Favorite Surf Guitarists from the 1st wave?

Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
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Posted on Oct 21 2024 02:48 AM

Thom Starr is one of my favorites.

As an aside, his sax player's haunting, tortured sound seems to live again in The Babalooneys!

Last edited: Oct 21, 2024 02:50:15

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4476
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 09:20 AM

One of my favorite guitarists is Larry Carlton, and IIRC, he got his start playing Surf. I couldn’t find much about it on the Internet, but I seem to remember that he played with Jim Messina and His Jesters. I’ve seen some recent interviews with Jeff Baxter, and while I don’t know that he was ever in any famous Surf bands, apparently he got his start in Surf.

Both of these, are excellent players, with an advanced sense of harmony and the ability to create truly unique solos. I have to wonder to what extent playing Surf, which requires clean technique and a degree of precision helped both of these players towards the intricate Fusion playing they did years later.

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The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19315
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 10:27 AM

Larry Carlton played with Eddie & The Showmen.

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19315
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 10:50 AM

If the question is for lesser known guitarists (maybe update the thread title?), we haven't mentioned the amazing guitar players in Australia's Atlantics: Theo Penglis & Jim Skaithitis. Echo guitar, crazy fast Shadows style rhythms, wild guitar effects (pick scrapes, bird noises).

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Squid

Joined: Aug 22, 2010
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Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
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Posted on Oct 21 2024 10:55 AM

George Tomsco of The Fireballs and The String-A-Longs. This is because of both his playing and his instrumental songwriting.

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4476
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 11:12 AM

Brian wrote:

Larry Carlton played with Eddie & The Showmen.

For some reason, I had conflated some of this, and mentally placed him in the wrong band. I knew he had been in one of the well known Surf bands, but couldn’t remember which. Thanks for helping me unscramble the egg.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Last edited: Oct 21, 2024 11:20:39

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websurfer

Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 1753
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 11:21 AM

Here's a picture Larry Carlton when he was part of the Showmen.

If you can find a copy of the Rare Surf comp. Vol 2., there are three tracks Larry recorded with PJ at his garage studio in 1964. The name of this "band" was humerously dubbed "Wheelie McSidewalk and the Ball Bearings" by Rick Griffn!

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spskins

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3785
tn
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 12:41 PM

Brian wrote:

If the question is for lesser known guitarists (maybe update the thread title?), we haven't mentioned the amazing guitar players in Australia's Atlantics: Theo Penglis & Jim Skaithitis. Echo guitar, crazy fast Shadows style rhythms, wild guitar effects (pick scrapes, bird noises).

Maybe on a forum like this, it is assumed that The Atlantics, Dick Dale (who no one is mentioning) are already well known to everyone and everybody's favorite, so to speak? Also, does "1st wave" in the question have the connotation that they didn't continue like The Atlantics and Dick did? That's kind of how I took it.

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Last edited: Oct 21, 2024 12:42:16

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19315
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 12:53 PM

True, on a forum like this, what is "lesser known"? I put the Atlantics in there as I don't typically see a lot of discussion about them these days (at least since Ivan isn't as active here ). But I had not considered how they went beyond the first wave.

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Goldenbirdies

Joined: Jun 21, 2018
Posts: 37
Indianapolis, Indiana
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 02:08 PM

I'm under the assumption that everybody here would just have Dick Dale at the tip-top of surf guitar mountain. A given. It's fun to flex the old "what's something obscure-ish I like that I can share" muscle from time to time.

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websurfer

Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 1753
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2024 03:41 PM

Thinking about the whole idea of "known" vs "lesser known" when it comes to surf guitarists of the first wave, it occurs to me how completely and indelibly my perception was shaped by John Blair!

Years befor I knew anything about him, he wrote the succinct but hugely informative liner notes to a 1991 Rhino compilation called Legends of Guitar Surf.

I spent countless hours listening to the CD and poring over that little folding "booklet" to the point that all those bands and musicians became household names to me.

John did such a good job that to this day, I still see it as "those guys" and then everyone else is a lesser known. Almost wtihout exception. Even with all that I have discovered in the years since.

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Steve_Pisteve

Joined: Jan 15, 2023
Posts: 26
Budapest
Hungary

Posted on Oct 29 2024 06:22 AM

Maybe I need to trawl the archives of this site more thoroughly (never a bad idea), but I haven't read much about Ray Hunt, of The Surfmen. While maybe not the most technically virtuoso guitarist, the songwriting and tone of his compositions had a big influence, I 'd say. "Ghost Hop" and "Paradise Cove" are pretty established in the Surf Canon, and "El Toro" and "Malibu Run" are good too (although the latter is more of a Sax track.)

I'd definitely second Richard Podolor as one of the important professional/session guitarists who played on some great records - The Tandems "Rising Surf" is a favourite of mine, and The Ghouls album has some great instrumentals. Jerry Cole was another of those guys, and Garry Usher, although I'm not sure if we can call either of them underappreciated.

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TallTenor

Joined: Nov 30, 2022
Posts: 73
Coast of the Great Lakes
United States

Posted on Nov 01 2024 10:48 AM

Goldenbirdies wrote:

I'm under the assumption that everybody here would just have Dick Dale at the tip-top of surf guitar mountain. A given. It's fun to flex the old "what's something obscure-ish I like that I can share" muscle from time to time.

I really like Dick Dale but don’t find myself listening much.
The guy(s) from The Sandals are really great. I appreciate that smooth side.

