Playing Surf Music: Simple Observation

SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on May 05 2015 03:51 PM

As I'm beginning my surf music journey, I suddenly realized I have used the whammy bar on my Jaguar more in the last month than I have in the previous 25 years that I've owned the instrument.

—

The Reverbivores - we're local favorites!

Top

josheboy

Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2365
Twin Cities, MN
United States

Posted on May 05 2015 04:17 PM

Now you will never go back! You will pick up a guitar without one and your hand will reach for it instinctively!

I can never again own a guitar without one!

Top

CapeFran

Joined: Jan 23, 2015
Posts: 24
New Orleans
United States

Posted on May 05 2015 04:52 PM

josheboy wrote:

Now you will never go back! You will pick up a guitar without one and your hand will reach for it instinctively!

I'll never forget the first time I did this...it was like reaching for an amputated limb!

—

Ghost Coast

Top

JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on May 16 2015 12:33 AM

I am thinking of getting a Bigsby B5 with Vibramate for my Greco LP Std. I love that guitar (my only Gibson-type axe)& the Matsumoku pickups have great Rockabilly twang in the middle position but it just doesn't have whammy!

—

Squink Out!

Top

heartscore

Joined: May 17, 2015
Posts: 9
Bad Homburg
Germany

Posted on May 17 2015 01:53 PM

I made experiences with Stratocaster Whammy-bars and Bigsby and I prefer the Bigsby for Surf, it's smoother in my opinion.

—

Dirk Radloff
http://soundcloud.com/heartscore
www.heartscore-music.de

Top

Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on May 17 2015 08:14 PM

heartscore wrote:

I made experiences with Stratocaster Whammy-bars and Bigsby and I prefer the Bigsby for Surf, it's smoother in my opinion.

Hi Dirk & welcome to SG101.

Have you ever tried the trem on a properly setup Jaguar or Jazzmaster?

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Top

Teiscofan

Joined: Feb 21, 2011
Posts: 513
Ontario
Canada

Posted on May 17 2015 08:23 PM

Until I played surf all my guitars ( yup the entire herd ) had the whammy bars sitting in a coffee cup. Surf made me re-install them. It would be interesting to compare to a Bigsby as I always find the Fender whammys set wayyyyyyyyy to high and need to be bent to be practical... Im sure some will disagree.

—

I am not obsolete, I am RETRO....

Top

heartscore

Joined: May 17, 2015
Posts: 9
Bad Homburg
Germany

Posted on May 18 2015 01:27 AM

Hello Wes and Jim and thank you for the warm welcome!
I have never played a Jaguar or Jazzmaster. I have to admit, that I am not specialized in Surf-Rock, I also play many other styles. First I played surf on a Stratocaster with 11s Flatwounds and I was never happy with the action of the Whammy. Though it's easy to achieve "Dive-bombs" it's hard just to dip it slightly as it's necessary for Surf, especially with three or more springs.
Later I have used a Gretsch 6120, a Heritage 535 with Bigsby and an Epiphone Casino with Bigsby and fell in love with the Bigsby. I think the Bigsby really shines with clean-sounds. Personally I prefer the warmer sound of Gibson-scales combined with Flatwounds for Surf-styles.

—

Dirk Radloff
http://soundcloud.com/heartscore
www.heartscore-music.de

Top

SanchoPansen

Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
Germany

Posted on May 18 2015 02:17 AM

Welcome to the forum, Dirk. Hallo
I agree, the Strat trem is not the smoothest trem, but works fine for surf if it's properly set up (floating). My choice would be Mosrite trems when it comes to surf, but the Jag/Jazz trems also work like a charm. I suggest you check them out as soon as you get the opportunity.

—

The Hicadoolas

Top

da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on May 18 2015 02:34 AM

I've played guitars with Strat trems, Bigsby trems and Jazzmaster trems. the Jazzmaster trem is my favourite, but the Bigsby is a close second. The Bigsby looks pretty ugly and is big lump of metal on your guitar. Needs frequently oiling too. The jazzmaster trem is genius. A few flaws, but it's neat and effective for surf.

As for the surf journey - I went into a pub recently and a friend was holding an informal acoustic session. He recognised me, offered his acoustic guitar and said, "play something!". Suddenly realised I only ever play surf stuff now - so I played Mr Moto. No whammy.

