Song Rig

Let's Go Trippin'

Dick Dale · Let's Go Trippin' · 1961

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

The first surf rock instrumental — the recording that defined the genre before it had a name. Dale's Showman tone on Let's Go Trippin' is slightly rawer than the later Misirlou recordings, with the reverb playing a smaller role and the raw Stratocaster/Showman dynamic being more audible.

Signal Chain

1Fender Stratocaster
2Fender Showman (early model, 1961)
3Light spring reverb

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume5

Bass6

Mid7

Treble9

Presence8

Reverb4

Less reverb than the later recordings — 1961 Dale was still developing the surf sound, and the reverb is more moderate here. The raw Showman tone is more audible without the reverb wash of later productions.

Technique

How to Play It

Single-string tremolo at speed — the defining surf guitar technique, pioneered by Dale: rapid alternating pick strokes on a single string that produce a stuttering, machine-gun melodic line. Dale's heavy picks and extreme right-hand force give it physical impact.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Stratocaster bridge → Fender amp at high treble → spring reverb at moderate setting (less than Misirlou) → practice single-string tremolo picking: consistent alternating downstroke/upstroke at the fastest possible tempo while maintaining even note volume.

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