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I've noticed that a handfull of surf bands use
feedback in some of their songs (man or astro-man,
shadowy men from a shadowy planet, etc.). I was
wondering how this is achieved because obviously surf
isn't played through distortion pedals/channels (and
if I switch it's painfully obvious).
-Fred Pleasant
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Lots of volume, a hollowbody guitar, and being close to the amp help.
Mike/USK
--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., Fred Pleasant <fredpleasant@y...> wrote:
> I've noticed that a handfull of surf bands use
> feedback in some of their songs (man or astro-man,
> shadowy men from a shadowy planet, etc.). I was
> wondering how this is achieved because obviously surf
> isn't played through distortion pedals/channels (and
> if I switch it's painfully obvious).
>
> -Fred Pleasant
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Try FREE Yahoo! Mail - the world's greatest free email!
>
Hi Fred,
Man or Astro-Man?, even in their earlier days, weren't what you would call a
trad surf band. They had their share of songs with distortion: Nitrous Burn
Out and Mouthful of Exhaust come to mind immediately. Star Crunch was known
to use a ProCo Rat onstage for these songs. Other than that, you can always
get feedback by cranking the amp and standing close to it with your guitar.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fred Pleasant [mailto:]
>
>
> I've noticed that a handfull of surf bands use
> feedback in some of their songs (man or astro-man,
> shadowy men from a shadowy planet, etc.). I was
> wondering how this is achieved because obviously surf
> isn't played through distortion pedals/channels (and
> if I switch it's painfully obvious).
>
> -Fred Pleasant
Fred, from my experience, feedback results easiest from overdriving the
preamp circuits; whether you do it by turning up the preamp and lowering the
master volume, or using a volume boost pedal (a distortion pedal works with
the gain set low and the volume high). Then again, if your audience is
acclimated to high volumes, just crank the amp and angle the pickups
towards the speakers!
Best regards, Dana Vincent
----- Original Message -----
From: Fred Pleasant
To:
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2002 10:30 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
I've noticed that a handfull of surf bands use
feedback in some of their songs (man or astro-man,
shadowy men from a shadowy planet, etc.). I was
wondering how this is achieved because obviously surf
isn't played through distortion pedals/channels (and
if I switch it's painfully obvious).
-Fred Pleasant
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Alright. I play shows with my halfstack cranked to
10, so I'll experiment..
Thanks everybody.
--- Dana and Roberta Vincent <>
wrote:
> Fred, from my experience, feedback results easiest
> from overdriving the
> preamp circuits; whether you do it by turning up the
> preamp and lowering the
> master volume, or using a volume boost pedal (a
> distortion pedal works with
> the gain set low and the volume high). Then again,
> if your audience is
> acclimated to high volumes, just crank the amp and
> angle the pickups
> towards the speakers!
>
> Best regards, Dana Vincent
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Fred Pleasant
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2002 10:30 PM
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
>
>
> I've noticed that a handfull of surf bands use
> feedback in some of their songs (man or astro-man,
> shadowy men from a shadowy planet, etc.). I was
> wondering how this is achieved because obviously
> surf
> isn't played through distortion pedals/channels (and
> if I switch it's painfully obvious).
>
> -Fred Pleasant
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>
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I am surprised that StarCrunch used the RAT. I'll bet he doesn't anymore.
That pedal is great for playing by yourself, but it compresses the hell out of
your signal. I like a much deeper fender tone. I'd recommend a booster pedal
if you'd like to keep your tone (provided you like the tone of your amp and
guitar and aren't looking for a pedal to change your entire sound). I just
bought a Pharaoh Class A boost and it stomps the RAT. It doesn't cut the lows
out of your sound and it doesn't use compression diodes. Just one knob for
boost. It makes my jazzmaster sound like it has active pickups. The sound gets
huges for leads that might otherwise be barried. Great pedal, can't say enough
good things about it and the guy builds them all by hand to your specs.
I'd recommend not facing the amp or standing close to it unless you're looking
for some really un-musical feedback (this is not to say that guys like Jimi
Hendrix or Thurston Moore aren't musical, but they're borderline at times. And
it is doubtful that anyone of us who trys these more outragious techniques will
have the desired results, especially in a surf format) When I go for feedback,
I tend to roll the volume on my guitar up from 7 towards 10 till it feeds back.
I do this while sustaining a note to control the register of the feedback. For
me, facing the amp is too random; not enough control or repeatability. For real
control, Boss makes a feedbacker pedal (I thinks its an overdrive feedbacker and
for the record Boss makes mostly crap, however their tremolo/pan pedal and this
feedbacker are 2 I can't live without). Using this pedal you can feedback any
note and you have complete total control. If you don't want to buy any more
gear, you can always try experimenting with what you have.
