Guild’s Surfliner popped onto our radar early in 2022, an original hardtail design for a brand that – up to that point –dealt in repros of its past glories. It was originally offered in HSS configuration, with Guild’s LB-1 minihumbucker at the bridge, while another HH variant was added later that year, this time using a pair of the standard humbucking-sized Guild HB-2s. With the same name as the train service that runs down the West Coast of California and with ‘surf ’ in its title, surely there should have been a vibrato, we argued? And instead of a conventional pickup selector switch, we were treated to small on/off switches on those first guitars, the sort of thing you’d find on a table lamp. However, back in April Guild took the wraps off this new Deluxe version, which is still HSS but replaces the original’s LB-1 with an HB-2, adds a traditional five-way lever pickup selector switch and adds an offset-style vibrato. Hurrah! Offered in three colours (and without a gigbag), the Deluxe comes in at £699, adding £300 to the original HSS and HH models, which currently list at £399.
FIRST PLAY
GUILD SURFLINER DELUXE £699
WHAT IS IT? Latest version of Guild’s new-design Surfliner, which finally features a vibrato and sensible pickup switching