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

Last edited: May 18, 2015 02:35:22

Top

SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on May 05 2015 03:51 PM As I'm beginning my surf music journey, I suddenly realized I have used the whammy bar on my Jaguar more in the last month than I have in the previous 25 years that I've owned the instrument. — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top
josheboy Joined: Mar 13, 2009 Posts: 2365 Twin Cities, MN	Posted on May 05 2015 04:17 PM Now you will never go back! You will pick up a guitar without one and your hand will reach for it instinctively! I can never again own a guitar without one! Top
CapeFran Joined: Jan 23, 2015 Posts: 24 New Orleans	Posted on May 05 2015 04:52 PM josheboy wrote: Now you will never go back! You will pick up a guitar without one and your hand will reach for it instinctively! I'll never forget the first time I did this...it was like reaching for an amputated limb! — Ghost Coast Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on May 16 2015 12:33 AM I am thinking of getting a Bigsby B5 with Vibramate for my Greco LP Std. I love that guitar (my only Gibson-type axe)& the Matsumoku pickups have great Rockabilly twang in the middle position but it just doesn't have whammy! — Squink Out! Top
heartscore Joined: May 17, 2015 Posts: 9 Bad Homburg	Posted on May 17 2015 01:53 PM I made experiences with Stratocaster Whammy-bars and Bigsby and I prefer the Bigsby for Surf, it's smoother in my opinion. — Dirk Radloff http://soundcloud.com/heartscore www.heartscore-music.de Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on May 17 2015 08:14 PM heartscore wrote: I made experiences with Stratocaster Whammy-bars and Bigsby and I prefer the Bigsby for Surf, it's smoother in my opinion. Hi Dirk & welcome to SG101. Have you ever tried the trem on a properly setup Jaguar or Jazzmaster? — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
Teiscofan Joined: Feb 21, 2011 Posts: 513 Ontario	Posted on May 17 2015 08:23 PM Until I played surf all my guitars ( yup the entire herd ) had the whammy bars sitting in a coffee cup. Surf made me re-install them. It would be interesting to compare to a Bigsby as I always find the Fender whammys set wayyyyyyyyy to high and need to be bent to be practical... Im sure some will disagree. — I am not obsolete, I am RETRO.... Top
heartscore Joined: May 17, 2015 Posts: 9 Bad Homburg	Posted on May 18 2015 01:27 AM Hello Wes and Jim and thank you for the warm welcome! I have never played a Jaguar or Jazzmaster. I have to admit, that I am not specialized in Surf-Rock, I also play many other styles. First I played surf on a Stratocaster with 11s Flatwounds and I was never happy with the action of the Whammy. Though it's easy to achieve "Dive-bombs" it's hard just to dip it slightly as it's necessary for Surf, especially with three or more springs. Later I have used a Gretsch 6120, a Heritage 535 with Bigsby and an Epiphone Casino with Bigsby and fell in love with the Bigsby. I think the Bigsby really shines with clean-sounds. Personally I prefer the warmer sound of Gibson-scales combined with Flatwounds for Surf-styles. — Dirk Radloff http://soundcloud.com/heartscore www.heartscore-music.de Top
SanchoPansen Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg	Posted on May 18 2015 02:17 AM Welcome to the forum, Dirk. Hallo I agree, the Strat trem is not the smoothest trem, but works fine for surf if it's properly set up (floating). My choice would be Mosrite trems when it comes to surf, but the Jag/Jazz trems also work like a charm. I suggest you check them out as soon as you get the opportunity. — The Hicadoolas Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on May 18 2015 02:34 AM I've played guitars with Strat trems, Bigsby trems and Jazzmaster trems. the Jazzmaster trem is my favourite, but the Bigsby is a close second. The Bigsby looks pretty ugly and is big lump of metal on your guitar. Needs frequently oiling too. The jazzmaster trem is genius. A few flaws, but it's neat and effective for surf. As for the surf journey - I went into a pub recently and a friend was holding an informal acoustic session. He recognised me, offered his acoustic guitar and said, "play something!". Suddenly realised I only ever play surf stuff now - so I played Mr Moto. No whammy. — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Last edited: May 18, 2015 02:35:22 Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Playing Surf Music: Simple Observation