WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1530
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 07:31 AM
Have you considered that your AMP may be the problem?
If there is a decent music store in your area, take your Strat with you and try out a Princeton Reverb (or even better) a Deluxe Reverb. If that creates an epiphany for you, then look for a clean used one on Craigslist or ebay to save hundreds if $$.
My experience after 50+ years of playing guitar is that the amp and the proper effect pedals are equally important for getting "your sound" as is the guitar.
A so-so guitar through a great amp usually sounds way better than vice versa.
And your Strat isn't doing it for you, the newer Epiphone stuff is a great value for what you get.
— 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)
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killbabykill34
Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 3201
Jacksonville, AL
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 08:33 AM
JakeDobner wrote:
Absolutely don't do a tele if you are looking to change things up. Those two guitars are the most similar to each other that you will find. Same scale, same build style
Look at an SG, or look towards a Casino, Epi Semi-Hollow. Those Dots have kind of always been really bad build quality(unless something has changed recently). You won't need to change the neck angle on those guitars.
And don't put GFS Surf 90s in them. They aren't anything like a Jazzmaster pickup, they are Dynasonic 'clones'.
I never considered quitting guitar, but I pretty much didn't play guitar for an entire year because I was fed up with it. I came back with dimished skills but I built my own style and I'm a much better guitarist for it today. I played piano and such during the downtime, just to keep my mind musically busy.
Find new styles, don't base your enjoyment on tone. Play unplugged, you learn a lot that way! Focus on being happy with the music you make.
Look at Gretsch Electromatics as well, not terrible expensive and really good guitars for the $.
I have an Epiphone DOT made in the early 90's(94ish?). And your comment about their build quality couldn't be further from the truth. This thing was built solid as a rock. And this many years in I have still not had to have even the slightest work done on it.
With that said, a former boss of mine picked up one after he played mine. Upon trying his out I was disgusted at how flimsy the new builds are. Not the same guitar at all.
— THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.
www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 10:35 AM
Have you considered that your AMP may be the problem?
The amp is sure part of the problem. It is a Super Champ x2 which I bought three years ago. Being partly tube it still doesn't feel responsive to me, and the whole amp sound like it is 20 meters away from me. I'm writing it comparing to the Hot Rod III with which I regularly play in my local guitar store (actually now I remember before buying my strat I played it though this amp) and s 68 Princeton, both of which sounds awesome with my guitar.
Problem is that the HRDIII is way too much for an apartment and the 68 Princeton costs 1300$.
I was considering the Quilter mini 101 or a vox 5W instead. . .
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 11:26 AM
Woody's got a great point there (no surprise).
Most of the amps I have can make any guitar sound pretty damn good and feel more responsive.
I have a credo that I have tried to live by the last 6 or 7 years, after collecting guitars, buying and trading way too many...
Let the guitar find you.
It took me a while to figure out that when I found my favorite instruments I wasn't looking for them or one.
This allowed my mind to be open to feel,and sonics as opposed to design, type or style.
I'm sure many here have bought an instrument thinking "this is just what I want" only to find in time it wasn't.
I've found the best guitars, for me, by just running into them by chance and often times I end up surprised in the end at what it is, something I may not ever have considered if I had a wish or requirement list.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 11:31 AM
Jeff, you are guitar Buddha. But if I ever meet you, I will have to kill you, because, you know, that's what they say you gotto do when you meet the Buddha.
— Squink Out!
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 11:39 AM
JObeast wrote:
Jeff, you are guitar Buddha. But if I ever meet you, I will have to kill you, because, you know, that's what they say you gotto do when you meet the Buddha.
"No one can save us but ourselves"
Expect said Buddha to defend himself, LOL
and feel free to substitute "Buddha" for "Fool" in your above statement!
We often teach best through our own mistakes and misfortunes.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 12:02 PM
Very sophisticated modeling amps sound to me like the radio. THe idea of guitar sound, not authentic. To cure the malady, use an old single-ended flashlight amp, the kind you can still buy used for under $200. All the energy of music is from primal sources, using primitive tools. Look for an old Magnatone Starlighter or equivalent Gretsch or Supro, or an Ace Tone. Stay cheap.
Mark2Bra wrote:
Have you considered that your AMP may be the problem?
The amp is sure part of the problem. It is a Super Champ x2 which I bought three years ago. Being partly tube it still doesn't feel responsive to me, and the whole amp sound like it is 20 meters away from me. I'm writing it comparing to the Hot Rod III with which I regularly play in my local guitar store (actually now I remember before buying my strat I played it though this amp) and s 68 Princeton, both of which sounds awesome with my guitar.
Problem is that the HRDIII is way too much for an apartment and the 68 Princeton costs 1300$.
I was considering the Quilter mini 101 or a vox 5W instead. . .
— Squink Out!
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2532
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 12:16 PM
I will concur with woody on this one. Every time in 40 years of playing I was bored with playing or my sound it was always an amp or new effect that changed everything. You haven't described your strat but if it is set up ok and has at least a decent set of alnico pickups then that's a good start. If you are looking for a good surf sound and you are relying on the onboard reverb in the super champ then maybe think about buying the surfy bear kit and build a great reverb circuit to start with.
