Longtermers - Shergold Masquerader SM04-SD

A few months’ gigging, recording and everything that goes with it – welcome to Guitarist’s longterm test reports

- Dave Burrluck

Shergold’s Masquerader SM04-SD is an impressive slice of ‘boutique’ guitar at a far from boutique price. Designed, of course, by Patrick J Eggle, the new-design Shergold range was introduced at the start of 2017 by UK distributor Barnes & Mullins, and their own Alex Mew was very keen for us to continue our test-time and even “bash it up a bit” if we wanted. Meanwhile, B&M’s Rob Bennett had another thought: “It deserves some fuzz-and-octave-pedal treatment to really unleash the beast…”

I’m presuming Rob didn’t expect me to fit a fuzz-and-octave-pedal into the guitar. Plus, a look at the gig diary revealed there was little need for any fuzz/octave action, but rehearsals for a classic American rock-style band seemed a better fit. The trouble is the band leader is a bit of a guitar snob (and Les Paul player), and Mike Campbell or Steve Van Zandt, to my knowledge, never played a Shergold. Anyway…