Expert Sound Disguised As Cool Stuff

Guitarist, Dan Moses, “The Dynotones“

Dynotones’ guitarist, Dan Moses and I hit the streets this week to do some vintage guitar shop hopping. First we hit Eagle Rock and visited Future Sound and then we blasted over to Chinatown and hung out for awhile in Caveman Vintage Music. Our goal was not only to look for records and rare gear finds, but to test some of the custom cables we have been creating from SLUGS and see how they would work with some vintage gear. As we sat around making C.V.M our own personal sound studio, we got to talking about making Surf style music.

“I learned how to play listening to Johnny Ramone. Although he didn’t play Surf music, for me learning Ramones songs helped me develop the heavy rhythm needed for playing on single strings. My first couple of bands were Ska and Punk. We played a few instrumentals and I always liked having some reverb to my sound. I really like Dick Dale for the shear reverb power.”

Taking influences of The Surfaris and The Lively Ones, Freddie King and Link Wray, Dan began to develop the fundamentals of instrumental music. Master? Dick Dale. “Once you’ve mastered the technique of heavy down strokes you’re for Miserlou!”

So what piece of gear is the core of that twang? “The Fender outboard reverb unit. You can almost sound like Duane Eddy with it!”
Is it essential to have old vintage gear? “Not at all. All the Fender re-issue guitars and amplifiers are more than adequate. Been using them for years and no one can tell the difference from the vintage gear.”

But really, what is the secret of playing Surf music live? “First, you want to play short, catchy, two minute songs. Be an entertainer and look at your audience.” And I added, get down those shoot em up freeze poses.

Dan’s Gear:

Hallmark Guitars – (4) 60 Customs, (1) Barris Krest
Amplifiers – Fender Vibrolux, Fender Twin Reverb
Pedals – Electro Harmonix Holy Grail, Fuzz-Rite by Sanner, Aqua-Puss delay by Way Huge
Strings – Gretcsh 11 gauge round wound
Bullet Cable

Dan Moses, thanks for hanging out man. You Rock! And, special thanks to the cool cats at Caveman Vintage Music in Downtown, LA.