JO, my take on the problem you are having finding "the right" bassist for your project is this:

An experienced, skilled bassist that can handle surf bass (which in the bass world isn't considered to be all that difficult to play competently...) is likely already in another band. These guys usually aren't real excited about getting into a start-up band unless they are familiar with one or more of the other musicians involved and are fairly certain that decent gigs can be booked. Their reasoning is that there are so many new bands out there that either fall apart quickly or morph into "lets get together and play for fun" bands.

The latter scenario is fine if just jamming with your buds is what you are looking for but it sounds like that's not what you want and I applaud you for that. The reality is that "the right" bassist (or drummer, guitarist or singer, for that matter) can be a very difficult musician to attract if your standards and goals are high. Some of the older, seasoned guys like me will seek an existing, seasoned, working band rather than deal with the slow-to-fruition process of joining a start-up. The experienced skilled guys have been down that road in the past and many are likely not anxious to do that again. But keep looking! In a market like L.A., that "right bassist" just might be out there after all if you search in the right places.

Anyway...that's my take based on 52 years of guitar and bass gigging in Surf, Top 40, Traditional Country, and Corporate Party bands that played everything from Duke Ellington to ZZ Top. And yes, a couple of the early ones were start-ups that lasted longer than I expected.

Jack
aka WoodyJ

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

JO, My intent was not to paint a bleak picture, just to insert some reality. Some of the bands I played in over the years had a heck of a time replacing a band member who exited. Sometimes the replacement worked out great, other times, not so much. One thing thing I failed to mention was that while there are a plethora of guitarists out there, that is not the case with bassists. And among that group, particularly with some of the younger bassists, their musical interests lean more toward hardcore rock or punk which is far removed from trad Surf. I like Iron Maiden a lot, but emulating Steve Harris would not endear me to the leader of a good trad Surf band.

A good Blues bassist could be a good fit for your group if he/she is or was familiar with the surf style or was willing to learn. One way to accomplish that would be to burn a CD of a surf compilation (or part thereof) and give it to a prospective bassist to listen to and learn a few specific songs prior to the live audition.

IMO Surf bass isn't all that difficult to play effectively. A showboat Bassist who like to express his/her Stanley Clarke virtuosity by playing 4X more notes than are necessary is a terrible fit for trad Surf. Locking in with the kick drum, playing "in the pocket" and understanding scale progressions and having pro-level equipment are enough. The 1960's studio guys understood that when the truly great music of that time was recorded.

My very first band was a start-up comprised of four high school friends who wanted to emulate The Ventures. We were not stellar musicians when we began but we were all on the same page regarding style and goals and we got progressively better in time. Over a half century later, we are still together with two original members.

So, yes, a start-up band can be reasonably successful if the right people with a common mindset and a modicum of talent are able to find each other. Happy hunting, JO!

Jack
aka WoodyJ

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

Resurrecting this zombie of a thread to ask a question of you all - is playing surf bass enjoyable in a non-band setting (eg. for someone that doesn't have time to be in a band right now)? I'm considering jumping back onto bass due to physical challenges with mastering guitar. Previously, I found playing bass at home to be a bit boring but maybe I'm just doing it wrong. Any thoughts? How do you guys keep it interesting? I love surf music and if surf bass can scratch that itch then maybe I'll go for it. Right now, my basses are sitting in a rack with other unused guitars, their 9 volt batteries dead (their both active pickup units) and my bass amp is tucked away in a closet.

Last edited: Apr 13, 2020 14:29:40

viking_power wrote:

Resurrecting this zombie of a thread to ask a question of you all - is playing surf bass enjoyable in a non-band setting (eg. for someone that doesn't have time to be in a band right now)? I'm considering jumping back onto bass due to physical challenges with mastering guitar. Previously, I found playing bass at home to be a bit boring but maybe I'm just doing it wrong. Any thoughts? How do you guys keep it interesting? I love surf music and if surf bass can scratch that itch then maybe I'll go for it. Right now, my basses are sitting in a rack with other unused guitars, their 9 volt batteries dead (their both active pickup units) and my bass amp is tucked away in a closet.

If playing 1-4-5's on early surf music bores you on bass and if there is another music genre that you like, turn up your stereo, crank up your amp and play along with those songs! I think you will find it to be interesting and fun, plus your bass chops will improve greatly. Then add some surf to the mix. Much of the non-traditional current surf releases have much more interesting bass parts than the vintage stuff.

In addition to my practice amp I have a silent practicing/playing setup in my home studio that keeps my wife happy. But when she is out shopping, visiting grand kids or whatever, I crank up my bass friend, Mr. Showman.