Damon
Brian Neal <> wrote: Star Crunch was known
to use a ProCo Rat onstage for these songs. Other than that, you can always
get feedback by cranking the amp and standing close to it with your guitar.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The "Feedbacker" (BOSS FB-1) pedal is unfortunately no longer made (although
it is a selection in the new GT-6 processor), but it does have one important
(to me, anyway) limitation. Once you hit the pedal to start the sustained
feedback, it is uneffected by anything else you do before it in the signal
chain; in other words, you cannot (for example) modulate it with the vibrato
bar (again, important to me) or by bending the string. It does work
remarkably well, though! I used it to start "Pipeline" by hitting the 12th
fret high "E" harmonic, engaging the pedal, then while it was feeding back,
running the glissando down the neck. Pretty cool to my ears (but a very
singular effect).
Best regards, Dana Vincent
----- Original Message -----
From: Damon
To:
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 8:30 AM
Subject: RE: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
For real control, Boss makes a feedbacker pedal (I thinks its an overdrive
feedbacker and for the record Boss makes mostly crap, however their
tremolo/pan pedal and this feedbacker are 2 I can't live without). Using
this pedal you can feedback any note and you have complete total control.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hey fellow Surf Guitarist, I have a problem. I play a MIJ Jag with
it's original Japanese pick-ups, 65' RI Twin set @: Treb-5, Mid-5,
Bass-4, Bright-on.& a 63' RI Fender Reverb Unit set @: Dwell-7, Mixer-
7, Tone-7. I really like the sound I'm getting with these settings.
Here @ home my volume never exceeds 4-& I have no problems, but when
I'm @ practice and I have her cranked to about 6 she gives off an
annoying feedback. So I'm forced to lower the brightness either in
Tone or Treble. Then she doesn't sound as clear or crisp. Can ne one
shed some light on the situation? Is it the tank, guitar, or amp?
maybe the factory "groove" tubes?Thanks alot-Phillip
I think it might be the tank in the reverb unit. I've heard of that exact same
problem happening in reverb tanks in amps, but never in the reverb unit, though.
In the amps the problem is ussually solved by flipping over the tank in the bag
it is in or reversing it or something like that, but I dont think you can do
that in the reverb unit. Play at that volume, then turn down the reverb to no
mix when the feedback starts and see if the feedback goes away. If it does, then
youll know its the reverb, and maybe some one else will know how to solve the
problem.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: theesurrealist
To:
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 1:13 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
Hey fellow Surf Guitarist, I have a problem. I play a MIJ Jag with
it's original Japanese pick-ups, 65' RI Twin set @: Treb-5, Mid-5,
Bass-4, Bright-on.& a 63' RI Fender Reverb Unit set @: Dwell-7, Mixer-
7, Tone-7. I really like the sound I'm getting with these settings.
Here @ home my volume never exceeds 4-& I have no problems, but when
I'm @ practice and I have her cranked to about 6 she gives off an
annoying feedback. So I'm forced to lower the brightness either in
Tone or Treble. Then she doesn't sound as clear or crisp. Can ne one
shed some light on the situation? Is it the tank, guitar, or amp?
maybe the factory "groove" tubes?Thanks alot-Phillip
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I would suspect the original MIJ pickups. I've heard these are pretty
microphonic. Also, they are both identical (one isn't reverse wound, reverse
polarity compared to the other) so they don't hum cancel when they are both
on together. If you can, try a different guitar at those same settings. I
love the sound of the MIA Jag pickups, you can buy a set from places like
Smart Parts. Seymour Duncan also makes some Jag replacement pickups too.
Good luck.
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theesurrealist [mailto:]
> Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 3:14 PM
> To:
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
>
>
> Hey fellow Surf Guitarist, I have a problem. I play a MIJ Jag with
> it's original Japanese pick-ups, 65' RI Twin set @: Treb-5, Mid-5,
> Bass-4, Bright-on.& a 63' RI Fender Reverb Unit set @: Dwell-7, Mixer-
> 7, Tone-7. I really like the sound I'm getting with these settings.
> Here @ home my volume never exceeds 4-& I have no problems, but when
> I'm @ practice and I have her cranked to about 6 she gives off an
> annoying feedback. So I'm forced to lower the brightness either in
> Tone or Treble. Then she doesn't sound as clear or crisp. Can ne one
> shed some light on the situation? Is it the tank, guitar, or amp?
> maybe the factory "groove" tubes?Thanks alot-Phillip
>
>
First you have to eliminate a few things.
Try the same settings but without the reverb unit. If you have no feedback
it's the reverb unit, if you still have feedback it is something else.
If you put your hand on the strings so they can't vibrate and the feedback
goes on, turn down the volume pot of your guitar. If the feedback stops it's
the pickups like Brain said, If the feedback goes on , there is something
wrong with your amp.
Hope this helps.
