Surf Feedback

wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Jan 09 2008 10:46 PM

I was just wondering people's thoughts on the use of feedback in surf music. It seems it doesn't get much use in surf, which makes me think it might be unpopular (or maybe considered inapplicable), but I have to admit I like the sound for the most part. I think it can sound really cool and work to one's benefit when applied well.

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Jan 09 2008 11:07 PM

Surf Coasters do it very well. The problem with feedback is most surf guitarists don't have enough high gain experience to properly control feedback, I sure know I don't. Also, a good portion of us are anti-pedal board and feedback would 99% of the time require that.

I love bands like the Raveonettes which include surf and distortion-laden guitars, so I would love more experimental surf albums. Personally, my ideal surf album would be a mix of the Raveonettes, Postal Service, and the surf sound of Mel-Tones or Penetrators.

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loophole

Joined: Nov 28, 2007
Posts: 15
Belluno - Italy

Posted on Jan 10 2008 04:44 AM

Try with "Barbed Wire Kisses" by The Jesus and Mary Chain; maybe that's what you're looking for !

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Surfgitar

Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
United States

Posted on Jan 10 2008 09:41 AM

We have a few songs that use controlled feedback. One in particular, Witches Rock, Richards guitar uses light feedback to produce a ghostly sound - it's really very cool.

The only downsound to using feedback is when the conditions (or gear) don't cooperate and you either get nothing, or uncontrolled screeching that sounds like crap.

—

CUTBACK

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zak

Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
1 Link Pin

Posted on Jan 10 2008 10:20 AM

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 16:20:43

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kenposurf

Joined: Feb 23, 2007
Posts: 1650
Santa Rosa, CA
United States

Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:31 PM

yep..it's the pedal issue as mentioned...we can pull off some nice pinched harmonics and chimes with the basic setup many of us use....

—

www.northofmalibu.com

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:50 PM

kenposurf
yep..it's the pedal issue as mentioned...we can pull off some nice pinched harmonics and chimes with the basic setup many of us use....

I dig the "picked-harmonic-decays-to-feedback" for surf...kind of like "Slipkid" sounding feedback...

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CaptainSpringfield

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
United States

Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:51 PM

JakeDobner
Surf Coasters do it very well.

Not to mention PDM, MoAM, and several other bands whose names can't be represented with acronyms.

-Warren

—

That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:53 PM

No one has mentioned the Mermen yet?

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Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

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zak

Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
1 Link Pin

Posted on Jan 10 2008 07:01 PM

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 16:20:51

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jan 10 2008 07:05 PM

Just trying to get a rise out of you Zak. ;)

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Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Jan 11 2008 01:42 AM

Brian
No one has mentioned the Mermen yet?

Ok, here goes. . . Ahem. . ."The Mermen"

Now stone me.

Seriously, I'd say Jim Thomas effectively owns everyone in the feedback department. He overdoes it at times for sure, but for the most part I really love the crazy trippy feedback stuff the Mermen do.

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jan 11 2008 08:00 AM

I've said it before, but I like the Mermen. I tend to like trad surf the most, but the Mermen are really good at what they do. I think that Live at the Haunted House disc is excellent.

When you first posted I immediately thought of the feedback at the beginning of Krill Slippin'. Not overdone, just perfect to intro the song.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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Rio

Joined: May 22, 2006
Posts: 500
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada

Posted on Jan 11 2008 08:33 AM

Obviously, it depends on the overall sound of the band-- can't see too much of it in a traditional surf band, but if you play loud enough for a little distortion, you're usually loud enough for a little feedback, the only issue will be how close to you amp do you need to be.... or if you're close & still not getting it, then as Zak put it, you're not loud enough!

