Need help on "Surf Music" tone and Solo's

[unleashthejay]

I'm working on a song and it's about Vegas and I wanted a nice "Surf music" tone for the solo. How do I get Surf Music tone from the pickup, position of pickup, amp setting ect ect. Also any advice on how to solo when doing this music as in scales or technique? Thanks in advance for the tips

[Bludave]

A Strat.....
A Twin Reverb cranked pretty loud
Lots of Reverb & Delay
Aletrnate picking very close to the bridge
Heavy strings, high action!

[9unslin9er]

Get one of these

[ItsaBass]

There are tons of surf music tones. Any pickup, any guitar, any amp can do surf. Dick Dale had one of the most "aggressive" tones in the genre. He was one of the loudest in the genre as well. He symbolizes surf music to many people, but he was atypical. Most surf tones are pretty clean and tame. Reverb use was all over the map, from none at all to drenched in it. I say just fool around till you happen on something you like. It will mostly be in the playing. It's a different use of guitar than in most forms of guitar music. It is used more like a trumpet in a brass combo than like a guitar in a rock band. Single notes, clean separation between them, melodic, etc.

[gibson175]

as Bludave said:
A strat is good and is the most obvious choice...but you can use any axe preferably with a trem. The ventures liked mosrites and gretsches were popular too.
A twin reverb is the best cos it has the big reverb tank as well as vibrato, but a pro reverb and many smaller amps work too. Pretty much any fender blackface style will do the job provided it has reverb and vibrato.
Delay? Not really long or multiple delays, but a nice single slapback echo can be good.
The high action, heavy strings etc thing is more a Dick Dale thing not all surf players do that.
Itsabass is right about the way you play is very important.
Have a listen to Dick Dale, The Ventures, Jerry Cole, The Atlantics and even some Hank Marvin and the Shadows to get some ideas.

[Condemned soul]

Try watching some old Beach Boys and Ventures vidoes. The song Wipe Out also comes to mind. I realize this isnt what you asked, but it might help give you a baseline your song's attitude and style.

[unleashthejay]

THANKS EVERYONE! It came out great when i finish the song I will post what I got thanks again everyone!