Roland Bettenville
-------Original Message-------
From:
Date: Saturday, August 03, 2002 01:47:09
To:
Subject: RE: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
I would suspect the original MIJ pickups. I've heard these are pretty
microphonic. Also, they are both identical (one isn't reverse wound, reverse
polarity compared to the other) so they don't hum cancel when they are both
on together. If you can, try a different guitar at those same settings. I
love the sound of the MIA Jag pickups, you can buy a set from places like
Smart Parts. Seymour Duncan also makes some Jag replacement pickups too.
Good luck.
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theesurrealist [mailto:]
> Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 3:14 PM
> To:
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
>
>
> Hey fellow Surf Guitarist, I have a problem. I play a MIJ Jag with
> it's original Japanese pick-ups, 65' RI Twin set @: Treb-5, Mid-5,
> Bass-4, Bright-on.& a 63' RI Fender Reverb Unit set @: Dwell-7, Mixer-
> 7, Tone-7. I really like the sound I'm getting with these settings.
> Here @ home my volume never exceeds 4-& I have no problems, but when
> I'm @ practice and I have her cranked to about 6 she gives off an
> annoying feedback. So I'm forced to lower the brightness either in
> Tone or Treble. Then she doesn't sound as clear or crisp. Can ne one
> shed some light on the situation? Is it the tank, guitar, or amp?
> maybe the factory "groove" tubes?Thanks alot-Phillip
>
>
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.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Thats some good advice Roland...you sound like an engineer of some sort!
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roland Bettenville [mailto:]
...
>
> First you have to eliminate a few things. Try the same settings
> but without the reverb unit. If you have no feedback
> it's the reverb unit, if you still have feedback it is something
> else. If you put your hand on the strings so they can't vibrate
> and the feedback
> goes on, turn down the volume pot of your guitar. If the feedback
> stops it's
> the pickups like Brain said, If the feedback goes on , there is something
> wrong with your amp. Hope this helps. Roland Bettenville
>
Mm,Yes I am, but I always try simple things first.
Just nature's law of minimum effort.;-)
Roland Bettenville
-------Original Message-------
From:
Date: Saturday, August 03, 2002 14:47:08
To:
Subject: RE: [SurfGuitar101] Feedback
Thats some good advice Roland...you sound like an engineer of some sort!
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roland Bettenville [mailto:]
....
>
> First you have to eliminate a few things. Try the same settings
> but without the reverb unit. If you have no feedback
> it's the reverb unit, if you still have feedback it is something
> else. If you put your hand on the strings so they can't vibrate
> and the feedback
> goes on, turn down the volume pot of your guitar. If the feedback
> stops it's
> the pickups like Brain said, If the feedback goes on , there is something
> wrong with your amp. Hope this helps. Roland Bettenville
>
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.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sounds like you've gotten logical advice. I play essentially the
same setup -- a MIJ Jag through a '64 twin Reverb, and I have minimal
feedback problems. Really, it only pops up when I'm using
overdrive. Therefore, I am inclined to point the finger at the
reverb unit as well, especially since I use almost the same settings -
- Brightness on, treble just under seven, mid at 6, and bass at 5.5 --
and haven't experienced any problems with it.
Make sure and put up your findings, I know that I for one am really
intrigued at not only what the outcome is, but how you came to the
conclusion.
-Bill
> > First you have to eliminate a few things. Try the same settings
> > but without the reverb unit. If you have no feedback
> > it's the reverb unit, if you still have feedback it is something
> > else. If you put your hand on the strings so they can't vibrate
> > and the feedback
> > goes on, turn down the volume pot of your guitar. If the feedback
> > stops it's
> > the pickups like Brain said, If the feedback goes on , there is
something
> > wrong with your amp. Hope this helps. Roland Bettenville
Check the tubes in the reverb tank - I had a similar problem, and it
was due to the tubes going bad. It could be the 6K6 "driver" tube,
but most likely it's either the 12AX7 or 12AT7 tube that's getting
microphonic.
Good luck in fixing the problem!
-Dick
--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., "theesurrealist" <thee_surrealist@h...>
wrote:
> Hey fellow Surf Guitarist, I have a problem. I play a MIJ Jag with
> it's original Japanese pick-ups, 65' RI Twin set @: Treb-5, Mid-5,
> Bass-4, Bright-on.& a 63' RI Fender Reverb Unit set @: Dwell-7,
Mixer-
> 7, Tone-7. I really like the sound I'm getting with these settings.
> Here @ home my volume never exceeds 4-& I have no problems, but
when
> I'm @ practice and I have her cranked to about 6 she gives off an
> annoying feedback. So I'm forced to lower the brightness either in
> Tone or Treble. Then she doesn't sound as clear or crisp. Can ne
one
> shed some light on the situation? Is it the tank, guitar, or amp?
> maybe the factory "groove" tubes?Thanks alot-Phillip
