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The best Hufschmid Guitars Guitars reviews

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  • Hufschmid Guitars Tantalum
    « Unlike Any Guitar I've Owned »

    I've owned countless guitars over the years, but this custom hand-made Hufschmid Tantalum is in a league by itself. Starting with a meticulously aged pine top over a gorgeous mahogany body and neck, and then add the amazing Alumitone pickups and the top quality Hipshot hardware, and it makes up one of the best guitars I've ever owned. From the rolled fretboard to the hand-oiled finish, you get a sense of the time and attention to detail the moment you pick it up. The neck is like a medium C, so not large, but not a super thin shred neck, either. The luminous side dots are nice touch and very practical on a dark stage. The tone is incredible. The Alumitones are very tight, and sound different from any other pickups I've used. Add to that a NOS Russian Teflon capacitor for the tone control, and you have a very versatile range of tones for just about any application. Despite being marketed as "Deathbuckers," those Alumitones work with rock and blues tones, no problem at all. And with that great capacitor on the tone control, you can even get jazz tones out of the same guitar that can melt faces at full bore. Here are the specs (from the original listing): -Perfectly quartersawn ‘Sipo Mahogany’ body and neck -‘Crelicam Ebony’ fingerboard with 24 frets, 25.5'' scale, and 12" radius -Scalloped Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) nut -Hipshot hardware and high-tolerance CTS pots -High quality kill switch 🚀 -NOS Russian FT-2 0.027uF Teflon capacitor -Custom unfinished 7 string alumitone deathbuckers with laser-etched logo -Glow in the dark side dots -Antique Bronze-finished coin logo inlay on the back. -Copper shielding and 25 coats of hand-applied oil-based varnish -The top has received a highly protective treatment to preserve its stunning silver appearance. If you are ever lucky enough to check out a Hufschmid guitar -- or even better, buy one -- you will understand my excitement over this new guitar. I can truly say this is different than any other guitar I've ever owned, and in a sea of sameness, it's nice to see a standout. For a closer look, please see a video I made on YouTube: https://youtu.be/X2Zelp2es9s?si=K_J-HlNt-L1JZvfJ

    by Steve from Boston 2/17/24
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars H6E
    « Hufschmid Tantalum 6 string guitar »

    I found out about Patrick Hufschmid from a close friend who loves guitars built by independent builders. After checking out the Hufschmid guitars website, I decided that I would like to place an order for a custom guitar. I decided upon the specifications I wanted and reached out to Patrick. He explained to me how the process works and I followed the instructions for payment. The very next day I received a picture of my "guitar to be" while it was still in the form of rough cut timbers!! Through out the entire process I received updates and photos of the progress... even some short video clips. I was kept "in the loop' through out the build process. Once the guitar was completed, Patrick told me that he does the final set up and then would ship it out to me. I waited patiently and within a week or so Patrick contacted me and said my guitar was IN THE USA! He wanted to surprise me and shipped the guitar. It arrived to me that very same day. From Switzerland to NY in 3 days. I opened the box and after I removed the multiple layers of protection it was wrapped in, I was immediately impressed. The first thing that I did was look over the entire guitar. No issues. I strummed a chord and was amazed at the resonance of the instrument. The guitar vibrates like it's alive. The neck shape felt very comfortable in my hand, like I'd been playing it for years. Patrick shapes his necks based on a photograph of the players hand... he nailed it. I plugged her in and was incredibly pleased with the sound of my " made to measure " pickups. I explained my taste in music and what I enjoy playing to Patrick and the pickups were wound to my liking. They sound awesome. The playability, action, intonation and feel of the guitar exceeded my expectations. Spot on perfection all around. To say I was pleased is an understatement. I am a professional guitar tech and a player of 40 years. This is the best guitar I've owned. Here are the specs: Tantalum Model Super strat double cut body, cut from one piece of perfectly quarter sawn highly ribbon figured Sapele One piece Sapele neck, also perfectly quarter sawn ( INCREDIBLY strong, very stable ) West African Ebony fretboard, 24 jumbo wide "pyramid " frets 25.5" scale length Hufschmid Blue nut, (lubricant filled engineering thermoplastic) Exclusive Hufglow block inlays Heel adjust truss rod wheel 3 X 3 Hufschmid designed tension optimized headstock design Hipshot barrel knob locking tuners Hipshot string through body bridge 2 Custom wound Hufschmid GLOWBUCKERS Single volume, tone and 3 position pickup selector switch NOS 1970's Russian Military grade capacitor Inlaid Hufschmid logo minted coin, antique copper finish, in the back of the body ( completely unique! ) I am blown away by the attention to detail and the level of craftsmanship of this instrument. Being a professional guitar technician for most of my life, and a player for so long I have seen nearly every brand of guitar pass across my bench. My Hufschmid surpasses them all in every aspect. It took me 40 years but I finally found what I've been searching for in a guitar. THANK YOU Patrick. I would recommend a Hufschmid guitar to anyone who has been searching for something unique, a guitar that can handle any style of music, and is a true joy to play! This guitar has reignited my passion for playing...

    by Sal Tine 5/6/19
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars Helldunkel
    « A great music instrument! »

