I should add that what I wrote is all based on what I know, but there is also a lot I might not know!

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com

Last edited: Dec 14, 2017 09:24:36

I want to add something about getting a great drip. With the Astronauts, generally - not definitively, the drums are minimalist and most of the other instruments are playing fairly subtle. This leaves a lot of space to hear the reverb on the guitar. If your band is playing loud surf, power surf, or dare I say it, surf rock, a lot of your reverb drip is going to be masked by the other instruments.

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

yes ferenc very good post.

Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)

In the winter of 1963, I shared the stage with the Astronauts in San Bernardino, CA. At that time, my opinion was, and continues to this day that only two bands/performers RECORDS, not performances, were able to fully capture a unique reverb sound, far different than any other band or individual musician; Dick Dale's Miserlou and any tune on the Astronaut's first album, to include their Surf Party tune.

I was worried as heck when we won a local TV competition to share the stage with the Astronauts because not only was our band composed of high schoolers, and more accurate, my mediocre guitar playing ability, however, my fear was abated when I heard them crank out their first song: not that they were not proficient musicians which they were proficent, but that unique reverb sound that they captured on their album was not present in a live performance. A rush of confidence rushed through my lean, cross county running body.

I know most of you seasoned surf musicians have heard Dick profess he did not use a reverb on Miserlou, (flip the record for my 3rd favorite reverb recording-or non-reverb). Dick just states he recorded those two tunes in a long room. Maybe reverb was added by the techs? Or?

So, is it possible that the techs at RCA who recorded the Astronauts, when mastering/engineering the record/album, did what happened in Dick's case, enhance the reverb sound, something that no one else to date has been able to replicate?

I've asked Chris numerous times if he was able to determine how to capture the Astronauts unique sound and he related he hasn't. If Chris can't, and he is part of the premier surf band when it comes to the Astronauts, as well as a surf history buff as well, maybe the Astronauts secret will likely remain so?

Some chow for thought grasshoppers.

Last edited: Dec 16, 2017 13:19:48

Clearly your mistake is not using a Strat.

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

That, too, definitely. Especially in the middle of the summer.

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

IvanP wrote:

Clearly your mistake is not using a Strat.

Ivan, Ivan, I gave you very, very, very high praise for replicating the sound of Jimbo Messina and what do you do, take a shot at getting the A's sound.

As you know, I can give out qualified accolades regarding Messina because Jim and I fought it out at many battle of the bands in 1964-1965. Jim was a couple years younger than the boys in my band, as well as the Sanders clan from Tornadoes, Angelo from the Genteels and several other local bands, but Jim whipped our butts on a regular basis. He copied Dale's every beat.

But Ivan, you better stick with Messina's sound cuz' you ain't even close to getting the Astros's sound.

That said, as much work as you put into the surf genre, if anyone could, it would be you. I got my eye on you!!! lol

Hopefully you know this comment is NOT criticism, but just a note from a fellow musician who respects your work.

Moving on, what Fender model did the A's use: a Jag or JM? Maybe there lies one of the keys to their splash mystery? A Strat, in my opinion, is just too harsh to acquire the A's sound.

Maybe try a Jag or JM, kick off your shoes and give it another try?? Just busting your b@11$. Please don't get mad.

Joey

SurfBeat wrote:

In the winter of 1963, I shared the stage with the Astronauts in San Bernardino, CA. At that time, my opinion was, and continues to this day that only two bands/performers RECORDS, not performances, were able to fully capture a unique reverb sound, far different than any other band or individual musician; Dick Dale's Miserlou and any tune on the Astronaut's first album, to include their Surf Party tune.

I was worried as heck when we won a local TV competition to share the stage with the Astronauts because not only was our band composed of high schoolers, and more accurate, my mediocre guitar playing ability, however, my fear was abated when I heard them crank out their first song: not that they were not proficient musicians which they were profiicent, but that unique reverb sound that they captured on their album was not present in a live performance. A rush of confidence rushed through my lean, cross county running body.

I know most of you seasoned surf musicians have heard Dick profess he did not use a reverb on Miserlou, (flip the record for my 3rd favorite reverb recording-or non-reverb). Dick just states he recorded those two tunes in a long room. Maybe reverb was added by the techs? Or?

So, is it possible that the techs at RCA who recorded the Astronauts, when mastering/engineering the record/album, did what happened in Dick's case, enhance the reverb sound, something that no one else to date has been able to replicate?

I've asked Chris numerous times if he was able to determine how to capture the Astronauts unique sound and he related he hasn't. If Chris can't, and he is part of the premier surf band when it comes to the Astronauts, as well as a surf history buff as well, maybe the Astronauts secret will likely remain so?

Some chow for thought grasshoppers.

Thanks for those infos. This is really interesting. For me it is especially the point interesting that the Astronauts live did NOT sounded like on their recordings.

Twang cheers!

Ralf Kilauea

www.kilaueas.de

https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien

The video is so excellent! The major thing I noted was Lorenzo's Quilter plugged into a D130 reproducing that classic Astronauts drip.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

HallmarkSweptWinger wrote:

SurfBeat wrote:

In the winter of 1963, I shared the stage with the Astronauts in San Bernardino.

I was worried as heck when we won a local TV competition to share the stage with the Astronauts because not only was our band composed of high schoolers, and more accurate, my mediocre guitar playing ability, however, my fear was abated when I heard them crank out their first song: not that they were not proficient musicians which they were proficent, but that unique reverb sound that they captured on their album was not present in a live performance.

Thanks for those infos. This is really interesting. For me it is especially the point interesting that the Astronauts live did NOT sounded like on their recordings.

For the record, my perception of the missing, unique, sound (reverb generated) captured in the studio v live was based on what I heard. Someone else could have a far different opinion.

I don't think Dick, or any other musician ever captured, on record or live, the unique sound recorded on Del Tone's Miserlou. You can use that statement to judge my opinion set forth in my original post.

I have to make this disclaimer because I want to ensure my comments were not interpreted as being critical.