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From: rotren
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  • Sir nice video, I have a question... I am thinking about buy this guitar or a Gresch G5122! Can you tell me the most importants differences? And what guitar will you take and why?

  • this guitar is so beautiful. and so versatile. i've seen hardcore bands with guitarists that play this guitar.

  • Robert, I swear you could string up a turd and put most all of us to shame with your skill's !!!!

    This will be my next guitar!

  • It'll even get smooth enough to give you a nice warm Jody Fisher-esque sound which I love. This one's a must have. I'd put mine up against any Gibson any day and I know that's a big claim. I own several Gibsons and love them so don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on Gibson. This guitar is simply awesome and keeps up with guitar costing literally 4 and 5 times the price.

  • I gotta say, I really love this guitar. It's really capable of doing anything you want it to do (as semi-hollow body guitars go) and it's built impeccably! It's very easy to dial up everything from a much beloved Larry Carlton tone, all the way to a nice big crunch if that's what you want. I've heard a lot about how narrow this guitars nut is. I've played classical for quite a while so I'm used to a pretty wide nut when using my finger and I have no problem playing fingerstyle jazz pieces on it.

  • I play a Guild acoustic 6 string. I want to know about the neck in comparison. Thanks for your review.

  • Yeah, rolling back on that tone knob is freakin' sweet. I'm dying to get my hands on one of those Marshall JVM410H's as well.I'm looking for something as diverse as that.

  • Incidentally, is there any chance you could do a video showing how this guitar copes with a more hard rock style? I know that semi-hollows can feed back at really high gain, but it'd be interesting to hear how it does.

  • @paulb34 Yeah, this guitar will do well with a hard rock style. I played Vicarious by Tool on it for a performance and it worked pretty well. I would recommend a pickup change, just to make it a little more clear. Possibly with some gibson 58s, but I'm a tone seeker, so it might be just me.

  • @seekanddestroy001 Yeah, I ended up buying one, but I'm still kinda torn on whether to keep it or not (14 day returns on online orders is a pretty sweet luxury). Open chords just seem kinda sloppy on it, is that the kind of thing you were referring to concerning the pickups? Also the neck actually isn't as slim or fast as either my (admittedly in dire need of a trip to a luthier) Burns Brian May or an old Jackson I used to own. That said, the clean tone for lead is great. Such a tough decision.

  • Well, after you answered my question on here a few weeks ago I've finally got the money together and ordered a Viking in Tobacco Sunburst. Re-watching your video just confirms that I've done the right thing. The guitar looks and sounds gorgeous, and although a lot of the latter is down to your playing (I'm nowhere near that skill level yet :D) it gives me something to aim for. Thanks again.

  • I've played the guitar and bass for 7 years now, and i really want one of these. But my dad, who has played the guitar for almost 40 years, says this guitar is really hard to play, because of the big body of the guitar. Although he's only tried a Gibson semi-acoustic, he reckons it goes for this too. How do you feel about it? Is it easy and comfortable to play on?

  • @OzzyAwzm It is very easy to play, I must say. Perhaps if you are 10-12 years old, it might seem big. No problem for a grown person.

  • @rotren what about a 16 year old :) like me

  • Are all Hagstrom guitars made in China. Are there any that are authentic, or made in Sweden?

  • @smell453 No Hagstroms are made in Sweden anymore. However, just because guitars are made in China does not mean they are not good.

  • I've pretty much made up my mind to get one of these after seeing this and a couple of other reviews. I do have one question though, if you would do me the honour. I've heard some bad things about trapeze tailpieces - that they buzz, that you have to be really careful when resting your hand on the bridge or you'll pull the strings sharp, etc. Have you found any of these things to be issues on the Viking?

  • @paulb34 Not at all. For my style of playing, it stays in tune great and no buzz for me.

  • @rotren Wow, I posted that mere seconds ago, thanks for the quick reply!