I'll say it again, if your strat plays decent enough then it's what you hear that will inspire you. Just find new ways to create tone!
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11009
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 12:20 PM
Easy enough way to find out. Just go over several friends homes and play through their amps.
— Danny Snyder
Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF
_
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 02:10 PM
Wow, great responses here.
Jeff, that is actually how it happened. I took my car to its annual check, and went to the guitar store in the area to kill some time. I even didn't notice that guitar because it is black with maple neck which was never to my taste, but after holding and playing it the guitar was "left in my eyes" so to speak.
Dave, I'm ashamed to say but this is a Custom Shop pro 2013 Closet Classic. It is loaded with Fat 50's, has a cracked nitro finish body and a gunstock oiled maple fretboard neck.
The only effect I am using is the surfy bear which I built last year.
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Mar 07 2016 11:39 PM
Once again I'll have to ask the awesome people in this forum for an advice.
Long story short: I keep playing the guitar, but an acoustic one. No amp to adjust, no set-ups and effects tweaking. I concentrate more on the music rather than gear and not limiting myself to Surf music only.
I'm falling in love with guitar again.
Talking about acoustic guitars - I'v seen that all Surf playing play the steel string guitar rather than nylon (except Ben Woods' Surf covers which I discussed here) is there a particular reason you prefer it over nylon? Does it have to do with the neck similarity to an electric guitar or the sound is more correct?
I played some nylon and steel strings guitars in the music store to me both sounds fine, but the salesman there keep telling me that nylon fit more for "Hank Marvin style" as he calls it.
As for me, neither sounds exactly like an electric guitar (duh), and having played Flamenco in the past I feel myself comfortable with both types of guitars, but I'd like to ask you, more experienced players which type you prefer/think is better suited to play Surf/Instrumental "Unplugged"?
Cheers as always,
Mark
Last edited: Mar 08, 2016 03:00:01
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Mar 07 2016 11:56 PM
I prefer a steel string in the size of a 00/grand concert. Dreadnaughts are good for strumming, 00/Grand Concerts great for finger picking/chord melodies/arpeggios/some pick work, 0/Concerts really great for finger picking.
Nylon has a great sound but the attack isn't particular great. You have this great full bodied sustain but it lacks the attack of a steel string.
I will never play 'surf' unplugged. Instrumental music, absolutely and I play it all the time. Playing a long single-note melody on acoustic bores me, and trying to play acoustic like an electric does not appeal to me. I love to play chord melodies and just make the melodies a bit more complex in the lead voicing. While there are electric guitars in it, here is a song that's basis is from an acoustic guitar. You can't hear it well, but the chords have a lot of melody thrown in with it dictating the entire song. https://soundcloud.com/jacobdobner/unicorns-are-real-they-have
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Mar 09 2016 11:29 PM
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Mar 10 2016 06:43 AM
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Mar 10 2016 07:40 AM
This Dane looks awesome, Flinglestein.
However I decided to stop playing electrically - less gear to carry and tinker with.
Last edited: Mar 10, 2016 07:41:02
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Mar 10 2016 09:10 AM
May the muse lead you to a place of contentment and may your strings always be wound tightly.
— Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest
The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/
http://sharawaji.com/
http://surfrockradio.com/
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Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
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Posted on Mar 10 2016 01:10 PM
May the muse lead you to a place of contentment and may your strings always be wound tightly.
Bombora to that!
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killbabykill34
Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 3201
Jacksonville, AL
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Posted on Mar 10 2016 03:53 PM
Syndicateofsurf wrote:
No idea if you can get this in your country. I just found out these existed yesterday.
$800. Mosrite copy. Bigsby standard.
Danelectro 64.
How can this fail to excite?
https://reverb.com/item/1788704-danelectro-64-electric-guitar-dark-aqua?_aid=pla¤cy=USD&pla=1&gclid=CjwKEAiA04S3BRCYteOr6b-roSUSJABE1-6BrufF6Lkj4bPV8PcdlnLzY-Ciz8sx7WaHnR3liVKdYhoCgFTw_wcB
How can this fail to excite? Because you can get a Hallmark for slightly more than this.
— THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.
www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Mar 11 2016 06:07 AM
killbabykill34 wrote:
Syndicateofsurf wrote:
No idea if you can get this in your country. I just found out these existed yesterday.
$800. Mosrite copy. Bigsby standard.
Danelectro 64.
How can this fail to excite?
https://reverb.com/item/1788704-danelectro-64-electric-guitar-dark-aqua?_aid=pla¤cy=USD&pla=1&gclid=CjwKEAiA04S3BRCYteOr6b-roSUSJABE1-6BrufF6Lkj4bPV8PcdlnLzY-Ciz8sx7WaHnR3liVKdYhoCgFTw_wcB
How can this fail to excite? Because you can get a Hallmark for slightly more than this.
Which fails to excite me.
Be true to your school
Just like you would to your girl or guy
Be true to your school now
Won't come back from dead man's curve.
— Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest
The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/
http://sharawaji.com/
http://surfrockradio.com/
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