Is That a Canoe Paddle? A Surfboard? No, It’s the Domino Californian Rebel
With this wacky instrument, the Domino brand set its sights on the California surf scene.
Recently, I’ve been thinking about the Ventures, their amazing music, and the impact they made. In case you missed it, one of the band’s founding members, Don Wilson, passed away in January. I was reminded of my interviews with Don and his take on the band’s history and influence. For the uninitiated: The Ventures sound came to embody surf rock and instrumental prowess, featuring driving rhythms and catchy riffs that put the electric guitar out in front. Don and the boys performed their hit song “Walk, Don’t Run” on Dick Clark’s Saturday Night Beechnut Show in 1960 and lit the kindling for the first electric guitar craze—with the Beatles creating the inferno a few years later.
During the ’60s, the Ventures were insanely popular in Japan, where their recordings became the sound of American popular music and culture. Since the Ventures were an instrumental band, the music was more accessible to Japanese fans. Mosrite’s Ventures models were all the rage and just about every guitar manufacturer in the Land of the Rising Sun was trying to get 6-strings into the hands of Don and his bandmates. (I’ve written before about how Mosrites were dissected and studied, which led to all sorts of guitar designs and build ideas throughout Japan.)
The electronics include a simple volume and tone knob, a pickup selector, and two mini switches for a “lead” or “rhythm” tone.
Here in the U.S., the Ventures—who were formed in Washington—were musical representatives of the Southern California lifestyle, along with Dick Dale, the Beach Boys, and Jan and Dean. As I was thinking about Don and the Ventures, I remembered a very rare guitar from the ’60s that seemed to capitalize on the California surf aesthetic and instrumental surf rock: the Domino Californian Rebel. The marketing copy for this wacky guitar was straight out of 1967 and included all the buzzwords and catchphrases to lure budding instrumentalists:
“Cause today’s ‘top rockers’ know … Now DOMINO’S World Leading, Pace Setting SOUND-POWERED design … have taken on the appearance of the ‘CALIFORNIAN REBEL’ acoustic electric guitar. Coming from a family of the highest fashion in stylish contemporary looks, and high powered, turned-on Sound Action, the-all new ‘CALIFORNIAN REBEL’ is more than ready to begin its record breaking flight to the top of today’s music scene! DON’T BE LEFT OUT of tomorrow’s Shout-Shaking excitement … Grab Hold and Tear Loose with DOMINO’S latest gift of imagination.”
I mean, that would be enough to get even Gidget—you gotta search this one!—to pick up an electric guitar. The angular body sports an f-hole, a German carve, and has plastic wood accents—a nod to the famous Pontiac Woody station wagon, which my grandfather owned back in the day. The guitar was made at the Kawai factory in Japan (and I really think I need to write a longer story about that company in 1967, because there were so many crazy guitars coming out of there that year). My two-pickup model cost $90 in ’67. Apparently there were other pickup options, but I haven’t seen them.
These have a Gibson-scale length and a lightweight feel. The stock electronics include a simple volume and tone knob paired with a pickup selector and two mini switches for a “lead” or “rhythm” tone. The sound is very similar to the Kawai-built Kingston electrics favored by bluesman Hound Dog Taylor. The Kawai tone was always a bit aggressive since they used a lot of series wiring. Other little details include beautiful binding, a slotted headstock, and a cute, little bridge mute which was fashionable at the time and great for surf pickin’.
This guitar was an exclusive of the New York-based Maurice Lipsky Music Co., which used the Domino name on imported guitars. Alas, the Californian Rebel was a shooting star that remains rather elusive today. It never had quite the impact of Don Wilson and the Ventures, but this quirky instrument is a nice little time capsule of their era.
1967 Domino Californian Rebel Guitar Demo
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Day 16 of Stompboxtober is here! Win today’s pedal from Ibanez by entering below—then come back tomorrow for another chance!
Ibanez Pentatone Noise Gate Pedal
The Pentatone Gate is a standalone version of the GATE section in the Ibanez Pentatone Preamp. This gate achieves a quick response and natural sustain and has an added threshold mode switch which allows you to adjust the threshold in the appropriate range. Furthermore, thanks to the 4 I/O jacks, the gate circuitry can work at a proper location, such as right after distortion pedals or in between the send/return of a guitar amplifier.
•Controls: Threshold
•Switches: Threshold mode (High/Low)
•True bypass
•I/O’s: GUITAR IN, GUITAR OUT, GATE IN, GATE OUT
•Size: 70(W) x 116(D) x 63(H) (mm)
•Size: 2.8(W) x 4.6(D) x 2.5(H) (inch)
•Weight: 455g, 1.0lb (including Battery)
•Required Current: 45mA@9V
•Power Supply: One 9V battery (006P) or external AC adapter
The second release from Cosmodio is a first-of-its-kind modulation effect that features an Expression Pedal/Tap Tempo input for dynamically controlling the LFO’s speed or depth mid-performance.
The Gravity Well is a dual-sided pedal featuring a tremolo on one side and a wavefolder on the other. When both circuits are active a third effect emerges – a refractor – a first-of-its-kind modulation effect produced by integrating the tremolo and wavefolder to rhythmically and fluidly warp and unwarp your signal, producing a dazzling variety of never-before-heard sounds and textures.