    Hufschmid introduces his guitar 'Helldunkel', "Since 1996, this unique instrument represents my design ideology distilled into its purest form. This 6 string 'set specs' guitar is handbuilt from premium timbers and the highest quality hardware, using my years of experience to craft an instrument of exquisite simplicity, comfort and ultimate guitar tone." Since I looked up his website, I had been hooked on this quotation for months. I could not resist having one. 30th of July 2016, I received a guitar, a Hufschmid 'Helldunkel' built by Patrick Hufschmid in Ailge, Switzerland. Over all specification of my Helldunkel is; -Body: One piece quartersawn premium sapele mahogany. -Neck: One piece perfectly quartersawn sapele mahogany. -Headstock: Hufschmid 3L/3R Straight-pull design. -Nut: Exclusive Red HUFTRON. -Finger board: Premium West African Ebony, 12-inch radius, 24 frets. -Scale: 25.5-inch. -Side dot: Hufschmid glow in the dark. -Tuner: Hipshot open gear locking tuners. -Bridge: Hipshot fixed bridge. -Pickup: Hufschmid Humbuckers, made to measure Hufschmid passive humbuckers handmade in Vermont by Kent Armstrong himself. -Finish: 15 coats of natural varnish, satin finish. -Body thickness : 35 mm -Weight: 3.6 kg Pros: 1) The '3L/3R straight-pull headstock' design combining with the Hipshot locking tuners and the Red HFUTRON nut offers superb tuning stability. The design excluding a string retainer is also a good point. Minimal components achieve maximal result, the 'beautility'. 2) My Helldunkel is a double cut away design. There is no big contour on the top but a beautiful chamfer for the right forearm to rest naturally. The chamfer on the back makes a very elegant and sexy back view. The neck joint offers great access to the last fret and the thin body makes itself a very well balanced instrument. 3) 15 coats of varnish sounded really thick to me at the first. This satin finish contributes to the 'natural wood' feel and look. While protecting the timber, it accentuates its beautiful figures. According to Hufschmid, finishing takes about half the time of building a whole instrument. 4) The playability is great. Hufschmid carved each neck for each individual customer. Unfortunately I live in the other side of the planet so that I could not pre-test the feel of the neck, however, he collected pictures of my left hand and used it as references to carve the neck. It works really great. 5) Hufschmid Humbuckers are only available when ordering guitars from Hufschmid. These humbuckers handmade by Kent Armstrong himself have Hufschmid Logo on their top. This means Hufschmid had to create original molds for these pickups. The look and sound integrity of these pickups are really high. The combination with the body and neck, the sustain is simply awesome on all the notes. Being built in a casting mold, pickups are epoxy-sealed witch comes really handy for a guy like me who sweat a lot. 6) Perfectly quartersawn premium sapele mahogany for body and neck is, I would guess, the 'Hufschmid Guitars' signature. I don't have a lot of interest and knowledge about 'tone wood' in general, till the day I received my Helldunkel. Take a good close look at the guitar to know how it was made, what was used to build and you will see and feel a futuristic look of the guitar. A luthier once said that using wrong material for the guitar, it will twist and even split up in time. But how can I take a close look if the guitars are heavily coated and colored under the tons of lacquer? Heavy finishes can look great but how can I can feel splendor of timbers? Other music instruments, such as the violin families are much easier to admire because you can really see the timbers. The finishes are thin and the protection will last for ages. We are not all luthiers or timber dealers, however we may take a close look at instruments and appreciate those gorgeous timbers. I am off course not a luthier, but I can feel this by taking a closer look at my Helldunkel. Wood grain, on the top, back and the edges, looks evenly distributed and parallel to the string line, the same for the neck. The coats of varnish really bring up the 'ribbon figure' of the sapele that looks like golden threads under the sunlight. Its color expression is infinite. This is a high quality guitar made of good timber selected and build by a good luthier. 7) Hufschmid sent and posted a lot of pictures of his guitar making process on email, Instagram and Facebook. I have seen my Helldunkel from the timber to its completion. This has been the unforgettable experience in my life. Cons: 1) I already want to have another one. Hufsdhmid Guitars always moves forwards and improves himself. Next guitar he will make might be the better one and the one after the next. That makes me a bit jealous.^^

    by JL_KM_CD 9/6/16
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars String Muters
    « Hufschmid guitar muters VS gruv gear fretwraps »

    Hi everyone, today i'm going to compare two string muters, one is from Hufschmid guitars and the other from Gruv Gear. First let's just talk about looks, well the as you can see there's really quite a lot of difference. Looks are mostly a question of taste and I hnoestly go for the Hufschmid. It just looks better and more resistant. Lets talk about how they perform, starting with the gruv gear, it does it's job quite well, but two things really came to annoy me. They have different sizes, that means the muter you have for your 6 string won't fit on your 7 and vice versa, same thing for basses... Second thing that was a bit disapointing was the quality of the velcro, there isn't much to start off with and after a while it just doesn't hold the muter on the neck anymore. Ok the Hufschmid one now, well pretty flawless to be honest, one size fits all, tough velcro, nice and wide so it really kills out all the unwanted noise (making you feel like a guitar god). All in all I would say that we have two similar but completely different products, the gruv gear is cheaper but doesn't last as long and you'll need a different size for each instrument. The Hufschmid is better all round, more expensive but sturdier and universal. You can just see the difference in between handmade quality and mass produced factory goods quite clearly.

