Point Panic
The Surfaris, 1963. Solo by Jim Fuller.
A showcase for spring-reverb tone, with the guitar melody built around its wet splash.
Point Panic is a showcase for spring reverb as an instrument in its own right. Jim Fuller's guitar melody is built so that almost every phrase ends with the reverb splashing and trembling, turning simple notes into waves of sound. The tune has a gently menacing quality, and the band keeps the rhythm tight so the guitar's wet tone can dominate. It is less about technique than about texture, a reminder that surf guitarists treated their amps and reverb units as part of the composition. Listen for the moments where a single picked note or a quick slide sets the reverb springs wobbling, and notice how the band leaves gaps so that splash can be heard clearly.
Point Panic by The Surfaris is featured in our Surf (#11) list. The solo is played by Jim Fuller and the song was released in 1963.
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Who played the guitar solo on Point Panic?
Jim Fuller played the solo on The Surfaris's Point Panic (1963).