Anonymous
Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180
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Posted on Nov 06 2006 07:23 PM
 may have seen it in guitar player, the memory has it's days. looks cool enough, how does it sound? are those p-90s or just bigsingle coils??
wouldhave to lock the trem---might mess with it just to see how it acts. looks cool!!
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Anonymous
Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180
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Posted on Nov 06 2006 07:29 PM
 well if i had read the forumBEFOREmy last post i might not asking silly questions.  still think its ccol!
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Nov 10 2006 01:02 AM
Update on the Sweptwing...
I brought it out to Reducing Agents practice last night so the fellas in the band could give it a whirl. Each raved on and on about it's playability. We broke a little early, and I wound up playing it along with our guitarist on bass and the other guitarist on drums in a crazy makeshift jam. I was shocked to hear how good I had it sounding through our guitarist's "evil Twin" Twin Reverb II.
Ideally tomorrow I'll be able to slap on some flats and get the tone RIGHT where I want it.
~B~
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Flowmaster_G
Joined: Nov 09, 2006
Posts: 140
Los Angeles, California
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Posted on Nov 16 2006 12:00 PM
SurfBandBill
Hey Chris,
I sure did get it through Doug Forbes' friend. I had kind of eyed these for a while, but could never justify dropping almost nine hundy for another guitar, especially one that wasn't another Mosrite. However, once I caught wind of the deal, I just couldn't pass up the deal.
I have a Mosrite Excellent that is way too narrow at the nut for me; hard to play open chords even though my hands are not huge. Is the Hallmark Sweptwing just as narrow at the nut?
I have played a Wilson VM-110 and loved the neck width, clearly wider than my Excellent. The first time I tried it was on stage at our HB pier set last May, when Marty loaned me his VM-110 that he had used on the Planktones set. I actually gig'ed with it without having even tried it before and it was like butter; however Wilsonbros cannot confirm when they will have VM-110's in stock again. (they said Jan, but I will not hold my breath) so I'm wondering if the Sweptwing a good alternative for that type of sound. My other "surf" guitar is an AV Jazzmaster .
Any opinion of that Hallmark neck width?
g
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Nov 16 2006 04:23 PM
Hey G,
The Hallmark is definitely wider. I'd compare it with probably like my Jag. Definitely not a Mosrite neck.
They're mighty comfy, and play like buttah. I finally got mine set up the way I want it over the weekend, slapped some flats on it, and it sounds KILLER.
~B~
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Flowmaster_G
Joined: Nov 09, 2006
Posts: 140
Los Angeles, California
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Posted on Nov 16 2006 08:46 PM
Bill: Thanks. Hopefully I will be trying one out this Saturday. Gotta say they have cool looking finishes.
Thanx again for that neck info. Now I'm really pysche'd 
g
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Nov 17 2006 01:12 AM
Any time, man. Just glad to spread the word. I'd imagine you'd be pretty impressed. I am still blown away by the balance on that thing - it's unreal.
Anyone else who got one wanna chime in?
~B~
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Rick_Volcano
Joined: Mar 05, 2006
Posts: 289
Detroit
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Posted on Nov 17 2006 09:23 AM
SurfBandBill
Anyone else who got one wanna chime in?
I've had one for a little while now and I'm liking it more all the time. As mentioned, plays great. Feels nice and solid. I'm running .013 flats on it. Tone-wise, reminds me of Mosrite territory. Maybe a a little more top end (speaking of "chime") . Brighter and more hi-fi than my original Hallmark. For surf, I'm still favoring my Jazzmaster, though this is a worthy challenger.
I've been using the new sweptwing for another project, the Meltdowns (sort of '60s R&B-rock/Brit/garage). Works nicely there.
Overall a decent guitar that fits vintage tone applications but has enough unique characteristics to give it it's own identity.
And, for me, MAJOR points for the way-out shape.
— The Volcanos
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DougForbes
Joined: Mar 07, 2006
Posts: 62
La Crescenta CA.
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Posted on Nov 20 2006 12:56 PM
I have to agree with a the other positive posts regarding the sweptwing. I got a guitar and a bass and they really are exceptional.
As an aside I just spoke with Ken at Grayson's who is the guy who got these for us and he is now a dealer and can get you whatever is available at a really great price. If you have an interest e-mail him at :
graysonstunetown@sbcglobal.net
Doug
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Nov 20 2006 01:58 PM
I'll also add that Doug's friend Ken was a GREAT guy to work with. He kept me informed and up to date as info came down the chute.