The pedal’s five-knob control set includes wavefolder Volume; wavefolder Gain (for controlling the amount of signal folding); modulation Speed and Depth; and a Waveform control to select between 8 LFO shapes that include classic shapes as well as randomized movements.
The Gravity Well’s capabilities are expanded by three toggle switches:
- “Flow” determines the signal flow when both sides are active. Tremolo into wavefolder or wavefolder into tremolo, dramatically changing the effects’ interactions and the sonic result.
- “Voice” selects between three different output voices of the wavefolder: full wavefolding, focused wavefolding, or a wavefolder and clean signal mix.
- “Tone” allows you to select a bright, dark, or balanced output tone of the wavefolder.
The Gravity Well encompasses familiar and exotic sonic territory, creating a pedal that’s both thrilling and approachable. Its carefully spaced control layout is optimized for easy spontaneous adjustments. Its top-mounted input, output, and power jacks ensure an efficient footprint on a pedalboard or desktop. It features faceplate artwork by accomplished pop-artist GOLDSUIT.
Gravity Well features include:
- Selectable true bypass or buffered bypass switching
- 9-volt operation via external power supply - no battery compartment
- Built in US
- Internal DIP switch controls for customizing expression pedal function, tremolo volume, and tone switch range.
The Gravity Well carries a $279 street price. It is available for pre-order at the https://www.cosmod.io/ website. It will fully launch and start shipping on November 19.
The multi-instrumentalist bandleader and ex-Metallica bassist talks the strain of professional touring, creative fulfillment, maintaining artistic balance, and cellphone screens.
Jason Newsted spent 15 years holding down the low end in Metallica, playing bass for the band from 1986 through 2001. That era included records like …And Justice For All and Metallica—AKA The Black Album—plus the iconic S&M live album with the San Francisco Symphony.
But that was just the beginning for Newsted, an artistic polymath who has since pursued a life of balance and creative freedom. On this episode of Wong Notes, he opens up to Cory Wong about why he left Metallica, and details the “Olympian” physicality and discipline that hard international touring requires. Newsted needed a break; the band wanted to keep going. “You gotta sometimes give it a minute,” he says.
Newsted shares his thoughts on Dave Mustaine and his predecessor Cliff Burton, and goes deep on the issue of cellphone usage at concerts. (Spoiler alert: He doesn’t like it very much, and he’s got good reasons for his disdain.) But Newsted isn’t just a performer. He talks about his painting and the way that practice differs from music-making, plus his private artistic journeys with theremin, mandolin, and sequencers and loopers—rabbit holes he might not have gone down if he stayed in Metallica. “I don’t say no to any medium,” he says.
Maybe leaving Metallica created the need to explore. “I did not get to fulfill that journey,” he says, “so I’m making up for it.”
Wong Notes is presented by DistroKid.
Use this link for 30% off your first year.
This compact multi-effects unit provides four simultaneous effects with a user-friendly experience inspired by traditional guitar pedals.
The effects are based on the award-winning Axe-Fx III, and include hundreds of classic stompbox and studio effect models, including drives, delays, reverbs, choruses, flangers, phasers, pitch, plex, EQs, compressors, wah, tremolo, and many more.
Key features include:
• Uncompromising Sound Quality: True to Fractal Audio's reputation, the VP4 delivers pristine sound quality, and is suitable for use on the world's finest stages and studios.
• Four Footswitches: Classic ON/OFF switching makes it easy and intuitive to use the VP4 like four traditional pedals. Meanwhile, the factory default “Gig Mode” switching system places Presets, Scenes, Effects, Channels, Tuner, and Tap Tempo right at your feet.
• 104 Presets: Each preset is like a complete pedalboard with your choice of four effects. This flexibility allows a single VP4 to replace an entire collection of other effects. Additionally, each preset has its own Noise Gate, Master EQ/levels, and more.
• Expression Pedal Compatibility: Connect up to two expression pedals or switches for real-time control of effect settings. The Fractal Audio EV-1 and EV-2 are perfect choices!
• Accurate Tuner: The VP4 includes a dedicated large display tuner mode, plus a handy “mini-tuner” that’s always visible. It uses our latest pitch detector from the Axe-Fx III.
• Flexible, High-Quality Connectivity: Mono/stereo analog I/O, with unity gain an ultra-low noise floor, “4CM Mode” allows you to divide effects in front of your amp and in its loop. Plus: buffered analog bypass, SPDIF digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and USB audio/MIDI capabilities.
• Beyond the Basics: For those who want to go beyond a basic pedalboard, the VP4 supports Scenes, Channels, Modifiers, and more for a highly customizable experience.
• VP4-Edit: Customize your VP4 with VP4-Edit, a free companion software editor and librarian.
• Upgradeable Firmware: Like every Fractal Audio processor, the VP4 features upgradeable firmware, ensuring that you can enjoy free updates with new features and improvements.
The VP4 combines ease of use with exceptional performance, offering musicians a high-quality, versatile effects tool. Featuring a pristine signal path and rugged, road-ready design, the compact VP4 delivers world-class multi-FX processing to take your sound to the next level. The VP4 also works great with acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards, and other instruments.
Retail Price: $699 Availability: October 15, 2024 Visit https://fractalaudio.com/vp4 for updates and to purchase, or contact your local Fractal Audio dealer for inquiries outside the USA/Canada.