I also agree there shouldn't be a need for a pedal to achieve it although with louder amps in a smaller space, I will use an MXR Micro-amp or similar pedal to boost the signal enough to get some pretty natural overdrive etc

Anyway, I see a role for it, but it's not gonna be for everybody, apart from the Cool and the Wacky

—

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons

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wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Jan 09 2008 10:46 PM I was just wondering people's thoughts on the use of feedback in surf music. It seems it doesn't get much use in surf, which makes me think it might be unpopular (or maybe considered inapplicable), but I have to admit I like the sound for the most part. I think it can sound really cool and work to one's benefit when applied well. Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Jan 09 2008 11:07 PM Surf Coasters do it very well. The problem with feedback is most surf guitarists don't have enough high gain experience to properly control feedback, I sure know I don't. Also, a good portion of us are anti-pedal board and feedback would 99% of the time require that. I love bands like the Raveonettes which include surf and distortion-laden guitars, so I would love more experimental surf albums. Personally, my ideal surf album would be a mix of the Raveonettes, Postal Service, and the surf sound of Mel-Tones or Penetrators. Top
loophole Joined: Nov 28, 2007 Posts: 15 Belluno - Italy	Posted on Jan 10 2008 04:44 AM Try with "Barbed Wire Kisses" by The Jesus and Mary Chain; maybe that's what you're looking for ! Top
Surfgitar Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 1342 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	Posted on Jan 10 2008 09:41 AM We have a few songs that use controlled feedback. One in particular, Witches Rock, Richards guitar uses light feedback to produce a ghostly sound - it's really very cool. The only downsound to using feedback is when the conditions (or gear) don't cooperate and you either get nothing, or uncontrolled screeching that sounds like crap. — CUTBACK Top
zak Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728	Posted on Jan 10 2008 10:20 AM This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 16:20:43 Top
kenposurf Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 1650 Santa Rosa, CA	Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:31 PM yep..it's the pedal issue as mentioned...we can pull off some nice pinched harmonics and chimes with the basic setup many of us use.... — www.northofmalibu.com Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:50 PM kenposurf yep..it's the pedal issue as mentioned...we can pull off some nice pinched harmonics and chimes with the basic setup many of us use.... I dig the "picked-harmonic-decays-to-feedback" for surf...kind of like "Slipkid" sounding feedback... Top
CaptainSpringfield Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 4387 Under the Sun	Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:51 PM JakeDobner Surf Coasters do it very well. Not to mention PDM, MoAM, and several other bands whose names can't be represented with acronyms. -Warren — That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it. Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19265 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jan 10 2008 06:53 PM No one has mentioned the Mermen yet? — 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
zak Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728	Posted on Jan 10 2008 07:01 PM This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 16:20:51 Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19265 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jan 10 2008 07:05 PM Just trying to get a rise out of you Zak. ;) — 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
wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Jan 11 2008 01:42 AM Brian No one has mentioned the Mermen yet? Ok, here goes. . . Ahem. . ."The Mermen" Now stone me. Seriously, I'd say Jim Thomas effectively owns everyone in the feedback department. He overdoes it at times for sure, but for the most part I really love the crazy trippy feedback stuff the Mermen do. Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19265 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jan 11 2008 08:00 AM I've said it before, but I like the Mermen. I tend to like trad surf the most, but the Mermen are really good at what they do. I think that Live at the Haunted House disc is excellent. When you first posted I immediately thought of the feedback at the beginning of Krill Slippin'. Not overdone, just perfect to intro the song. — 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
Rio Joined: May 22, 2006 Posts: 500 Hamilton, Ontario	Posted on Jan 11 2008 08:33 AM Obviously, it depends on the overall sound of the band-- can't see too much of it in a traditional surf band, but if you play loud enough for a little distortion, you're usually loud enough for a little feedback, the only issue will be how close to you amp do you need to be.... or if you're close & still not getting it, then as Zak put it, you're not loud enough! I also agree there shouldn't be a need for a pedal to achieve it although with louder amps in a smaller space, I will use an MXR Micro-amp or similar pedal to boost the signal enough to get some pretty natural overdrive etc Anyway, I see a role for it, but it's not gonna be for everybody, apart from the Cool and the Wacky — http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons Top

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