deepeddy
Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 1263
Austin, Tejas
|
Posted on Jan 22 2012 02:21 PM
Surfbones wrote:
Currently we have two guitars, bass, drums and a sax
player. He usually plays tenor, sometimes alto. I love
the ingredient it adds. He can also play guitar, bass,
upright bass and drums. Do many of you have saxophone
in your bands?
The Nematoads added a tenor sax to our lineup a few months ago. Also have a trombone. Still looking for a new trumpet player, though, to complete the horn section.
— Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com
|
Ron-Rhoades
Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 958
Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii
|
Posted on Jan 22 2012 04:51 PM
The TO's have two guitarists....two really different style guitarists....but I would prefer three if there was another guy around to try and get that Astronauts sound.
In my studio recordings there is most always three guitar parts and I would like to have that sound 'live' too.
— The TakeOffs
"Kauai's Only All-Instrumental Surf Band"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TakeOffs/312866840587
|
DNAdude
Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
|
Posted on Jan 23 2012 06:25 AM
Generally, I prefer two. It takes a deft hand to get three guitars in without creating a mushy sound.
— Ralph
The Storm Surfers
Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.
Last edited: Jan 23, 2012 06:27:13
|
DNAdude
Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
|
Posted on Jan 23 2012 06:27 AM
Mind you, our bass player now has an 8-string bass which is kind of like having an extra rhythm guitar...
— Ralph
The Storm Surfers
Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.
|
krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
|
Posted on Feb 14 2012 10:13 AM
image
at least 3 guitars, 3 fender tanks, 3 Showmans!!!
(plus 1 p-bass and 1 dual Showman, 1 St.George trap kit)
— The Thunderchiefs
Last edited: Feb 14, 2012 10:14:24
|
vintagesurfdude
Joined: Nov 28, 2011
Posts: 795
Prescott Valley, AZ
|
Posted on Feb 14 2012 11:54 AM
Depends on the sound you're going for, I like playing as a trio (1 guitar, bass and drums), though there's no substitute for a great rhythm guitar. As a general rule every added instrument requires the rest of the band to leave space (play less stuff and present sonically different guitar tones) to keep the sound from turning to mush. unless of course mush was what you were after! :o) A great 3rd guitar add is a baritone.
|
tubeswell
Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 04:31 AM
I vote for at least 2, better still 3, good geetar players (in addition to the bass) who can double as keys, horns, or harp as needed.
Its instro-surf after all
— He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Surf Daddies
Last edited: Apr 07, 2012 04:31:54
|
Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 11:39 AM
Depends on who's handing out the pay after the show.
In todays economy, I'd say no more that two. Period
That Astronauts thing was just a fluke. And if you'll notice on You tube, most of the Astronauts vids show the band reduced from five guys down to four. A guy left, and one of the three guitarists moved over to bass making even the vaunted Astronauts just another two guitar band.
|
JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 11:58 AM
Louie7 wrote:
Depends on who's handing out the pay after the show.
In todays economy, I'd say no more that two. Period
That Astronauts thing was just a fluke. And if you'll notice on You tube, most of the Astronauts vids show the band reduced from five guys down to four. A guy left, and one of the three guitarists moved over to bass making even the vaunted Astronauts just another two guitar band.
Band members shouldn't split up money, it should all go to a band fund to pay for recording sessions, tours, gas, pressing an album.
And I don't think people with three guitars in the band are going to be copying the Astronauts thing. Much more likely you are going to have two lead voices playing some counterpoint or one rhythm, one lead, and one more ambient/open guitar.
|
Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 12:50 PM
JakeDobner wrote:
Band members shouldn't split up money, it should all go to a band fund to pay for recording sessions, tours, gas, pressing an album.
Louie7 wrote:
hehe That is amusing. Might have worked in the Soviet Union.. 
Not so much in the 'real' world. 
Last edited: Apr 07, 2012 12:54:08
|
IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 01:11 PM
Louie7 wrote:
hehe That is amusing. Might have worked in the Soviet Union..
Not so much in the 'real' world.
Well, it depends what you want to do. In the Madeira we always put the money we earn into the band fund. It's what's financed our recordings as well as the touring to more far-away locales (which are almost always money-losing propositions and require outside subsidization). Obviously if you're playing surf music to make some extra money, than this is not what you want to do, but we don't. We play surf music just cause we love it, and because we want to leave behind some good music that will have been heard by as many people as possible. If that's your goal, then Jake's advice is completely valid and it has nothing to do with communism.