I'd recommend him for damn near anything you'd wanna get.
~B~
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gusto
Joined: Sep 22, 2006
Posts: 234
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Posted on Nov 21 2006 12:59 AM
Sorry, i just got home from the rigs. I also got mine through Graysons. I really enjoyed dealing with him and will be buying another guitar through him. I live in Canada by the way. I have posted pics of mine in the buy/sell section of the forum if anyone wants to take a look.
My main guitars are a reverend slingshot, jazzmaster and cali (61) strat. I got to tell you i honestly believe that this sweptwing is a true surf guitar. The pickups to me are dead on, i dont find them thin at all and noticed you dont have to go with big gauge to get big sound. Where the guitars mentioned can easily cover other styles of music the Hallmark seems built for the surf sound and surf only. As for the neck, its smaller than my strat and way smaller than my jazzmaster, the biggest thing to me is the flat fingerboard, no rounded edges like the fenders which makes it for me super easy to chord. Think Les Paul. On the trem poll i voted for the jazzmaster if i owned this guitar then i would have voted for the vibramute. Its killer. The guitar is larger than the strat (see pics) but hangs perfect when playing. I have searched up and down on this guitar and have not found one blemish. Set up on mine was perfect. Any other questions just ask.
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sidewalksurf
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 243
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Posted on Feb 14 2007 06:53 PM
SurfBandBill
Hey G,
The Hallmark is definitely wider. I'd compare it with probably like my Jag. Definitely not a Mosrite neck.
They're mighty comfy, and play like buttah. I finally got mine set up the way I want it over the weekend, slapped some flats on it, and it sounds KILLER.
~B~
Hey Bill,
Did you have any issues with the trem when you put the flats on? I tried some TI .10's on my swept wing and they squashed the trem just enough to where it was too low for my tastes. So I went with some Rotosound .10s and it's just fine now. I haven't used roundwound strings in a very long time but I'm digging the sound and feel of these on this guitar. I emailed Bob Shade and he said that they will have a spring available for a heavier gauge (.11) sometime in April.
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Feb 15 2007 03:20 AM
Hey SS,
No, I haven't had trem issues at all on mine, with Chromes .10s on there. In fact, I found that anything lighter and I thought the arm was almost too high. I just measured, and the arm, even at the end has exactly an inch clearance off the body, which is just fine.
I will say, the last few times I've played this guitar at practice, I've been struggling with the frets a little more than before. I think it's probably mainly because it's at the end of the night and my fingertips are a little more shredded than when I practice, but still, I was surprised the other week it actually caused a little discomfort in my left hand.
~B~
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sidewalksurf
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 243
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Posted on Feb 15 2007 08:11 AM
SurfBandBill
Hey SS,
No, I haven't had trem issues at all on mine, with Chromes .10s on there. In fact, I found that anything lighter and I thought the arm was almost too high. I just measured, and the arm, even at the end has exactly an inch clearance off the body, which is just fine.
I will say, the last few times I've played this guitar at practice, I've been struggling with the frets a little more than before. I think it's probably mainly because it's at the end of the night and my fingertips are a little more shredded than when I practice, but still, I was surprised the other week it actually caused a little discomfort in my left hand.
~B~
Yeah, I think mine was about an inch off the body with the TI's. Coming off my main guitars, a Jag and a JM, it felt a little too low for me. I think I'll try the TI .10s again when the taller springs are available - that should bring the trem about where it is now with the roundwounds.
-Mike
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krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
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Posted on Feb 15 2007 09:18 AM
Mike Have you tried the old Nickel under the spring trick?
Used to do that to Bigsbys when the big gauge strings would flatten them out.
— The Thunderchiefs
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kenposurf
Joined: Feb 23, 2007
Posts: 1650
Santa Rosa, CA
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Posted on Feb 23 2007 05:37 PM
Recently sold my peral white one to Paul or rhythm player. I have a Mosrite and they...at least to my ear sound quite similar. Both have the Vibramute (style) vibrato...the Mosrite has smaller frets..both necks are very fast but the scale on the Hallmark feels a bit long for me..pups on both guitars are hot.
— www.northofmalibu.com
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