Blue Surfliner Is Here

[DrumBob]

I took delivery of a new Surfliner Sunday, and first reactions are, it's very Fenderish, of course. The action is too high, which I will adjust tomorrow. Otherwise, it seems to play pretty well acoustically, and holds its tuning decently. I haven't plugged it in yet, but maybe tomorrow night. The blue finish is nice, I can't find any glaring problems. Fit and finish is good. The neck is a Modern C shape, a bit thin for my tastes, but I like the overall satin finish on it. Tuners are vintage Kluson style. In case it wasn't clear, these are made in Indonesia. Take that for what it's worth. It's a budget guitar in all respects. Quality could be spotty, but I'm not going to generalize. Has Guild hit a home run? I don't think so, but I'll wait until I plug it in for a final opinion.

It is a perfectly usable, utility guitar, and I think it would excel for surf music, garage rock, Americana, and maybe even hard rock, but we'll see about that. Came with a very nice gig bag.

They are up on Ebay already, mostly at $449, but some guy who calls himself watamoke is asking $750 and $150 shipping. He's in Japan.

 

[Bernie]

Already ? Well done ; yours will be LTG's number 1 for ever it seems...It has something of a Jaguar too that wasn't as obvious on the 1st photograph I saw...Congrats !

 

[parker_knoll]

I don't understand the lack of trem in a self-identified surf guitar or why they chose those very '80s switches.

A very crowded marketplace this, with Squier Jag and Jazzmaster at the same money and more easily upgradeable

 

[DrumBob]

I also question why there was no whammy bar, but I guess Guild had their reasons. I will note that in my review.

 

[DrumBob]

Already ? Well done ; yours will be LTG's number 1 for ever it seems...It has something of a Jaguar too that wasn't as obvious on the 1st photograph I saw...Congrats !

The way things work at Vintage Guitar is, if I see something I want to review, I dash off an email to the editor, who contacts the company and arranges for the gear to be sent to me for review. He's very good about getting it done quickly.

 

[fronobulax]

Already ? Well done ; yours will be LTG's number 1 for ever it seems...It has something of a Jaguar too that wasn't as obvious on the 1st photograph I saw...Congrats !

I think @GAD and @matsickma have had theirs in hand for a few days now but they aren't posting reviews

 

[fronobulax]

I don't understand the lack of trem in a self-identified surf guitar or why they chose those very '80s switches.

You may have read different marketing material than I did but I understood "Surfliner" to invoke some kind of connection to a California railroad so I can't fault Guild for not providing features associated with a 60's style of guitar playing. A lot of folks are banging on Guild for making a promise ('surf guitar") that they didn't keep ("no trem") whereas I don't think they "made a promise". No big deal other than opening up the possibility that "self-identified" is not clear and obvious to everyone.

As for the switches, I have spent more time tuning computer gear on and off than I have amplifiers so I find those switches very familiar and comforting. For me they are an aesthetic home run. I am awaiting the various reviews to see whether they actually work in practice, specifically how well a rocker works at that location compared to a slider or a two way toggle or a push/pull or....

As discussed elsewhere Guild does not seem to be targeting this instrument at people who already own a guitar and have some practical experience with various features. The target audience (IMO) seems to be players getting their first guitar or first electric or upgrading from a no-brand-name piece of junk that is just barely playable. I expect they will also sell a lot to people who are willing to buy a decent, but low priced instrument so they can mod the heck out of it.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I am sure GAD will have one soon enough and a review.

 

[awagner]

Define shortly.

 

[parker_knoll]

You may have read different marketing material than I did but I understood "Surfliner" to invoke some kind of connection to a California railroad so I can't fault Guild for not providing features associated with a 60's style of guitar playing. A lot of folks are banging on Guild for making a promise ('surf guitar") that they didn't keep ("no trem") whereas I don't think they "made a promise". No big deal other than opening up the possibility that "self-identified" is not clear and obvious to everyone.

As for the switches, I have spent more time tuning computer gear on and off than I have amplifiers so I find those switches very familiar and comforting. For me they are an aesthetic home run. I am awaiting the various reviews to see whether they actually work in practice, specifically how well a rocker works at that location compared to a slider or a two way toggle or a push/pull or....

As discussed elsewhere Guild does not seem to be targeting this instrument at people who already own a guitar and have some practical experience with various features. The target audience (IMO) seems to be players getting their first guitar or first electric or upgrading from a no-brand-name piece of junk that is just barely playable. I expect they will also sell a lot to people who are willing to buy a decent, but low priced instrument so they can mod the heck out of it.

As a non-American I was unaware of the railroad and thought only of surf music. If I bought one I would still put a trem on it as I like trems

 

[chazmo]

Already ? Well done ; yours will be LTG's number 1 for ever it seems...It has something of a Jaguar too that wasn't as obvious on the 1st photograph I saw...Congrats !

Hehehe... I think this fellow beat Bob by a couple of days: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/surfliner-series.211826/page-10#post-2022110

Have a look through that thread. Lots of details covered. Hope you like yours, Bob!

 

[Westerly Wood]

Define shortly.

soon enough?

 

[Midnight Toker]

As for the switches, I have spent more time tuning computer gear on and off than I have amplifiers so I find those switches very familiar and comforting. For me they are an aesthetic home run. I am awaiting the various reviews to see whether they actually work in practice, specifically how well a rocker works at that location compared to a slider or a two way toggle or a push/pull or....

For me it's not the quality, aesthetic, or visibility, as much as ease of split second functionality while playing. W/ slides and toggles, you can simply sweep your hand mid strum and make changes. Rockers are perfectly fine functioning switches....for boats, motorcycles, and lawn&garden equipment. It requires pressing down to make a change. If I were buying this guitar, I would be ordering sliding square button switches at the same time. For many, I'm sure, it would never be an issue. For me and the hard rock I mostly play, I need to change from rhythm to lead without missing a beat.

 

[DrumBob]

Hehehe... I think this fellow beat Bob by a couple of days: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/surfliner-series.211826/page-10#post-2022110

Have a look through that thread. Lots of details covered. Hope you like yours, Bob!

I'll put it to you this way; I like, but wouldn't buy one, simply because I don't need it, and I have ceased all guitar purchases, as I'm stashing money aside for a vintage car. It's strictly here for an objective review, and that's what it will get.

 

[SFIV1967]

I am sure GAD will have one soon enough and a review.

He got his on June 1 already and M got his even earlier!

Surfliner series

Listening to the demo videos (when they weren’t trying to show off their favorite distortion pedals I wish demos were done, at a minimum, clean without effects. Through an US voiced and British voiced amp would be cool, too. After that, use all the effects you want.

letstalkguild.com

Surfliner series

They show them on Amazon too but not available and no price listed... Very bizzare situation.

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[Ted74]

Lotta complaints about no whammy bar.

 

[Boneman]

In my estimation it doesn’t need a whammy bar, like with their S-100 Polara, you just go all Kim Thayil on it, and press down on the string behind the bridge and whammy to your hearts content . For reference:

 

[GGJaguar]

Lotta complaints about no whammy bar.

If the stud spacing is right, one of these Schaller vibrato tails should work.