Bobby Fuller Miserlou tone

weird_oh84

Joined: May 24, 2023
Posts: 198

Posted on Jan 28 2025 08:51 PM

Dig that tone!

Definitely NOT a “clean” sound by any stretch of the imagination……..

This almost sound like early 70’s metal !

Anyone know what gear he’s using ?

https://youtu.be/EyUPvkeKaBE?si=Qu0Iiq2MADJXBjOC

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4466
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Jan 29 2025 01:15 AM

It doesn’t sound overdriven to my ear. There’s some grit, especially in the lower register. Just hazarding a guess, it sounds like a Strat through a Showman, with an external reverb tank possibly pushing the front end of the amp, slightly.

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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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ELZEB

Joined: Aug 30, 2017
Posts: 55

Posted on Jan 29 2025 05:14 AM

There's definitely some distortion going on but I'm pretty sure it's coming from the recording gear, not the amp.

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https://soundcloud.com/elzeb

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JohnnyMosrite

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 905
New York City area

Posted on Jan 29 2025 07:36 AM

I remember lying on the beach when the radio flashed the news of Bobby's "suicide" (by drinking gasoline??!!). No one with any real intellect - excepting the L.A.P.D. - believed that nonsense.
His solo on "I Fought the Law" was and still is an interesting finger warm-up exercise. "My Favorite Martian" was also a memorable beginners tune to learn.
This vid is an interesting take on a Dick Dale standard. Thx for the vid.
J Mo'

Last edited: Jan 29, 2025 10:33:04

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ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1374
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Jan 29 2025 09:21 AM

From what I've heard and seen, appears to be strat and a Showman or similar. Not sure on amp. Based on 2010 SG101 forum post, the distortion may have been mic overloading during live recording.

Cool that a guy known as a singer had those chops!

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25620
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jan 29 2025 09:53 AM

There will be a tribute to Bobby Fuller instros at SG101 fest this summer.

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Jeff(bigtikidude)

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2367
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Jan 29 2025 03:42 PM

Weird-oh84, All I can offer is generalities. For guitars, Bobby fuller played strats and Gibson 335's. He played through various 50's tweed Fender amps, and 60's Fender piggyback amps. I'm sorry to not be able to definitely tell you the specifics played on his "Miserlou". I don't want to speculate.

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Bob

Last edited: Jan 29, 2025 15:43:30

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beatcomber

Joined: Jun 30, 2019
Posts: 144
Massachusetts, USA
United States

Posted on Feb 14 2025 01:40 PM

RobbieReverb wrote:

Weird-oh84, All I can offer is generalities. For guitars, Bobby fuller played strats and Gibson 335's.

Really, he used Gibsons? I recall reading that he was strictly a Fender man, and that he was bugged that Jim Reese insisted on playing a Gibson, LOL.

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Klas

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2307
Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden

Posted on Feb 15 2025 05:38 AM

It's funny as hell that Bobby and the band had to "play" cool looking Vox gear in The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini movie even though they hated Vox instruments, haha.

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T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

Last edited: Feb 15, 2025 05:39:39

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weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 198	Posted on Jan 28 2025 08:51 PM Dig that tone! Definitely NOT a “clean” sound by any stretch of the imagination…….. This almost sound like early 70’s metal ! Anyone know what gear he’s using ? https://youtu.be/EyUPvkeKaBE?si=Qu0Iiq2MADJXBjOC Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4466 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Jan 29 2025 01:15 AM It doesn’t sound overdriven to my ear. There’s some grit, especially in the lower register. Just hazarding a guess, it sounds like a Strat through a Showman, with an external reverb tank possibly pushing the front end of the amp, slightly. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
ELZEB Joined: Aug 30, 2017 Posts: 55	Posted on Jan 29 2025 05:14 AM There's definitely some distortion going on but I'm pretty sure it's coming from the recording gear, not the amp. — https://soundcloud.com/elzeb Top
JohnnyMosrite Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 905 New York City area	Posted on Jan 29 2025 07:36 AM I remember lying on the beach when the radio flashed the news of Bobby's "suicide" (by drinking gasoline??!!). No one with any real intellect - excepting the L.A.P.D. - believed that nonsense. His solo on "I Fought the Law" was and still is an interesting finger warm-up exercise. "My Favorite Martian" was also a memorable beginners tune to learn. This vid is an interesting take on a Dick Dale standard. Thx for the vid. J Mo' Last edited: Jan 29, 2025 10:33:04 Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1374 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 29 2025 09:21 AM From what I've heard and seen, appears to be strat and a Showman or similar. Not sure on amp. Based on 2010 SG101 forum post, the distortion may have been mic overloading during live recording. Cool that a guy known as a singer had those chops! — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus Wake up Jimmy! It's Christmastime! (2024) - Agent Octopus (Single) YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf SG101 Festival 2025 Click Here! Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25620 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jan 29 2025 09:53 AM There will be a tribute to Bobby Fuller instros at SG101 fest this summer. — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2367 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Jan 29 2025 03:42 PM Weird-oh84, All I can offer is generalities. For guitars, Bobby fuller played strats and Gibson 335's. He played through various 50's tweed Fender amps, and 60's Fender piggyback amps. I'm sorry to not be able to definitely tell you the specifics played on his "Miserlou". I don't want to speculate. — Bob Last edited: Jan 29, 2025 15:43:30 Top
beatcomber Joined: Jun 30, 2019 Posts: 144 Massachusetts, USA	Posted on Feb 14 2025 01:40 PM RobbieReverb wrote: Weird-oh84, All I can offer is generalities. For guitars, Bobby fuller played strats and Gibson 335's. Really, he used Gibsons? I recall reading that he was strictly a Fender man, and that he was bugged that Jim Reese insisted on playing a Gibson, LOL. — THE HYDRONAUTS…Surf Music from the shores of old Cape Cod. CLICK HERE to check out our first album, Interstallar Clambake! Top
Klas Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 2307 Stockholm, Sweden	Posted on Feb 15 2025 05:38 AM It's funny as hell that Bobby and the band had to "play" cool looking Vox gear in The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini movie even though they hated Vox instruments, haha. — T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S Last edited: Feb 15, 2025 05:39:39 Top

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Bobby Fuller Miserlou tone