Help me choose a new surf guitar

[Franknfilms]

I've been playing surf with my partscaster and bending the $80 mighty mite neck manually. This works ok, but it is time to consider a proper trem guitar. I've already considered adding a trem to my partscaster, but that would really ruin the look and would be very costly since I probably couldn't install it myself.

I've got a budget of $500 more or less for a new guitar.

Specs that I'm looking for:
25 1/2 scale
Single coil, P90, or jazzmaster pickup in the bridge (anything that sounds good with dick dale style strumming)
Good trem system: bigsbys don't have enough bend, reasonable tuning stability would be nice

I won't buy a guitar without playing it first so here are some guitar options that I can get my hands on at the local stores:

Squire vintage Modified Jazzmaster

Eastwood Hi-Flyer This has a shorter scale, but maybe I'll test it out anyway to see how the fast strumming feels.

Fender offset (there is a cheaper used one in the store)

Fender stratocaster

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

Ha, a few youtube videos later and I'm scratching the squire off the list, it sounds like a tuning stability nightmare.

I'm open to a floyd or other locking nut system if I can find it on a modded guitar for cheap.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

In the past, Fender/Squier has produced guitars that feature the Stratocaster six-screw fulcrum vibrato bridge on an offset waist style body.

IMO, through a valve amplifier, a true P90 would be too raunchy for "Surf" music. A Jazzmaster pickup in the bridge/Treble position may not be twangy enough.

I'd go with a Stratocaster and a Twangbanger pickup. Modify the control circuit so that the lower tone pot governs the bridge and centre pickups. Add a switch to allow the bridge and neck pickups to be on together.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

Used Squier w/Lipsticks...

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

DUDE!!!!

Whatever you pick...Try The Seymour Duncan LIPSTICK TUBE SET!!!!

I have them in my white Strat (Anne Hathaway) and she's siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick for surf!!!!

I F#^king LOVE surf rock. You will lose your mind with lipsticks!!!

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

DUDE!!!!

Whatever you pick...Try The Seymour Duncan LIPSTICK TUBE SET!!!!

I have them in my white Strat (Anne Hathaway) and she's siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick for surf!!!!

I F#^king LOVE surf rock. You will lose your mind with lipsticks!!!

I'd be willing to check out lipstick guitars, any suggestions for where to start?

 

[Securb]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

The Fender Offset might sound funky with a TV Jones in it.

https://soundcloud.com/tv-jones-1/sets/t-armond

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

My other idea is to get a more affordable jazzmaster, like the modern player be and replace the humbucker with something else

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-blacktop-jazzmaster-hs-electric-guitar

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

Used Squier w/Lipsticks...

Interesting suggestion.

I want to nominate the Fender/Squier Jaguar but its shorter scale disqualifies it in this thread.

Yes, the Floating Vibrato design has tuning stability issues but these are easily overcome with a little effort and expenditure. (Check out the various Jag and Offset Waist model enthusiast web sites for details.) I have recently upgraded from a modified CIJ to a (currently) stock AVRI '62. I have coaxed Adrian Belew style bends from the twangbar.

 

[brunogio]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

Used strat with SD Surfer set? Nice used Mexican strat should go for around $300 but not sure how much it would be to upgrade it to surfers. SSLs might also work. I have them in my strat setup and it does surf fine.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

I love how this guitar looks, again a bridge pickup replacement could do the trick:
http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com...nder-modern-player-marauder-lake-placid-blue/

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

2 colors,$300 shipped...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Squier-Vint...0-/261324883513?pt=Guitar&hash=item3cd82d4639

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

I love my Radiator

but it's a hardtail and the body is such that I'm trying to find a suitable trem for mine.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

I'm starting to think that I should just shop around for the best playing, most stable stratocaster I can find and then I am free to load up a pickguard with whatever electronics I want, even lipsticks.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

That Eastwood is hot!

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

Damn, I think I like the G&L look over fender any day. I'll have to try one of these out.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster - love the stock pickups but Antiquity Jazzers would be the way to go.

Monster guitar, beautiful vintage look, great value, one of the best necks I have ever played on a guitar. It is apparently modeled after the Rory Gallagher sig Strat

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

I think you're on the right path. For a surf guitar, you really just have to ask yourself . . . What would Dick Dale use?

So, a Strat w rosewood fretboard, 0.016 - 0.060 strings, heavy pick . . . run that into a Fender Dual Showman, and an outboard Fender reverb unit and you should be good to go.

 

[Psykel]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

What about the DiPinto Galaxie 4?
http://www.dipintoguitars.com/product.php?id=2

 

[Redbowties88]

Re: Help me choose a new surf guitar

Another vote for something with lipstick tubes. Man danny sounds SICK playing surf.


Maybe you can find one for a good enough deal and install an aftermarket trem system