Bass guitar playing for surf music?

BoneDigger

Joined: Aug 29, 2023
Posts: 37

Posted on Sep 02 2023 11:17 PM

I realize that this is surfguitar101, but technically it is a bass guitar right?

Right?

Anyway, I am kind of a jack of all trades, master of none. I'm a multi-instrumentalist and I would like to learn surf guitar and surf bass kind of at the same time. I know of TalkBass, but I was wondering if there is a resource dedicated to bass guitar for surf? Any lessons (free is great) regarding surf bass?

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 504
Central VA
United States

Posted on Sep 03 2023 10:13 AM

I can't help you TOO much, but I can suggest listening to Surfer Joe's albums. I'm primarily a guitarist, but without a dedicated bass player in my project right now, those duties fall to me as well. I'm a fan of SJ's more traditional take on surf, and have been concentrating on the bass found therein lately as a guide. Perhaps not the "lesson" you were seeking ... but certainly an opportunity to learn, if that makes sense.

—

--
Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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Matt22

Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2825
Fredericksburg, Virginia
United States

Posted on Sep 03 2023 10:26 AM

Bass is all over the place as is guitar for surf music. A lot of it is blues based like Rock and Roll and then there are those who took it to greater lengths. Try and listen to the influencers of the original surf bands like the Fireballs, the Ventures, and even the Shadows' early years. Jet Harris of the Shadows was WAY ahead of his time when it comes to bass guitar. I love his bass lines, especially on Man of Mystery, Kon Tiki and Back Home. My favorite of his bass can be heard up front on Kon Tiki. Sooooo good. Found a vid of Man of Mystery with guitar and bass right up your alley!

—

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

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Padraig

Joined: Feb 26, 2022
Posts: 390
Dollars, Taxes
United States

Posted on Sep 03 2023 01:56 PM

As a bass guitarist, I can heartily endorse the suggestions made by Matt and Chiba above. For modern surf, I would recommend any and all of the bands for which Jonpaul Balak plays bass guitar: Insect Surfers, Tikiyaki 5-0, the Scimitars, and Lords of Atlantis.

—

Patrick

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BoneDigger

Joined: Aug 29, 2023
Posts: 37

Posted on Sep 04 2023 02:39 PM

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the links to the videos. I'll study these!

Top

Dire

Joined: Jun 13, 2007
Posts: 14
Rio Linda, California
United States

Posted on Nov 03 2023 08:16 AM

My recommendation is to find as many stereo versions of your favorite classic surf and surf adjacent music as possible (it's usually easier to discern the bass part on stereo versions) and listen to them a lot, paying close attention to the bass lines, the bass guitar tones, the overall mix/balance of instruments, etc. until you are super familiar with them. Not only will it help you in playing those songs, it will also help you compose appropriate bass parts of your own for original songs, and give you good ideas of what to try to dial in, tonewise. Despite there being certain common bass motifs in surf, and general implied guidelines for surf bass (e.g., flatwound strings), there is still plenty of variety in the bass department throughout classic surf recordings and it can be fun trying to figure out how to imitate the bass sounds of your favorite recordings...

—

-Dire

Top

surfbulleit

Joined: Dec 13, 2014
Posts: 6
Manchester
United Kingdom

Posted on Dec 06 2023 05:28 AM

Just to ride on the comments above and this being a bass related question, I guess I'm wondering what the set up for a good bass tone is. I'm assuming a good sort of "thumpy" sound meaning Flatwound strings, a good pbass, jazz bass or "vintage" style bass like a danelectro or hofner could do the trick? I will pay more attention to the bands mentioned above as well as their gear as I'm quite obsessed with bass in surf music as of lately. My main bass being an Epiphone EB 3 long scale (for the moment) and an orange crush 50 combo amp.

Top

Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2230
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Dec 06 2023 06:25 AM

I like a little more prominent bass tone and use Harley Benton bass and Palmer preamp, that’s all. I think it’s pretty surfy) I’ve just took bass last year so the parts are pretty simple.

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Top

IceratzSurf

Joined: Oct 22, 2022
Posts: 273
2 Security Pins

Posted on Dec 06 2023 08:19 AM

I have been playing electric guitar for over 40 years, mostly a home studio setup and not really any recordings.
Although, I have been into looping last several years and have developed some decent skills.

Up until now, I had never played Bass before and decided to finally give that a try.
For my introduction, I got an easy playing Fender Mustang PB Bass with light gage flatwound strings.
I really love it! I can make a decent bass riff, then switch to guitar and play along quite nicely.
I think I will now consider making recordings.

The one awesome effect for Bass for Surf, besides Reverb, is Tremolo.
Much more so than I would use on guitar.
The pulsing Tremolo is helpful for me to understand the Bass and helps to fill in empty spots of my loop.
I have a LOT to learn but this has recharged my efforts.

Studying old Surf music has been my regular pursuit, but now listening and playing the Bass lines has helped tremendously.

Thanks for all those here on SG101 for helpful advice.

Top

surfbulleit

Joined: Dec 13, 2014
Posts: 6
Manchester
United Kingdom

Posted on Dec 07 2023 02:23 AM

Samurai wrote:

I like a little more prominent bass tone and use Harley Benton bass and Palmer preamp, that’s all. I think it’s pretty surfy) I’ve just took bass last year so the parts are pretty simple.

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Sounds great!!!

Top

Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2230
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Dec 07 2023 08:25 AM

surfbulleit wrote:

Samurai wrote:

I like a little more prominent bass tone and use Harley Benton bass and Palmer preamp, that’s all. I think it’s pretty surfy) I’ve just took bass last year so the parts are pretty simple.

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Sounds great!!!

Thank you so much!