    by versus158 6/3/15
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars Bacon Muter
    « BACON !!! »

    Ok, so everyone knows what a string muter is. Patrick just did the coolest thing ever, the bacon wrap ! Basically a string muter that looks like a nice and tasty slice of bacon, it had to be done and he did it ! Aesthetics aside this is a really good product, handmade in switzerland, you can clearly see that it's not mass produced and that the attention to detail is a priority. The muter itself does it's job really well, the velcro is really sturdy and won't give up on you. The nice thing is that it's one size fits all, be it 6,7 or even 8 string guitars, it will also go on basses 4,5 and 6 strings. Really happy, top notch quality great and fun design, all good, you can't go wrong with one of these !

    by versus158 3/16/15
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars String Muter
    « Great quality »

    String muters are starting to get popular and quite a few companies have started producing them. Among all the different ones you can buy you'll stumble accross good ones and bad ones of course... Why should you be using a muter ? I mainly use mine for 2 things, killing overtones on rythms tracks (just place the muter behind the nut), really comes in handy for muted and heavy riffs, or for cleaning up leads (just place the muter in front of the nut) because it cuts out the strings that you're not playing. What I really like doing is using a muter when learning a song, it really helps me find and hear the parts where I'm not playing clean enough and focus on them. Right so now what's so great about Hufschmid muters ? Well it's quite simple, Patricks muters fit ALL guitars and basses, just buy one muter for ALL your gear, the other brands all have different sizes and they don't necessarily fit on different guitars/basses. Other thing is that they're tough the velcro is sturdy and won't give up on you after a couple of weeks, the muter will always stay in place and do it's job really nicely. Oh yeah did i mention the design is really nice and you can also choose the width (3 or 4 cm) ? All in all Patricks muters are a bit more expensive than some of the others that you can find on the net but because they're so much more durable and they can actually fit all of your guitars you just need one instead of half a dozen. Like all the rest of what Patrick does his muters are all hand made in Switzerland by an artisan, the quality will always be top notch. Give them a try I'm sure you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

    by versus158 2/26/15
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars H7 Baritone
    « Hufschmid 2.0 : impressive update! »

    I met Patrick Hufschmid in march 2010. At that time I was looking for my first seven string, and I wasn’t convinced by the factory models. Thus I came across Patrick’s work in a random forum, and a few weeks later I received the first of the four Hufschmid I own today : the H7, then a Mockingbird-based H6, a standard H6 and finally the H7 Baritone we are talking about here. Why a second seven string? In five years, many things can evolve, and first of all, the musician’s playing. Of course I still felt comfortable on my first H7, but I was attacking the strings stronger and stronger everyday, so I felt a longer neck scale would offer a better and faster response. I also needed a tone knob, which my H7 didn’t have (as I didn’t want one then). The musician progresses, and the builder does as well : fighting against stagnation spirit which wastes many builders who keep resting on their laurels offering the same old but slightly varied song each year, Patrick is constantly searching improvement in every little detail on his instruments. Thus some new stuff appeared since my first H7 : -New head with straight pull design using no string guide -Techtron HPV® nut, a self-lubricant and extremely tough thermoplastic material -Hufglow blocks on the fingerboard, very efficient in the dark -New high quality epoxy pickup rings -Custom electronic components, etc. For the other specs : -Scale length : 26.2“ -One piece Premium FSC certified quatersawn Sapelli Mahogany body -One piece Premium FSC certified rift-sawn Sapelli Mahogany neck -Premium FSC certified West African Ebony fingerboard -Salvaged Bastogne Walnut (the world’s rarest Walnut specie) top -Fingerboard radius : 12“ -Kent Armstrong custom handmade pickups -Hipshot hardtail bridge -Hipshot locking tuners -Natural finish -Tuning : Drop A (A E A D G B E), 10-52 + 68 string gauges The craftmanship is exquisite, I had friends testing the guitar and they didn’t think first it was a handmade instrument. The neck, which is the most important thing in my opinion, is perfectly set and stable, very sturdy. Its profile, rounder on the first frets and flatter on the last ones, makes it ridiculously easy to play, despite of the longer scale. The guitar is light (3.2kg / 7lbs) and very well balanced, and its tuning stability is exemplary. When coming to sound, all I was expecting is here : clean sounds are gorgeous, defined, clear and warm at the same time, the tone knob makes wonders here. You can feel this clear character even stronger when switching to a crunch sound, each note can be heared without ever getting aggressive so you can play either hard or mellow by sligthly changing your attack. With a hi-gain sound, the instrument and pickups precision are a must for modern metal. Even the lowest notes are striking, powerful and still thick in rhythm playing, and the leads are sweet in neck position, cutting in bridge position. I play this guitar either on a Fender Tweed Deluxe, a Hughes & Kettner Tubemeilster or an Axe-FX II, and the resulting sound is always way above my other instruments. Jazz, funk, blues, rock, hard… Everything is possible because, far from bounding to metal and djent, a seventh string extends the guitars range, turning it into something more versatile, especially on a high-end instrument. I do not use this H7 for long, but its formidable physical and technical precision as well as its impressive range of different tones already convinced me : it is one of those unique instruments who give you thrill each time you grab it, knowing it is going to be a partner for life, getting better with time. One of those magical instruments only my friend Patrick Hufschmid holds the secret of.

