The full REVO series trademark is REtro Vintage Originals, which is a new 2024 range of electric guitars, the name clearly hinting at what to expect: a new take on classic designs. This is something for which the designer Alan Entwistle has become well-known and well-respected over several decades.
This review is based on the ‘Colt SS Twin’, which is styled on a famous offset design and features two powerful and versatile single-coil Entwistle astrosonic pickups – just one of the elements that give the player more bang for their bucks. Other excellent specifications include machine heads from JHS's Wilkinson range of hardware, and a Graph Tech NuBone top nut – Trev Wilkinson is another seasoned UK guitar designer who has raised the game for generations of players across the world (from beginner to professional), contributing quality instruments and, in particular, superbly reliable parts.
While the neck is traditional maple, jatoba (which has a variety of other uses) is used for the fingerboard. It is good to see innovative use of timbers: the wood is very strong and durable, and similar in look to the more familiar rosewood. The body is of okoumé, a timber well-known for other purposes but fairly new to guitar buyers. The whole feel of the guitar is one of comfort, helped by the 24.75∳ scale. The vibrato bridge unit is responsive and, although fairly light to the touch, returns to pitch very well. The bridge itself is an improvement upon several of this type of design I have seen, played and repaired, the adjustable saddles a subtle step-up in design and manufacture from those of the era in which they were first used. This also means that neck shims frequently fitted to this type are not needed here.
The Colt is fitted with Elixir strings, a well-established brand. The nickel electric strings, with a fine coating developed from GORE-TEX, encourage extended playing quality and time – which shows a commitment to quality. The effective low-noise pickups have several controls: two switches operate on/off for each pickup; a third switch facilitates bass-cut, allowing for some interesting extra tones; the two potentiometers offer global volume and tone.
So much for the thoughtful design and sturdy build; but what does it sound like? The first thing that strikes the player is the output of the pickups – as robust as the instrument itself. Although single coil, there is little if any evidence of background hum often associated with this popular pickup type (Alan Entwistle has produced electronics living up to their low-noise description). The reaction I had when plugging the guitar into a small amplifier in the rehearsal studio where I have my repair workshop was that it sounded like a punk-, then a heavy-metal, then an indie-guitar. But with a little switching, jazz and blues could also be conjured up with ease. It also delivers sounds perhaps closer to the heart of the look of this guitar, namely the clean bright sounds of classic instrumental bands such as The Ventures and The Shadows. It responds well to chord playing, low overdriven riffs, gentle fingerpicking and solos, from gentle ballad-style fills to extreme ‘shredding’ and tapping techniques.
This guitar feels and sounds classier than its price and, while not one of the more mainstream retro models that a beginner might start on, it is certainly an instrument that someone looking for an upgrade intermediate guitar might aspire to, and afford. It would also make a worthy gigging tool as well as a versatile addition to a teacher's collection.
This is perhaps a little more than a school may wish to spend on instrument-cupboard stock, but the street price is likely to be less and, for this, what is on offer is a solid, dependable instrument.
The type of switch fitted is sometimes problematic. In this lower position, on the body, I think it'll stay out of harm's way – the whole fitting seems very hardy. The neat, threadless whammy bar is secured to the vibrato unit using a Wilkinson Allen key operated lock (the correct tool comes with the guitar's selection of Allen keys), so is easy to fit – or to remove, to keep safe for when it's needed. All in all, there are few worries for a school's instrument technician, and little or nothing that small exploratory fingers can break or remove.
Other guitars in the range include respectful updates on most of the time-honoured, recognisable, solid-body, thinline and semi-acoustic designs in classic colours, as well as plenty of fresh new looks and combinations.
VINTAGE REVO SERIES Colt SS Twin guitar
Vintage white
VRCT22VW
£399.00
