Man or Astro-Man?, for instance, often
take the fundamental of surf and run with
them, putting a fresh and ass-kicking spin
on a classic sound that may no longer be
popular, but will never go out of style.
Besides reverb, the other main surf
guitar effect is tremolo, a feature which
was also built into many Fender blackfaceera amplifiers. Like splashy spring reverb,
tremolo brings to mind certain natural
elements one might encounter while
surfing, evoking the rhythmic undulations
of the water and waves. Tube amp
tremolo is generally the most awesome
for surf guitar, but there are numerous
pedals that will do nicely as well. A few
of my favorites include the Demeter
Tremulator, the Catalinbread Pareidolia,
and the Strymon Flint.
These are the fundamental elements
of a convincing surf guitar tone, and are
a great place to start for inexperienced
players, or those just wanting to add
a little aquatic vibe to their music.
Many creative musicians have taken
these elements and expanded on them,
however, creating unique hybrids that
incorporate classic surf sounds in a
modern context. Bands like Alabama’s
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TONE TALK //
Making Waves