Hagstrom HJ500? Updated.

[Sir Frog]

I recently fell in love when I got to handle it.. Surprisingly affordable too.
Im in the market for a Hollow body Jazz guitar and I can't afford a ES335.



There is sound clips in different pickup positions and an overall cool website 
http://www.hagstromguitars.com/hj.html#

Anyone have any stories or expierences with these Guitars?

Thanks!!

[rickenmetal]

Horror stories about Epiphone hollow bodies? They used to have a budget Chet Atkins Country Gentleman with one volume and one tone, which they discontinued. They had a Les Paul Signature, which they discontinued.

I tried the Dot and the Riviera, didn't seem too good. The Dot Studio a little better, the Sheraton is probably the best, it has a maple neck. I don't own any Epiphones  and never have.

[Sir Frog]

Horror stories about Epiphone hollow bodies? They used to have a budget Chet Atkins Country Gentleman with one volume and one tone, which they discontinued. They had a Les Paul Signature, which they discontinued.

I tried the Dot and the Riviera, didn't seem too good. The Dot Studio a little better, the Sheraton is probably the best, it has a maple neck. I don't own any Epiphones  and never have.

Heh, I meant any stories about the Hagstrom HJ500 Jazz Guitar? The Sheraton II looks very nice!
What I was saying about Epiphone was, Ive had a few solid bodies Epiphones and all I can do is praise
them, very nice for the money.

Considering the Hagstrom for to my Jazz exploits.

[d-rock]

This new generation of Hagstroms seem to be amazing values. I just can't get my hands on one to try out. The GC and Sam Ash close to me don't stock anything but the million different incarnations of strats, teles and dots.

The Viking (335 clone) goes for less than $500 through MF but that HJ500 looks so cool.

[djetz]

I have a recent Viking, cost me something like $340 US and is a frikkin' excellent guitar.

In the same price range, maybe even slightly cheaper, the Ibanez Artcore series are also really nice. I want one. Some Artcore models are actually fully-hollow, not semi-solid 335 type guitars, so they're a bit closer to Gretsches or "real" archtop jazz boxes.

Is the Hagstrom HJ500 fully-hollow (looks that way from the design) or semi solid? There's a fair bit of difference between the two varieties. Semis are a bit more "rock" and hollow bodies are a bit more refined, more of a jazz/country/rockabilly sort of thing. Semis are usually slimline and hollows are usually full thickness, but there are exceptions so it's best to make sure.

For instance, the Gibson ES330 and Epiphone Casino are slimline hollowbodies, very different to 335-type slimline semis, even though they look almost exactly the same from the outside. The AFS range of Ibanez Artcores are also slimline hollowbodies. Hollowbodies are a lot more prone to feedback.

EDIT: Both Ibanez and Hagstrom have (very similar) generic humbuckers, not bad but kind of bland. Upgrading them definitely enhances things.

[Sir Frog]

I have a recent Viking, cost me something like $340 US and is a frikkin' excellent guitar.

In the same price range, maybe even slightly cheaper, the Ibanez Artcore series are also really nice. I want one. Some Artcore models are actually fully-hollow, not semi-solid 335 type guitars, so they're a bit closer to Gretsches or "real" archtop jazz boxes.

Is the Hagstrom HJ500 fully-hollow (looks that way from the design) or semi solid? There's a fair bit of difference between the two varieties. Semis are a bit more "rock" and hollow bodies are a bit more refined, more of a jazz/country/rockabilly sort of thing. Semis are usually slimline and hollows are usually full thickness, but there are exceptions so it's best to make sure.

For instance, the Gibson ES330 and Epiphone Casino are slimline hollowbodies, very different to 335-type slimline semis, even though they look almost exactly the same from the outside. The AFS range of Ibanez Artcores are also slimline hollowbodies. Hollowbodies are a lot more prone to feedback.

EDIT: Both Ibanez and Hagstrom have (very similar) generic humbuckers, not bad but kind of bland. Upgrading them definitely enhances things.

Ive heard great things from the Viking, no doubt about that! The HJ500/600 are fully hollow bodied.

I like and have played the Gibson ES335 and I feel I could get away with Jazz/Rock and anything in between
with it.. except the price tag. I wasn't entirely sold on a Jazz box, but I feel this is the direction I would like
to go. I have played and considered the Artcore Ibanez.. but Hagstrom has something going on with the HJ.

My Jazzmaster is my primary, but ..when I venture off in to Jazz improv land Id like the tone of a hollow body.
$300-400 bucks is an awesome price tag for the tone you can squeeze out of those peices of wood.

Viking seems more popular, and I feel alittle better knowing the HJ500/600 is no different other than
made for the Jazz guy in mind. I really dig the HL series Hagstrom, specifically built for Jazz in mind.
But, with limited finish selections and the bigger price tag, Id be better off with the HJ.

Thanks for the info so far! Keep it coming.. anyone record any tracks with this Guitar?

[ginnungagap]

I have a HJ500 with a glossy burgundy finish and for the price I paid ($390 with a case and an Electro-Harmonix ocatve mulitplexer thrown in) it's pretty friggin' cool.  I haven't recorded anything with it but it looks great and plays easy, the pickups might not be out of this world but they're decent.  I was hoping to find one of the satin finish HJ500's but happened across the one I bought- anybody see the satin finish in person?- does it look as good in person?

[Sir Frog]

I have a HJ500 with a glossy burgundy finish and for the price I paid ($390 with a case and an Electro-Harmonix ocatve mulitplexer thrown in) it's pretty friggin' cool.  I haven't recorded anything with it but it looks great and plays easy, the pickups might not be out of this world but they're decent.  I was hoping to find one of the satin finish HJ500's but happened across the one I bought- anybody see the satin finish in person?- does it look as good in person?

Thanks for the input guys, Im sold on these and will probably pruchase one in the very near future.
Im going with the satin finish unless Im persuaded otherwise.. So, when I grab it.. Ill post up pictures.

Thanks guys, anyone else with any reviews don't be shy!

[TheodorJ]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I recommend Edwards. It's a divison of ESP and they make very nice Gibson copies. They use quality woods, Gotoh hardware and Seymour Duncan pickups. I have a red 335 copy myself.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Edwards-ESP-335-TSB ... dZViewItem
It's like this one, but as I said, in red. The seller (mijsixstringkatana) is also excellent to deal with. I bought my MIJ Jazzmaster from him.

[Sir Frog]

Thanks a ton TheodorJ.. that got my attention!

[TheodorJ]

Sure, no problem. I can take some pics of mine if you want to see it...

[Sir Frog]

Sure, no problem. I can take some pics of mine if you want to see it...

That would be wonderful, but ..at your leisure of course 

[1946dodge]

Edwards is very nice, but i thought you wanted to spend like 350?
The Edwards in the link is 1050. A little more and you can get a Gibson 335

[Sir Frog]

Edwards is very nice, but i thought you wanted to spend like 350?
The Edwards in the link is 1050. A little more and you can get a Gibson 335

Holy moly! Great point... I didn't even bother to look at the price on the Ebay link!

Still post 'em up!

[TheodorJ]

I think it would be worth it in the long run. Newer Hagstrøms aren't really top notch in quality. The best bang for the buck guitars are Yamaha. Zero mojo though. But that's not important.