    Well, it sounds like I'm in trouble then, because the bank aren't going to like me spending the £430 I'll be shelling out on a Viking :D I think I'm sold on the sunburst too - it just looks much more classy (in my personal opinion of course) than the white or red (plus that sunburst reminds me of my first guitar, so it has the nostalgia factor).

  • Sounds nice, and your playing is very tasty. I have a Hagstrom "Jimmy" made in 1977 and designed by James D'Aquisto, the late, great New York archtop builder. I replaced the single Hagstrom humbucker with an old single-coil Hofner pickup. I string it with flatwounds and use it for jazz. It plays great and sounds beautiful. I paid £175 – about $275 US – for it in the 1980s.

  • How well do these stay in tune? Do the tuners take bends well?

  • @ilivestrong25 Yep, stays in tune fine for me.

  • Do you like the pickups that come stock with the Viking? Would you changed them or have you changed them already? If so, would recommend getting some '57's in it? Just like a stock Gibson 335?? Thanks! Awesome guitar and review!!!

  • @dinkymau Hi, I like them well enough as they are. Have not changed.

  • I hope Hagstrom are paying you because I reckon you have sold them a few with the great review! About to buy one myself!

  • @pepachet Haha, I have no contact with Hagstrom... hope they see my demos though!

  • What does that switch do that you keep flicking?

  • @mrsegger you can switch between the bridge and neck pick-up

  • @mrsegger switching between neck and bridge pickups.

  • @mrsegger it switched between the two pickups dude! (each pickup has a different tone to it, in essence you have either one or the other or a bit of both depending on where the switch is set to)

  • I'm a girl with small hands... Would it be difficult for me to play this guitar?

  • @TheNJay01 Should be fine, the neck is pretty small.

  • Do you play on a hagstrom viking or an hagstrom viking deluxe?

  • Respond to this video... Viking

  • Hey boy! I've got some questions! Have you change the micros on the guitar you test in the video and wich ampli do you use?

  • @Killboymusic Nothing changed, and a Marshall JVM410H.

  • Is the Viking semi-hollow(i.e. awood block in the center) like a 335, or fully hollow?

  • @UnitedEffect semi

  • @jdh0858 Thanks, kinda the best of both worlds that way. :0)

  • @UnitedEffect THANKS. Best of both worlds ...kinda :0)

  • i bouhgt it

  • Man you're not helping my case of GAS.Beautiful instrument.I really want 1! I've just bought 2 Hagstroms,a Swede(to finally replace my original 1that was stolen yrs ago)and a HL550 'cause I wanted something jazzy (and I got a great deal on them).I guess I should sell some gear before my GAS gets worse.Thanks for the great demo,and I'll be adding to my Hagstrom collection soon enough.I think the tobacco burst Viking will do nicely.It has a narrow nut/neck?Thanks again for the GREAT video!

  • @UnitedEffect The neck is small and thin - very easy to play. Great guitar!

  • @rotren Thanks. I appreciate the response. It's probably closer to the HL550, which is definately smaller than the Swede. Luv 'em both. I'll probably luv the Viking too. It's incredible the quality/consistency of guitar Hagstrom gives for the price. Thanks again.-another Canuck

  • I am going to buy one of these as a compliment to my original 1967 Hagstrom Viking II Deluxe. They only made 350 in 1967 and mine is the 289th of those. The vintage hagstrom vikings from this era are still available at fairly reasonable prices on evilbay for between $1500-$2000 which aint bad for a 44 year old great guitar. You can't imagine how great the tone of my original one is.

  • it is 18.5 mm at the first fret and almost the same at the 12. There is a guy from Hagstrom has a review video about the Viking series.

    How Flat the neck is? what is the radius?

    Thanks

  • it's not just that this is a gteat guitar, i also love the way Robert presents it! Awesome job!

    

    I have also got two questions: what is the diference between the standart version, and the deluxe?

    Are there also other versions of that guitar?

