Hagstrom Deluxe-F

I'm a 16yr player who's been around in a couple of bands here and there. I mostly play blues and jazz but once in a while I like to shred a couple of metal licks...

I bought this baby at Musique Max in Rosemere,Qc 'cause the store owner,Mark and also a good friend of mine talked me into trying this axe. And as you've noticed, I bought it! Very cool place, a good service and he doesn't sell you what you don't need.

First thing that pops out is the beautiful flame top: just georgous! The action is just perfect and the playability is awesome! Just about everthing is to love about it. The resinator fretboard has a great feeling and the string bending is very easy and smooth.

Two minor and I mean very minor: I changed the knobs for ''tele'' type knurled chrome ones because the originals looked like the ones that my father had on his old '71 grundig radio. The second one involves sound: not that the pickups are bad oh no! quite the contrary, it's just that they could've added a coil tap switch (four wire pickups always should have coil taps the add a bit of flavor).Aside those two minor imperfections, in my opinion, is ok.

Very very sturdy, solid and well made! The H expander truss rod is the most innovative thing a guitar neck should have. Seems to withstand just about anything: humidity, temperature variations and soforth. Aestheticaly, everything is in it's rightful place except maybe the wierd ''tune-o-matic'' bridge wich seems to make the guitar ''smile'' lol.

Bottom line is, if you ever come across one and your in to getting a set neck guitar but don't have the dough to buy a LP, just buy this one and you won't be disapointed, if so, just kick in a pair of Duncans and you'll still have some cash left ( it even comes with the HSC!) Very good bang for the buck!!!!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Fabirc Chinese, as most models Hagstrom "new generation" (restart of the brand, including older models prior to 83 entered the legend, with some models out of the ordinary from what I saw )
Features: (copy / paste from the official website)

[body] 40mm Mahogany Body with Hollowed Bass Side, 10mm Carved Maple Top, Flamed Maple Veneer optional
[neck] Set Mahogany Neck
[fingerboard] Fretboard with Hagstrom 6mm Resinator Dot Position Marks
[truss Rod] H-Expander Truss Rod
[tuning Keys] Hagstrom 18:1 Die Cast Tuners
[scale Length] 24.75 "Scale
[pickups] 2x Hagstrom Custom 60 Humbuckers
[pickup Selector] 3-Way Toggle
[bridge] Long Travel Tune-O-Matic with Hagstrom Trapeze Tail Piece
[controls] 1x Volume / 1x Tone / Mini-Toggle Coil Tap Switch

I really like this guitar, so I can change my opinion over time and now after several months of use, I much worn out (no, it is an expression in fact, I just want to say that I really really spent many hours on it), so in retrospect:

My +: a mix of modern characters (résinne handle, split scwitch microphone, etc. ..) and vintage (floating bridge) instead of good quality. I really like the originality of the whole, without being overbearing. Of course for the purists of the brand (see models in the first Hagstrom life) it's soft, but the time has changed.

I -: only two finishes are available in France, amber and gold sparkle sunburst, which also the photo on the site is not very faithful to reality, we must instead go to the "artists" in order to judge . Well, it says amber sunburst finish is very good, really miuex on the photo. The other colors are not offered by the distributor in France, too bad. Benchmarks type abalone nacre or have been in good taste with the overall look of the guitar (simple personal opinion). Finally, hearing in f is very poorly finished, with just sanded properly, just painted on the edges, not high art, even if the rest of the finish is very successful!

To see: the micro split creates a significant drop in output level. Either we find it convenient to switch between live rhythm and solos (as long as you take this into account balance) or not ... As for me, I am one of those it suits, a rhythmic micro split, hop, a solo on the horizon, a small movement of the right index finger, it sends the sauce. Caution hearing in f might suggest to a guitar-like semi-hollow-body or under "Thinline", on the side of the low, in fact the box is empty on a depth of about 13 mm to a total depth cash of just over 40 mm, and about 1 / 3 of the surface, it is not so sure it affects the overall tone.

