John Severson : photo Jon Karcey

Industry News

John Severson’s California Series Guitar Line for Fender

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 September, 2008 : - - 'Any music can be surf music,' said John Severson, the founder of Surfer Magazine and one of the pillars of surf culture. From the 1950s into the 1970s, Severson was instigator and overseer of the surf culture that has blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar industry in the 21st Century.

As a photographer, it was Severson who captured Dick Dale surfing the San Clemente pier, which appeared on the cover of Dale's 1962 album Surfer's Choice, featuring the classic surf music tunes Miserlou and Let’s Go Trippin.’ Forty years after Hendrix’ cryptic prediction, Severson has put his name and art to a line of special surf guitars produced by Fender.

To advertise the new line of California Series acoustic guitars, “Fender said, ‘Surf it!’” Severson said. “They wanted a surfing shot with the acoustic. I waited 40 years for that call. I was impressed with that great shot of Johnny Fain surf guitaring in a '60s ad for Surfer and always wondered how hard it would be.

So I 'test drove' the Surf Fever model on Maui on some smooth glassy walls. As I took off, I swung the guitar around from my back, right into a major chord position playing my Dick Dale favorites.”

Surfing with a guitar in your hands was not as easy as Severson made it look. “Duck dives and rolls resulted in some interesting neck-jerking wipeouts,” Severson continued.  “I chased the guitar to the rocks… luckily it’s a floater.  I highly recommend it, but without the amp.  Basically, it’s just a fun ride, but one more thing you can do at 74.”

In real life, John is playing slack key, thanks to inspiration and encouragement from Bing Copeland - a polished slack key guitarist. The first two of John Severson’s designed and approved California Series of Fender guitars will debut September 27th at The Laguna Surf Gallery. John’s latest art, “Surf Vibes,” will be on display, and so will Severson, as he has agreed to pry himself away from Maui to sign the guitars.

Severson’s art will appear on the Fender “Sonoran” model acoustic, and the Fender California Series guitars are just now being sold to dealers. Go to fender.com and there is a place at the top to find Fender dealers in your area.  You can also call Musician's Friend online or go to Guitar Center and special order. The guitars will retail for around $349.

www.Fender.com

Check the latest Hawaii Surf Reports and Forecasts
More Hawaiian & USA Surfing News available here

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Ben Marcus

Surf Culture - Surfersvillage