The unit of survival is organism plus environment. We are learning by bitter experience that the organism which destroys its environment destroys itself. – Gregory Bateson
‘El Supersonico’ by Docteur Legume et Les Surfwerks Source: www.youtube.com big ass surf + hi-tech gadgets + espionage action into a cotton candy-flavored kaleidoscope Reverb-drenched surf music performed by Docteur Legume Et Les Surfwerks / weird onemanband from Italy
Today I googled for Vincent Bell’s name because I couldn’t believe Danelectro didn’t mention him in their promo for the Coral Hornet re-issue now called Dead-On-67. He designed those in the sixties along with several other classic and unique models like the Bellzouki (first electric 12-string) and the Coral Sitar (electric guitar with 12 bordun strings and a sitar bridge). Anyway, so I came across this great page by Moe Thomas for the first time. He says he’s a long time friend of Mr. Bell and when he visited the legendary guitar player’s basement he took pictures of the sheer mass of historic and unique guitars and prototypes – many built by Vinnie himself. He’s a very inventive guy thinking up things like the first wahwah or his trademark underwater sound as heard on Moon Gas and apparently various practices and machinery used in guitar manufacturing – all while making a living as one of the east coast’s busiest studio session men.
Here are links to some highlights of the collection:
photo of Sitar prototypes
the sitar-shaped Bellzouki as portrayed on the back of Joe Harnell’s Bossa Now! album
Vinnie Bell’s personal 6-string bass (who knows how many records we have heard this one on?!!!)
one of a kind Coral Scorpio-style 12-string Sitar (a dream instrument of mine)
Vinnie Bell model Stratocaster as presented to him by Fender Musical Instruments (note straight bridge pick-up)
the banjo he played on Louis Armstrong’s recording Hello Dolly
the mandolin Bell played on The Godfather-soundtracks
View how a Riley solid balsa classic board is shaped and later ridden by Barton Lynch and friends. First they take the 9 footers for a try-out and at the end Lynch rides the 12 foot one. Check out how it glides through the big flat section. I guess if you have a board like that you will see familiar breaks with different eyes. You can connect peaks that you regard as singular take-offs when taking a shorter, foam board. My favorite break would probably be very good the longest right in Europe with one of these.
Now that I have a nice reliable internet/computer again I will wish my readers a healthy and happy new year 2009. I know it’s going to be super. Trust me.