In short, everything is perfect except the finish of hearing (-2)

UTILIZATION

The handle is really good for once. It slips, was late, it's a confusing gameplay, a fun game, good ideas in this race that runs alongside a ... abomination of nut, whose corners are sharp pain quickly if you play on the first boxes! It's not the end of the world, but the nut is to be changed as soon as possible in my opinion! (What's this nut! This is the first time I see it, sorry to get carried away!).
Otherwise, access to acute type Les Paul, and relatively light weight but not the light weight. Note, a notch at the hip to the back of the guitar.

Addendum: on the nut, I finally sanded the corner slightly too prominent in question (it's not too much risk, with minimal attention, provided they do not sand with the handle!), And everything is back in order. With the handle it is the most playable and enjoyable as I've never tried. If all the guitars of the brand have the same run I think I can say that I may remain faithful to the day Hagstrom guitar I would change! And without laughing, so it's a pleasure!

SOUNDS

The best on this guitar is there is the sound. It is both versatile with the switch to split (as long as it adapts to the difference in volume), and very good. The humbuckers do not splitted not drool, it's accurate, and we move with all configurations micro, jazz, blues, ryhtm'n blues, funk, most varieties of rock and pop music exists in Anyway for all that utlise a clear or crunchy. I gauged the sound mainly in its "pure" in a console, and a keyboard amp, no particular coloration of the sound, and did some tests with a slight overdrive from a pedal cheap. I will not comment against by the use of distortion with this guitar, I do not know, and am unable to judge.
In any case, that sometimes need a certain variety of sounds without changing instruments or falling into imitation is the happiness on that side. Note: the microphone split will not give the perfect sound strat course, but all sounds are good and adapt to (almost) everything, so that you ask for!

Addendum: After climbing ropes net flat, we get a very good jazz its type, the microphones with non splitted very well, not splitted as well (not to sound compared with a strat rather type P-90 to I was told, at least really really nice). I took the opportunity to finally change the lights of my old JTM 30, and there is pure bliss! Blues, jazz grooves

OVERALL OPINION

I use it recently, the guitar is not perfect, by the way are you it? However, the value is excellent, as many Asian manufacturing guitars (which have a monopoly in this price range), which have made tremendous progress for some time, but overall this guitar is good, I think very well placed on a mid-range market, where competition is tough! The sound is there, and a good twist and well thought out modern elements specific to the brand apart from other models of the same range, relatively standardized.

Addendum: I actually started to be packed as the days of use. Now, in retrospect, if I would do this choice, and yes. If I look at the price it cost me when I was ready to explode my piggy bank ...

View my collgue!!
Ms. view at the small opening (but if Zolie comma) finish leaves DSIR, same for the nut that I find cutting (I will also follow the advice of the sand and collgue grement)

UTILIZATION

Well like what?!
I was really surprised, the guitar is not lgre lgre but I have known worse, the ergonomics are excellent.
Some worry inhrent the "les paul style" as a CASC to limit acute and ergonomic micro / split ...

SOUNDS

Excellent?
Without trying I would have pointed to the style "vintage" t certainly would have the biggest mistake of my life!!
God that this guitar is versatile!!
Sound fat and warm double clear once split.
It's simple, it can pass for almost any style, large metal (yes men) to jazz tatasse.
There are certainly more typs but rarely go anywhere as to move from one style aisment another.

OVERALL OPINION

1 year of use all right.
Apart from the two exhibitions in trifles CHARACTERISTICS I really have nothing to reproach him.
Vritable a surprise, I also would be happy to try other models of the brand.
On other models? I have an Apex, a Hamer Slammer series, an Ibanez Roadstar. I provide a Cort EVL K6, an Epiphone Special. I played a bunch of Ibanez, Yamaha, BC Rich, Fender, and so on of the best.
One thing is on, I have rarely found as guitar goes everywhere.
For the price the quality is excellent.
If I had to redo this choice? without hsiter!!