Tele for surf?

[Rich_S]

NPR is a great place to learn about surf bands. Years ago, i was introduced to Laika and the Cosmonauts via a 5-second clip between stories on" Morning Edition". This morning, they turned me onto Bevel Emboss the same way. Anyway, it's got my surf guitar interest stirred up.

First question by a die-hard Tele guy: Is a vibrato bridge necessary for playing surf? Seems like it would be. Anybody out there play surf on a standard Tele, or do you have a Bigsby?

No offense to you B-lovers out there, but I've always thought a Bigsby on a Tele looked contrived. It's not the thing of beauty it is on a Gretsch, for example. Rather than kludging up a Tele for surf, why not just buy a Strat, Jag, or Jazzmaster?

Please discuss, while I run for cover.

 

[fezz parka]

Best of both worlds! SX WiggleStick Tele

Vintage White

BSB

 

[waparker4]

Something like this would be awesome (not my picture)

 

[vintage clubber]

Best of both worlds! SX WiggleStick Tele

Vintage White

BSB

This! I did some upgrades on mine since it has a 1 3/4" thick body - Wilkinson tremolo with steel block, GFS pickups, new tuners, TUSQ Nut. This is one of my favorite toys!

 

[voodooblues]

So is the question Tele for surf, or Bigsby on a Tele? The line seems to have blurred in the original post. Anyway, I vote yes for both. Here's mine:

 

[surfoverb]

you dont need a wiggle stick to play surf. Sure it comes in handy but I wouldnt ruin a tele just for a few songs.

The Lively Ones played Teles until they were stolen and then they switched to Jags.

The Ventures both Nokie Edwards and Gerry Mcghee used Teles alot. Even in the tunes where a wiggly was used on record they would get by without it. Ive seen Gerry Mcgee do a behind the nut bend for walk dont run.

bottom line if youre good you dont need a wiggly. If youre playing covers you can get by without one, and if youre dong originals you most definitely dont need one.

 

[teleforumnoob]

I like the looks of the JM/Jag trem on a tele, though Ive never used that kind of trem, so I don't know how Id like it if I actually played one. I like Bigsbys, but agree they can look kinda clunky on a Tele. Can look cool tho with the rest of the guitar kinda tricked out Gretsch style.
I really dislike a strat trem so no way Id want one on my tele.
With some good finger vibrato and the right amp and effects, I think you could do surf without the trem. I dont think Dick Dale ever used his did he?

Im a rebel I guess, I did this on a lark a couple yrs ago, sounds great for surf, despite the humbuckers:

 

[Rich_S]

So is the question Tele for surf, or Bigsby on a Tele?

Both!

Nice Tele, BTW. Blue sounds the best.

 

[Rich_S]

Hmm. Where's Fenderlover when you need him?

 

[ifallalot]

Besides behind the nut bends you can do neck bends

 

[Rich_S]

Yeah, I've been bending the neck for years. It's hard to get deep bends unless you can push on the body with your right hand, but's it's possible to get some surf wobble just by shaking it good and hard.

I have two Teles I love just the way they are and don't want to mod, so I guess I'll get started with them. If I get into it and decide I need a wang bar, I'd be buying another guitar anyway, and would probaly open it up to Teles, Strats, Jags, and Jazzmasters.

That reminds me, I saw a surf green CV Jag in a catlog recently. Nice. Do Jags twang, or does the short scale kill it?

 

[Stdon]

My instructor Zoot and I were goofing around the other day and he did a perfect Dick Dale out of nowhere on his, well, it's a Suhr but a Tele no bar.

 

[teleforumnoob]

That reminds me, I saw a surf green CV Jag in a catlog recently. Nice. Do Jags twang, or does the short scale kill it?

They do indeed, from my limited experience. Altho in a different but good way. Teles get their twang from a combination of the scale length, rear pickup, and bridge plate. Offsets get their's from the long and shallow string angle off the bridge. Jags seem to twang more than JMs to me, I think because of the pickups being more Stratish or Teleish. JM pickups remind me more of P90s, fatter and thickerer.

But a lot of "twang" is simply technique. You can make an LP twang with the right technique and pickup/tone/amp settings.

 

[fezz parka]

Jag? Jon & The Nightriders:

 

[surfoverb]

Jags have plenty of twang. They are a bit more percussive due to the shortscale, but they are twang city in the right hands. jag pickups are on the hot side and very sharp and focused compared to jazzmaster pickups which are more full bodied, and less hard-edged. Both jags and jazzmasters can twang though.

 

[Pepe]

Twang? I think Chris Scruggs has some of those right hands.....



Guitar trem needed for surf? In my opinion, yes. Your ear is what counts though.

I think Bigsbys are one of the coolest trems around, but don't really like the way they look on most solid bodies (except Gretsches)

 

[Rich_S]

I think Bigsbys are one of the coolest trems around, but don't really like the way they look on most solid bodies (except Gretsches)

Yeah... like '70s SGs. Gag.

 

[Terry O'Malley]

Sometimes you need jags and jazzmasters


Surf guitar time is one of those.

One x Tele and either a jag or jazzmaster played together make for great surf sounds

Here are my surf guitars

 

[voodooblues]

Both!

Nice Tele, BTW. Blue sounds the best.

Thanks for the kind words. I got it from Bob Logan. It didn't originally have the Bigsby, so I had him add it. The color is ocean turquoise, with a cream pickguard and amber tinted neck. I really like the way the neck and pickguard go together. I've seen the same color on a guitar with a white pickguard and rosewood neck, and to me it's not nearly as eye catching.

I know a Bigsby isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I have to say I really enjoy mine. Almost to the point of "Hey man, do you have to do surf bends in every tune?" I get a little carried away with it sometimes...

 

[BoogerRooger]

Try a Baja. The S1 switch comes into own and those out-of-phase sounds are great for Surf!