    by julamarre0 2/18/15
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars H6 Koa
    « Hufschmid H6 Koa »

    I first heard about Hufschmid Guitars a few years ago; like many guitarists I love to research instruments and gear, and when I found Patrick’s work something really struck a chord in me. The simplicity of the designs, the beauty of the natural wood, the approach to building, all of it drew me in. However at the time I couldn’t even dream of ever owning an instrument like that, and so I didn’t even entertain the notion. Fast forward a few years and I find myself extraordinarily lucky to own one of these magnificent guitars. The initial ordering process was exceptionally smooth, Patrick is very knowledgable and expeditious in his replies, and he’s easily one of the most amicable and personable individuals I’ve had the pleasure to do business with. We worked out the initial details of the design and took care of payment, and the ordering was underway. Patrick uses only FSC-certified ethically sourced woods, and salvaged tops. We had originally selected a Claro Walnut top for the guitar, but when Patrick came to me with the idea to use a stunning salvaged Koa top I was instantly on board. I knew he was the artist and trusted his judgment, and I’m very glad I did; the combination of gold hardware and Koa turned out beautiful. The pieces of Sapele selected for neck and body are equally beautiful in a more subtle way, and the natural West African Ebony fingerboard selected is the perfect compliment to the Koa; the tan and chocolate streaks in the grain of the ebony and the way it meets the neck is one of my favorite things about the guitar. The neck itself is Patrick’s design adjusted to my hand, not super-thin and unstable but solid and comfortable, it’s the best neck I’ve played and I’ve played the gamut from paper-thin to baseball-bat-thick to ergonomic designs. On to the hardware, Patrick uses a high-quality Hipshot bridge and tuners, as well as custom potentiometers and capacitors, and the best-looking pickup rings I’ve ever seen. Patrick based the pickups off my own music and playing needs, and so they suit me perfectly. They are his own resin-cast design and made by Kent Armstrong, and they are bar-none the best pickups I have ever played or heard. The whole guitar works as a system, of course, and so the versatile array of sounds at my disposal with just a volume tone and 3-way switch are frankly mind-blowing. The ability to manipulate volume without loss of tone like a traditional pickup is a well-received feature, and makes achieving clean and low-gain sounds as simple as lowering the volume with no tonal trade-off of any kind. Tone knob manipulation yields an awesome selection of sounds from searing metal to classic LP-style rock to beautifully subdued jazz and woodwind-like tones. The whole guitar really speaks for the innovation and dedication of the builder, every little detail is paid meticulous attention to. From the placement of the strap buttons and output jack, to the stunning and unique fretwork that makes playing absolutely effortless, to the revolutionary Techtron HPV nut material, to the eminently comfortable and excellently crafted armrest and body bevels. It all comes together to make a truly special instrument, greater than the sum of it’s parts. I know I fall short in my description of it, and so I’ve done my best to capture at least some of the attention to detail and artistry that goes into these amazing guitars. I contacted Patrick because I was interested in something personal, something truly unique and inspired, the work of an artisan and not just another assembly-line guitar. I’ve owned quite a few instruments from the well-known companies, and while I’ve found nice instruments for sure, I’ve never quite found the personality or artist's touch I’ve looked for. I contacted Patrick because, ultimately, I want an instrument I can bond with and carry with me for the rest of my life; every time I play my Huf I’m filled with pride and love for the guitar, and the utmost respect for the builder. It inspires me every single day. I’ve finally found everything I’ve ever wanted in an instrument in my Hufschmid Guitar. Thank you so much for this wonderful instrument, Patrick; words do it no justice.

    by can1224 12/29/14
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars H6 Singlecut
    « Swiss perfection »