— 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: Apr 07, 2012 13:13:00
|
Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 01:31 PM
 IvanP wrote:
Louie7 wrote:
hehe That is amusing. Might have worked in the Soviet Union..
Not so much in the 'real' world.
Well, it depends what you want to do. In the Madeira we always put the money we earn into the band fund. It's what's financed our recordings as well as the touring to more far-away locales (which are almost always money-losing propositions and require outside subsidization). Obviously if you're playing surf music to make some extra money, than this is not what you want to do, but we don't. We play surf music just cause we love it, and because we want to leave behind some good music that will have been heard by as many people as possible. If that's your goal, then Jake's advice is completely valid and it has nothing to do with communism.
OK... what you are saying is that "playing surf music to make some extra money" and "Playing surf music just because we love it etc." are mutually exclusive.
Not buying that. A musician can love the music AND play for extra money at the same time. And how do you define extra?
But, in the interest of good will....
hey, if everyone agrees they don't need to get paid, then so much the better. I guess.
Whatever floats yer surfboard, as they say. As long as it doesn't lead to fist-fights. 
Last edited: Apr 07, 2012 13:36:11
|
IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 01:38 PM
Louie7 wrote:
OK... what you are saying is that "playing surf music to make some extra money" and "Playing surf music just because we love it etc." are mutually exclusive.
Well, I didn't mean to imply that. I guess I meant to say that you can either play surf music to make money or to release original recordings and go on tours. I most certainly didn't mean to imply that anybody that plays for money therefore doesn't love surf music as much! Sorry if that's how it came off.
Not buying that. A musician can love the music AND play for extra money at the same time.
No doubt. But how many can release original surf music CDs and tour and make money? I know some can, but very few.
And how do you define extra?
Simply as money that's intended to supplement one's primary source of income.
But, in the interest of good will.... hey, if everyone agrees they don't need to get paid, then so much the better. I guess. Whatever floats yer surfboard, as they say.
Indeed. That's what I meant to say above. It just depends on what your intentions are.
— 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
|
Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 01:39 PM
When I started reading this thread I thought 2 guitars for sure. But the more I think about this topic, the more I understand there is no correct answer.
It all depends on the sound you want, and what and how you play. A rhythm guitar would just get lost on stage with Dick Dale and competing with him would be either pointless or aggrivating. There are lots of great 3-piece surf combos.
But, other bands orchestrate their music completely differently and 2 or more guitars complement and support each other. Just one listen to Ewa on the Beach easily demostrates that point.
One thing struck me while reading Ivan's production notes for Tribal Fires. He often recorded extra guitar tracks beside just the lead and rhythm parts. How would these extra guitar parts be performed live on stage without extra guitarists on stage?
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
|
JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 02:03 PM
Louie7 wrote:
hehe That is amusing. Might have worked in the Soviet Union..
Not so much in the 'real' world.
|
Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 02:09 PM
Offtopic a bit,
I just listened again to the Astronaus, man they were such a radical band.
Look like nice boys, playing those super simplistic child like melodies, but with the reverbs on 10 (or close, so it seems)! And everyone is reverbrated. No balance, no nothing, just all-out headbanging drip. Amazing.
Even today, nothing sounds quite like them. So extreme, they just didn't give a s***. The mix is also quite crazy at times, love it. Like "hey, lets turn everything (including drums) down expect the lead for 8 bars, why not..." you just don't do that  But it's awesome. They had balls in the 60's.
Same goes for the Atlantics. I loved Madeira's Ivan comment on one of their live vids covering "Giant", where he goes something like "the same time the Beatles were singing about want to hold your hand, the Atlantics were ripping off the heads of their audiences..."
Last edited: Apr 07, 2012 14:24:12
|
JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 02:11 PM
Other than an inital contribution to some t-shirts and monthly rent on our practice space I dont' remember ever putting a dime into the band. That inclues recording two CDs at a nice studio, getting those mastered, buying more t-shirts, getting one CD pressed, buying a cheap van, going on tour twice, and paying for gas as we went out of town regularly.
