As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Issue 11 – Spring 2020 – SoCal Inspired

Sixties surf-rock celebrated all things California – beach parties, sunshine, and fast cars. For surf rockers, a swell of shiny new guitars entered the market primed for trebly, twanging riffs.

Dive into the sun-soaked vibes of the 1960s, when the shimmering shores of California became the birthplace of a musical revolution — surf music. This genre, a perfect blend of reverb-laden guitar riffs and the euphoria of catching the perfect wave captured the essence of an endless summer.

Imagine the sound of guitars echoing the roar of the ocean, creating a sonic surfboard for listeners to ride the musical waves. Surf music wasn’t just a genre; it was the soundtrack of a lifestyle, embodying the thrill of surf culture, beach parties, and coastal daydreams.

From the iconic twangs of Dick Dale’s “Misirlou” to the harmonious hits of The Beach Boys, surf music invited everyone to dip their toes into the cool, inviting waters of its rhythms. Let’s rewind to a time when all you needed was a guitar, a sunny day, and a wave to ride—welcome to the vibrant world of surf music, where every chord carries the salt air and the promise of adventure.

Instrumental surf with its fast tremolo picking, rolling drums, and heavy reverb had a sonic vibe all its own. The Ventures made waves with the iconic song “Pipeline,” and Dick Dale’s reverb-drenched riffs took instrumental surf to new heights.

“What I was trying to do was actually capture the sound of being out in the ocean,” Dale told the Baltimore Sun in 1993. “When I’d be out there surfing, I could feel this thunderous sound. When I started banging on my guitar, I was trying to emulate that same sound – that fat, thick sound.”

Dale gravitated toward Fenders, which were manufactured not far from the beach in the company’s Fullerton, CA factory.

Guitarist Kathy Marshall, known as “the Queen of the Surf Guitar,” played a Stratocaster as well as a Jazzmaster. She sat in with several groups, including Eddie and the Showmen, the Blazers, and the Crossfires. Legend has it she even jammed with Dick Dale. Scant recordings of her playing exist, but she’s distinguished for her stage style and picking technique.

Early on, The Ventures used Fenders but later played Mosrite guitars by the California manufacturer. That connection was short-lived, but still, many associate the group with Mosrite since they released a few Ventures models.

The Surfaris, from Glendora, California, created the popular surf standards “Surfer Joe” and “Wipe Out.” James Fuller’s lead guitar riffs are still widely duplicated today.

When speaking of surf music, let’s include the Beach Boys. Although known primarily for their vocal harmonies and contributions to the surf music genre, they weren’t as closely identified with specific guitars in the way that some instrumental surf rock musicians, like Dick Dale, were. However, they did use a variety of instruments throughout their career. In the early days of their career, the Beach Boys sound was more focused on vocals and harmonies rather than distinctive guitar sounds, but they still incorporated guitars into their music.

Carl Wilson, the band’s lead guitarist, played a significant role in defining the band’s sound with his guitar work. Over the years, he was seen playing various guitars, including:

• Fender Stratocaster: A classic choice for many rock musicians, known for its bright, punchy tone, which suited the upbeat nature of many Beach Boys songs.
• Rickenbacker 360/12: A twelve-string guitar that can be heard on some of the band’s recordings, contributing to their rich, layered sound.
• Gibson SG: Known for its thick, powerful sound, the SG was another guitar Carl Wilson was known to play, especially in the later years.

Other members of the band, including Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston, also played various instruments, including guitars, but Carl Wilson was the most prominent guitarist in the band. The Beach Boys’ primary focus on vocal harmonies meant that their instrumental setup could vary, with less emphasis on any one particular type of guitar across their discography. The band’s instrumentation evolved over the years, especially as they moved into more complex musical arrangements under Brian Wilson’s direction in albums like “Pet Sounds.”

In later years, surf rock resurged with the movie “Pulp Fiction,” and popular guitars of the day became retro-cool finds. Surf rock’s influence can be heard in the Go-Go’s music and U-2’s The Edge.

Today, beach music is still going strong with bands The Surfrajettes, the Canadian all-girl surf rock band among others.

Standout Guitars of Surf Music

A host of colorful and offset guitars enhanced the sound and imagery of the surf rock genre.

Fenders

Stratocaster

Launched in 1954, the Stratocaster looked like no other guitar at the time. It had a smooth, contoured body and was designed with the player’s comfort in mind, as opposed to the chunkier Telecaster.

