Hmm, never even heard of Sound Professional, but that makes sense on the code-I always presumed Samick was the "S" in the code, as it follows the same convention you see on Epiphones from over there... didn't realize that even the biggest companies over there were using jobbers for some lines...
It's possible when FMIC ordered up the prototypes, they ran a bunch of decals off with the "12" serial #s, and in finest Fender tradition, decided to use them instead of trashing them for proper "13" serial #s... waste not want not... again, total conjecture on my part!
Now for the real-life gig report-having never played a Guild before, let's just say I'm digging it!!! Really like the way the strings feel, very hollow-body in their snap and response. Pickups were warm and clear, not muddy like a typical Gibby, with plenty of juice-I had to turn my Tubescreamer's drive knob down to get back to the smooth fat sound I like out of that pedal. Can't judge them against the real McCoy, unfortunately, but they do sound really good! I can tell this guitar will be able to play just about anything from jazz to honky-tonk, to psychedelic rock, to straight up blues-lots of great tones to be had here! All other electronics were solid, and the volume controls had enough sweep to allow me to get a lot more tones when I had both pickups on, a favorite trick of mine.
The guitar stayed pretty much in tune all night (occasionally having to retune the high E) which is saying something, since I often do some Buddy Guy 2 whole step bends, and the bridge did not budge... at all... no tape or rosin either... I'm impressed!
I wound up playing the SF IV the entire night, it just sounded and played that well... it's already earned a spot in my regular rotation (I usually carry a strat and telecaster, along with a lap steel) and likely will get a lot of play time, including a festival I'm playing in a couple weeks... yeah, I think we have a winner here!!!
Franc Robert
It's possible when FMIC ordered up the prototypes, they ran a bunch of decals off with the "12" serial #s, and in finest Fender tradition, decided to use them instead of trashing them for proper "13" serial #s... waste not want not... again, total conjecture on my part!
Now for the real-life gig report-having never played a Guild before, let's just say I'm digging it!!! Really like the way the strings feel, very hollow-body in their snap and response. Pickups were warm and clear, not muddy like a typical Gibby, with plenty of juice-I had to turn my Tubescreamer's drive knob down to get back to the smooth fat sound I like out of that pedal. Can't judge them against the real McCoy, unfortunately, but they do sound really good! I can tell this guitar will be able to play just about anything from jazz to honky-tonk, to psychedelic rock, to straight up blues-lots of great tones to be had here! All other electronics were solid, and the volume controls had enough sweep to allow me to get a lot more tones when I had both pickups on, a favorite trick of mine.
The guitar stayed pretty much in tune all night (occasionally having to retune the high E) which is saying something, since I often do some Buddy Guy 2 whole step bends, and the bridge did not budge... at all... no tape or rosin either... I'm impressed!
I wound up playing the SF IV the entire night, it just sounded and played that well... it's already earned a spot in my regular rotation (I usually carry a strat and telecaster, along with a lap steel) and likely will get a lot of play time, including a festival I'm playing in a couple weeks... yeah, I think we have a winner here!!!
Franc Robert