The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Amps: Ultimate Surf Guitar Amp?

Ultimate Surf Guitar Amp?

« » Page 1 2

- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 3:45 p.m. audiodrome:

As some of you may know, I play in a Beach Boys tribute band called All Summer Long, and I currently use a '63 Jaguar through a '64 Super Reverb with a '63 Reverb Tank. I love the sound of this amp but I don't think it's exactly right for capturing the early surf sound of the Beach Boys (the Jaguar is spot on however).

I'm looking into other early '60s Fenders but I'd love to hear opinions on what's the best vintage amp for that ultimate surf tone. My Super Reverb has a beautiful full-bodied clean tone, but sometimes, there's a little too much midrange for my taste.

Yesterday, I engineered a session for a guitarist who had a blond '63 Bassman with a 2x12 cab. It didn't sound as clean as my Super Reverb but it had a smoother tone - more of a "scooped" midrange if you will.

Besides the Bassman, there's the Showman and the Bandmaster - any thoughts?
- Rated: 212 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 3:52 p.m. Proteus:

The Showman occurs to me...but how would you beat a Twin? Never heard anyone accuse a Twin of having too much midrange.

I think ultimate surf is all about the clean headroom, and with twice the watts of your Super, a Twin can kill people without the first suggestion of distortion.

Put a pair of JBL aluminum-dustcap 12s in there, or perch it atop a Bandmaster cab so equipped, and brutalize the beach.
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 4:03 p.m. audiodrome:

The main reason I didn't mention the Twin is because it doesn't "look" the part, and that midrangey "blackface tone" is not quite right for the surf sound I'm looking for. If I'm going to get another Fender rig for my Beach Boys gig, I want it to have that "surf look" (as in blond). What's the basic differences between the Showman, the Bassman, and the Bandmaster? I'm doing a search right now, but you guys can probably provide me with more info, and in a lot less time!
- Rated: 31 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 4:05 p.m. Danman:

Wasn't the white tolex Showman what many of those bands used? I think a showman basically is a twin amp in a loose head. I have a blond 1963 showman like you saw in the amp topic recently. It stays clean longer than my 62 bassman. It has 4 6L6 as opposed to the Bassman with only two. I think the white tolex showman is around 80 Watts?
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 4:11 p.m. audiodrome:

Isn't that what Dick Dale used?

I just came across this:

How to Get the Classic Surf Guitar Sound
- Rated: 31 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 4:26 p.m. Danman:

Yeah, that was a nice read. The Showman is on there but they also mention the deluxe reverb but I can't imagine that that would offer enough headroom for a live surf band.
- Rated: 39 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 4:37 p.m. Rocketman:

I wonder what the Beach Boys got to do with "ultimate surf" anything?
- Rated: 5 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 6:09 p.m. FritzTheCat:

If you're into surf guitar this is the website for you! http://www.surfguitar101.com/
- Rated: 5 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 6:42 p.m. gusto:

new amps i would get a Gomez Surfer amp. Or a vintage, Showman, twin, super, or bandmaster.
- Rated: 6 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 7:11 p.m. tedzepplin:

DIck Dale plays a showman.
- Rated: 19 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 7:25 p.m. TyPierce:

Yep, Dual Showman all the way. Dale uses 15" speakers as well, and after seeing him live last year I can profess that the man's tone will flat-out push you around!

I think the Ventures may have used piggyback Bassmans, though I might be wrong on that.

And Fritz is spot-on with the SG101 suggestion... if you're not a regular there already, there's more surftacularness than you can shake a reverb tank at!
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 7:56 p.m. audiodrome:

This post has been deleted
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 9, 2008 7:56 p.m. audiodrome:

This post has been deleted
- Rated: 39 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 4:01 a.m. Rocketman:

hm.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk9SYy5RRkM
- Rated: 53 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 4:55 a.m. Ratrod:

Surf music at it's best: Click this and pump up the volume.
- Rated: 66 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 5:26 a.m. Walter Broes:

A white tolex/Brownface Showman is THE surf amp, and you want JBL D series speakers for surf. A showman is the head-version of a twin, with 4 6L6's, solid state rectifier, and a massive output transformer. (80/100 watts)

That said, even my surf-playing friends who own or have owned a Showman often end up with a bassman head and a 2X12 JBL cab, because a showman +JBL's is SO loud you need tweezers to operate the volume know in a lot of rooms.

A bassman head is 50 Watt(2X6L6, solid state rectifier, big O.T.), bandmaster has the same output tubes but a much smaller output transformer, so it's realistically more 35/40W, less headroom.