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  • I don't know much about electric guitars. But is does this guitar do well with effects? (Like a flanger or something like that.)

  • @BrommaExpress

    guitars do not affect effects... so every guitar is good with efects, but good guitars sound good (effects or not), and

    bad guitars sound bad (with effects or not)

  • hey robert, great demo.

    really nice playing,sound fantastic. how you been playing?

    i dont own a hagstrom viking, but my friend does and its pretty nice, except his has alot of 'howl' to it when playing with overdrive. i know all (semi)hollow-body guitars have some type of howl to them when gain is plugged into them, but the viking seems to have more than usual.

    does yours do the same?

  • @Patrickkk616 I have played nearly 30 years. I don't use mine with a lot of distortion at loud volumes, so I don't have that problem.

  • @Patrickkk616 probably the chinese pickups, or the pickups may be fairly high output too. the higher output a pickup has the more feedback (howl is what you called it) it will get unless it is active, which is not the case with the viking. the combo of high output pups, a hollow bodied guitar and overdrive is the perfect recipe for feedback.

  • is this improvisasion or a part of a song?

  • @seekanddestroykirk Improvisation.

  • your videos are so nice. what equipment do you use to record the video and audio?

  • @paulgaudinjrBCN Final Cut for video editing, and HVX200 for video camera.

  • I heard that the neck was really thin, maybe too much for large hands. I'm used to play on a fender strat, is there a difference beteween the size of these two models ??

  • @Jotacos It is thin, yes. It is also flatter and feels very different from a strat.

  • hagstrom is such a nice brand. the quality is awesome and they are effortable. really amazing. i got a super swede in redburst. its so nice.

  • damn, this guitar sounds awesome in every video, got to check it out, awesome tone

  • rock n roll soundddddddddddd i like u hagstrommmm viking

  • Nice playing! Really enjoyed this Hagstrom demo-- and I'm patiently waiting for my Viking to arrive. It's on a slow boat from China (literally).

  • @kingsofchris Haha, I wish!

  • @bluesmann8 Save the dough and get the Hag!

  • I wish they made the deluxe in Sunburst.

  • Hi there Robert, you have inspired me to pick up a guitar again after 10 years absence. I have purchased a Hagstrom Viking after watching your demo, great quality guitar, awesome tone and just that little bit different to the rest....

  • @HelensburghWeather Cool man, great to hear!

  • you make me excited to pick up my guitar

  • hi there Rotren, I just wanted to ask is there some funk going on with this guitar aswell?

  • @LovemitE4DiscoMusic Funk? Uh what do you mean? I do play with funk with mine, and it's working great - no issues here...

  • Hi Robert, thanks for your coments ,Ihave found a shop thats got them both in,so

    I,ll take your advise to try them both.Ijust hope I,m not tempted to buy both.

    Once again great vid demos and playing. Terry Broome...

  • thanks robert ,great demo-great playing.ive got a custum shop strat and martin 000gte,but im going to buy a hagstrom.dont know which one though.its between the viking or a delux f hole.can you help please?

    whos the g*t that didnt like the video,what a doe-doe.

  • @tpbable Try both and see which you like. I prefer the Viking. Thanks!

  • @tpbable I'd say the Viking is a cooler guitar. :)

  • ok I'l buy it!

  • C'est laquel des hagstrom viking ?

    Parceque j'aimerai avoir la même !

  • does anyone know about the tremar version?

    is it possible to remove the tremar? i love the tailpeace of the tremar version but i think i might be disturbing...

  • made in?

  • @rallyivan1234

    CHA CHA CHA CHINA!!!!!!!!!

    still ooks like one to get though

  • @Aerosmitty77 NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • I'm lovin this guitar. I'm headin off to jazz school pretty soon here, and I'm hoping to pick one of these babies up.

  • great video, wonderful sounding guitar and great playing. Thanks

  • Robert, I appreciate the video, I am going to get one of these and the demo helped out a LOT!

