NGD: NS Surfliner Deluxe

[Prince of Darkness]

Nice roller bridge!
Those Surfline's look delicious in LTG pictures moresothan on sellers' websites.
BTW, why do you think they decided to do the funky, but nice looking headstock to neck attachment the way they did, and not just a one piece neck?

It allows the headstock to be tilted back and as a result it does not need string trees. Not only are all the current Guild single sided headstocks made this way, but so were their 1960's models (also Gibson)

 

[GGJaguar]

Quick update - I've been playing this guitar a lot. The neck profile is great (for me) as it feels very Fendery. It's a little beefier than the necks found on my Korean-made Newark Street models. It's easy to play and very comfortable. I think the guitar's sound would have benefitted if the bridge pickup was closer to the bridge. Even better would have been fitting it with an LB-1 mini-bucker. For me, the thick sound of the HB-1 doesn't fit with the single coil Aerodynes as well as an LB-1 would. I suppose I could put an LB-1 in, but I'd have fabricate a new pickguard. I think the guitar would be insanely good if the current pickups were swapped out for a pair of Dynasonics like those on the X-175 Special. Nevertheless, I can see this model appealing to a lot of folks and Guild will probably sell a lot of them (making it less likely that they will issue it with a different pickup complement).

 

[krysh]

here a long clip of my Jamband "Lilienfeldt" in an improvised Jamsession on April 1st with me playing my Surfliner standard:

 

[chazmo]

^ Can't wait to listen with headphones when I get back to my house, roomie!

 

[GGJaguar]

Sounds good Krysh!

 

[lungimsam]

Definitely sounds on the Fender side rather than Gibson side of “traditional” tone. But it has its own sound. Different enough from a Fender. Maybe the move of the bridge pup away from the bridge reflects an attempt from getting away from that transistor radio tone that Strats have cuz their pup is so close.

 

[guitarlover]

I also bought a pink surfliner deluxe. Had it strung with 11-52 strings and it is tuned to d standard . This allows me to sing songs that are normally too high in pitch for my voice ( without changing the "normal" chords). I love it !!!! I like the looks, the build quality and personally also the sound . I played it with some vox profiles on my kemper and that blended very well with my voice and the backing track. Also a heavier Bassman profile sounded very good . So very happy with this guitar !!

 

[GAD]

The vibrato plate does not have a lock like the Fender unit, but really, one isn’t needed.

Someone on Reddit is asking about this. Why is one not needed?

 

[GGJaguar]

Because very few people actually use them these days. Why have a vibrato if you're just going to lock it? The original intent of the device (and Leo Fender also did this with G&L in the '80s, too) was to be able to bring the vibrato back to its "normal" position if a string broke. It's also finicky to set up properly so most players just ignore it. If someone wants a hardtail Jazzmaster (or Jaguar) type guitar, they are out there (usually they use a TOM and stop bar).

 

[GAD]

Because very few people actually use them these days. Why have a vibrato if you're just going to lock it? The original intent of the device (and Leo Fender also did this with G&L in the '80s, too) was to be able to bring the vibrato back to its "normal" position if a string broke. It's also finicky to set up properly so most players just ignore it. If someone wants a hardtail Jazzmaster (or Jaguar) type guitar, they are out there (usually they use a TOM and stop bar).

Fair enough, but people end up with used guitars or they buy a guitar for looks. Every vintage Hagstrom Tremar I've ever encountered in the wild has been locked down, for example.

 

[GGJaguar]

or they buy a guitar for looks.

Oh, definitely. A Fender Jaguar without the flip up mute looks plain wrong to me. I don't use the mute, but I have to have it.

 

[GAD]

I know I've never stooped so low as to buy a guitar for looks. Not me. No sir.

 

[Harp Tail]

Thank you for the excellent detailed review.

I do share your views on guitars' weight. Eight pounds aren't quite yet a sacrifice, but less is better and more is a bit too much.
I was weaned when mass and sustain were the utmost priority (remember Ibanezes with brass blocks sunken into their bodies?) and always strongly disagreed.

The DeArmonds made under Guild ownership were nice, but most were sadly overweight (unlike the originals) - the only one I find enjoyable strapped around my neck is the T-400.

That's why I love Starfires (and ThinlineTs!).