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John,
In a queer turn of events, I'm going to have to side with
Ivan on the issue of what it takes to capture that vintage
tone. Some of us were there, back in the '60's during the
"First Wave", but like dodo birds, we didn't think to pay
attention for future reference. <g> Others did keep
meticulous records, usually the studio players. But in
the end, we, the surf music community, are stuck with
trying to achieve a sound that we can hear from recordings
of yore, and even if we have to go outside of 'period correct'
technology to do that, well, nobody said it would be easy.
You are correct to invoke the scientific method of analysis.
However, short of mortgaging the ol' homestead to snag that
$25-40K pre-CBS Strat (a bit less for a Jazzmaster or Jaguar),
and another few large for the requisite Showman and 'verb
tank, then it's gonna have to be a compromise between what
we want to hear, and what we are forced by financial
reality to settle for. Period correct is a laudable
goal, but if we can't get there in the last little detail,
should we just give up and go home? Why can't we just seek
the sound that we hear, and when we finally acquire it,
what's wrong if we got it with different equipment/accessories?
unlunf
--- In , john.blair@s... wrote:
>
> .....
>
>> Well, not everybody does hear the same thing in the same way,
>> very true, but then we can look at what the original guys were
>> using, and what the modern guys that get the most authentic
>> surf sound are using.
>
> To make a comparison like this by eliminating as many variables
> as possible, any modern surf guitarists you poll MUST be playing
> a 50s or 60s guitar (presumably a Strat, Jag, or Jazzmaster) that
> has NOT been modified in any way (except for perhaps refrets, a
> newer nut, etc.) -- this means original pups -- and using a
> similar vintage amp (presumably an unmodified Showman, a vintage
> Reverb, etc.). Since there wasn't the variety of replacement
> parts that there is today, very few surf guitarists in the 60s
> modified their guitars or amps. It was a plug 'n play world
> (and speaking for myself, I certainly didn't have the technical
> knowledge at that time to decide that something would sound
> "better" if I replaced it or modified it -- and I'm not so sure
> I'm that much more educated about this today!!!!).
>
> .....
>
> john blair
>
