Zak has made some really good points. The only thing I'd add is I'd really try and get a outboard reverb tank. It just makes so much difference. Not only is it really necessary to get that surf tone, but when you back off the mix and dwell down to around 3 or so, you really get a nice tame reverb for a lot of different genres (blues, country, whatever). I've always used a tank even for non-surf stuff because the reverb is just so much more versatile and better sounding to my ears. Just something to think about.

Budget is always a hurdle so you'll need to balance what you really want vs. what you can really afford. However, once you get a decent rig put together, you'll be set for quite a while.

Good luck and please keep us posted on what you end up with. There are plenty of gear geeks around here that would love to hear about it (me included)

Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook

Yeah, too bad Jake is on the left coast...I'm sure we could train him properly.

But I have to admit, EK, while my first good guitar was a shiny new '64 Jaguar (still have it), and I also have the killer Katcher-modded AVRI Jag in the arsenal, I like Jazzmasters better, too. The longer scale neck is more comfy, and I detest the un-ergonomic pickup switching on the Jags.

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025
The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Last edited: Nov 25, 2007 13:46:58

heres whats on my mind right now, getting a fender American guitar preferably a jazzmaster but budget may not let me.....
and an amp thats all tube preferably with tremolo i was thinking of taking the route of buying a cheap all tube champ knock off or one of those Champion 600 amps off of the bay and then putting the extra cash in the bank and springing for a nice large amp for all my gigging needs my sophomore year of college.....

like ruhar said

"Budget is always a hurdle so you'll need to balance what you really want vs. what you can really afford"

so i have yet to see...

i did use my google skills and i came up with this:

heres a video of a guy playing a fender jazzmaster thin skin through a vintage epi amp...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0X_RaGqCt1c

College is the best time in your life to horde gear. It is the time in your life where living will be the cheapest.

if thats the case then i cant wait for college =)

ill keep you guys posted on my gear for college quest!
it may not be amazing but it will be quality =)

thanks for all the help

just one more thing...........
just out of curiosity what kind of tone do the ampeg amps have?
for example are they warm sounding or are they dark sounding, ect.?

i'm going to take your advice and avoid the pods for now

thanks for all the input!!!

You laugh at me because I'm differnet, i laugh at you becuase you are all the same

ahhh i see sorry to mis represent my self on the pod although they are rather cheap used on ebay

i forgot all about the little thing!!!! haha well ill be in the archives searching...

You laugh at me because I'm differnet, i laugh at you becuase you are all the same

4x10 is more powerful...in the sense that it moves more air. 4x10s normally have a tighter bass response. I have three amps with three different speaker configurations, and circuits. Also my 4x10 is open back and my 2x12 closed back, a huge difference in my opinion. And adding to the confusion is my Super, with its 4x10s, having a '59 bassman transformer.

I made the hour trip today to the music store, but to no avail. They didn't have any Jaguars or Jazzmasters or Mustangs. I'm keeping my eyes open because I'm hoping to pulling the trigger on an AVRI Jazzmaster soon...

i really haven't made any progress amp wise though........

You laugh at me because I'm differnet, i laugh at you becuase you are all the same

but you will realize how bad those guitars sound after playing one

I'm Guessing your talking about the mustangs.

I have another question, I'v heard over and over again that a reverb tank is very important in surf music, I listened to a clip in the gear demo section and I have to agree. I know about the Fender reverb tank, but I looked on ebay and i spotted a tube reverb tank made by premier (premier 90). Has anyone used one before, also I know tubes make all the difference but.... how much of a difference is there between a solidstate reverb tank and a tube reverb tank? I guess my question is will a solidstate reverb work for surf or would it be no better than an onboard reverb?

You laugh at me because I'm differnet, i laugh at you becuase you are all the same

Haha, just checking.

Ill do some research on the premier, but I guess it would be safer to stick with what is known to work.

Thats what I assumed, tubes are always to go, imo anyways.

You laugh at me because I'm differnet, i laugh at you becuase you are all the same

Riptide

..I know about the Fender reverb tank, but I looked on ebay and i spotted a tube reverb tank made by premier (premier 90). Has anyone used one before, also I know tubes make all the difference but.... how much of a difference is there between a solidstate reverb tank and a tube reverb tank? I guess my question is will a solidstate reverb work for surf or would it be no better than an onboard reverb?

I built a schematic exact Premier 90 Reverb unit only to be disappointed with the lack of "drip' that the 6G15 Reverb unit possesses. The Premier is more "cavey" sounding to me.

I found a whole thread on here about the Premier reverb, and it appears not to be what I want, so Im going to stick with what I know works.

thanks Zak and DGG for your input on the premier

You laugh at me because I'm differnet, i laugh at you becuase you are all the same