A solid-body electric, the Strat housed three pickups, a built-in vibrato unit, and was the ultimate guitar for creating chordal effects.

This new breed of guitar came in colors like Sonic Blue and Burgundy Mist, which appealed to the SoCal car and beach culture. The Strat’s production mirrored the contemporary automobile designs and aesthetics of the ‘50s and ‘60s. With sleek curves, a proportioned body, and chrome details, the Strat looked as good as it sounded. To this day, the guitar is famously used for almost any style of music.

As far as the Stratocaster, there was none more infamous than Dick Dale’s gold axe known as “The Beast.” Dale needed durable equipment, and a Strat was the perfect vehicle for the guitarist’s rapid-fire playing and distinctive tone. He strung The Beast with a combination of wound and unwound strings and preferred a heavy-gauge pick for his aggressive attack.

The Stratocaster was also the go-to for many other surf players looking for a versatile, stand-out guitar.

Jazzmaster

In an effort to expand the scope and appeal of their lineup, Fender introduced the Jazzmaster at 1958’s NAMM show. Touted as “America’s finest electric guitar,” its offset body sported an updated vibrato system and cost $50 more than a Stratocaster at the time.

The space-age beauty, designed by Leo Fender, was first marketed as an upscale guitar for jazz players. Made to produce a rich, warm sound, the Jazz came with new features as well. The guitar had two, plastic-covered soapbar pickups, a rhythm/lead circuit slider, as well as a floating tremolo system – a feature that intrigued surf guitarists whose pitch-bending mimicked the sound of ocean waves.

Jazzmasters were produced in cool colors, and some had block-shaped fingerboard inlays. A Jazz in Standard Sunburst finish was released in 1959, the decidedly surfer-friendly Foam Green debuted in 1963, and the Blue Ice Metallic was bright, but yellow fading over time turned it a greenish hue.

Overall, jazz players hadn’t embraced the Jazzmaster as expected, and die-hard Strat and Tele players didn’t sway either. But as fate would have it, the guitar eventually won acceptance by the surf rock community. In later years, the Jazz made a comeback with punk and indie-rock bands like Sonic Youth and Nirvana.

Jaguar

The versatile Jaguar rolled out in 1962 with three distinctive chrome-plated control panels and an offset body. Its short-scale neck and unique switching system proved a great choice for players on the surf scene.

With its shorter scale neck (24”), the Jag was built for fast playing. It had different pickups than the Jazzmaster, which rocked wide, single-coil pickups that were unshielded and hummed a bit. The Jaguar had two narrow, single-coil pickups (more like those on a Strat) that were encased in notched metal rings (or claws), that reduced hum – an addition not typical on Fenders but was seen on a ‘60s Bass VI.

Although the Jag and the Jazz both had dual-circuitry (lead and rhythm), the Jaguar’s lead circuit was more involved. It had three slide switches on the lower horn. The first two were on-off switches for each pickup; the third triggered a capacitor that filtered out the low-end for a trebly tone, which some dubbed the “strangle” switch.

Features saw the floating tremolo, a spring-loaded string mute at the bridge. However, most players preferred muting the strings naturally with their hands. The Jag was also the first Fender with 22 frets on the fingerboard.

On the early Beach Boys records, Carl Wilson played a Jaguar. He later played Stratocasters, Guilds, and Gibsons. Other guitarists picked up a Jaguar, such as Mary Kay, Eddie Bertrand, PJ Harvey, and Dave Myers.

The Jaguar was discontinued in 1975. Fortunately, in 1999 Fender began many classic reissues of its early instruments. Still, with a unique design and a personality all its own, the Jag has held up well among its Fender family.

Other Notable Guitars Known in the Surf Music

Mosrite guitars

Guitars produced by Semie Moseley were known for their innovative designs and high quality. There were several Mosrites referred to as the “Ventures model” guitars, later known as Mark I. The Ventures model had a slim neck, microdot inlays, and an angled neck pickup. The ultra-cool guitars were made at the company’s factory in Bakersfield, CA. Punk rocker Johnny Ramone would later play one.

Teisco Del Rey

The Japanese manufacturer’s Teisco Del Rey brand debuted in 1964. The TRG-1 and SD-4L were surfy cool guitars.

Danelectro

The American manufacturer based in New Jersey put out many fine guitars suited for new players, such as the Silvertone.

