So You CAN Play Surf On a Ric...

[paologregorio]

I've never really liked Jaguars; I always thought they were an uglier evolutin of the Jazzmaster, which I liked, until I bought one. the Stratocaster is just the ultimate Fender; Space Age cool rock n' roll, especially when finished in one of the 50s/early 60s style flashy custom colors!

I've seen you play surf on my Rick, Skip, so I know it can be done.

[philipharris]

Bizarrely, I have a 480 signed - allegedly - by none other than Dick Dale.....

[jingle_jangle]

I have a photo of Dick Dale and myself posed in front of my Coral '55 Nomad, back in '82. Dick is holding my matching (Coral) Jazzmaster. If it was a video, you'd hear him grumbling, "I don't play these f***ing things...I play a STRAT!!!". But he's smiling nonetheless.

You'd know Dick's autograph--it's two big round D's, plain as day, with some smaller, indecipherable letters trailing ahead...

[jfine]

Jazzmasters, as cool as they are, have issues, especially with the bridges and vibratos--and the less said about Jaguars the better, in my opinion! Remember, back in the early '60's, most players used flatwound heavy-gauge (by today's standards) strings, and Jazzmasters and Jaguars work OK with those. Modern light-gauge strings, even .010"-.046"? Problematic at best on those things. Dick Dale insists that the only real surf guitar is a Strat, and he should know...That being said, there are some instances of Rickys being used in surf bands--I've seen a pic of the Avengers VI with one of the guitarists playing a 625, and, of course, Carl Wilson used a 360-12 pretty regularly with the Beach Boys, admittedly not during the heyday of instrumental surf music.

[elreydlp]

I spent about 3 hours Saturday night talking and jamming with Mark Neill in his studio. He can play ANYTHING on a Rick-and make it sound like it should-or better!
I'm going to try to get him for SCARF. Cross your fingers.

[jingle_jangle]

Jazzmasters, as cool as they are, have issues, especially with the bridges and vibratos--and the less said about Jaguars the better, in my opinion! Remember, back in the early '60's, most players used flatwound heavy-gauge (by today's standards) strings, and Jazzmasters and Jaguars work OK with those. Modern light-gauge strings, even .010"-.046"? Problematic at best on those things. Dick Dale insists that the only real surf guitar is a Strat, and he should know...That being said, there are some instances of Rickys being used in surf bands--I've seen a pic of the Avengers VI with one of the guitarists playing a 625, and, of course, Carl Wilson used a 360-12 pretty regularly with the Beach Boys, admittedly not during the heyday of instrumental surf music.

And, of course, Carl Wilson used a Jaguar to get his signature tone for the Beach Boys' first half-dozen albums. Everybody's aware of the supposed bridge problems. Vibrato issues? I've owned lots of Jags and JMs and the solution to the bridge problems is ten minutes with a small triangular file. I'm not aware of any vibrato problems. I've played .009 (back then) and .010 sets on my Jags with nary an issue.

Dick Dale is THE MAN; our acquaintance goes back to '82. He's also opinionated and of course entitled to his opinion. I can get tones on my Jags that you can only get on Strats if they are fitted with 1 meg pots. I like all three, plus the Mustang and Duo-Sonic s well. Different strokes, etc....