Surf Bass

[scotch]

Cool stuff, Ukiah! ♡ that Rob Allen too!

 

[scotch]

A couple videos of my "nuevo" surf-rock band, Crazy Aces...

In the studio video of a fun one off our first record:


A live version of a Link Wray song. I try to inject a little more 'jazz' personality on this one:


The genre has definitely grown to encompass a variety of styles and textures. I've been knocked out recently seeing bands like The Mystery Men, Insect Surfers and Kill Baby Kill. It's a cool scene to be a part of!

https://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic

 

[McFarlin]

How have I missed this thread all Spring? If it's show-and-tell then...
Right now we do surf-inspired arrangements of movie + TV themes, exotica, and other stuff.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Cool stuff, Ukiah! ♡ that Rob Allen too!

Thanks Scotch! You guys play nice and tight! I see you vary the pick vs. fingers style like me. Sometimes the hard attack of the pick is best for surf.

As for the RA Solid 4, looks like I need to sell it unfortunately. Is is a terrific bass!

 

[ERIC31]

I have a possible opportunity to play some gigs for the parks and rec dept in my town. I'm putting together a surf trio to do covers of classic surf tunes. Should be fun and even profitable. I know the lady in charge of hiring musicians for these shows at our local mega park.

 

[ERIC31]

Wow! 3 years later and this thread is zombified!!

Anyway, that combo from 2016 never got off the ground unfortunately. I'm trying now to get a guitarist and drummer for a surf trio and it's not going well. My town isn't that big but I thought there would be at least a few people into this music! Ah well, I'll just keep trying and maybe check out some other towns around this area.

A couple newer bands you guys should check out are The Seatopians from Boise and The Apollo Four from Portland^^. A couple of my current faves!! Check this live set out!

 

[Bass]

I play in a surf band:

 

[SurferJoe46]

Study music by The Ventures. Add some Telstar and Outer Limits and you should be good to go:

Anyone besides me remember Jan & Dean?

Actually.... Mosrite guitars and basses were quite prominent in a lot of Surf Music..... as was the use of a stiff pick and a touch of reverb or slapback. Here, The Ventures... who had their early music played exclusively with Mosrites as seen here...... later on went with Fenders when Mosrite was going through some lean times...



Glad to see The Ventures playing their old music on Mosrites for this Live Revival show. The anger and frustration when Mosrite left them high and dry just before a JapanTour must've been a tough pill to chew. That's how I remember it .......as told, anyways.......

Ironically, I owned a Ventures Model guitar in cherry red that got burned up in a fiery car wreck on the Ventura Freeway ç 1964. Enough of that bad memory..... I lost a good friend that afternoon too.... and also my '59 Chevy. I was nowhere near that accident...

WIKI ibid: .....in early 1963, California guitar manufacturer Mosrite re-branded their uniquely styled, futuristic-looking Mark 1 electric guitar model for the Ventures by applying decals that stated "The Ventures Model" on the headstock. The band adopted these guitars (which included a bass model) and first used them on The Ventures in Space (1963), one of their most influential albums because of the unique, unworldly guitar sounds it contained. From 1963 through 1968, a statement on their album covers announced that the Ventures used Mosrite guitars "exclusively" (the Ventures and designer Semie Moseley were partners in the distribution of these instruments). After the expiration of their contract with Moseley, the Ventures returned to playing mainly Fender guitars. Only rarely have they used Mosrite guitars since that contract ended.

In the mid-1990s, Fender issued a limited edition Ventures Signature Series of guitars consisting of a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster, and a Fender Jazz Bass, all with specifications determined by the band.

Aria Guitars and Wilson Brothers Guitars have subsequently issued Ventures Signature Model instruments. The Wilson Brothers guitar, in particular, is closely modeled physically on the original Mosrite design. ​

There was a stylistic German writer/composer at about the time when Surf Music lost its musical compass. Add some French Horns and you have Jack Nietsche who came out with The Lonely Surfer.



But back to the Fender P-Bass being THE Surf Bass...... HINT: it really wasn't.

Here's The Tornados with Telstar....where nary a Fender Anything will be found.....



Truth be told, I think the full name of this group was "The English Tornados" to differentiate between them and a US group of the same name.

Nokie Edwards (The Ventures) ..... kinda has "something to do" with Pete's Music (petesmusic.com) in Temecula, CA. There are a few pics on the wall there of him... one might've been autographed (winky, wink). Hopefully, the store still exists. I'd stop there on my way back from the Temecula/Murrietta Guitar Center at least twice a month.

 

[AGCurry]

I've not seen a mention of the Fireballs... the original Norman Petty masters. These guys recorded in Norman Petty's studio in New Mexico (where Buddy Holly also recorded his earlier stuff) from 1959-1964, and although they hailed from New Mexico, their music certainly had a big influence on the surf-music scene. Almost all original instrumentals. It wasn't extremely flashy... rather, it was very nicely arranged.

After Buddy Holly died, Petty had some of Holly's solo rehearsal tapes, and he brought in the Fireballs to overdub them.