Surf guitar sound. Pickups?

[rickenmetal]

I was just trying out different sounds out of curiosity, although I am completely aware I don't have the proper gear for this type of music. I tried using my Danelectro Spring King, turning up all the controls all the way up and with the lead pu and tone on maximum. I tried using a Mustang, and the pickups weren't strong enough. Then I tried using guitars with higher gain single coils (P94 and Rickenbacker Hi-Gain) and the sound was substantially better, driving the springs and giving more of that spring reverb "pop".

It just really surprised me, because it seems most surf guitarists use lower gain pus, although of course Jag and JM pus are louder than Mustang pus, and I am sure a Fender reverb (stand-alone or amp) is better.

Does anyone play surf with higher gain pus?

[analogsystem]

That is true that most surfers don't use high gain pups.  I'd bet a fair share use tubescreamers, these days anyway.  I don't know what the ventures did but Dick Dale just played really hard with big strings.

I find the spring king is more of a "Dub" echo when it's cranked, especially on vocals or sax.  It's a great lo-fi pedal to have around regardless.

[rickenmetal]

I wasn't going for a distorted or crunchy sound and I didn't get one, it was clean. I did get a lot of feedback though, but only on certain notes, and I wasn't playing very loud.

[Mute]

When playing surf I just hit the preamp hard with a booster. That, and some spring reverb, does the trick for me. And then maybe a touch of extra treble on the amp EQ depending on the guitar.

[mynameisjonas]

i'm no expert on surf music, but i think the amp+reverb play a bigger part than the pickups. i've seen people using SGs and other humbucker guitars, and still sounding 100% surf.

[ohm-men]

Fender Dual Showman with the 2 x 15" JBL closed cab, Fender Reverb unit, A strat or JM, Jag (whatever make) will do the trick.

I even use cheapo guitars with low output humbuckers with my SHowman and Reverb tank and still get "the" sound.
One of my favorites in fact is a stock Japanese JM or Jag with the afore mentioned amp and reverb.  I also like a mild set tubescreamer in front od the reverb tank to drive it a bit.

[-2N3904-]

i'm no expert on surf music, but i think the amp+reverb play a bigger part than the pickups. i've seen people using SGs and other humbucker guitars, and still sounding 100% surf.

true!


dick dale uses a strat but typically surf bands use jaguars, when ever i play around plyaing surf I use my mustang or jhaguar with a twin reverb reverb on full, it sounds excellent but its not quite 100% authentic because I have the wrong reverb.
moral of the story: buy an outboard RI reverb tank and swap the tubes.

[LHR]

No tubescreamers, or clean boosters, or any of that for surf.  (And we use flatwound strings and fairly low output pickups, mostly!)

The trick is to have that outboard reverb (ditch the Danelectro) and a f*cking high powered Fender amp.  Think Twin Reverb, Showman, and you get the idea.  Headroom is key.  Clean is the order of the day.

[rickenmetal]

The question would be more like: does that dwell control increase the twang on the springs?