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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Permalink SURF BASS 101 !!!!!

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The Ventures bass lines, Sam from the Revels & Shorty (Link Wray) play some great stuff in the instro R&R vein. As far as 60's Surf Bands go, the bassist for the Lively Ones had some cool, if not unique lines (Surf Rider's major/ minor clash), and the bass line on Mr. Rebel can't be beat.

Rev

And anything by the Belairs Wink

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

Noel,
Surfaholic pretty much nailed the fingers/thumb/pick thing on the head. It is a matter of preference. I rarely use a pick live. I use my index and middle fingers for most of my playing. If I want a rounder tone with less attack I will use the outside edge of my thumb. Picks will usually give you more attack. I might use one for an effect, especially when recording.

As far as effects go, most surf stuff is clean and dry. A lot of times when you hear fuzzy or distorted bass on old records it is because engineers didn't know how to properly mic and record the electric bass. Again it is a matter of preference and application. I have used tremolo pedals, distortion, flangers to achieve a different sound in some songs, but rarely would I use a stompbox live. That's me. I love pedals, but not for bass. I have found that adding signal processors to the bass in a live setting can lead to getting buried in the mix. I like to have the bass right in their with the kick and snare and not have a bunch of interference. However if you are just playing at home, knock yourself out. There are more fuzz and reverb pedals available now than ever before.

The Exotics 1994-Current
The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org
www.thedoghouseflowers.com
www.uptownsavages.com

My favorite surf bass lick is by that one guy who played the awesome bassline to the Belairs' "Mr Moto"... Confused

also I'd like to chime in with a +2 for Ron Griffith of the Lively Ones... his old-school Mosrite bass lines tear it up...

Last edited: Aug 20, 2011 15:21:29

From what I understand, Griffith didn't use a Mosrite until after the Lively Ones' surf days.

And even though it's not surf, the Fireballs' bassist Stan Lark was incredible as well as Jet Harris of the Shadows. Check out the single Carioca by the Fireballs, which features George Tomsco on a Danelectro 6-string bass.

Gunshot is also really cool.

MTK

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Last edited: Aug 19, 2011 22:34:50

This thread has got me all jacked to try playing bass again after umpteen years. Tonight I pulled my '78 Signature Jazz Bass out of the closet, found a set of new strings, dusted off my old Crate B50 and had a go at playing with some of the classics. Transcendental fun, but also a reminder that bass is a whole different ball game. Thanks for rekindling the flame. BTW, I'm a index-middle finger-er Big Grin

You're not drunk if you can put your socks on while standing.

+1 on Rufus Reid's "Evolving Bassist": the newest edition has the updated book + a DVD

also...Carol Kaye's bass-learning stuff is super helpful...

i think Carol Kaye played on the Capitol studio versions of Dick Dale's "Miserlou" and "The Wedge and "A Run For Life"...certainly sounds like her playing...I do know she totally disses surf, she hated playing the simple structures and repetitive patterns demanded by surf-style producers back in the day...

dp wrote:

My favorite surf bass lick is by that one guy who
played the awesome bassline to the Belairs' "Mr
Moto"... Confused

Is that an inside joke, because the original Mr. Moto doesn't have bass? Uh-Oh

Last edited: Aug 20, 2011 19:51:54

You mean like in this interview?

dp wrote:

i think Carol Kaye played on the Capitol studio
versions of Dick Dale's "Miserlou" and "The Wedge and
"A Run For Life"...certainly sounds like her
playing...I do know she totally disses surf, she hated
playing the simple structures and repetitive patterns
demanded by surf-style producers back in the day...

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

websurfer wrote:

dp wrote:

My favorite surf bass lick is by that one guy who
played the awesome bassline to the Belairs' "Mr
Moto"... Confused

Is that an inside joke, because the original Mr. Moto
doesn't have bass? Uh-Oh

yeah...it's lame bass-player humor... the best bass player is the one that wasn't even there... Whatever

Last edited: Aug 20, 2011 22:58:50

+1 for Ron Griffith, Bob Bogle, Jim Sholstedt of the Jesters, Bosco from the Atlantics, and whoever played bass on Dick Dale's King of the Surf Guitar LP.

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

Both of Slacktone's bass dudes (Sam and Steve) are awesome in my book...and the Bambi Molester bassist is superb in the feel & groove department...

Martin Cilia plays bass on a lot of his own recordings and he's pretty good at it too

https://www.facebook.com/lostremoleros/

Last edited: Aug 26, 2011 07:56:00

?? Oh, never mind ....

dp wrote:

....and the Bambi Molester bassist is
superb in the feel & groove department...

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

CaptainSpringfield wrote:

+1 for Ron Griffith, Bob Bogle, Jim Sholstedt of the
Jesters, Bosco from the Atlantics, and whoever played
bass on Dick Dale's King of the Surf Guitar LP.

Agree That'd be my list, too (though I probably wouldn't have remembered to include the Jesters' guy, but would include Jet Harris).

A bassist that's really knocked me out recently is the guy from Finland's El Supernaut (about whom I've written elsewhere). He's just incredible! Check out some stuff by them here.

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

Last edited: Aug 26, 2011 14:14:16

Just 60??? Beacuse Actually I like The Lost Acapulco and Pollo del Mar bass compositions

But talking about Bass I think The Hellbenders bassist is the best, in all kind of genres, I don't know who is him but really I dont know how does he do that he's a master! Someone know if he is still playing???
Im a guitar player but I compose most of the Bass and the Hellbenders are my full inspiration, I want to have that bass feling and virtuosism

Also the Atlantics and Twnag Marvels Bass players are good

Ladies and Gentlemen.. Con Ustedes... LOS CARTABLANCA!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqV82GkmV3U&feature=related

Like us in Facebook!

I forgot the Space Cossacks Bass girl, I like her because she compose one the most symbolic Surf Songs in decades, Red Sunrise! and she also help to compose one of my fav song ''Departure'' =)

Ladies and Gentlemen.. Con Ustedes... LOS CARTABLANCA!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqV82GkmV3U&feature=related

Like us in Facebook!

Last edited: Aug 27, 2011 21:28:17

Semi-OT:

Is there anyone out there besides me who doesn't think "Red Sunrise" is one of the better Space Cossacks songs? Confused

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

Jet Harris once again...one of my fave bassists. This is his post-Shadows band and he's using a Bass VI. A friend of mine reminded me of this song and sent me the video, so I thought I'd post it here. LOVE the sound, even though it's not surf, it sure could be!

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Last edited: Aug 31, 2011 07:29:15

great song, wow!!
I gotta dig up a disc with more Jet Harris stuff,
the one I have has a few cool songs, and a lot of mild stuff.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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