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James... « I like it....a lot »
Published on 02/17/12 at 16:14For what it's worth. This review is for a 2011 American Thinline in red. I know these get slightly different treatments year by year. Mine has a maple neck and an ash body, which is primarily why I bought it because I didn't like my old one which was alder. I got it for $1470 out the door. So I feel like it was a pretty good deal. This also has the vintage fender bridge which I am honestly not a huge fan of. I don't like how they respond to palm mutes. I will likely replace it if I decide to keep it.
UTILIZATION
I happen to play in a surf rock band. I got this to use in that band primarily. The action is about as good as you would expect. Fret work is pretty good. I'm not absolutely floored by the overall quality but I'm not disappointed either considering what I paid. Finish is pretty good, no flaws. It does kind of have that glossy finish thing going on at the neck. I've never been a fan of this. Some more vintage looking knobs would have been nice. I'm honestly nit picking about a lot of little things. Overall I'm happy. It's a fun guitar to play. You pick it and you can't help but smile and want to rock out.
SOUNDS
My only big complaint with the thinline reissues have been the wide range pickups. To me, they don't sound at all like the old ones. They don't sound bad mind you, but I am really after those authentic wide range humbucker sounds and these are simply not quite there. These don't have the same treble response, and I think are more in the P90 camp to my ears. Like I said, not a terrible thing, but when a good authentic set costs a few hundred, it makes this guitar cost me that much more. Fortunately the stock pickups sound pretty good for my surf rock stuff. I'm playing it through a Mesa Lonestar 6l6 version.
OVERALL OPINION
If you aren't super picky about your thinlines like I am, this is a well priced and very fun guitar. You know how some guitars just say "take me out and play me?" This is one of those guitars for sure. Nobody else is really making good thin line reissues right now so in my opinion this is the best one.
UTILIZATION
I happen to play in a surf rock band. I got this to use in that band primarily. The action is about as good as you would expect. Fret work is pretty good. I'm not absolutely floored by the overall quality but I'm not disappointed either considering what I paid. Finish is pretty good, no flaws. It does kind of have that glossy finish thing going on at the neck. I've never been a fan of this. Some more vintage looking knobs would have been nice. I'm honestly nit picking about a lot of little things. Overall I'm happy. It's a fun guitar to play. You pick it and you can't help but smile and want to rock out.
SOUNDS
My only big complaint with the thinline reissues have been the wide range pickups. To me, they don't sound at all like the old ones. They don't sound bad mind you, but I am really after those authentic wide range humbucker sounds and these are simply not quite there. These don't have the same treble response, and I think are more in the P90 camp to my ears. Like I said, not a terrible thing, but when a good authentic set costs a few hundred, it makes this guitar cost me that much more. Fortunately the stock pickups sound pretty good for my surf rock stuff. I'm playing it through a Mesa Lonestar 6l6 version.
OVERALL OPINION
If you aren't super picky about your thinlines like I am, this is a well priced and very fun guitar. You know how some guitars just say "take me out and play me?" This is one of those guitars for sure. Nobody else is really making good thin line reissues right now so in my opinion this is the best one.