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Top

BoneDigger Joined: Aug 29, 2023 Posts: 37	Posted on Sep 02 2023 11:17 PM I realize that this is surfguitar101, but technically it is a bass guitar right? Right? Anyway, I am kind of a jack of all trades, master of none. I'm a multi-instrumentalist and I would like to learn surf guitar and surf bass kind of at the same time. I know of TalkBass, but I was wondering if there is a resource dedicated to bass guitar for surf? Any lessons (free is great) regarding surf bass? Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 504 Central VA	Posted on Sep 03 2023 10:13 AM I can't help you TOO much, but I can suggest listening to Surfer Joe's albums. I'm primarily a guitarist, but without a dedicated bass player in my project right now, those duties fall to me as well. I'm a fan of SJ's more traditional take on surf, and have been concentrating on the bass found therein lately as a guide. Perhaps not the "lesson" you were seeking ... but certainly an opportunity to learn, if that makes sense. — -- Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
Matt22 Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2825 Fredericksburg, Virginia	Posted on Sep 03 2023 10:26 AM Bass is all over the place as is guitar for surf music. A lot of it is blues based like Rock and Roll and then there are those who took it to greater lengths. Try and listen to the influencers of the original surf bands like the Fireballs, the Ventures, and even the Shadows' early years. Jet Harris of the Shadows was WAY ahead of his time when it comes to bass guitar. I love his bass lines, especially on Man of Mystery, Kon Tiki and Back Home. My favorite of his bass can be heard up front on Kon Tiki. Sooooo good. Found a vid of Man of Mystery with guitar and bass right up your alley! — Matt "tha Kat" Lentz Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020 Skippyandtheskipjacks.net https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015 The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014 www.theamazingcoconauts.com Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013 http://www.gcmband.com/ The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009 the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007 http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html Top
Padraig Joined: Feb 26, 2022 Posts: 390 Dollars, Taxes	Posted on Sep 03 2023 01:56 PM As a bass guitarist, I can heartily endorse the suggestions made by Matt and Chiba above. For modern surf, I would recommend any and all of the bands for which Jonpaul Balak plays bass guitar: Insect Surfers, Tikiyaki 5-0, the Scimitars, and Lords of Atlantis. — Patrick Top
BoneDigger Joined: Aug 29, 2023 Posts: 37	Posted on Sep 04 2023 02:39 PM Thanks everyone! I appreciate the links to the videos. I'll study these! Top
Dire Joined: Jun 13, 2007 Posts: 14 Rio Linda, California	Posted on Nov 03 2023 08:16 AM My recommendation is to find as many stereo versions of your favorite classic surf and surf adjacent music as possible (it's usually easier to discern the bass part on stereo versions) and listen to them a lot, paying close attention to the bass lines, the bass guitar tones, the overall mix/balance of instruments, etc. until you are super familiar with them. Not only will it help you in playing those songs, it will also help you compose appropriate bass parts of your own for original songs, and give you good ideas of what to try to dial in, tonewise. Despite there being certain common bass motifs in surf, and general implied guidelines for surf bass (e.g., flatwound strings), there is still plenty of variety in the bass department throughout classic surf recordings and it can be fun trying to figure out how to imitate the bass sounds of your favorite recordings... — -Dire Top
surfbulleit Joined: Dec 13, 2014 Posts: 6 Manchester	Posted on Dec 06 2023 05:28 AM Just to ride on the comments above and this being a bass related question, I guess I'm wondering what the set up for a good bass tone is. I'm assuming a good sort of "thumpy" sound meaning Flatwound strings, a good pbass, jazz bass or "vintage" style bass like a danelectro or hofner could do the trick? I will pay more attention to the bands mentioned above as well as their gear as I'm quite obsessed with bass in surf music as of lately. My main bass being an Epiphone EB 3 long scale (for the moment) and an orange crush 50 combo amp. Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2230 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Dec 06 2023 06:25 AM I like a little more prominent bass tone and use Harley Benton bass and Palmer preamp, that’s all. I think it’s pretty surfy) I’ve just took bass last year so the parts are pretty simple. https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
IceratzSurf Joined: Oct 22, 2022 Posts: 273	Posted on Dec 06 2023 08:19 AM I have been playing electric guitar for over 40 years, mostly a home studio setup and not really any recordings. Although, I have been into looping last several years and have developed some decent skills. Up until now, I had never played Bass before and decided to finally give that a try. For my introduction, I got an easy playing Fender Mustang PB Bass with light gage flatwound strings. I really love it! I can make a decent bass riff, then switch to guitar and play along quite nicely. I think I will now consider making recordings. The one awesome effect for Bass for Surf, besides Reverb, is Tremolo. Much more so than I would use on guitar. The pulsing Tremolo is helpful for me to understand the Bass and helps to fill in empty spots of my loop. I have a LOT to learn but this has recharged my efforts. Studying old Surf music has been my regular pursuit, but now listening and playing the Bass lines has helped tremendously. Thanks for all those here on SG101 for helpful advice. Top
surfbulleit Joined: Dec 13, 2014 Posts: 6 Manchester	Posted on Dec 07 2023 02:23 AM Samurai wrote: I like a little more prominent bass tone and use Harley Benton bass and Palmer preamp, that’s all. I think it’s pretty surfy) I’ve just took bass last year so the parts are pretty simple. https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single Sounds great!!! Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2230 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Dec 07 2023 08:25 AM surfbulleit wrote: Samurai wrote: I like a little more prominent bass tone and use Harley Benton bass and Palmer preamp, that’s all. I think it’s pretty surfy) I’ve just took bass last year so the parts are pretty simple. https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single Sounds great!!! Thank you so much! — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top

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Bass guitar playing for surf music?