The 10" light-duty speakers and tube rectifier of a Super Reverb don't make it a very surf-friendly amp.
- Rated: 39 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 6:05 a.m. Rocketman:

I like this one; http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=YvWA5UpC5lc Ultimate surf
- Rated: 45 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 6:18 a.m. Tsar Nicholas :

Proteus said: Brutalize the Beach

Can I steal this name for my next surf composition?!
- Rated: 6 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 7:05 a.m. LHR:

What Walter said, except...the blonde Dual Showman is the holy grail of surf amps.

I am a BIG fan of the Bandmaster sound; but you'll need more power than that, mostly. Also, the Bassman does not seem that much louder to me than the Bandmaster, despite the higher output rating.

Rocketman: said: I wonder what the Beach Boys got to do with "ultimate surf" anything?
The Beach Boys, from time to time, had killer tone IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrAWIB8EYCM&feature=related

But, if it were me, (and it is kinda, cuz that's the music I play) then I would get a silverface, non-master-volume Fender Twin Reverb. No question. All things considered, it's your best value surf amp. Extra points if you find one retrofitted with a nice 15-inch speaker.
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 7:09 a.m. audiodrome:

Rocketman said: I wonder what the Beach Boys got to do with "ultimate surf" anything?
Since I'm the only guitarist in the band with somewhat of a "surf" setup, I do all the early BB solos (Surfin' Safari, Surfin' USA, Shut Down, etc.), and that “sound” is most definitely surf. Now I just want to perfect it, so it might as well be the ultimate!
- Rated: 43 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 8:29 a.m. Diggey:

The Showmans were partially designed with some input from the man Dick Dale himself and is the ultimate Surf amp for purists.

I use a Gomez El Sonido which is a Blonde Bassman era clone. I can't say enough about how accurate the tone is. I love surf and can't brag enough about this amp. Eddie Betrand is playing one and he was a Showman!! (joke) As in Eddie and the Showman. From Squad Car fame.

50 watts is plenty loud and really can capture good surf. You can also dirty it up and blues or rock is easy. Rockabilly is a no brainer. My point is you can spread other types in with no strain. It is a great canvas to start. Just solid good tone. As is most of the Blonde era and Brown Tolex era Fender amps IMHO.

My advice, if you've got the coin, is get after Dario Gomez and have him make you one or get his Surfer amp which I intend to buy when he starts production again. (Next year.) It is a Showman, but no where else will you find a better product or service then him. It is the best New Old Stock Fender blonde with just enough of being different.

Totally check out www.surfguitar101.com which is a great source of gear and bands.
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 9:29 a.m. audiodrome:

My absolutely favorite surf compilation is an LP released in the early '80s called, New Wave Surf Party.

Every track is a killer! "Moment Of Truth" is my all-time favorite surf instrumental.

The REVELS - It's Party Time
The SURF TEENS - Moment Of Truth
The REVELIERS - Hangin' Five
The FENDER IV - Malibu Run
The REVELS - Church Key
The BREAKERS - Surf Breaker
The TRUANTS - The Truant
The PYRAMIDS - Pressure
The REVELIERS - Patch
The VISTAS - Ghost Wave
The VY-DELS - Unknown
The CREATIONS - Crash
The FENDER IV - Mar Gaya
The VELVETONES - Static
The TEMPTATIONS - Egyptian Surf
The HOLLYWOOD TORNADOES - Shootin' Beavers
The GAMBLERS - Moon Dawg
- Rated: 39 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 10:55 a.m. Rocketman:

Don't get me wrong I am a huge BB fan.

It’s just that, being a surfer myself, I always get a little annoyed when people say “Surf? Ah Beach Boys!”. Maybe I have the wrong definition but to me surf is instrumental guitarmusic with a backbeat. Which makes the Shadows not a surfband. And the Beach Boys hardly a surfband. But I am not here to argue or something. It’s just……. Well…… to me surf is the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Ok sorry.
- Rated: 66 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 11:04 a.m. Walter Broes:

Rocketman said: Maybe I have the wrong definition but to me surf is instrumental guitarmusic with a backbeat. Which makes the Shadows not a surfband. And the Beach Boys hardly a surfband. But I am not here to argue or something. It’s just……. Well…… to me surf is the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Ok sorry.
The earlier Beach Boys stuff is surf music, only it's vocal surf music.

Look for "the Illustrated History of Surf Music 1961-1965" by John Blair. (that's the "John and the Nightriders" John Blair) for some ideas on what constitutes surf music originally. It's an interesting read, and almost a must-have for surf aficionados.
- Rated: 27 ↑
Oct 10, 2008 11:12 a.m. audiodrome:

Yes, the early Beach Boys (1961-1963) were most definitely a surf band, not exclusively, but they had plenty of legitimate surf instrumentals and their other surf songs certainly fit the description.