The Last Bass Outpost

Besides playing bass for a rock band, I've gotten very much into surf guitar.

I'm playing an SX SJM-62 in sunburst, originally had 2 P90s. I replaced the bridge pickup with a P90 sized humbucker because the bridge pickup had lower output then the neck PU. Plus the constant buzz of feedback was becoming unbearable. I know humbuckers aren't the best for surf, but I'm fine with it. I've got a danelectro reverb pedal, which is the best I can do in light of my own fiscal responsibility. Going to have the guitar refinnished in seafoam green or daphne blue, and replace the rosewood neck with a maple. Basically, I'm working on technique. Anyone with any tips?

I've also been listening to Dick Dale, The Ventures, The Beach Boys, Butthole Surfers, and finding new and great surf bands all the time, and there is a local band called the Hodaddys that I've been checking out. Spending some time at the beach has been a little helpful too.

What kind of strings do surf players use? 10s? 11s? I've been looking everywhere and can't find much information. And I know that surf is mainly notes, but is there any standard of chords used? Is it just majors and minors and sevenths? And what about scales?

And if you have a guitar or bass in surf colors, lets see 'em!