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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Recording Corner »

Permalink VINTAGE OR MODERN ?

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It depends a lot on the band or the type of music being recorded, but generally, I prefer a very polished production for surf. Vintage Instrumentation + Modern Recording = best of both Worlds.

Surf being an instrumental music, I fully believe the studio should serve as an instrument in it's own right, and you should strive for perfection as much as possible, just as long as you don't sacrifice "feel" in the process. Mistakes are OK live because they fly right by, often unnoticed, but in a recording they are locked in there forever. As a notable producer once told me: every track should be able to stand on it's own. If you have to hide it in the mix, then it shouldn't be in there, period.

Also, I see nothing wrong with doubling or tripling guitar (and other) parts to make them sound fuller, or layering in additional instruments or augmentations that aren't a normal part of the band's sound. A three or four piece band may sound great live because you are being occupied by the visual presentation as well. But on record, without that visual element, the very same performance can seem pretty thin.

That said, over-production can be just as bad as under-production, so it's a fine line. Ultimately I guess it's a matter of personal preference and what works best for each particular album or artist.

Matt Crunk
Decatur, Alabama

Founder: North Alabama Surf Alliance (NASA)

Also there's the fact that modern recording technology (i.e. the home computer) has made studio-quality recording and commercial production/distribution possible and accessible to the average hobbyist musician, and is no doubt largely responsible for the massive growth of underground genres such as Surf.

Matt Crunk
Decatur, Alabama

Founder: North Alabama Surf Alliance (NASA)

MattCrunk
Also there's the fact that modern recording technology (i.e. the home computer) has made studio-quality recording and commercial production/distribution possible and accessible to the average hobbyist musician, and is no doubt largely responsible for the massive growth of underground genres such as Surf.

Good observation.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 19:51:48

Massive growth of surf? It's been the same since the 90's boom, more or less. Maybe somewhat less.

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Less quality in my opinion. The top echelon of band are better in my opinion, but thanks to myspace, self-distribution, home studios, and such, there are a wealth of below average material.

Brian
Massive growth of surf? It's been the same since the 90's boom, more or less. Maybe somewhat less.

It would be smaller today without affordable home recording gear, though.

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

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Brian
Massive growth of surf? It's been the same since the 90's boom, more or less. Maybe somewhat less.

JakeDobner
Less quality in my opinion. The top echelon of band are better in my opinion, but thanks to myspace, self-distribution, home studios, and such, there are a wealth of below average material.

I think it's the same in almost every corner of the music worldat this point. The cost of production has dropped dramatically from what it was a generation ago and all sort of recordings are being made that wouldn't have ever existed in the past. There's both good and bad results because of this. I've heard some obscure artists that are great players and OTOH, there are some recordings produced that should never be made.

Being a Gretsch guy I'm somewhat aware of the Rockabilly world and I can tell you that I've heard some recorded material in that genre that leaves you shaking your head in disbelief. I'm sure it's happened in all sorts of other areas of music as well.

There is, however, a shiny side to this coin. There is fresh material being created in areas of music that have been stagnent for years. Surf got a huge boost with Pulp Fiction and as such was perfectly poised to take advantage of the ability to record inexpensively. Swing has new blood after decades of near extinction and a lot of other folks are getting to hear fresh material in their favorite music as well.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

synchro
Being a Gretsch guy I'm somewhat aware of the Rockabilly world and I can tell you that I've heard some recorded material in that genre that leaves you shaking your head in disbelief.

Being a genre where terms like raw and primitive can be positive attributes, you'll always get a share of folks who think "Hell, anyone can do that" so they'll just strap on a Gretsch and go to town.

Kinda like strapping on a Jaguar makes you a surf guitarist.

Matt Crunk
(who himself owns two 6120's)

Matt Crunk
Decatur, Alabama

Founder: North Alabama Surf Alliance (NASA)

MattCrunk

synchro
Being a Gretsch guy I'm somewhat aware of the Rockabilly world and I can tell you that I've heard some recorded material in that genre that leaves you shaking your head in disbelief.

Being a genre where terms like raw and primitive can be positive attributes, you'll always get a share of folks who think "Hell, anyone can do that" so they'll just strap on a Gretsch and go to town.

Kinda like strapping on a Jaguar makes you a surf guitarist.

Matt Crunk
(who himself owns two 6120's)

I know exactly what you mean. There seem to be a lot of people that think that if it sounds good it isn't Rockabilly. IMO, nothing could be further from the truth. Cliff Gallup was polished and quite accomplished as a player, ditto for Carl Perkins and a whole bunch of the guys that started the genre.

The same is true for Surf players. There were some mediocre palyers but most of the guys that made it knew their stuff.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

MattCrunk
Matt Crunk
(who himself owns two 6120's)

Me too, a 6120 AM and a 6120n. New stuff,nothing vintage or rare, but I love 'em.

image
image

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

synchro

MattCrunk
Matt Crunk
(who himself owns two 6120's)

Me too, a 6120 AM and a 6120n. New stuff,nothing vintage or rare, but I love 'em.

Same here, except my Setzer model (on left) was formerly owned by David Lee of Tha' Legendary Shack Shakers.

image

Matt Crunk
Decatur, Alabama

Founder: North Alabama Surf Alliance (NASA)

Not bad. Not bad at all.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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