    Roger

    strat335 on TGP

  • is the same model elvis used

  • Great sound. what amp are you using and what are your settings

  • @alalor651101 I used a Marshall JVM410H.

  • wow, thats a beautiful guit, even in sunburst....and i have never liked that look! i bet it would be GORGEOUS in white with gold hardware!!

  • WOW *__*

  • Nice demo!

    Is it easy to apply classic 57 gibson pickups on a viking deluxe??

  • @PF1964 I don't know.

  • This guitar sounds great!!

  • I can't believe that this isn't your job! You do such great and helpfull reviews. Thanks for your videos! You've got an awesome tone and great playing skills

  • @Elfredo Thank you, glad to hear!

  • Just bought this guitar and LOVE it. thanks for the demo!

  • Robert... thanks to your demo, I pulled the trigger on my own Viking (tobacco burst also) last month. I love it. It's so versatile. Been choosing it over my PRS lately. Love the variety of tones and the "feel" of the SHB. Even pump it through my Big Muff for a fat Black Keys sound. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post this informative video. Cheers!

  • @grizmit Thanks, great to hear! Enjoy the Viking! Keep your sword greased.

  • AHaha Keep your sword greased!

    thanks a million Robert!

    That Epiphone question is suddenly out of view..

  • Is there much difference between the normal Viking and the Deluxe Viking, I believe it's just the laminate top wood different, isn't it?

  • @dinkymau Not much difference, no. Inlays are different too I think?

  • Tried one n it wasn't half this good.. used a fender style amp n the guitar was cheap sounding.. none of your warmth..slightly better than the Epiphone version of 335 though.

    Me thinks ya Marshall helps or you have a good guitar.

    Nice playing too

  • @Meckipsychman what fender style amp? belcat?

  • @cheel83 can't remember but.. was a tube amp from 67 on clean sound.. I had higher expectations of a Hagström. Gotta demo one through a Marshall one day.

  • how much is this guitar?

  • Hey Robert,

    I just want to thank you again for such a great video- I watch it every now and again. I played one of the new ones the other day and it was nice- but I have 3 old swedish made Hags and I just couldnt get a new one! So I bought a 70s viking in red. Super pumped!

    Great playing, you are a master.

  • @poostanky Thanks, glad you like the video.

  • I was following a Hagstrom Viking Deluxe on eBay, but the buyer pulled it off two days before the end of the auction: bummer... Now I'm seriously considering an Epiphone Sheraton II. There's an excellent second hand one in a local shop.

  • Whoa, its Microsoft Sam!

  • whar devices and amps are you using?

  • So if I am going to buy my first electric guitar and I am more or less a beginner, would you recommend a Viking, a tele, or a Les Paul or a Gretsch or something else? I like blues and rock and rockabilly and pretty much all styles. I have money for something more expensive, so I am asking philosophically.... what I really need most is more time in my schedule to practice, but I am doing what I can there...

  • Amazing video my friend. I love that the guitar sounds good in all the toggle positions, whether you have it on the bride, both, or the neck. It never sounded bad, which is something I can't say for a lot of guitars in this guitars price range. Thanks for the demo.

  • Beautiful! You really bring that guitar to life, rotren! :) It's truly singing!

    I'm actually picking up a Viking deluxe on Sat -- early birthday present to myself... any suggestions on what to look for as I test drive them here in Toronto, Canada? Thx!

  • Great review. I can't find a guitar that compares at 3or4 times the money. I think others are discovering them. The only guitar I know that is going up in price in this economy.

    Great player, excellent lessons, keep it up and thanks for your time.

  • great demo..i got one a few years back in black plays like a dream

  • is this guitar heavy?

    or is it pretty light?

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  • When you say the neck is thin do you mean that it's harder to form chords up by the nut?

  • great riff at 6:25!!!!!!!

