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Ryan, I'm getting a kick out of your posts, 'cause I was exactly where
you are at one year ago. It sounds to me like you've got a good
startup - Strat, amp, Holy Grail pedal. I started with a Fat Strat,
Fender Frontman 15R, and a Danelectro Reverb pedal. My first song was
The Ventures "Walk Don't Run," the second was "Pipeline."
Eventually, I moved on to the following gear: Fender Jaguar Reissue
Made in Japan, Fender Reverb Reissue, and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp
w/ a special Weber California 12 "vintage" speaker. It's pretty close
to the perfect setup, with the exception perhaps of the amp. I think
I'd rather have a Fender VibroKing or maybe a Fender Deluxe Reverb. A
lot of the guys on this site like the Fender Showman or Fender Dual
Showman, two vintage amps that were instrumental to the early surf
sound, if you will pardon the pun.
I think my dream setup would be the Jag with some vintage or reissue
pickups, a reverb unit that doesn't play stray radio signals like mine
does, and a Victoria "boutique" amp, which is a hand-wired amp made to
replicate the early Fender amps.
That said, everyone has different ideas about tone and sounds and
gear. The more you develop in your playing, the more discerning you'll
become. Don't be in a hurry to get equipment...get your chops down
first, then spend a lot of time listening to different guitars, amps,
and players. You'll discover your sound with time, and you'll
gravitate toward the right gear.
I have tons of advice on music books, easy songs to learn, and other
"tricks of the trade" learned over the last year. Since I came to this
as a total newbie too, I welcome you to e-mail me with any questions.
Best wishes...you've had your first snort of surf music. Soon, you'll
be addicted. BTW, where do you surf? I learned to surf at LaJolla
Shores and surfed most of the breaks from Sano down to Rosarita, Mex.
But Shores/Scrips Pier remain my home break. (Now I live in Colo., so
I guess Copper Mountain is my home break!)
Adios!
