Surf Music Lap Steel?

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 24 Mar 2017 5:35 pm

Do any of you play surf instrumentals on a lap steel? Any links to your music? While Hawaiian music is the original "surf music," I was thinking of '60's California style. Does "Adventures in Paradise" count?

Frank James Pracher · Post by **Frank James Pracher** » 24 Mar 2017 8:26 pm

You might want to check out the Blue Hawaiians... they fit what you're talking about. They have a bunch of videos on youtube.

Probably my favorite kind of music to play!

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 25 Mar 2017 8:11 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy_OHrqXB6A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zHaMb0A6WQ

GB

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 25 Mar 2017 9:16 am

These might be considered surf on lap steel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5aT07gOis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSG4w4D54PQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvTWpCgs524

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 25 Mar 2017 12:49 pm

Surf tunes on lap steel are a blast!

I did this version of Theme For Young Lovers a few years ago. http://picosong.com/p6iL

There's a medley of Walk Don't Run, Pipeline, Baja and Latina in my book C6th Gold.

Doug, still love your version of the Lonely Bull!

Allen Hutchison · Post by **Allen Hutchison** » 25 Mar 2017 1:40 pm

I'd say "Adventures in Paradise" certainly counts!
Rob E G did a lot of this stuff way back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq80fCUtqsY

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 25 Mar 2017 5:09 pm

Doug listed his tuning for six string in the videos (thanks Doug).

(Gary) Brandin, I assume you are playing 8 string in the tunes you linked, can you tell us the tuning?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Mar 2017 10:33 am

Doug, still love your version of the Lonely Bull!

Thanks, Andy! That video is averaging 100 views per day, so I guess people like it. I agree that surf sounds good on lap steel guitar. I think it's partly because a lap steel player can easily get the "whammy bar" sound that is so often heard in surf guitar playing. We do that constantly with our bar motion. And the tone of lap steel is somewhat "ballsy", especially older lap steels where the tone is close to the 1950s/60s guitars, Strats, etc. Just my take on it.

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 26 Mar 2017 11:39 am

Doug Beaumier wrote:
I think it's partly because a lap steel player can easily get the "whammy bar" sound that is so often heard in surf guitar playing..
That's a good thought, since if I recall Bigsby and Fender designed their vibrato (tremolo) mechanisms to imitate the vibrato of a steel player.

Remember, Fender made steel guitars first, before the solid body electrics.

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 26 Mar 2017 11:51 am

Doug, and Andy always great to hear your playing and ideas.

Mark, It's 8 string C6th with the G on top.

GB

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 26 Mar 2017 12:54 pm

Thanks, Gary - that's actually the version I'm using in my struggle to become a competent 8 string C6th player.

I have been working through Cindy Cashdollar's Homespun teaching DVDs and that is her tuning. The subject matter is western swing but I'm more about a west coast "surf noir" vibe and have also gotten some great inspiration from Mike Neer's Thelonious CD. Along with Doug's take on classics like The Lonely Bull.

Former Member · Post by **Former Member** » 26 Mar 2017 1:02 pm

Lonely Bull kills!!
I see you're playing with a flat pick, hey why not?
That low break reminds me of "Phadra" or whatever that insane song is called--'Some velvet morning'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2PbG6KQKsE
Those older PU's do cut right thru..
How MANY sticks do you have Doug??

I like how blue Hawaiians leads to Los Straightjackets to super-hot old school stripping!!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 Mar 2017 1:25 pm

and then, there's this guy playing Telstar ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFH22s1g2h8

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Mar 2017 2:28 pm

I like the Telstar video. It's so otherworldly!

How MANY sticks do you have Doug??

Too many! Actually, many of the ones that appear in my videos have been sold. I think have 9 now.

Garry Vanderlinde · Post by **Garry Vanderlinde** » 26 Mar 2017 2:37 pm

Hi Paul, I think you were doing the sound on this one in Ft. Collins at the HSGA Convention.
Pipeline, C6th lap steel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcpbT1Vq6CU

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Mar 2017 2:44 pm

That's a cool performance! And a whammy bar on a Fender steel... good stuff.

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 27 Mar 2017 7:53 am

Can't say enough about the Vanduras and Blue Hawaiians. Gary Brandin kills.

I did a version of Apache a few years back on lap steel here:

http://www.soundclick.com/html5/v3/play ... =6039660&q

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 27 Mar 2017 8:18 am

That's a fine Apache Bill.

And Garry, nice touch on Pipeline. You really nail the string muting.

Yeah - The Vanduras - I was cooking chili yesterday and had The Vanduras on as the inspiration for the spices.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 27 Mar 2017 8:41 am

The Vanduras and Gary's playing are spectacular! The Big Hurt is favorite of mine. I had never heard the original Toni Fisher pop version, only the great Wes Montgomery version off the LP Tequila. It makes a great surf instrumental - especially played by Gary.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 27 Mar 2017 9:15 am

You have to hear the original, Andy, if for no other reason than the effect employed, sounding like a paper towel tube held up to a mic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlE6eHEENg4
It's a fairly chilling tune, one fit for songs about surf.
Maybe the effect gave the Vanduras the idea!

I enjoyed Apache, Bill, but particularly Surfer Girl and the other tunes on the playlist, all of them.
Mood Noir is surf music to me. The backing beats are from beaches around the world.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 27 Mar 2017 10:12 am

Charlie, after hearing the original (ouch) I'm all the more amazed at what Wes and Gary made outta that rare material!

Wes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKtwaIbDOUY

Gary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1jKZQmQfA

and Gary, was that a Ric horseshoe pickup thru a small tube amp? It sounds massive!

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 27 Mar 2017 3:52 pm

Garry Vanderlinde wrote:Hi Paul, I think you were doing the sound on this one in Ft. Collins at the HSGA Convention.
Pipeline, C6th lap steel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcpbT1Vq6CU

I thought of you right after I posted. You're the only steeler I know with a whammy bar!

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 27 Mar 2017 3:57 pm

Blue Hawaiians and Vanduras are in steady rotation around my house! My band is working up "Martini Five-O" and a few other common surf tunes as pre-break music.

I think I'll be doubling on the Jaguar and lap steel if I get a surf band up and running, unless the PSG player in the current band joins us.

Good stuff guys!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 28 Mar 2017 3:53 am

I agree, Andy, a good version doesn't need a gimmick.

Steve Marinak · Post by **Steve Marinak** » 28 Mar 2017 6:53 am

I have been arranging Surfer Girl this week. It's not surf-instrumental, but in the genre. I'm fairly new, so if anyone would like a copy (or would like to revise my tab), I'd love group feedback.

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