Hot Rod Preacher
by Dominic Hilton
Guitar World Magazine
Soundcheck 1...2...3... Reverend Slingshot Custom

The Slingshot Custom has fire and brimstone in its looks and hi-tech witchery in its construction. Built by Reverend Guitars, this new model joins the Detroit guitarmaker's congregation of acclaimed instruments and is the result of designer Joe Naylor's tireless quest for powerhouse tone.

Unlike most electric guitar builders, Reverend employs a number of alternative materials in its guitars' semi-solid construction. The Slingshot's body has a center block of white mahogany that contains a steel tone bar close to the bridge. The rim of the Slingshot is made from injection-molded plastic using a technique invented by Naylor himself. Typical of the Reverend's other guitars, the front and back are covered with brightly colored phenolic laminate. (The Slingshot Custom can also be had with a cool, machine turned aluminum finish as tested, for an additional $275 list over the $969 list price.) Lastly, a chromed forearm rest and deco-inspired stepped pickguard indelibly stamp the guitar with a look all its own.

Throughout its design, the Slingshot displays a mix of familiar and contemporary touches. The trio of Reverend P-90-style pickups are teamed up with master volume and tone controls and a Strat-type pickup selector that offers the traditional five positions. Naylor modeled the bolt-on maple neck after the popular profile of early Sixties Stratocasters, flattening its radius and fitting it with 22 large frets for a more modern feel. Other contemporary touches include a through-body six-saddle bridge, roller string trees, a graphite nut and sealed machine heads.

Acoustically, our test model Slingshot resonated like a east-iron bathtub--an excellent indication that the semi-solid body was working its magic. With the guitar plugged into a simmering tweed combo, this resonance was truly spectacular. The body materials may have been unconventional but they produce an enormous tone, with the lush shimmer of a 335 and the punchy definition of a Tele. This awesome combination was also well-balanced between the guitar's focused bassy growls and upper-frequency jangle. The pickups obviously added a lot to this supercharged tone, pumping out the midrange twang and serving wailing blues licks from the neck position. In short, this is one smoking, blues-rock hotrod.

Props to Naylor for designing a neck that feels as he intended it to--like a vintage Strat that has seen a few refrets and a whole lotta mileage. The easy feel is helped along with some crisp fretwork and buzz-free low action.

The Bottom Line
Reverend has done something very right with the Slingshot Custom, using fresh concepts to build a better guitar, without alienating the player. The result is a guitar that feels naturally comfortable, with a tone that will make you into a believer.