    Hufschmid Guitars is based in Aigle, a small town in the French speaking part of Switzerland. It is run by luthier-artisan Patrick Hufschmid, and no one else. There are few reviews, if any, that capture the level of detail, and attention he puts into his instruments. Since the details make the design, I will try and talk about every little thing to give you an idea of how much effort Patrick puts into perfecting his instruments. The best way to describe the concept behind Hufschmid guitars is probably with Albert Einstein's famous quote saying you should make everything as simple as possible but not simpler. In guitar terms this means you get a solid, barebones piece of kit without any gimmicky bells and whistles. The less fiddly things, the less there is that can go wrong and cause you grief. The result may be no-nonsense, but it definitely is far away from no-thrills. Overall specs and features Body: - Sapelli Mahogany body - Salvaged Flame Maple top Neck: - Adjusted to player’s hand - Bolt-on construction - Indian Rosewood fretboard - 25.5” scale-length - 12” fingerboard radius - Straight pull headstock design - Jumbo pyramidal frets - Aqua Blue Luminlay side dots Hardware - Hipshot bridge and locking tuners - Hufschmid 'TECHTRON HPV®' nut - Dunlop Straplocks - Ebony control knobs Electronics - HH pickup configuration - Hufschmid pickups made-to-measure by Kent Armstrong - Three-way switch - Copper shielding Woods The body and neck for all Hufschmid guitars are made from 100% FSC certified African Sapelli mahogany. This means that the timbers come from environmentally responsible forest management and that none of it comes from illegal logging, a much overlooked issue in the guitar industry. The maple top is salvaged and stained with Patrick's "ghost finish". Body The body is a single cut type. It is quite a bit thinner than what one might be used to which makes it very comfortable and eliminates the need for a belly-carve (something I don’t like anyway). The armrest bevel may look a bit angular but makes a surprising difference and is really comfortable. No need to mention that the whole body is flawlessly carved. In my opinion the design is a perfect compromise between classic and modern, the result being refined, timeless and elegant. The input jack is located underneath the strap button, reducing the amount of strain on the lead when you hook it over the strap. Neck Patrick required me to send him a picture of my hand so he could shape the accordingly. I can’t really go into the exact dimensions since they will be different for each player but let me tell you that Patrick really knows what’s good for you. It changes shape (not radius) along its length making chording, chugging and shredding all equally easy. The neck is made from one piece of 'perfect quartersawn' mahogany. This means the grain runs perpendicular to the fretboard at a perfect 90° angle. This is the most solid and stable construction-method you can get and the reason why other companies don’t use it is that perfect pieces of wood like these are impossible to come by in large numbers. The headstock volute gives the fingers (the thumb in particular) a wider range of motion, making fingering some chords more relaxed. High fret access is comfortable and effortless. The truss-rod access is at the bottom of the neck, by the neck pickup, making adjustments less fiddly. The jumbo pyramidal frets – think of them as slightly more pointy – make bending and sliding just that much easier. The fret job is flawless. Finish and hardware The Hipshot bridge is really comfortable, having no sharp corners, and is fully adjustable. The saddle of the low e-string is slightly shorter than the others, giving you more room to correctly intonate the string for low drop-tunings. The tuners are locking which makes changing strings a walk in the park. Needless to say that there is no slippage whatsoever and they turn nice and smoothly. The pegs are staggered and made especially for Patrick, this allows the strings to have a steeper angle off the nut than with traditional tuners, eliminating the need for string trees. The Hufschmid 'TECHTRON HPV®' nut is self-lubricating, but, although I have not changed enough strings yet, it is supposed to be extremely wear-resistant; much more than any other self-lubricating equivalents on the market. The Tru-Oil varnish gives a nice and natural hard finish, very similar to a thin lacquer. It is applied in many layers and is completely smooth. I have no doubts regarding its durability. The ebony knobs and Dunlop strap locks are nice, high-quality touches. UTILIZATION The whole ordering process was as easy and intuitive as inviting a good friend over to dinner. Patrick always replies to all messages on the next working day and many of them on the same one, if sent early enough. This sometimes made quite a few back-and-forths possible in one day. He is also very patient and happy to explain his work, details of his designs and rid you of misconceptions plaguing the guitar world. After getting some preliminary questions out of the way, many were still unanswered so we decided to give them a go over the phone. A few emails later I had paid for the guitar (although he only requires a 70% deposit) and he started going at it. Patrick kept me updated about every step, in HD and colour. This had the effect of building my anticipation like nothing else and a little less than a month later I found myself on the train to Aigle (I live in Switzerland). I didn't sleep much that night, I can tell you! Patrick was exceedingly hospitable, setting up the guitar for me, showing me around his (tiny) workshop, the town and castle. SOUNDS Electronics The Hufschmid pickups are handmade by Kent Armstrong to my specifications. The bridge pickup is nice and twangy and perfect for aggressive rock and metal tones with the controls all the way up. Roll the tone knob down a notch and you get the more classic Les Paul kind of tones, minus the muddiness. The neck pickup is pure cream but with enough output to give you equally great drive/crunch tones. It even sounds really good with high gain, a feat I haven't really seen in other pickups yet. The matching output (or more precisely the matching impedance) means that no pickup ‘overpowers’ the other in the middle position, giving a more Fendery kind of sound. No need to say that these pickups have no match in terms of clarity and dynamics. It’s like every string came out of a different speaker when you play a chord. They can go from smoky jazz to screaming rock and from smooth (or less smooth) blues to the chunkiest of metal with the flick of a switch. These are literally the most versatile pickups I have ever played, they cannot only do everything, they can do everything better than many purpose-built pickups. They also handle down tuning as if they were made for it. The wiring and copper shielding are clean and nothing short of flawless. The pickups are also very responsive to the control knobs, which is also helped by the high-quality electronics. I usually leave my controls at about eight und turn one or the other up as a boost and this works perfectly with these, there is no tone suck or other unpleasentries going on. OVERALL OPINION At this point, this review might seem a bit unbalanced. Is there anything I don’t like about my Hufschmid? The short and long answers are both no. Is this the perfect guitar? Yes and no, for me it is without a doubt. It combines all of my favourite tones with all of the playability you would ever want. It exceeded my expectations in every aspect and the funny thing is that it is actually still growing on me. Every time I play it I just love it more and more. Other people might have different tastes and preferences but it is needless to say that they will be met by Patrick no matter what they might be. And have I mentioned how stunning and unique it looks? Be sure that this is a guitar for life.

