Actually, the Surf Sound started *before* the famous Fender Reverb came out.

As referenced in the article that 90dB posted above, Dick Dale used no spring reverb on any of his early and genre-defining cuts.

However, today is another story, once the Spring Reverb was available on just about any amp to be purchased, the surf sound morphed into being drenched in that effect.

Pay attention to the TREMELO effect and how it differs in different amps. Not all are alike at all. Even the fender amps have featured different kinds of tremelos in certain models. And Ampegs have a Tremelo that is, well, "Ampeg".

Today we can use the various digital effects to great advantage as concerns the Reverbs and different types of Tremelos, highly recommended for the journeyman guitarist who may have to cover not only the Surf sound, but the entire gamut.

As with any effect, I find that it is important to resist overdoing it on the settings, though. If the reverb masks the definition of notes, the surf sound does not sound "right" to me.

Those aspiring to the sound should add The Ventures and The Shadows stuff to their arsenal as well as Dick Dale. Sprinkle on plenty of Skunk Baxter's expertise on that subject as well.


--Mac

Last edited by Mac; 06/19/13 04:59 AM.
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