Here's my version of the 1960s surf/rock classic, Apache. Played on a Stringmaster (on 6 strings only), C6 tuning. I used a flatpick on this tune so I could play the "tremolo picking" parts. Thanks for listening and Happy New Year!
Thanks everyone for the positive replies. I remember a while back we were discussing this song and how well it would work on non-pedal steel, so I thought I'd give it a try. Thanks again!
Thanks guys. Mitch, I too have fond memories of surf guitar in the 60s. It's the stuff I first learned to play on guitar, and I still enjoy playing it.
Very clean and tastefull. Great tone and execution.
You should have been around 50 years ago. Speaking of Surf Guitar, I remember seeing Dick Dale when he first started out playing Friday nights at the Harmony Park Ballroom in Anaheim, Calif. He would pack the place with the young crowd.
Thanks Andy and Will,
I tried to copy the Ventures arrangement closely, the tremolo picking parts, tempo, etc. The melody lays out nicely on C6, key of Am. I also tried drowning the lap steel in reverb to get closer to the original sound of the guitar, but it just didn't sound right to me. The hardest part was putting together the backing track. BIAB bass & drums, and some sampled drums, and I played about four rhythm guitar tracks on a Strat. I also tried drowning the guitars in reverb like the original surf guys did, but it just muddied the waters, to my ear anyway. Thanks again.
Talk about a definitive version, Doug. Wow. That's a keeper.
Speaking of keepers, my wife's old dog, Keeper, died several months ago. Followed by my old girl, Luna. Our new Australian Shepherd pup's name--believe it or not--is Ridennoure 'Lane Frost' as he's a purebred named after a famous bullrider who died. We also call him Little Big Man upon occasion. But the name we mostly use--his 'given' name--and the point of this story, is...Apache. Or Patchy, for short, on account of his coloring. Now, he's a dog with his own theme song. Hope 'Apache' is in your next book of tabs. Excellent playing. Made my day--which already included working on a tune from your tab book--and my wife loved it, too. Thanks.
...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot)
Yes, Apache, this exact arrangement, is in my next lap steel song book: 25 More Songs for C6 lap steel. The tablature is written for all 25 tunes, and 21 are recorded. I've been working on it for over a year, in my spare time. It should be ready in a few weeks. Thanks again.
Thanks for posting that Doug, it was very impressive. I've loved that song since I first heard the old Jorgen Ingman original... Your version just shows what great stuff can still be had with a lapsteel... Once again, great work!!...JH in Va.
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
Thanks, Jerry! Apache has always been one of my favorites too. One of the first albums I bought when I was about 14 years old was the Ventures live in Japan, and I wore that record out! Long live surf guitar.