    by Cookiewookie 11/10/14
    View the review page ›
  • Hufschmid Guitars H8 Salvaged Old Growth Western Maple Top
    « Certainly the best playing and looking 8-string guitar available on the market today! »

    This high end 8 string superbly crafted combines all the familiar Hufschmid features and characteristics for quitar players who need to reach for more than the usual six strings. The old growth western big leaf maple guitar top finely crafted was salvaged from the forests of SW Oregon. The neck and body are made of premium sapelli mahogany wood. Hip shots hardware. UTILIZATION The whole instrument is incredibly light. The neck is built according to my hand shape and the 27.5’’ scale makes this guitar extremely comfortable when playing either chords or leads. SOUNDS Similarly to the 7 string from Patrick Hufschmid that I already own, everything you play will be heard. Even if the guitar is specifically designed for Jazz and metal players, I strongly recommend to push the envelope and experiment with it. For example I am tweaking it for noisy ambient soundscapes to perform my compositions for movies. Unplugged, I really appreciate its resonance, its tight and quick dynamic response and it is a delight to experience its sound quality in its purest form. Plugged, the quiet and noiseless passive pick ups from Kent Armstrong (handmade!) deliver a wide array of tones from screaming to very subtle and expressive. Each position has a very good response to volume. OVERALL OPINION The fretwork is extremely precise and the hardware retains the tuning impressively well, that is to say even when I play without locking the tuning pegs. For the last 2 years I have been constantly changing the tuning, and the guitar never transpired a sign of tiredness. As for any high quality instrument that I own, I take very good care of my H8. I give the fretboard some special oil every week or at least two times a month, and when I feel like it, I give the guitar an extra wax polish(Swiss made:-). Patrick Hufschmid's H8 salvaged old growth western maple is certainly the best playing and looking 8-string guitar available on the market today. It's an incredibly expressive and versatile instrument that was designed by an expert craftsman who understands perfectly the specific needs of today's guitarist.

    by FatV 5/26/13
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  • Hufschmid Guitars Headless
    « Hufschmid Headless: A Masterful Creation »

