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Swing Standard
List: $1,150
Instruments of eastern origin are often besmirched by a sub-standard tag; they are cheap, flawed products to be avoided if you know better. In the ‘80s/’90s, eastern guitar makers were either too busy assembling their own fakes or trying their very best to annul the ‘we are not worthy’ stamp on their products. The latter engagement is a little difficult as many of them were previously possessed with copying established brand names (until they got sued their pants off) but the learned among us would tell you that the copy quality on offer (nevermind the pirated looks) was outstanding. Today, we see a myriad of eastern brand names that got into the scene by virtue of reputation above all else, Swing is certainly a quality contender in this camp.
Build/ fit/ finish
The Swing Standard (SS) is an S-type guitar which looks typically like one, complete with the pick guard inclusion & that headstock outline is really a variation of that too familiar shape. Working on those attributes, the SS is equipped with an HSS pickup configuration which signals its departure from the single coil only domain.
The SS’s working tone wood is a 2-piece alder body, adding to that a Canadian hard maple neck & Indian rosewood fretboard. If these aren’t quality parts then the Gotoh tuners/ bridge & Seymour Duncan Pickups would add to the credentials. This instrument is a superbly assembled piece of work, no burrs, gaps or stains could be detected to discredit its fine reputation. The only irksome appointments are the volume & tone knobs as well as the 5-way pickup selector switch which are all a little stiff in movement. We must not rule out the possibility of some oxidation in transit or storage.
Rating: 90%
Playability/ tone
Before the SS got electrified, the natural resonance on offer is an indicator of a bright sounding instrument namely attributable to the alder-maple combination & the special nut involved- introducing the Graph Tech Nu-bone nut. This is a little enhancement luthiers like to implement if there is a need to manifest a firm midrange; one either employs a firm nut or bridge saddle material so there you have it. The effect is also marked on sustain as a more solid material helps transfer string vibrations into the neck whole. The guitar sits balanced on the lap & the neck has that very inviting C-profile, very Fenderesque to say the least.
Upon its amplification, sweet single coil tones could be heard courtesy of Seymour Duncan’s Vintage Staggered single coil pair. If you need pristine clean tones, these are the ones to work for you. Still in clean mode, the humbucking Duncan JB sounds fat but we know too well this pickup’s forte isn’t one which is drive free. On that note, the audition amp’s menacing overdrive was activated for some of the best rock tones on offer. Pump up the bass & the SS would satisfy the heavy metal horde, no problem.
The playability here could be summarized as the typical bolt-on feel which isn’t too accommodating when it comes to upper fret reaches due to the presence of a blocky heel. The default action was also not too pleasurable for speed freaks but with a little personal tinkering, this would present to be of no hindrance. One thing is for sure, the SS is a very playable guitar with loads of warmth & sustain- addictive.
Tone test equipment:
• Amp: Sound Drive SG100R
Rating: 90%
Final say
For those of us too accustomed to our Fenders, there is a need to pry away our fingers from our guitars before anyone could replace it with this SS. Nevertheless, if we truly respect & embrace bona fide good tone & playability, the SS has lots in store & would shame some of the more established units out there. A fender this SS is not but on par is its performance. Swing did well to accessorized its instrument with named appointments because at this price tag, if there are no quality attraction involved, we are better off investing in something that is ‘safer’ in terms of re-sale value & reputation.
Final rating: 90%
Product availability: Standard Value
Likes:
• Quality control
• Overall tone/ playability
Dislikes:
• The price is on the wrong side of $1K to present a serious attraction for this wonderful guitar
Worthy contenders:
• Ibanez SA260
• Fender Highway1 HSS
**Thank you Mike @ SV for letting me try this guitar more than 3 times just to find its faults; there aren't any to report