The Danelectro Slimline had a jaguar-style shape, vinyl side trim, and a stumpy headstock. It came with two or three pickups and was offered with or without vibrato. Their Hawk line of guitars was similar as well. The Danelectro Hawk (mid-’60s) had a short scale and was designed without the side trim. Powder blue and other funky colors and finishes like alligator and crackle were very trendy.

NOTE: Guitar Term Tip
The terms vibrato bar, tremolo bar, and whammy bar are all used synonymously, as well as the words bar and arm.

Conclusion

As the sun sets on the golden era of surf music, its legacy continues to ride the waves of modern music landscapes. The distinct sounds of the Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, and other iconic guitars remain emblematic of an era that celebrated the freedom, adventure, and youthful exuberance of the California surf culture. Surf music, with its trebly twangs and reverb-drenched melodies, captured the imagination of a generation and beyond, embedding itself in the fabric of popular culture.

The pioneering artists of the genre, from Dick Dale’s thunderous “Misirlou” to The Beach Boys’ harmonious anthems of sun, sand, and surf, showcased not just a musical style but a way of life. Their choice of instruments, driven by the desire to mimic the sounds and sensations of surfing, led to the creation of a sound that was as innovative as it was evocative.

Today, surf music’s influence can be heard in the works of contemporary bands and musicians who continue to draw inspiration from its unique soundscapes. The revival of interest in vintage guitars and the surf genre’s stylistic elements is a testament to its enduring appeal. New generations discover and embrace the joyous, reverb-laden music, ensuring that the spirit of the 1960s surf scene continues to captivate and inspire.

As we reflect on the impact of surf music, it’s clear that its legacy is not just in the notes played on a fretboard but in the enduring symbol of creativity and the endless pursuit of the perfect wave. Surf music, much like the ocean itself, is timeless—constantly evolving yet forever echoing the call of the surf that inspired its creation.

FAQs:

What is the definition of surf music?

The surf music genre, also known as surf rock, originated in the early 1960s in Southern California, deeply intertwined with the area’s burgeoning surf culture. This genre is divided into two primary forms: instrumental surf rock, renowned for its electric guitar-driven tracks laden with a distinctive “wet” reverb effect that emulates the soundscapes of the ocean and surfing, and vocal surf pop, which lyrically celebrates surfing, beach life, and summer romances, often incorporating harmonies inspired by genres such as doo-wop and rockabilly.

The term “surf music” itself is directly derived from its close ties to the surfing subculture, aiming to encapsulate the lifestyle, ethos, and exhilaration associated with surfing and coastal leisure. This music genre not only provided a sonic backdrop for surfing documentaries and movies, further solidifying its association with the surf culture, but also enjoyed widespread popularity, influencing youth culture and music scenes well beyond its Southern California origins.

Who were some of the popular musicians in the surf music genre?

Instrumental surf rock was spearheaded by artists like Dick Dale, whose pioneering use of rapid alternate picking techniques and the reverb-saturated tones of his Fender Stratocaster guitar were aimed at replicating the visceral feel of surfing. Dale’s rendition of “Misirlou” (1962) stands as a quintessential example of classic surf rock music.

Meanwhile, The Beach Boys became the most iconic representatives of the vocal surf pop sound. Initially, their repertoire was heavily focused on surf and beach-themed songs, including hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.” and “Surfin’ Safari.” However, under Brian Wilson’s creative direction, the band’s musical ambitions quickly expanded beyond the surf genre’s initial boundaries.

How can I get started playing surf music?

Getting started in surf music involves immersing yourself in its rich history and iconic sound.

• Begin by exploring the classic tracks of surf music pioneers like Dick Dale, The Ventures, and The Beach Boys to understand the genre’s distinctive reverb-drenched guitar tones and upbeat rhythms.
• Pick up an electric guitar, ideally models like the Fender Stratocaster or Jaguar, known for their bright, twangy sounds that define surf music.
• Practice the essential techniques such as fast alternate picking, tremolo picking, and the use of the whammy bar for that authentic surf sound.
• Additionally, learning basic music theory and chord progressions common in surf music will help you compose your own sun-soaked tunes. Joining online forums or local music communities focused on surf music can provide valuable insights and opportunities to collaborate.

Remember, surf music is as much about capturing the spirit of the beach and surfing culture as it is about the specific sound. Let the laid-back, adventurous ethos of surf culture inspire your musical journey.

~This article has been updated from its original appearance in Guitar Girl Magazine Issue 11, on March 2, 2024, to include an Introduction, the Beach Boys, a Conclusion, and the Frequently Asked Questions.

All photos provided by Fender with permission to use.