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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Music General Discussion »

Permalink History of Surf and Teles

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Man, sounds like you just like to argue... but you can't argue with facts.

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Well, you can't deny there is a Tele all over this (my favorite) surf classic ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMheyWm2XWc

image

I'm on TDPRI under the same user name. I recall this thread. I think Elliot is overstating the case a bit, but there is some truth to what he says.

The first wave, especially at the beginning, had a number of bands (10, 15, 20, ?) -- the ones we all recognize -- that played all the instruments internally and Teles were probably rare in those instances.

As alluded to by Elliott, towards the end of the first wave and into the mid-60s, there were a slew of surf and hot rod albums put out by the session cats associated with the Wrecking Crew, using names like the Marketts, Avalanches, Darts, De-Fenders, Deuce Coupes, etc.

I think it is fair to say that of the Wrecking Crew guitarists, Tommy Tedesco (Tele) was by far the most prolific in this era, with Jerry Cole (mostly Strat?) and James Burton (Tele) probably 2-3. Beyond that, and just based on my anecdotal understanding and lots of reading, Glen Campbell (Tele, Strat), Howard Roberts (jazz box, Tele) and Billy Strange (mostly JM?) were probably on the most recordings. Also, Lolly Vegas (Tele) played guitar on the Deuce Coupes sessions. So it is logical to deduce that a significant percentage of the session cat's surf output was played on Teles.

All that being said, I don't think too many of surf's most memorable hits came off these albums.

Tommy Tedesco & Carol Kaye
image

elreydlp

crumble
Telecasters make a good rhythm guitar but my understanding is they were designed for lead/finger picking. Stratocasters for rhythm..

Not quite Crumble. BOTH guitars were designed to excel on both rhythm & lead. Leo saw the Strat as a natural evolution of the Telecaster. Marketing whiz Don Randall was the person who recommended differentiating the Tele from the Strat.

Sorry, i'm a little out of sync here. Yes, i understand both Strat and Tele are versatile but the Telecaster's bridge cover is a nice place for the palm and suggests a picking guitar.
The Stratocaster with three pickups and extra tone control should offer a wider range of sounds for rhythm playing.

Voodoo_Idol
I think Elliot is overstating the case a bit

Precisely, my point. But he's overstating more than just a bit. Tedesco was a Tele guy but let's review other well known surf/hot rod session guys...

Richie Podolor - Strat
Glenn Campbell - Strat
Jerry Cole - Strat/Jazzmaster
Billy Strange - Strat/Jazzmaster
Davie Allan - Jazzmaster
Paul Johnson - Strat

Also, he suggests that the Wrecking Crew played on the early Beach Boys Hot Rod/Surf songs which is also incorrect. Brian began using them heavily later. On their early stuff Carl played a Jazzmaster, Al Jardine played a Strat and David Marks thier original rhythm guitarist who plays on their early hits and is often overlooked used a Jazzmaster. In addition, The Deadly Ones is not a Wrecking Crew album, so we can only speculate what is being played on that.

I've got nothing against Tele's. Booker T and the MG's make very nice use of them. But for Elliot to state they were widely used in surf/hot rod sessions is simply incorrect.

Here's a nice cover shot of session ace Billy Strange and his fine collection of guitars. Hmm, no Tele's.

Billy played on Jan and Dean's Dead Man's Curve and many surf/hot rod sessions.

image

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shivers13
Man, sounds like you just like to argue... but you can't argue with facts.

As soon as you find something in this thread that resembles an objective fact and not an opinion based on personal taste, you be sure to let me know. Very Happy Headbang

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

Man, if you can't see that you might need glasses. Very Happy

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shivers13
Man, if you can't see that you might need glasses. Very Happy

Oh there are facts as to what player played what guitar. But as to whether or not a guitar is good for surf, that's completely subjective. That's just like, your opinion, man.

image

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

It's obvious you just like to argue. How many more examples do you want?

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shivers13
It's obvious you just like to argue. How many more examples do you want?

Examples of what?

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

Haven't you read any of these posts? I don't feel I have to spell it out for you but I will. This thread is not about whether Tele's are good or bad for surf music. Eliot from the Cars stated something that is grossly incorrect.... Tele's were widely used in surf sessions of the sixties. If you read what other session guys played you would see that the statement is wrong. That's the point of this thread.

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shivers13
Haven't you read any of these posts? I don't feel I have to spell it out for you but I will. This thread is not about whether Tele's are good or bad for surf music. Eliot from the Cars stated something that ids grossly incorrect.... Tele's were widely used in surf sessions of the sixties. If you read what other session guys played you would see that the statement is wrong. That's the point of this thread.

I've never made any argument whatsoever about whether early surf session guys played Teles or not. Perhaps you're confusing me with someone else?

If I were a 60s surf session guy, I wouldn't have picked a Tele. Those guys were playing stock guitars, and I wouldn't play a guitar that didn't have a vibrato.

Today, however, it seems like everyone modifies their instruments, and a Tele works great for surf with the addition of a Bigsby.

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

This thread wasn't started to answer the question "can you use a tele for surf", it was about the assertion made by someone that teles were heavily used by session players on surf records.

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Brian
This thread wasn't started to answer the question "can you use a tele for surf", it was about the assertion made by someone that teles were heavily used by session players on surf records.

Correct! Thanks, Brian. That's the point of the thread.

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Brian
This thread wasn't started to answer the question "can you use a tele for surf", it was about the assertion made by someone that teles were heavily used by session players on surf records.

Yes, I know.

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

shivers13
Also, he suggests that the Wrecking Crew played on the early Beach Boys Hot Rod/Surf songs which is also incorrect. Brian began using them heavily later. On their early stuff Carl played a Jazzmaster, Al Jardine played a Strat and David Marks thier original rhythm guitarist who plays on their early hits and is often overlooked used a Jazzmaster. In addition, The Deadly Ones is not a Wrecking Crew album, so we can only speculate what is being played on that.

image

Carl used a Jaguar not a Jazzmaster.

"as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"

https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/

BillAqua

shivers13
Carl used a Jaguar not a Jazzmaster.

I miss-typed. You are correct, a Jaguar. And Al Jardine a Strat and David Marks a Jazzmaster.

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Nokie Edwards supposedly used a Telecaster in the studio before the Mosrites.

"NOKIE: In the beginning I played a Telecaster and when we were involved with Mosrite, I played them from 1963 to 1966. Then I started to play my Nokie Telecaster. "
http://www.guitarsam.com/interviews/nokie_edwards.htm

As for the other argument about Teles not making good surf guitars because they are too twangy. Anyone who believes that needs to spend more time with a Tele selected with the neck pickup on. Or try a Tele with flatwounds. If someone is that serious about making "the" surf sound they are probably going to be using a Fender reverb tank on high settings anyway which at that point isn't going to make that much of a difference whether or not your playing a Tele or an offset Fender.

"as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"

https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/

shivers13

BillAqua

shivers13
Carl used a Jaguar not a Jazzmaster.

I miss-typed. You are correct, a Jaguar. And Al Jardine a Strat and David Marks a Jazzmaster.

Every picture I've seen of David Marks he had a Strat in the Beach Boys and then a Jaguar with the Marksmen. That said I sold my Dalley book so I can't confirm any of this.

"as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"

https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/

You are in fact correct but I've seen him pictured with a Jazzmaster too but certainly not with a Tele, which is the point of this thread. There's also a pic of Glenn Campbell live onstage in the early sixties with The Beach Boys (he was filling in on bass when Brian got sick). But he's playing a Strat!

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