Hanika 58 PF-NAT

This is a guitar made from a German violin family. Having contacted their technical service to ask a question about maintenance of the instrument, a family member who Hanika me just answer the next day!

This is not a classical guitar preamp with solid spruce (spruce top), back and sides solid indian rosewood, Spanish cedar neck with a line of ebony, ebony fingerboard, head covered by Indian Rosewood with inlays. Bone nut and bridge. The tuners are gold, open, and beautifully engraved. The rose is made of Indian rosewood inlay, a very sober indeed.

Its general shape is classic, no "cut", with the body starting at the 12th fret.

The instrument's finish is not painted, but waxed, which gives the wood a more natural texture, pleasant and attractive, and probably less choking sounds.

This finish is probably a little more fragile, although this special wax is resistant to wetting light and short, recommended to clean it if necessary with a soft micro-fiber. It goes without saying that this is no exaggeration avbec water, either in quantity or duration.

Therefore, when I play with the forearm discovered, I wear a piece of fabric cuff just below the elbow of right arm, especially when it's warm enough, so that my sweating is not likely to attack wax.

Moisture recommended to play this guitar and for storing between 45 and 55%.

It comes in a case upscale Hiscock Lifetime Pro II with the name HANIKA molding, and containing in addition to the instrument, a bridge replacement higher than the one installed, a small cloth special micro-fiber, and a manual maintenance ... German.


UTILIZATION

The race was the second revelation (the first is described later)! I took it in hand, I started playing, and I realized that my game was more comfortable than any other classical guitar played before! Less effort to provide as ideal placement of the left hand.

So it's maybe just a special effect related to the size of my hand, but in any case, it was really a glaring effect, unexpected, and welcome!

The strings are Savarez carbon provided hybrid bass and treble Medium Heavy, ARJ reference 500.

The guitar comes (at least for me), well regulated as in movement and intonation. It is also facille to play this.

The tuning is done of course without any problems. The lifts are lightweight, easy to operate, but hold out their setting.

The handle, polished like the rest of the guitar, fits easily in hand, better than a painted surface in fact.

The ebony fingerboard also makes the game of course, by its hardness.


SOUNDS

The sound was the first revelation, of course, already heard on various recordings on the right and left on the internet. I have not had a chance to try it for myself, not having the opportunity to go to a music store large enough to allow such a test!

I knew perfectly well what I wanted: spruce top for accuracy. Solid rosewood body, Indian or South American. Ebony fingerboard. And possibly waxed to the natural wood tones and look wonderful.

And this guitar met all these expectations perfectly, for a price that fell within my budget. Certainly, there is also his older brother, the 60PF-NAT, but it is sold almost 900 euros more!

The sound is exactly what I expected, and which had attracted me in listening to recordings. The projection is exemplary, the notes perfectly déninies, the balance between bass and treble is excellent. The sound of the bass is typical of the brand Hanika, offering a very good overall balance. The treble is very clear.

I intend to try also Savarez strings while "Heavy" (AJ 500) to see if it brings something standpoint sounds, or if it is less convincing for ease of play a little less ...


I play a bit of everything, especially my own compositions, in very different styles, ranging from classical to finger-picking through a few bossa nova, etc..

Of course, I also play the finger-picking on my electro-acoustic folk, but I also like to do on a classical guitar. In this case, the accuracy of spruce promotes clarity of picking.

Well, it's as hot as the sound of my 24 Lorca Spanish with solid cedar top! And this is precisely two types of its complementary: the Spanish sounds deep, warm but a bit "messy" and less clear on the side of the treble, and the German sounds clear, precise, but a little "cold".

In fact, I prefer much more play on the German, since I got it!


OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a month. I have owned and still has other classical guitars, and I've tried or heard quite a few others. The Hanika is my favorite. I can say that I finally found "MY" guitar!

What I like most is its sound and its playability But frankly, its looks wax is a "massacre" too! I sometimes go out of its holster just to hold it in hand!

I love ...

Due to its manufacturing quality, specification copies, comfort, beauty, and its sounds, I can only judge the quality / price ratio very good for the price I paid new, below the MSRP. But even the PPC, this is not theft!

I would do certainly this choice if necessary, or, with a bigger budget, I would take her big sister the 60PF-NAT. But I'm not sure that the quality differences and justify the price difference of 900 euros between the two models. So in this case, I should be able to try the 60 in person before I decide ...

In any event, for those seeking a classical guitar "spruce" high quality for less than € 1,500.00, the Hanika 58PF-NAT is a master-purchase, in my opinion.