Those shouldn't last long, especially that El Sonido. 'Bout a month ago a Surfer popped early one morning on the newly listed website at my preferred local shop, don't even need one, but it was $750. Went downstairs for a minute to pour a cup of coffee & it was already on-hold when I got back. Someone stole that pretty blue thing that passed through the midwest.

Great radar Derek.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

RIP George aka Proton..

HallmarkSweptWinger wrote:

rotnroby wrote:

RIP George aka Proton..

Yes... RIP George...
yesterday I had thoughts about good guy George.
Are there recordings with his band? (off topic, I know...)

Yes, Greetings Surflings! is available here and maybe elsewhere. Also many videos on YouTube. North of Malibu is also on ReverbNation.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Thanks so much for posting this, derekirving! I just happened to be in California last week, and came home with this beautiful thing... I've really wanted one for a long time!

These are being sold by Proton's long-time friend and guitar tech, Steve Shirrell, owner of Stanroy Music in Santa Rosa. They were actually listening to "Greetings, Surflings" the same day I walked in to buy it... they all definitely miss George over there, he was a regular. I had a great experience playing the Surfer in the shop while we talked about Proton from each other's perspectives. (Steve knew George when he had a record store, and before that, he had a video rental business that made house calls, obviously before Netflix. Pretty ahead of his time!)

It's so great to have a second Gomez! Dario's work is exemplary as usual, and this one also has added meaning, since I know how much Proton treasured his amps. I was able to get this thing home as a carry-on (in a duffle bag, not for the squeamish!), but couldn't deal with the logistics of sending a 2x15 cab to the East Coast, so that's still in the store with the Sonido.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

As if the great tones emanating from that amp weren't enough, there will be some good vibes as well.

And I'm guessing once you have a proper cab underneath it, I'll be able to leave the windows open at night and hear you ripping it up.

Suddenly I'm worried the Club Dates might have a little trouble keeping pace with The Surfer. I'll just have to hit harder and hope one of those infamous Pittsboro brown-outs levels the playing field.

-murph

MONDOGUITARO.COM
El Mirage @ Reverbnation
A Minor Conspiracy @ Reverbnation

"I knew I was in trouble when the Coco-Loco tasted like water!" -- morphball

Thanks fellas... I think me and Mr. Surfer are going to get along really well, even if it gets us banned in a few smaller venues! I just got through playing it with the G-Spring into an EVM15L (with a weber z-matcher in between) and holy moley, great sound!!

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

Well this is totally wild and random to walk into Stanroy music today in Santa Rosa and walk out with the 2x15 cabinet!!! 10 years later!

I’ll get a pic up here soon!

Paul

morphball wrote:

Thanks so much for posting this, derekirving! I just happened to be in California last week, and came home with this beautiful thing... I've really wanted one for a long time!

These are being sold by Proton's long-time friend and guitar tech, Steve Shirrell, owner of Stanroy Music in Santa Rosa. They were actually listening to "Greetings, Surflings" the same day I walked in to buy it... they all definitely miss George over there, he was a regular. I had a great experience playing the Surfer in the shop while we talked about Proton from each other's perspectives. (Steve knew George when he had a record store, and before that, he had a video rental business that made house calls, obviously before Netflix. Pretty ahead of his time!)

It's so great to have a second Gomez! Dario's work is exemplary as usual, and this one also has added meaning, since I know how much Proton treasured his amps. I was able to get this thing home as a carry-on (in a duffle bag, not for the squeamish!), but couldn't deal with the logistics of sending a 2x15 cab to the East Coast, so that's still in the store with the Sonido.

I can’t think of a better home for George’s amps.

Funny story I bought the El Sonido amp and matching cab in 2013 after attending Sierra Surf Music camp which most know Paul arranged and included many surf music greats.

George sold them to fund a purchase of a third Rickenbacker to add to his gear collection.

About 6 months after I bought them George sends me message asking how I liked the amp and cab. I half joking say why do you want to buy them back. Then he confessed regretting selling them and I confessed they were way too big for me. So I sold them back same price and spent some time again in Santa Rosa looking at his great gear collection. I think it included a rare Rickenbacker Roger Mcquinn from the Byrds once owned.

RIP George. Your amps are in good surf hands now.

Robert

rockndawg wrote:

Cool, maybe you have stopped and got a lottery ticket also!

I knew I forgot something! Not gonna push my luck!!!

Steve said you bought it from Stanroy music, after George had passed.

D22 wrote:

Interesting, I don't recall buying an amp from George.
George was a sweet man and good friend.
We used to have multiple communications over guitar and amp stuff.
He was a genuine guy and I do miss talking with him on the weekends like we did so often.

RIP Proton.

Pyronauts wrote:

In talking with Steve yesterday he did say that Dario actually purchased one of George’s amps from him. This cabinet was the last piece.

Home and safe now: