Lively Ones, John Benton and Eddie Bertrand

[SurfGreen]

Hi fellow offsetters,

I have been a bedroom Jazzmaster player for a few years (I have a surf green AVRI Jazzmaster which I love dearly). But I couldn't help but be entranced by a series of videos showing Eddie Bertrand and friends at the Huntington Beach Surf Museum. I was very impressed with Eddie's playing and the Jaguar sound in particular. He played a great version of Mr. Rebel to start out and played some other surf songs such as Movin. I was also impressed with John Benton's work as well with the Lively Ones. He is also shown that day playing along with Eddie (Surf Rider).

I also see some other first wave bands on the Youtube stage such as the Eliminators, the Tornadoes, the Chantays, the Surfaries, etc.

I guess my question would be this. I have noticed that many of the first-wave bands used the Jaguar as the lead instrument rather than the Jazzmaster. Of course, there are tons of exceptions such as the Astronauts, the Ventures, Fireballs and many other surf bands. Many others had the Strat in the forefront such as Dick Dale. My question would be this, when I hear the Jaguar as a lead instrument, is this usually with the two pickups together and the tstrangle switch on to give it more bite or is there another setting which gives you that snap that you don't hear with the Jazzmaster?

I'm thinking of  Squad Car. Surf Rider and Mr. Rebel.

Thanks

[Surfoverb]

I dunno the answer but yeah those dudes rock!  I personally have no use for the Jag bass cut except when playing through a fuzz pedal. I have read that the Lively Ones guitarist used to use a Tele untill it got stolen then he started using Jags.

I know The Astronauts used a Jag for rythm but I know also that they used the mute when strumming sometimes so maybe thats why they used the Jag for rythm and the Jazz for leads. It could also be the Jeff Beck/Page effect where one guitarist uses a slightly different guitar than the other just because its different?

[SurfGreen]

That's a nice Jag you have there in that pic. Black with a mint guard!. Looks very nice.

I guess I'm a closet player who really likes the old school surf tones. Over the last few weeks I've really been hooked on the jag sound after watching those Eddie Bertrand c lips on YouTube. He's playing in front of the Huntington Beach Surf Museum and it looks like the noonday sun is beating down and he's just letting it rip. Can't really believe that Eddie Bertrand was making his first appearance back. But maybe so. Obviously, he has practiced a bunch before getting out in public again.

He seems to really be enjoying himself. Noticed he uses that trem bar a lot and he gets a tremendous tone.