Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar 

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

I purchased this guitar two months ago and now am having some issues: the trapeze tailpiece has warped and pulled the strap bolt out of the wood. I did purchase a "repair" warranty, but unfortunately I have to deal with Hagstrom and not MF. The quality control on this--and probably other MIC Hagstroms--is weak at best. The product support is nonexistent. I called them and received a message that said they were on holiday, and good bye. Email to the Hagstrom USA website yielded zero response.If you are still inclined to take the risk, PURCHASE A FULL REPLACEMENT WARRANTY. Hopefully you will get lucky and receive a decently constructed axe. I was not so fortunate and am now out a total of $1100 minus whatever I might recover on a resale.

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

Recent production Hagstrom, made in (China) 22 frets, 24 3/4 scale, 1 5/8" width at the nut. 16 1/2 " bout. Max body depth is 3 1/2". One volume and one tone button, on the pickguard. Single humbucking neck-mounted (floating) pickup. Laminated construction, inexpensive gold art-deco style non-locking keys. Factory installed gold strap buttons. The fingerboard is a resin-composite, looks like ebony. Features the famous Hagstrom shaped-beam neck reinforcement. This neck is a big plus to this instrument. It feels a lot like an epiphone dot I own, so it's rather thin, but not flat in any way. Exactly the right proportion. Quite fast playable.Acoustically this guitar sucks. It sounds thin and soft, exactly as loud as my dot, which is a thinline, but......amplified this guitar starts to sing. The braced top and back seem responsable for the thin acoustic sound. But on the other hand, they also seem responsable for the nice sustainy tone. A tone I have been looking for. For a while.I did own a Hfner New President, but i recently sold it as it was the opposite to this guitar: loud acoustic sound, no sustain and a bulky long scale neck. Looking for a nice sound, not too boomy, I tried a Peerless Monarch. Nice. But the neck was too thick. The Hagstrm has a sound just a tiny bit thinner than the Monarch (which has the same bracing by the way), but with a much easier neck. Every single note played has a nice ?popping? attack. Sweet. Funny thing is, when amplified, the Hagstrm sounds much more acoustic than the Hfner or the Monarch. I really like the pickup of this guitar.Setup:The nut is quite square and sharp and the frets are not leveled nor polished. It's so bad, that the 13th fret makes a dead tone. Ouch. So in a few weeks, when the guitar is used to the more humid conditions of the Netherlands ( bought it in New York) it will be completely reviewed and setup by Patrick Koopman (guitar builder and guitar tech of Steve Vai)I sold the Hfner, got this Hagstrm cheap on Ebay, and kept 1200 euros in my pocket. I received this guitar on Tuesday, now it's Saturday and I haven't put it away since. Not bad for an all-laminated, China made Hagstrm re-issue. Bottom line: no matter how expensive, no matter how well made, no matter what exquisite materials used, a guitar has to breath and inspire you, invite you to play. Even if it were made out of a cardboard box.

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

Watching my playing style change, I needed something that supported runs and chords up the neck that had the feel of a good electric but still maintained an acoustic presence. Did a lot of research. This instrument for the money had the greatest features without being more than what I needed.The instrument played well right out of the box.However, there were some inconsistencies across the strings. I had a professional set-up done. Sanded some frets, re-contoured the bridge, shimmed the tailpiece, readjustment of action, and screws for pickups. This cost $75 dollars but placed the instrument into the next level of playing. I am pretty happy with my Hag. Providing a case would be a nice feature considering the going price.

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

I've been playing guitar for over 10 years - I've used Ibanez, Gibson SG and a Fender Strat. I wasn't even looking to replace the strat when i discovered this in the local music store - extremely playable and feels like an extension to my arm when i'm playing.I actually play blues and some classic rock aswell as jazz but this copes brilliantly with all these genres. Suppose is almost a crime to put abit of drive through such a guitar but sustain and general soloing sounds great.

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

I've played guitar for 42 years now and have many kinds of guitars. This guitar for the money is one of the best guitars I have. And better than most that cost alot more. If your looking for a guitar that sounds great and plays great,try this one.

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

I'd been looking for a nice semi-acoustic jazz guitar for about 5 years and had played quite a lot of instruments around the price mark (epiphone, Ibanez, yamaha, tanglewood) and I've got to say that the Hagstrom blows them all out of the water in terms of playability and is the only guitar that I'd even considered buying. The guitar's got a really skinny neck (I know some people probably don't like this, but it's what I was looking for) and after I set it up properly the action is super low. As far as I can see the build quality, hardware and finish is also spot on. The sound is pretty much exactly what I was looking for too, really warm and jazzy, also quite acoustic. I don't understand a couple of negative reviews that I've read about this guitar, there are better jazz guitars out there but not without spending another 300 or so. The only thing I can think of there is that Hagstroms are manufactured in China now and I've heard that the instruments produced can sometimes vary in quality. I'm glad that I've got a good one and I'm looking forward to playing this guitar at gigs in the near future...

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

I am 56 and had about 40 guitars. I worked many years as a music teacher for schools. I consider my Hag a very good guitar for the price. I got back to electric guitars only recently. I have spent more time playing classical guitar in my life. For someone who played on nylon stings for long, the HL-550 is an excellent guitar to get used to the steel strings. The neck is comfortable and wide enough for a classical player. Since the bridge is adjustable, you can set it just right. With flatwound strings you can get a fine acoustic sound if you play without an amp. The floating pickup works good but you don't get many colours from the bass and treble control. I think it's a good first jazz guitar.

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

What hits you straight away is the playability of the guitar, instead of the usual 11's {Ist string guage] it feels like you are playing 9's or 10's -remarkable! It's so 'twangy' you can't believe it. Play it unamplified and it's an excellent acoustic, amplify it and be suprised at it's clarity. I've had mine two days and am very impressed. I burnt a cd recording on a boss studio recorder and the cd is very sweet indeed. I have a strat custom and a les paul custom, these are hand-made guitars so I have owned the best [including a nightmarishly heavy Gibson Chet Atkins country Gent] and I would sincerely say that I will definitely be using the Hagstrom along with these. How does it look, and feel, in a nutshell? Well, first of all the finish is absolutely flawless; a very attractive headstock; the very fast slim neck is enhanced by pearl [or perloid?] fret markers that have been laid out precisely to the thou', if a player is used to a strat or similar this will seem cumbersome and chunky - but the price to pay for less comfort is of course a much different acoustic sound, and that's another difference, it is a unique creation: very light good action, acoustic, yet still turning out a 'jazz' sound. The only thing I would have changed would be the switches, I would have preferred aluminium, therefore I scored 4.0 for features, nit-picking really. As I believe Chinese and Korean guitars can be variable then perhaps I got a lucky one or, better still, they are all manufactured to the same standard? I have heard that these chinese made hagstroms are 'proto-types' and that the Swedish Hagstrom family will go back to manufacturing for the more 'discerning' Guitarist..... -I believe that this is an excellent opportunity to purchase a very playable guitar at very fair price.

Comments about Hagstrom Jazz Model Hl-550 Hollowbody Electric Guitar:

Jazz Model HL 550 Save your money. I won't even give this toy the privledge of being called a musical instrument. The individuals responsible for making this thing really should be ashamed of themselves.But, If you choose to buy one anyway, you may want to pray that real glue will be used on the tail- piece decoration and that your stings are at least a good make if not brand new.