fave is still the Topanga. To my old ears it is the best alternative to my vintage 6G15 reverb unit! Top
sig Joined: Oct 15, 2012 Posts: 28 Auckland	Posted on Dec 28 2021 03:33 PM Thanks for the info and the welcome. I’m planning on ordering the Surfy Bear on Friday. Top
ArabSpringReverb Joined: Jul 13, 2012 Posts: 490 San Diego CA	Posted on Dec 29 2021 02:08 PM You wont regret that Surfy Bear metal purchase ..and you wont be upgrading it either because while you can spend more on a fancier outboard tank , it wont sound better . Take my advice , order the Surfy BAG along with the metal tank ..holds and protects the unit perfectly , very happy with mine, worth the money easily . Top
sig Joined: Oct 15, 2012 Posts: 28 Auckland	Posted on Jan 17 2022 04:00 PM The Surfy Bear is here and hooked up. Some issues with power but all sorted now. Next question is guitar upgrade. I know they’re different beasts but I’m thinking of moving from a Vintage Modified Jag to a MIM player Strat. Apart from guitarist difference is there a quality upgrade in doing that? Thanks Sig Top
LosVenturas Joined: Feb 10, 2011 Posts: 443 Antwerp, Belgium	Posted on Jan 18 2022 01:58 AM Before spending a lot of money.. Are there any friends of you playing different sorts of guitars? Maybe you could try them out and see what you like. Cheers, Andy — www.LosVenturas.be Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2533 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Jan 18 2022 05:47 AM A Strat can't be beat as an upgrade guitar. It is the perfect platform for any type of music. So many ways to upgrade s start is you choose to in the future. Depending on where you are located, also look at a used American Standard. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on Jan 18 2022 08:24 AM - Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 02:25:10 Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2533 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Jan 19 2022 04:45 AM Gilette wrote: Maybe add a 'neck-on-switch' or a blender pot mod? That's my favourite on a Strat. The blender pot takes a multi-dimensional guitar to yet another level for surf. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
cosmonaut Joined: Apr 02, 2019 Posts: 339	Posted on Jan 26 2022 04:23 PM current MIM quality is good, but some of my squiers are VERY close for much less money. my mexico jazzmaster I bought online had the bridge posts off center so the high e falls off the fretboard when fretted. i prefer the jaguar vibrato to a strat vibrato so much that the jag gets played more, however… the strat may be a little more versatile. especially when modding a strat like below: Gilette wrote: Maybe add a 'neck-on-switch' or a blender pot mod? That's my favourite on a Strat. i second this. ignored my strat for 10 years before I added a neck+bridge option. i did two volumes and master tone, but will do a blend pot instead next time I go inside of it. keeping neck and bridge even level is such a great sound (telecaster and jaguar territory), and then roll back the neck a little for more focused staccato picking. absolutely necessary to me. made me love strats all over again. Last edited: Jan 26, 2022 16:25:53 Top

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Spending some dough on a rig