Guild Guitars Surfliner Solid Body Electric Guitar Catalina Blue - Classic Styling with Modern Features, Guild Rocker Pickup Switching System with Master Volume, Tone Control and 3 Switches

I'm absolutely stunned by this guitar. Mostly the value in what it offers for so little cost.To start, the pickups are really something. In other cheap guitars like Squier, the pickups are usually just a cheap mass produced and relatively benign version of what you'd find in the Fender version of the guitar. But since there is no higher end version of the Surfliner, the pickups are entirely new and unique. They are designed and produced by DeArmond, nothing like anything they currently offer and really quite the surprise. They have a nice punch, scooped mids (the humbucker is more balanced, but only just as it is a mini and is still strong in treble frequencies), and fine note definition. I love the individual pickup selector switches, especially the ability to engage the bridge and neck pickups without the middle.I have added a few mods to make it better such as my favorite treble bleed circuit (just a .22 nF capacitor) and a Bigsby B5 vibrato. I could not find a coil split for the humbucker, unfortunately. I would like to add a series switch for when the neck and middle pickups are on. In their current configuration they are parallel and humbucking, which steals some of the punch from the pickups. I will eventually replace the pots, but I was surprised to find the volume was already an audio taper pot, a very rare feature on a cheap guitar.There were some minor defects in the paint and wood grain. Like all cheaper guitars, the fret ends are rough. I do like the satin finish on the back of the neck. I'm not sure what to make of the fretboard. It's also satin and so I don't know how I'll keep it clean. It also took a little more time to get used to. Eventually, I found the radius and scale length to work for me.I love the Guild neck plate and knobs, not generic as you would expect. The bridge is high, like you'd see on a carved top guitar and the neck is set at an angle. All things that Guild is used to doing with their standard arch top guitars. What this does is make the break angle over the bridge very solid, which is why adding the Bigsby was easy and there were no tuning stability issues with that mod. It also puts the neck back adding to overall comfort and playability.I've purchased a number of affordable guitars and this is the first one with pickups that I loved and had no desire to change. They made a deluxe model with a 5-way selector, a vintage offset style vibrato, and solid paint colors, but I chose this model for the individual pickup selector switches and the translucent paint.This is a guitar that really stands out in my collection and I'm very happy with this purchase.

I really like this guitar, it feels good to play and sounds great. There was some imperfections in the fretboard and the lightswitch pickup selector is a little goofy. I would really recommend looking for one of these used personally, I was having to shop around with a amazon giftcard so my options were limited, I'm glad I got it though. Also the guild guitar picks that are included are comically bad lol.

I've got 40ty years of playing behind me I hope this review is not boring and that you get something out of it . Exspensive dose not mean the best, unfortunately the whole industry is based on that philosophy. I opted out of buying a 1,500 Fender and I'm glad I gave this guitar a try .It's a unique guitar ,you get noiseless beautiful tones from it , the neck is TIGHT to the body ! I capitalize that because usually you can get a wobble sound effect by pushing up or down on the neck while holding the body in one place ,When I tried that ,this guitar's neck did not budge , That's when I KNEW why it sounded so good The neck is married to the body and the vibrations are buzzing in the wood . 7 pounds , in case your wondering .THIS IS IMPORTANT : This guitar and a few others are in the front lines of a revolution of inexpensive guitars that are made * VERY* well. Try this guitar , for me it was the end of a long road with Fender .

Pickups are excellent and the switches are cool! Comfortable knobs. Cool looking guitar. Fretboard is a bit dry with fret sprout which is fixable.

Great guitar, smooth neck, love the option to turn individual pick-ups on/off. Light, good balance and the blue is a great color.

What’s not to like. Great feel and sonic sounds. Catalina Blue is blue-t-ful.Grabbed one on a whim when the out the door delivered for free Amazon price totaled $300.18.Only saw that Amazon deal one time - and one time only.So, if it comes around again ya best get it while ya can.

Came in and I’m in love the way it sounds and the color is just beautiful! Definitely recommend this to everyone.

I have had this guitar for almost a month and have not been able to put it down. It has a great song and plays very well