A swank retro plank with 4 pickups? Heck, yeah! The Classic Revo Surfmaster Quad is a semi-hollow with a quartet of pickups from famous U.Ok. winder Alan Entwistle, alongside together with his ATN Variator knob serving up 75 tonal potentialities.

The Quad has an offset form vaguely like a Jazzmaster, however with a physique manufactured from okoume laminate that weighs about 8.2 kilos. The 24.75″ bolt-on neck is maple with a sure/22-fret jatoba board sporting block inlays. The Fenderesque headstock has Wilkinson E-Z-Lok tuners and variable-height string shafts for intonation, whereas the curler bridge and vibrato assist create a shallow retro twang. End colours embrace Boulevard Black, Firenza Pink, and Metallic White.

Most people, nevertheless, might be extra within the Quad’s passive Entwistle ETS3 Astrosonic pickups, which have particular person on/off switches as a substitute of a selector, and the ready-for-exploration ATN5 Variator. Because the goal of the Quad is to evoke the early-’60s British sounds of the Shadows, Jet Harris, Vic Flick, and Joe Meek productions, its general sound is more-glassy and metallic in comparison with the twang of a Fender or Mosrite. Tonally, it’s additionally suited to the ambient textures of indie, shoegaze, and different modern types.

In hand, the Surfmaster Quad is a strong performer. The neck on our tester arrived with super-low motion, higher for chords and arpeggios than leads, however you may increase the bridge to accommodate bends. The carve is an enormous D form that’s comparatively snug, once more with an emphasis on rhythm textures. Construct high quality is passable for a mid-price performer.

With its 4 pickups, the Surfmaster Quad stands out for being fairly totally different from the norm. It’s enjoyable, purposeful, and funky – and with its chrome-laden end, it’ll actually soar out onstage.

This text initially appeared in VG’s June 2024 subject. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.