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June Birthdays
Rockabilly style slap bass
Joined: Jun 17, 2014 Posts: 11 |
Posted on Jun 24 2014 08:55 PM
Are there any surf bands that use this? Direct me towards them, please. I'm guessing they're slightly faster bands? Only real "surfey" bands I can think of off the top that use this of my head are psychobilly bands, I can't think of any instro bands offhand, I can't remember ever having come across one. Reverend Horton Heat do quite a bit of surfey stuff for example, is there a band that plays only like that, so to speak? Suggestions, if any? |
Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 614 Netherlands, Europe 
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Posted on Jun 25 2014 02:51 AM
I love the combination of a slapping bass with loud surf guitars! But it is a really rare combination and there are not a lot of bands that play strictly instrumental rockabilly with a surf guitar, or surfabilly like I call it My best suggestion is The Ramblin Ambassadors from Canada, they use a standing bass all the time. It is the only band I know of that does strictly surfabilly instrumentals. Brent Cooper used to be the guitar player of Huevos Rancheros before the Ambassadors. They have a rockabilly feel too. Both bands are worth checking out and if you can find an album, BUY IT! Some Rockabilly and Psychobilly bands do surf instrumentals too. The Meteors and Brian Setzer have an instrumental album, although both are not really surf. The Meteors covered a lot of surftunes in the past, you can find them on their regular (live) albums. One of the best surf songs with a slapping bass in my record collection is Darrel Higham's version of the Ventures 'Walk don't Run'. It is on his Urban Jamboree album. He is the husband and guitarplayer of Imelda May, but he has more (solo)albums out than his wife. Of course the cramps come in mind, but they never or seldom used a standing bass and only did a few instrumentals. They early incarnations even used no bass at all. But they are a big influence on most rockabilly and surf musicians. I hope someone has more suggestions than I came up with... Here's a live song from the Ramblin Ambassadors: —www.alohasluts.com Last edited: Jun 25, 2014 02:55:29 |
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Joined: Jun 17, 2014 Posts: 11 |
Posted on Jun 25 2014 09:16 AM
Haha perfect, that's exactly what I was on about. I guess Surfabilly is a good way of describing it. The Rambling Ambassadors clip sounds in the same ballpark as Rev Horton Heat instrumentals I guess. It kind of reminds me heavily of Ennio Morricone as well. This Morricone/Surf connection I've noticed is pretty strong. That music from a lot of Westerns and Surf music seem to be extremely similar. I love that sound. You know what? I play slap bass as well as guitar and I was actually thinking about moving to the Netherlands (the Hague I think) a couple of years back by sheer coincidence. I got really pissed off with London. That idea kind of dissolved though as it was only ever really at that point a fantasy, and just wasn't do-able at the time, but if it ever comes to fruition I will be straight in touch and - bang. You have a slap bass player (if you haven't got one by then of course). Hahaaaaa Edit - just checking you page out, this Link-a-Billy is a great track, of the style we're talking about. I guess on the slower stuff the upright just plays pizz, right? Last edited: Jun 25, 2014 09:20:31 |
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Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 614 Netherlands, Europe
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Posted on Jun 27 2014 03:17 AM
The Link-a-Billy track is actually a speed up version of Link Wray's Rawhide. I found a great live clip of it recently on youtube, see below. Cool Stray Cats stand-up drummer in 1959! By the way, Amsterdam-Venlo, where I live, is a 2 hour drive! That's why I play mostly with German musicians, Dusseldorf is just a half an hour away and surf & rockabilly are more popular there. —www.alohasluts.com |
Joined: Sep 28, 2012 Posts: 928 Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Jun 27 2014 03:38 AM
That Link Wray video is AWESOME! I can think of two surf bands featuring stand up bass, however none of them fits the surfabilly label: Pyronauts from California (cool action shot by Unsteady Freddie) Plan 9 from Germany Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin) |
Joined: Jul 12, 2012 Posts: 171 Cape Cod, USA 
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Posted on Jun 27 2014 06:45 AM
Not exactly slap bass style, but here's an older video of The Fathoms with stand-up bass: —Everybody up! |
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Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 614 Netherlands, Europe
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Posted on Jun 27 2014 06:47 AM
Cool pics Simon! There is something ultra sexy about a foam green Jazzmaster on top of a standing bass... SURFABILLY PORN! www.alohasluts.com |
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Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 614 Netherlands, Europe
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Posted on Mar 10 2015 06:50 AM
A little update for all standing bass fans: Western Star has a great double CD out with lot's of (surf)instrumentals. Most of them have a slappin' bass. Really great album and a must for instrumental surfabilly fans!
www.alohasluts.com |
Joined: Oct 19, 2014 Posts: 14 Helsinki 
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Posted on Mar 15 2015 03:46 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9NCszn59Bo Here is the slap bass with surf! Our first album´s Pink Floyd tune http://theshockwavesurf.com/ |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Mar 15 2015 03:52 PM
JayJ wrote:
I know it seems you pretty exclusively play Mosrites, but that track has got to have been recorded with a Strat. Am I correct? |
Joined: Jun 29, 2011 Posts: 186 Halden, Norway
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Posted on Mar 16 2015 03:11 AM
We are using a stand-up bass. We are maybe not a 100% surfband, but at least we' re 100% instro:-) Nils —Nils "If it hadn’t been for Link Wray and 'Rumble,' I would have never picked up a guitar." - Pete Townshend, The Who The Twang-O-Matics - Facebook Last edited: Mar 16, 2015 03:11:56 |
Joined: Mar 16, 2012 Posts: 1088 Amsterdam
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Posted on Mar 16 2015 06:33 AM
IMHO This is one of the best examples of surf with a rockabilly vibe thanks to the standup bass. I wish more bands would use them. —Niels Jansen To submit your surf music to North Sea Surf Radio send the tracks as .mp3 in 320kbps bitrate with correct tags to playlist@northseasurfradio.com via Dropbox. North Sea Surf Radio: Website- Facebook - Twitter |
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Joined: Mar 16, 2012 Posts: 1088 Amsterdam
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Posted on Mar 16 2015 06:39 AM
Well Nils, I think nowadays 90% of all surf bands are not 100% surf. Bands like The Surfites, Surfer Joe, The Kilaueas, Krontjong Devils, YES, 100% surf. But the majority does not fit the purist description anymore. The combination of these amazing purist bands and the bands pushing the boundaries is what keeps the genre alive if you ask me. —Niels Jansen To submit your surf music to North Sea Surf Radio send the tracks as .mp3 in 320kbps bitrate with correct tags to playlist@northseasurfradio.com via Dropbox. North Sea Surf Radio: Website- Facebook - Twitter |
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Joined: Mar 16, 2012 Posts: 1088 Amsterdam
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Posted on Mar 16 2015 06:52 AM
There's a Dutch Rockabilly band called El Rio Trio that does an occasional surfey instrumental. Here's the only one I could find on Youtube. Again I love the slap bass here. —Niels Jansen To submit your surf music to North Sea Surf Radio send the tracks as .mp3 in 320kbps bitrate with correct tags to playlist@northseasurfradio.com via Dropbox. North Sea Surf Radio: Website- Facebook - Twitter Last edited: Mar 16, 2015 07:22:18 |
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Joined: Jun 29, 2011 Posts: 186 Halden, Norway
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Posted on Mar 16 2015 06:56 AM
Yeah, I guess you' re right:-) —Nils "If it hadn’t been for Link Wray and 'Rumble,' I would have never picked up a guitar." - Pete Townshend, The Who The Twang-O-Matics - Facebook Last edited: Mar 16, 2015 07:13:28 |
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