    (My original review had to be divided into sections for the purposes of this website, but It overall remains unaltered.) Introduction: I am one of the lucky few that can claim to be the owner of a Hufschmid Headless six string. I have had the pleasure of looking at, picking it up, and playing it whenever my schedule permits. Each encounter with this guitar is a new adventure, and that does not come as a surprise. I have little experience in writing reviews, but every once in a while I feel extremely compelled to share my thoughts. I have a lot to say, so bear with me on this journey, and I shall introduce you to my experience with the art that is a Hufschmid guitar, as well as the artist behind it. I am very pleased to have the opportunity and the privilege to do this write up. First, a quick thought about the concept of “product” versus “craft”: Today we live in an age of big companies, big brand names, and mass production. Factory-line products have become the norm. These days, the title “Hand Made” holds great meaning, especially to those who pay attention to such things. This applies to the music industry as well. Many guitars are cranked out of factories, put together by machines with pre-determined specifications and the company’s bottom line as a priority. For those who want more options there are the custom shops, which surely do a fine job and will give a paying customer exactly what the customer specifies (for better or worse). Some musicians, however, want something a little different. They want something unique, something that is truly ‘their’ instrument. They want something that is more than just the sum of its parts, something that may itself transcend the purpose for which it is used. For these individuals, there are the luthiers. Who are the luthiers? From my perspective, these are the artisans. These are the craftsmen who create those one-of-a-kind instruments that you won’t see in the catalogues or magazine ads (at least, not likely). These are the masters that have dedicated years to acquiring knowledge and honing their skills. They know their craft, and they know how to do it right. This is whom you are working with when you choose Patrick Hufschmid. He is the real deal. When you agree to work with Patrick and the process begins, there is a constant line of communication, which is crucial in an endeavor such as this. I received daily updates from Patrick with pictures and information about what approach he was taking. We would often spend long periods of time emailing back and forth about his process in general. Communication is an important quality that Patrick brings to the table, and it should not be taken for granted. The total process was fast and painless. There were no days of waiting and wondering, and no flaky miscommunications. Most importantly Patrick was very professional and available to answer my questions even though an ocean separated us. Before I knew it, the guitar was in my hands. No problems at all. Features: This is my first venture into the realm of headless guitars. I’ve always been intrigued, and I decided that this was my opportunity to really find out what headless was all about. I am now hooked, thanks to the Hufschmid Headless. There is nothing not to love about this instrument. The components are all expertly matched, and they work together with the precision of a Swiss timepiece. It looks stunning from every angle. See the pictures on the website if you need a visual. The reds of the Sapelli, and the browns and blacks of the Bastogne Walnut, make for something that I’ve never seen before in a guitar. There is something to be found on every inch of this instrument to remind me that this is real wood from real trees. The natural grain paints it’s own picture, and it is just beautiful. Traveling up the neck to where the head would normally be features a circular medallion in the back with Patrick’s “H” logo imprinted. The transition from seeing the guitar to actually feeling it is an even better experience. The guitar is remarkably light and thin, yet it feels exceptionally solid. It presents a wealth of different wood textures between the neck and the body. I’ve even found a subtle knot or two, which is a real treat for anyone that appreciates carpentry. I’ve played many different guitars over the years, but this one is the first that actually feels alive. The pickups are hand wound by Kent Armstrong. I was asked to create a profile, in writing, of the kind of sound that I wanted. I like lots of variety, so I couldn’t give much more than a vague ballpark and the specification that I hate muddy tone. That was enough to get the job done. The pickups sound great, and feature Patrick’s signature “H” logo with a wood texture as the background. The pickups include a three-way toggle switch, a volume knob, and a tone knob. These components also flow well with the color of the guitar and hardware. A tertiary wooden panel covers the electronics on the back, and the inside is neat and organized. There is a nice foil layer covering the bottom and sidewalls of the electronics compartment, respecting the inside of the guitar as well as the outside. The fret markers along the rosewood fret board are composed of Luminlay’s magical non-nuclear glowing compound (http://www.luminlay.com/indexen.htm). I could get into the science of it, but I would rather believe that it is made from the blood of dragons and the tears of unicorns. Regardless, it looks awesome. I should note that Patrick has some models on his website that feature square block inlays composed of his own magic “Hufglow” materials… Ok I give on the magic part. Luminlay and “Hufglow” are made possible by a strontium aluminate mixture, which are then combined in an autoclave with dragon’s blood and unicorn tears. True story. The bridge and nut are the latest and greatest from Hipshot. The string is fed through the retainer at the bottom of the bridge and is locked down at the top of the nut. The retainers also serve as the tuning heads. It’s a great system, and my compliments to Hipshot and Patrick for making it work. The body itself has a shape that you will not see anywhere else. The initial process featured a ‘strat’ like body, which Patrick then carved away after calculating the proper amount of wood needed to balance the guitar overall. One of my favorite features is that the top area of the body, on which my right arm falls, has an angled section at the corner that begins about half way along the edge and continues around and down to where the bottom strap button resides. This little detail allows for a very comfortable and non-intrusive resting spot for my forearm. The body also allows for optimum access to the 24 frets that are featured on the neck. The neck is bound to the body with four screws and ferrules to reinforce the already snug fit. Put simply, it’s not going anywhere. As a cherry on top of the dessert, Patrick included Dunlop straplocks already fitted onto the body, so my straps were ready to play right out of the box. Also included was the Allen wrench for the nut, and a flashlight designed to light up the magic fret markers (DO NOT accidentally shine this in your eyes, it hurts). UTILIZATION Ease of use: I heard that there was supposed to be a learning curve with headless guitars. This is not the case here, as I found the Hufschmid headless to be very inviting and easy to play. It’s a whole new experience. You can do all the things that you normally do on a guitar, but the instrument is much more size-effective. The guitar is light, mobile, and comfortable. All you have to do is play it. The nut from Hipshot is a new model, and it functions to lockdown the strings that are fed through by using an Allen wrench. There is no friction or slippage from winding the string around a post. The whole mechanism has been excellent so far, and the strings stay in tune better than any traditional guitar that I’ve used. Tuning up and down is also fast and precise. The input jack is discretely placed just below the bridge along the wall of the body. It is a perfectly logical spot, and is easily accessed. Playing the guitar itself is a joy. It’s awesome to know that the neck was made with my hand in mind. I scanned a tracing of my left hand and sent it to Patrick early in the process so that he could get a better feel for what kind of neck would be optimal for me. As you probably guessed, the neck feels great. Maintenance is also a cakewalk. I went to my local Target and purchased a bottle of Pledge Revitalizing Oil spray. I applied a couple of sprays onto a clean sock and spread the solution in an even, thin layer across the wood. The guitar looked stunning out of the box despite its trip across the ocean. After applying this wood oil it looked even more so. The Pledge, which can be found at http://www.pledge.com/en-US/Products/Pages/revitalizing-oil.aspx, was easy to use and worked like a charm. A little bit goes a long way on this guitar, and is should be done frequently. Reliability: A few seconds was enough to know. This guitar is solid. The Sapelli mahogany is the strongest that one can get, and you know it when you’re gripping the neck tightly for a strong bend. The Bastogne walnut top feels equally solid. If I were back in the days of my ancestors, the Vikings, I would charge into battle with a shield made of this guitar (a sword would probably be a good idea too). The Hipshot bridge and nut combination have been phenomenal in keeping the strings in tune and in place. I don’t break strings very often, but I can’t imagine that I will develop a bad habit using this guitar. It’s also nice because the bridge and nut are made of solid pieces that will stay put and not ‘un-adjust’ themselves like happens with certain other bridge/nut combinations. The electronics are also well put together, and there is no excess noise heard through the speakers at loud volumes. SOUNDS Sound quality: There’s no other way to say it, this is the best sounding guitar that I’ve ever heard. It’s quite astounding how Patrick has formulated a way to keep the guitar so compact and light, while giving it more sustain. TONS of sustain, that is. This guitar is about half the thickness of my Gibson Les Paul, and yet it sounds as big if not bigger. I play through a Kemper Profiling Amp, out of a pair of QSC K Series speakers. It is a pretty basic setup, but the tones are outstanding. The Hufschmid sounds incredible with gain. The resonance is huge. It has sharpness, clarity, and most importantly it does not fall victim to ‘muddy’ tone (my archenemy). The pickup switching is smooth and balanced, allowing for subtle dynamic changes on the fly. One of my favorite things to do so far is switch to the neck pickup with a clean chorus and dial back the ‘tone’ knob. This creates a very laid-back acoustic guitar sound, the likes of which I have not heard with other guitars. The reason that this can be done is that the neck pickup specifically is a Jazz pickup on steroids. Both pickups actually lose zero sound quality when the ‘tone’ knob is adjusted. So, when you dial down the ‘tone’ there is not so much a decrease in tone, but more of a lateral change in tone. It is a significant feature, and I have been working it into my playing. There is no limit to the styles with which this guitar can be used, whether you’re playing Brutalz m/, or smooth jazz. It is a compact package that has more tone than guitars that are twice the size. OVERALL OPINION Overall summary and opinion of this product: Overall, this instrument is amazing, and it is more than just a “product.” It is living, breathing work of art, and I freakin’ love it. Anyone who has held or played a Hufschmid guitar can attest to this. The components are top of the line. It sounds better than anything. It plays better than anything. It is generally something incredible to behold. Playing this guitar reminds me that I am an insignificant part of something much bigger, because the art and the artist have such an outstanding regard for the creative process. This guitar tells a story: The seed that made the tree, the trees that bore the wood, the luthier who made the guitar, and the player who can’t get enough of it (and is currently failing at one arpeggio exercise after another :D ) Every musician should love his or her instrument. Our instruments are the tools with which we express ourselves. At times things go in reverse, and the instrument expresses itself through the musician. It really is a unique relationship. This guitar has taken that relationship to more awesome heights for me. If it were stolen, I would promptly pay Patrick to build me another one, and I would use the new one to savagely beat the person who stole the old one. This guitar is my baby now. “I think that you will really enjoy the instrument as much as I enjoyed building it!” -Patrick Hufschmid, from an email correspondence. Words such as these are rare today, but more than rare they are significant. They are the words of an artisan who loves the work that he or she does. They come from a passion that fueled the world of the arts from the beginning, and must continue to power the arts into the future. I celebrate Patrick Hufschmid as one of these artisans. Patrick and his creations absolutely deserve our attention. Excellent work, Mr. Hufschmid. I hope to find myself in Switzerland someday so that we may break bread and raise glasses. Cheers!

