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--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., "Brian Neal" <bneal@z...> wrote:
> My impression from looking at photos of first wave bands is that
the
> majority of guitars present were Fender. There is always at least a
> strat, Jaguar, or Jazzmaster present. Not too many tele's. And its
> nearly 100% for bass players (Fender nailed that market). Was this
> because Fender was the neat new cool thing to have?
Having been a teenage wanabe rock'n'roll guitarist, and having lived
through the NorthEast Coast first wave surf instro era, I can tell ya
that Fenders were simply the guitars to use, mostly because of Leo's
hype ... he literally gave 'em away to notable players of every music
genre ... so you saw those planks EVERYWHERE in pop music. I bought
me a custom "Beach Boyz" Oly white Jag (yes, "custom" ordered from
Fender - white headstock, large block pearl fretboard inlays, red
tortoise pickguard - took a whole month for it to arrive at Jimmy's
Music in NYC, in the Summer of '63 or '64, too long ago to remember
exactly). Why a Jag? 'Cause it looked SO DAMN cool. I shudda got
the sunburst Strat, but what did I know at 17? At least I wuz smart
enuf to get a Deluxe with a separate Fender Reverb Tank.
> Are there any non Fender surf guitar players of note? First wave or
> otherwise? Of course the Ventures flirted with Mosrites.
One of the best 60's teenage Venture cover bands I'd ever heard had a
lead guitarist that used a Gretsch Anniversary hollow body - without
a Bigsby! He'd push the neck to get subtle trem-like FX. His
playing and tone were awesome.
Now I'm rambling too!