—

Kitten and The Tonics

https://kittenandthetonics.com/

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Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Oct 21 2024 02:48 AM Thom Starr is one of my favorites. As an aside, his sax player's haunting, tortured sound seems to live again in The Babalooneys! Last edited: Oct 21, 2024 02:50:15 Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4476 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Oct 21 2024 09:20 AM One of my favorite guitarists is Larry Carlton, and IIRC, he got his start playing Surf. I couldn’t find much about it on the Internet, but I seem to remember that he played with Jim Messina and His Jesters. I’ve seen some recent interviews with Jeff Baxter, and while I don’t know that he was ever in any famous Surf bands, apparently he got his start in Surf. Both of these, are excellent players, with an advanced sense of harmony and the ability to create truly unique solos. I have to wonder to what extent playing Surf, which requires clean technique and a degree of precision helped both of these players towards the intricate Fusion playing they did years later. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19315 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Oct 21 2024 10:27 AM Larry Carlton played with Eddie & The Showmen. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19315 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Oct 21 2024 10:50 AM If the question is for lesser known guitarists (maybe update the thread title?), we haven't mentioned the amazing guitar players in Australia's Atlantics: Theo Penglis & Jim Skaithitis. Echo guitar, crazy fast Shadows style rhythms, wild guitar effects (pick scrapes, bird noises). — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
Squid Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 1018 Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers	Posted on Oct 21 2024 10:55 AM George Tomsco of The Fireballs and The String-A-Longs. This is because of both his playing and his instrumental songwriting. — Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4476 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Oct 21 2024 11:12 AM Brian wrote: Larry Carlton played with Eddie & The Showmen. For some reason, I had conflated some of this, and mentally placed him in the wrong band. I knew he had been in one of the well known Surf bands, but couldn’t remember which. Thanks for helping me unscramble the egg. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Last edited: Oct 21, 2024 11:20:39 Top
websurfer Joined: May 14, 2007 Posts: 1753	Posted on Oct 21 2024 11:21 AM Here's a picture Larry Carlton when he was part of the Showmen. If you can find a copy of the Rare Surf comp. Vol 2., there are three tracks Larry recorded with PJ at his garage studio in 1964. The name of this "band" was humerously dubbed "Wheelie McSidewalk and the Ball Bearings" by Rick Griffn! Top
spskins Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3785 tn	Posted on Oct 21 2024 12:41 PM Brian wrote: If the question is for lesser known guitarists (maybe update the thread title?), we haven't mentioned the amazing guitar players in Australia's Atlantics: Theo Penglis & Jim Skaithitis. Echo guitar, crazy fast Shadows style rhythms, wild guitar effects (pick scrapes, bird noises). Maybe on a forum like this, it is assumed that The Atlantics, Dick Dale (who no one is mentioning) are already well known to everyone and everybody's favorite, so to speak? Also, does "1st wave" in the question have the connotation that they didn't continue like The Atlantics and Dick did? That's kind of how I took it. — http://www.satanspilgrims.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553 https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/ http://www.surfyindustries.com Last edited: Oct 21, 2024 12:42:16 Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19315 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Oct 21 2024 12:53 PM True, on a forum like this, what is "lesser known"? I put the Atlantics in there as I don't typically see a lot of discussion about them these days (at least since Ivan isn't as active here ). But I had not considered how they went beyond the first wave. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
Goldenbirdies Joined: Jun 21, 2018 Posts: 37 Indianapolis, Indiana	Posted on Oct 21 2024 02:08 PM I'm under the assumption that everybody here would just have Dick Dale at the tip-top of surf guitar mountain. A given. It's fun to flex the old "what's something obscure-ish I like that I can share" muscle from time to time. Top
websurfer Joined: May 14, 2007 Posts: 1753	Posted on Oct 21 2024 03:41 PM Thinking about the whole idea of "known" vs "lesser known" when it comes to surf guitarists of the first wave, it occurs to me how completely and indelibly my perception was shaped by John Blair! Years befor I knew anything about him, he wrote the succinct but hugely informative liner notes to a 1991 Rhino compilation called Legends of Guitar Surf. I spent countless hours listening to the CD and poring over that little folding "booklet" to the point that all those bands and musicians became household names to me. John did such a good job that to this day, I still see it as "those guys" and then everyone else is a lesser known. Almost wtihout exception. Even with all that I have discovered in the years since. Top
Steve_Pisteve Joined: Jan 15, 2023 Posts: 26 Budapest	Posted on Oct 29 2024 06:22 AM Maybe I need to trawl the archives of this site more thoroughly (never a bad idea), but I haven't read much about Ray Hunt, of The Surfmen. While maybe not the most technically virtuoso guitarist, the songwriting and tone of his compositions had a big influence, I 'd say. "Ghost Hop" and "Paradise Cove" are pretty established in the Surf Canon, and "El Toro" and "Malibu Run" are good too (although the latter is more of a Sax track.) I'd definitely second Richard Podolor as one of the important professional/session guitarists who played on some great records - The Tandems "Rising Surf" is a favourite of mine, and The Ghouls album has some great instrumentals. Jerry Cole was another of those guys, and Garry Usher, although I'm not sure if we can call either of them underappreciated. Top
TallTenor Joined: Nov 30, 2022 Posts: 73 Coast of the Great Lakes	Posted on Nov 01 2024 10:48 AM Goldenbirdies wrote: I'm under the assumption that everybody here would just have Dick Dale at the tip-top of surf guitar mountain. A given. It's fun to flex the old "what's something obscure-ish I like that I can share" muscle from time to time. I really like Dick Dale but don’t find myself listening much. The guy(s) from The Sandals are really great. I appreciate that smooth side. — Kitten and The Tonics https://kittenandthetonics.com/ Top

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Favorite Surf Guitarists from the 1st wave?