Jack
aka WoodyJ

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

Last edited: Apr 14, 2020 17:25:44

WoodyJ wrote:

viking_power wrote:

Resurrecting this zombie of a thread to ask a question of you all - is playing surf bass enjoyable in a non-band setting (eg. for someone that doesn't have time to be in a band right now)? I'm considering jumping back onto bass due to physical challenges with mastering guitar. Previously, I found playing bass at home to be a bit boring but maybe I'm just doing it wrong. Any thoughts? How do you guys keep it interesting? I love surf music and if surf bass can scratch that itch then maybe I'll go for it. Right now, my basses are sitting in a rack with other unused guitars, their 9 volt batteries dead (their both active pickup units) and my bass amp is tucked away in a closet.

If playing 1-4-5's on early surf music bores you on bass and if there is another music genre that you like, turn up your stereo, crank up your amp and play along with those songs! I think you will find it to be interesting and fun, plus your bass chops will improve greatly. Then add some surf to the mix. Much of the non-traditional current surf releases have much more interesting bass parts than the vintage stuff.

In addition to my practice amp I have a silent practicing/playing setup in my home studio that keeps my wife happy. But when she is out shopping, visiting grand kids or whatever, I crank up my bass friend, Mr. Showman.

Thanks for the reply. Have you always been a bass player?

Thanks for the reply. Have you always been a bass player?

You are welcome! I started playing bass in 1973, guitar before that in 1964. Bass has been my preference for a long time.

The Doobie Brothers' "China Grove" was the song that convinced me to buy my first bass. I couldn't get Tiran Porter's awesome bass part out of my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udSHItTjWyQ

Right now I'm working on a recording project of just songs that I really like, most of which were '70's and '80's radio hits that have great bass parts. Only one is a surf song (Blue Stingrays "Blue Venus") and the bass on it is super simple. In case you didn't know, the Blue Stingrays were members of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers without Tom and with a different drummer. The Stingrays' Surf-N'-Burn album or CD is a must have!

Another song on the project is "Stop Draggin' my Heart Around". Duck Dunn was the bass player on the original record.

Jack
aka WoodyJ

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

Last edited: Apr 14, 2020 22:21:42

Have you had the finger looked at by a doctor - preferably a hand specialist? When I was playing and rehearsing regularly in a band that I was in at the time, I developed "trigger finger", aka Tenostenosing synovitis four times, two of which required surgery. Everything is fine now.

My hand surgeon told me that hand issues are most common with musicians and mechanics.

Jack
aka WoodyJ

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

Jack, with your years of experience playing different styles, you may be the best person to ask this question that has been kicking around in my head for awhile: is there actually such a thing as "surf bass"? If so, what are the features which characterize it? The closest I can come is Pipeline where the bassist uses hammer ons (Miserlou possibly as well). So far I have found Bob Bogle to be the closest to someone who actually plays a style specific to instrumental (and surf) music. It may make sense as he came from lead guitar to bass. Otherwise, the bass really doesn't use reverb, tremolo picking, tremolo bar, etc.

WoodyJ wrote:

**viking_power wrote:

The story on the finger: broke it on a kid’s forehead when I was 15 and staying at a youth home. The guy stole $8 from me. I won the fight but lost in the end as I have this finger for a trophy. Had steel pins put in it when it happened and it just didn’t set right. It’s frozen due to scar tissue all around that joint. There’s some movement but not a lot. Been to a doc within the last couple of years and was told that the potential pain might not be worth the effort to go in and clean out the scar tissue. I suppose I could get a second opinion but I do get by with it fine as is with the exception of my guitar struggles. When it comes to bass and the single note playing, I definitely have an easier time than I do with 6 string guitar and chords.

Yikes....that is a much bigger deal than my trigger finger damages. If it was me I'd get a second opinion but that is a personal decision. I was very fortunate to find a really great hand surgeon when I lived in Atlanta. My very best wishes to you!
Thanks. Maybe I will get a second opinion. Or like I’ve been thinking, start playing bass again.

websurfer wrote:

Jack, with your years of experience playing different styles, you may be the best person to ask this question that has been kicking around in my head for awhile: is there actually such a thing as "surf bass"? If so, what are the features which characterize it? The closest I can come is Pipeline where the bassist uses hammer ons (Miserlou possibly as well). So far I have found Bob Bogle to be the closest to someone who actually plays a style specific to instrumental (and surf) music. It may make sense as he came from lead guitar to bass. Otherwise, the bass really doesn't use reverb, tremolo picking, tremolo bar, etc.

Interesting question! I've never seen a published definition or discussion of what defines the term "surf bass" but my observation would be that it is a bass line that fits a particular surf-oriented song that is neither too simple nor too complex and locks in well with the kick drum. In other words, "just right". Sometimes less really is more! Then again, I am not a fan of overplayed bass lines or overly extended lead guitar solos.

One nuance on some early surf songs is an occasional 'half-step slide' that is easier to listen to or play than to define. It is on the bass part on The Surfaris' "Wipe Out", DD's "Misirlou" and other surf songs that don't come to mind at the moment.

Jack
aka WoodyJ

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

Last edited: Apr 15, 2020 19:13:40