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There's a lot of excellent players on this site, and they have helped
me immeasurably. I started playing guitar just 8 months ago, and I am
almost ready to start a band. My playing is solid, if not creative,
and I can cover many of the 1st Wave Surf Music. I just wanted to
contribute some advice for beginning guitarists and first-time surf
guitar players.
To begin, equipment. I have a performing rig and a practice rig. The
practice rig is absolutely the cheapest way to get an awesome surf
sound and will allow you to "demo" all the classic amps and effects
used in instrumental surf. Outlay: less than $500!
Start with a used 50s Reissue Made-In-Mexico Strat (about $350 on
Ebay). A standard Strat or even a Squier Strat will work okay, too. Or
splurge for a used Jaguar or Jazzmaster (about $425-700 on EBay).
Combine that with either a Behringer V-Amp simulator or Line 6 Pod.
Both have multiple classic amps, including Fenders, and a good
simulation of the spring reverb that's essential to the surf sound.
Prices vary from $129 for the Behringer to $225 for a used POD. Add
another $50 for headphones - yes, no amp needed!
Get a 1/4 to 1/8 conversion plug at Radio Shack that enables you to
connect the V-AMP or POD to a CD player's headphone jack with a
standard guitar cable into the POD or V-AMP input. Now, you can play
along with your surf rock CDs. Total cost: about $529!
One especially good "Cheat" book is "Surf Guitar" by Roy Zimmerman and
published by Hal Leonard. The tabs are pretty good, and mostly made
from the actual recordings. It has some songs with lyrics, but mostly
it's all surf instro. The only bad thing is, it doesn't have a CD, so
you have to acquire the music piecemeal by buying many of the reissued
CDs. Rhino Records is a good source of both original albums and
compilations.
Another book that's widely available is the book "Surf Guitar,"
featuring music from the band "The Torquays." Their approach is very
old-school traditional, and a bit harder to play than the music in the
other book. This book/CD is best suited to experienced players who
want to pick up the nuances of surf sound quickly. It's not for
beginners. but an intermediate player can learn from it quickly.
Once you progress, you may wish to upgrade your gear for live playing.
Here's a reasonable amp/guitar/reverb unit that gets pretty close to
the original surf sound at much lower than vintage prices. Start with
a Fender DeVille 2 x 12, or Fender Deluxe 1 x 12 Amp ($325 to $475
used). If the reverb isn't deep & wet enough for your taste, either
pop for a reissue Fender Reverb unit ($375), or the cheaper Leilani
tube/spring reverb pedal (about $150). The V-AMP and POD can be used,
but it's a real pain to set either up for stage performance. They are
great for recording, however.
On guitars, it's a toss up. The Strat works good, but a Jag or
Jazzmaster is more highly regarded among the people on this site.
Generally, the best prices are on the Jap reissues, which can be had
for about $500 used.
Very soon, I hope to record a few of the tunes I've mastered so that
you can hear what they sound like.
Finally, the people on this site have been invaluable. Some of the
best surf players drop in to share their insights, and I thank all of
them for helping in the development of a fledgling but devoted surf
guitar player.
Thanks to All! Best wishes,
Gavin
Hey Gavin,
Thanks for the lowdown on the F1 picks.
Just wanted to add your good advice. I also have a cheapo digital guitar
processor unit (DOD FX7), and while the effects are a mixed bag, it is
excellent for plugging in a guitar and CD player and jamming along with
headphones. And I can do this after the kids have gone to bed. I've been
doing this pretty regularly for a while, although this week I have been
slacking, but it has helped my playing quite a bit. I've been jamming along
to Satan's Pilgrims 1st CD "At Home With". Fun, fun, fun.
See ya,
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: windanseabeachboy <>
> [mailto:]
> Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 2:47 PM
> To:
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Some Beginner Advice...From a Novice Poster.
>
>
> There's a lot of excellent players on this site, and they have helped
> me immeasurably. I started playing guitar just 8 months ago, and I am
> almost ready to start a band. My playing is solid, if not creative,
> and I can cover many of the 1st Wave Surf Music. I just wanted to
> contribute some advice for beginning guitarists and first-time surf
> guitar players.
>
> To begin, equipment. I have a performing rig and a practice rig. The
> practice rig is absolutely the cheapest way to get an awesome surf
> sound and will allow you to "demo" all the classic amps and effects
> used in instrumental surf. Outlay: less than $500!
>
> Start with a used 50s Reissue Made-In-Mexico Strat (about $350 on
> Ebay). A standard Strat or even a Squier Strat will work okay, too. Or
> splurge for a used Jaguar or Jazzmaster (about $425-700 on EBay).
> Combine that with either a Behringer V-Amp simulator or Line 6 Pod.
> Both have multiple classic amps, including Fenders, and a good
> simulation of the spring reverb that's essential to the surf sound.
> Prices vary from $129 for the Behringer to $225 for a used POD. Add
> another $50 for headphones - yes, no amp needed!
>
> Get a 1/4 to 1/8 conversion plug at Radio Shack that enables you to
> connect the V-AMP or POD to a CD player's headphone jack with a
> standard guitar cable into the POD or V-AMP input. Now, you can play
> along with your surf rock CDs. Total cost: about $529!
>
> One especially good "Cheat" book is "Surf Guitar" by Roy Zimmerman and
> published by Hal Leonard. The tabs are pretty good, and mostly made
> from the actual recordings. It has some songs with lyrics, but mostly
> it's all surf instro. The only bad thing is, it doesn't have a CD, so
> you have to acquire the music piecemeal by buying many of the reissued
> CDs. Rhino Records is a good source of both original albums and
> compilations.
