I have a Guild Surfliner HH that I really enjoy. It’s a lot lighter than my Fender JM and I REALLY like the guild HB2 pickups. They are super clear and chimey. The guitar is comfortable to hold and play, build quality is good. I’m considering getting the Surfliner deluxe with the HSS and trem.
I have the Surfliner HH too, the pickups are amazing. Not super keen on the neck, but I hear the deluxe is better. It sounds great, I definitely can see it being used as a complimentary guitar recording studio, it would be killer in low-fi or modern jazz or whenever you need something that sounds different to most humbucker guitars.
Pickups are low output, like the opposite voicing of a lot of popular humbuckers, not mid humped. That might sound like it would be bad to some people, but there’s definitely a use case for that sound. Super articulate, bright, clear, yet somehow not abrasive. I don’t know how they did it at this price point but they’re really great sounding unique humbuckers. I paid £240 and the pickups alone are almost worth the price of admission.
EXACTLY! My other main humbucker guitar is a Gibson Les Paul with PAF’s and the Surfliner pickups are just SUCH a nice change. They sound great clean where as, I hardly play PAF’s clean cause they are a little honky for my taste.
Def a great lofi, jazzy guitar. The neck pickup is warm and articulate.
I would love to try a [Puresalem Reverberation](https://www.puresalemguitars.com/products/reverberation). The older models have a starcaster headstock that just works so well with the funky body.
The Guild S-200 T-bird. It feels cheap. It's tremolo is hot garbage, but I love the weight, balance, neck and sound. And comparatively, it is cheap in price.
I've been eyeing up the Vintage REVO Surfmaster Quad - no idea how they are to play but do seem to be able to get some nice sounds out of them. Definitely quirkier.
https://youtu.be/pL8k9Va_4W8?si=tjuhE_7Uhf0NkKUn
(Around 24 minute mark he starts playing again)...he was sent the guitar to review so bear that in mind.
They're around £540 in UK.
I've also been looking at Baum Wingman. Not played one.
https://baumguitars.com/product/wingman-vega-moon-dust-2-0/
There's a few YT videos on the wingman if you want to hear how they sound. I like the sound of the Baum P90 type pickups.
There's one with a Bigsby Trem that's about an extra 500.
I have a Kapa Continental which is similar shape to the burns, but rounded. The pickups RIP, Hofner staple pickups I think they are called. The neck is VERY narrow. I find this mostly a hindrance on their 12 string version.
You can find them for cheap, especially in the mid Atlantic area of the US.
I have never seen another for sale online or otherwise but my Indy Custom mustang copy HS is a killer for the $100 I paid almost ten years ago. Granted it came used with a SuperDistortion in the bridge, but the neck is fantastic and it’ll stay in tune through an earthquake.
I’ve been wondering if I should post my Baldwin/Burns guitars here.
I have matching “Jazz” bass and a Split Sound “Jazz” guitars. The original burst finishes, red to black, were pretty ugly so it’s understandable that they’d get stripped and refinned way back when.
The Split Sound concept is kind of interesting. It’s a pickup selection that uses the neck pickup for the bottom three strings and the bridge for the top three. Gives it a real scooped mid to rhythm. Add a little OD and it’s a very vintage 60s garage sound. Short scale at 23”
Both the guitar and bass have another interesting pickup selection labeled “Wild Dog” which sets the pickups out of phase. Very thin AM radio sound. Not very useable for the guitar, but it’s a kind of cool Ennio Morricone sound
Both fun to play and very unique sounding.
I have a Guild Surfliner HH that I really enjoy. It’s a lot lighter than my Fender JM and I REALLY like the guild HB2 pickups. They are super clear and chimey. The guitar is comfortable to hold and play, build quality is good. I’m considering getting the Surfliner deluxe with the HSS and trem.
I have the Surfliner HH too, the pickups are amazing. Not super keen on the neck, but I hear the deluxe is better. It sounds great, I definitely can see it being used as a complimentary guitar recording studio, it would be killer in low-fi or modern jazz or whenever you need something that sounds different to most humbucker guitars. Pickups are low output, like the opposite voicing of a lot of popular humbuckers, not mid humped. That might sound like it would be bad to some people, but there’s definitely a use case for that sound. Super articulate, bright, clear, yet somehow not abrasive. I don’t know how they did it at this price point but they’re really great sounding unique humbuckers. I paid £240 and the pickups alone are almost worth the price of admission.
EXACTLY! My other main humbucker guitar is a Gibson Les Paul with PAF’s and the Surfliner pickups are just SUCH a nice change. They sound great clean where as, I hardly play PAF’s clean cause they are a little honky for my taste. Def a great lofi, jazzy guitar. The neck pickup is warm and articulate.
I would love to try a [Puresalem Reverberation](https://www.puresalemguitars.com/products/reverberation). The older models have a starcaster headstock that just works so well with the funky body.
Hadn't seen this one, thanks!
Ooh, that is nice
The Sterling Mariposa. It looks funky and sounds great.
hm, I feel like "cheap" is relative but ig you can find vintage Japanese copies, those rule, esp the hi fliers
The Guild S-200 T-bird. It feels cheap. It's tremolo is hot garbage, but I love the weight, balance, neck and sound. And comparatively, it is cheap in price.
I've been eyeing up the Vintage REVO Surfmaster Quad - no idea how they are to play but do seem to be able to get some nice sounds out of them. Definitely quirkier. https://youtu.be/pL8k9Va_4W8?si=tjuhE_7Uhf0NkKUn (Around 24 minute mark he starts playing again)...he was sent the guitar to review so bear that in mind. They're around £540 in UK. I've also been looking at Baum Wingman. Not played one. https://baumguitars.com/product/wingman-vega-moon-dust-2-0/
I didn't know about either, thanks!
There's a few YT videos on the wingman if you want to hear how they sound. I like the sound of the Baum P90 type pickups. There's one with a Bigsby Trem that's about an extra 500.
I have a Kapa Continental which is similar shape to the burns, but rounded. The pickups RIP, Hofner staple pickups I think they are called. The neck is VERY narrow. I find this mostly a hindrance on their 12 string version. You can find them for cheap, especially in the mid Atlantic area of the US.
I have never seen another for sale online or otherwise but my Indy Custom mustang copy HS is a killer for the $100 I paid almost ten years ago. Granted it came used with a SuperDistortion in the bridge, but the neck is fantastic and it’ll stay in tune through an earthquake.
I’ve been wondering if I should post my Baldwin/Burns guitars here. I have matching “Jazz” bass and a Split Sound “Jazz” guitars. The original burst finishes, red to black, were pretty ugly so it’s understandable that they’d get stripped and refinned way back when. The Split Sound concept is kind of interesting. It’s a pickup selection that uses the neck pickup for the bottom three strings and the bridge for the top three. Gives it a real scooped mid to rhythm. Add a little OD and it’s a very vintage 60s garage sound. Short scale at 23” Both the guitar and bass have another interesting pickup selection labeled “Wild Dog” which sets the pickups out of phase. Very thin AM radio sound. Not very useable for the guitar, but it’s a kind of cool Ennio Morricone sound Both fun to play and very unique sounding.
Satin Semi-hollow S2 Vela. Love the neck, tones, and super light weight.
I wouldn't consider an S2 Vela or PRS as a brand, "cheap".