    by Peter_Fedyshin 5/1/13
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  • Hufschmid Guitars H6 Lefty
    « Simply The Best Guitar Ever! »

    Hufschmid H6 Left Handed Tele style! -Salvaged Bastogne Walnut Top -Premium and 'Rift-Sawn' one piece Sapelli Mahogany neck -Premium and 'Rift-Sawn' one piece Sapelli Mahogany body -Indian Rosewood fingerboard, 25.5'' scale, 24 frets, 12'' radius -Custom built Kent Armstrong 12 poles by Kent Armstrong himself -Luminlay photo-luminescent side dots -Hipshot tuning machines and bridge -West African Ebony control buttons -Excusive Techtron HPV® nut -Tru-Oil finish 15 coats UTILIZATION This is the most amazing instrument I have ever played! I have owned just about every brand of guitar made that is available left handed. I have always been looking for that one guitar that just fit and not having to hear you'll get use to it. I ran across Patrick Hufschmids brand by accident and was quite intrigued. After months of conversations with Patrick and him agreeing to make a lefty for me the process began. I could only go by what I read and saw on the internet due to the fact that he is located in Switzerland. After a couple months of waiting I received a guitar that oozed quality and feel. I have never had a guitar melt in my hands upon first picking it up and this one did. No plastic pieces on this gem. I have never felt like a guitar just fit until now. I have nothing negative to say about it. SOUNDS I run through a British Made Gibson Super Goldtone 30 watt Tube Amp dual channel switchable I'm using a TC Electronics G-System with a TC Nova Drive and 2 expression pedals As far as sound I can produce just about any style you want to create. Settings? You could spend all day listing this stuff......... As far as suiting a style of music, I have not found it's limitations....... OVERALL OPINION The thing I really liked was that the neck and body both came from the same Mahogany Rift-Sawn board and both are one piece not glued pieces to make a body or neck. Most neck and bodies don't even come from the same forest. I was asked for a hand trace so he could create a neck radius to suit the size of my hand. Call up any of the Brand names and see what they think, NOT! The fact that Patrick hand makes these is amazing. No production line here waiting for the noon whistle. Simply put, the Best Guitar I've ever owned or played and I've had about all of them...... I have nothing negative to say about this guitar. The feel, the looks, everything is quality with no shortcuts. I've read a few things where people have stated they can spend less and get a better guitar and I'm thinking they are the type that the free guitar strap and window sticker is the sell point. Sure your going to spend a little more then if you walked into your 50% off sale at the local mass produced big money guitar store, but a better quality, better playing, better sounding!? Not even close! I would not hesitate to purchase another Hufschmid guitar if I was looking for another Great guitar or if something happened to mine. Jam On and I Thank You Patrick Hufschmid Guitars.....

    by GRAH 4/9/13
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