>
> Another book that's widely available is the book "Surf Guitar,"
> featuring music from the band "The Torquays." Their approach is very
> old-school traditional, and a bit harder to play than the music in the
> other book. This book/CD is best suited to experienced players who
> want to pick up the nuances of surf sound quickly. It's not for
> beginners. but an intermediate player can learn from it quickly.
>
> Once you progress, you may wish to upgrade your gear for live playing.
> Here's a reasonable amp/guitar/reverb unit that gets pretty close to
> the original surf sound at much lower than vintage prices. Start with
> a Fender DeVille 2 x 12, or Fender Deluxe 1 x 12 Amp ($325 to $475
> used). If the reverb isn't deep & wet enough for your taste, either
> pop for a reissue Fender Reverb unit ($375), or the cheaper Leilani
> tube/spring reverb pedal (about $150). The V-AMP and POD can be used,
> but it's a real pain to set either up for stage performance. They are
> great for recording, however.
>
> On guitars, it's a toss up. The Strat works good, but a Jag or
> Jazzmaster is more highly regarded among the people on this site.
> Generally, the best prices are on the Jap reissues, which can be had
> for about $500 used.
>
> Very soon, I hope to record a few of the tunes I've mastered so that
> you can hear what they sound like.
>
> Finally, the people on this site have been invaluable. Some of the
> best surf players drop in to share their insights, and I thank all of
> them for helping in the development of a fledgling but devoted surf
> guitar player.
>
> Thanks to All! Best wishes,
>
> Gavin
Hello Gavin... I am interested in the book/CD you mention "Surf Guitar".
Where is a good place to start looking for it. Any advice is greatly
appreciated.
Thanks,
Mont
At 08:46 PM 1/9/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>There's a lot of excellent players on this site, and they have helped
>me immeasurably. I started playing guitar just 8 months ago, and I am
>almost ready to start a band. My playing is solid, if not creative,
>and I can cover many of the 1st Wave Surf Music. I just wanted to
>contribute some advice for beginning guitarists and first-time surf
>guitar players.
>
>To begin, equipment. I have a performing rig and a practice rig. The
>practice rig is absolutely the cheapest way to get an awesome surf
>sound and will allow you to "demo" all the classic amps and effects
>used in instrumental surf. Outlay: less than $500!
>
>Start with a used 50s Reissue Made-In-Mexico Strat (about $350 on
>Ebay). A standard Strat or even a Squier Strat will work okay, too. Or
>splurge for a used Jaguar or Jazzmaster (about $425-700 on EBay).
>Combine that with either a Behringer V-Amp simulator or Line 6 Pod.
>Both have multiple classic amps, including Fenders, and a good
>simulation of the spring reverb that's essential to the surf sound.
>Prices vary from $129 for the Behringer to $225 for a used POD. Add
>another $50 for headphones - yes, no amp needed!
>
>Get a 1/4 to 1/8 conversion plug at Radio Shack that enables you to
>connect the V-AMP or POD to a CD player's headphone jack with a
>standard guitar cable into the POD or V-AMP input. Now, you can play
>along with your surf rock CDs. Total cost: about $529!
>
>One especially good "Cheat" book is "Surf Guitar" by Roy Zimmerman and
>published by Hal Leonard. The tabs are pretty good, and mostly made
>from the actual recordings. It has some songs with lyrics, but mostly
>it's all surf instro. The only bad thing is, it doesn't have a CD, so
>you have to acquire the music piecemeal by buying many of the reissued
>CDs. Rhino Records is a good source of both original albums and
>compilations.
>
>Another book that's widely available is the book "Surf Guitar,"
>featuring music from the band "The Torquays." Their approach is very
>old-school traditional, and a bit harder to play than the music in the
>other book. This book/CD is best suited to experienced players who
>want to pick up the nuances of surf sound quickly. It's not for
>beginners. but an intermediate player can learn from it quickly.
>
>Once you progress, you may wish to upgrade your gear for live playing.
>Here's a reasonable amp/guitar/reverb unit that gets pretty close to
>the original surf sound at much lower than vintage prices. Start with
>a Fender DeVille 2 x 12, or Fender Deluxe 1 x 12 Amp ($325 to $475
>used). If the reverb isn't deep & wet enough for your taste, either
>pop for a reissue Fender Reverb unit ($375), or the cheaper Leilani
>tube/spring reverb pedal (about $150). The V-AMP and POD can be used,
>but it's a real pain to set either up for stage performance. They are
>great for recording, however.
>
>On guitars, it's a toss up. The Strat works good, but a Jag or
>Jazzmaster is more highly regarded among the people on this site.
>Generally, the best prices are on the Jap reissues, which can be had
>for about $500 used.
>
>Very soon, I hope to record a few of the tunes I've mastered so that
>you can hear what they sound like.
>
>Finally, the people on this site have been invaluable. Some of the
>best surf players drop in to share their insights, and I thank all of
>them for helping in the development of a fledgling but devoted surf
>guitar player.
>
>Thanks to All! Best wishes,
>
>Gavin
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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I have it on the list for my next order at Musicians
Friend. They're $9.99 there,
Richard
--- Monty Roach <> wrote:
> Hello Gavin... I am interested in the book/CD you
> mention "Surf Guitar".
> Where is a good place to start looking for it. Any
> advice is greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mont
__________________________________________________
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www.wholenote.com/store/sheet_music/ guitar/tab/
Try this web site. Or, do a Google search for Surf Guitar Hal Leonard.
Best wishes!
Gavin
--- In , Monty Roach <monty@g...> wrote:
> Hello Gavin... I am interested in the book/CD you mention "Surf
Guitar".
> Where is a good place to start looking for it. Any advice is greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mont
>