This all would have had to come out of our pockets if we didn't pool it in the band fund. As we were poor college students this was an absolute life saver. There are high costs associated with being in a band, at minimum transporting gear. The large majority of bands keep a band fund, and every band beyond being local weekend warriors keeps a bank account with funds for keeping the band rolling along, paying staff, buying stuff to services the instruments, and for any other sort of situation where it isn't a personal buy.
|
IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 02:24 PM
Noel wrote:
When I started reading this thread I thought 2 guitars for sure. But the more I think about this topic, the more I understand there is no correct answer.
Absolutely.
It all depends on the sound you want, and what and how you play. A rhythm guitar would just get lost on stage with Dick Dale and competing with him would be either pointless or aggrivating.
Though it worked quite well with Dick's music in the '60s, a lot of which featured prominent rhythm guitar and saxes, etc. I must say I prefer that sound to his 3-piece sound, which is too thin on harmonic elements.
But, other bands orchestrate their music completely differently and 2 or more guitars complement and support each other. Just one listen to Ewa on the Beach easily demostrates that point.
Oh yeah!
One thing struck me while reading Ivan's production notes for Tribal Fires. He often recorded extra guitar tracks beside just the lead and rhythm parts. How would these extra guitar parts be performed live on stage without extra guitarists on stage?
Just turn up a bit more and play a bit faster! 
I think since the mid-'60s Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, bands understood that the studio situation is different to the live situation. A studio recording, which may be listened to at a low volume, often needs to be fleshed out more fully, with more subtlety and more parts. However, a live performance (at least by a rock'n'roll band) is not about that at all - it's about power and energy, and simplicity works well in that setting. So, that's what we try to do, as well.
— 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
|
Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 03:59 PM
DreadInBabylon wrote:
Offtopic a bit,
I just listened again to the Astronaus, man they were such a radical band.
Look like nice boys, playing those super simplistic child like melodies, but with the reverbs on 10 (or close, so it seems)! And everyone is reverbrated. No balance, no nothing, just all-out headbanging drip. Amazing.
Even today, nothing sounds quite like them. So extreme, they just didn't give a s***. The mix is also quite crazy at times, love it. Like "hey, lets turn everything (including drums) down expect the lead for 8 bars, why not..." you just don't do that But it's awesome. They had balls in the 60's.
Same goes for the Atlantics. I loved Madeira's Ivan comment on one of their live vids covering "Giant", where he goes something like "the same time the Beatles were singing about want to hold your hand, the Atlantics were ripping off the heads of their audiences..."
I wonder how many here know that The Astronauts original name (pre-Baja, that is) was: THE STORM TROOPERS.
It's funny about that band. They recorded great 3 guitar surf, but when the band gigged, they fell back to their Storm Trooper roots. Chuck Berry, R&B, and 50's rock kinda stuff.
Yet, when called upon to move their career forward, they started recording Hot Rod songs like there was no tomorrow.
The really odd thing, IN MY VIEW, is that Bob Demmon (the older guy in the group) was a really good singer, but the majority of the vocals somehow went to Rich Fifield who was not really that good, although passable.
Also, their 3 guitar follow up to Baja..HOT DOGGIN' was released as a single, but not featured on an Lp. It's a great track cast in the same mold as Baja. I love it.
As far as vocals go, I don't really like any of them. But, IN MY VIEW, the best and most successful one is 'Competition Coupe'. Professionally penned, superbly arranged, recorded fantastically - it was a chart dud.
The Bridge in 'Competition Coupe' is a marvel of Usher/Christian perfection and I'd give a hundred dollars to have heard a Beach Boys version of that song.
whew.....as Brian Wilson would say.
|
Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19342
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
|
Posted on Apr 07 2012 04:45 PM
Louie7 wrote:
I wonder how many here know that The Astronauts original name (pre-Baja, that is) was: THE STORM TROOPERS.
Lots of folks here have Bob Dalley's Surfin' Guitars book, and it has a great writeup on the band, along with this trivia question.
It's funny about that band. They recorded great 3 guitar surf, but when the band gigged, they fell back to their Storm Trooper roots. Chuck Berry, R&B, and 50's rock kinda stuff.
That's mainly because the surf stuff was at the insistence of the label.
Yet, when called upon to move their career forward, they started recording Hot Rod songs like there was no tomorrow.
Again, this was the label steering the band's direction.
Somewhat recently someone posted some clips of an Astronauts documentary on YouTube. There was also a film made on either the 60's Colorado music scene or this one particular club in Colorado and it had a bunch of time devoted to the Astronauts. I haven't heard if these were officially released 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
|
May Birthdays 