  • hey man great review

    i want one like this but i'm having doubts between having a gibson 339 and a hagstrom viking,

    help me out guys

  • i just ordered the exact same guitar

  • Finally! A great review of this gorgeous guitar. It had to be you Robert. Great surprise! Your video should be on Hagstrom´s website. Hop I can get my Viking by the end of this year. Cheers!

  • questo ragioniere qua suona da dio...

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  • is this guitar good for slide?

  • How much? awesome review btw

  • is that the a new model or an old one? (i've heard that the old ones were made in sweden while the new ones in china)

  • @guyroeeandbuzi This is a new one

  • Only thing that stopped me from buying this baby was the lack of a coil tap. I just can't live without my single coil sheen =/

  • Odlična gitara za relativno male pare. Domonstracija savšena, ali i montirana, tako da može da prikrije eventualne nedostatke gitare. No ako bi morao da biram izmedju Epipiphona Sheraton i Vikainga, odlučio bi se za Hagstroma. Inače Hagstroma još uvek nema na tržištima Hrvatske i Srbije.

  • "Strava" gitara za reletivno male pare. Odlična demonstracija, ali i montaža, koja može da prikrije neke nedostatke inače dobrog Vikinga,koji se na tržištu Srbije i Hrvatske još nije pojavio. Po onome kako svira najbliži su joj Epipiphone Casino ili Riviera.

  • Strava gitara za reletivno male pare. Odlična demonstracija, ali i montaža, koja može da prikrije neke nedostatke inače dobrog Vikinga,koji se na tržištu Srbije i Hrvatske još nije pojavio.

  • this just made me buy one.

  • great review ^^

  • i have this exact guitar and it i'm seriously proud of it. Absolutely so many things to like about it, as said beautiful, sexy design. Also fantastic tonal qualities, amazing harmonics no problem, versitility (rock to jazz etc) great neck feel, amazing value for money, i'll be playing it through a JCM 2000 DSL50 soon, can't wait, great vid

  • It's nice to see a "guitar nut" who can play for a change! Seems like a lovely guitar. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

  • is the only difference between the viking and viking deluxe the pearl block vs. pearl dot position marks?

  • @SupairDup and the shape of the F holes. The Deluxe doesn't have the pointy parts of the F holes. Personally I prefer the Standard... The finishes are nices =)

  • I have got a swede :)

  • thats cool and all but you barely played any of the clean sounds...how bout isolating the bridge and neck pickups. maybe playing with the tone knobs while in a CLEAN sound not just switchng to an overdrive sound IMMEDIATLY. Seems us lovers of r&b

    Jazz and Funk get no love... Oh Well

  • @nomadikindustries What are you talking about? Half of the video was on clean. If you're gonna rip on something, at least man up and watch the whole darn thing. lol

  • @MitchRulzWorld NO !!! I did watch it all I just would like to hear more on the PU combos on a clean setting. It seems MOST guitar demos act as if no one plays clean except for blues/classic rock guys.

  • do you prefer the viking or the swede?

  • @billjoe534 Both!

  • @rotren im thinking about saving all my gig money for one or the other cause playing live is pretty much my only job now so its either the gold top swede or a cherry viking

  • @rotren can you tell me if you had any effects running, it almost sounds too nice to be true

  • shit cant decide between the viking and the epiphone sheraton 2.

    the sheraton sounds a lot jazzier.

    HELP!!!

  • Who doesn't like to talk-up what they like? Not to mention some Swedish pride, perhaps. It's a Hagstrom, after all.

  • Smooth as Velvet my man! Great Job!!!

  • Could you please do a tutorial on the licks from about 2:20 to 2:36? It's just so pretty.

  • Great video! Thanks for posting this. I do have one question. Does this have a bolt on neck?

  • Holy crap man, that tone is phenomenal! Also, great playing as usual, thanks for the video.

  • While i don't really get along with the sound of those pickups nor the stay-in-tune-ability of this guitar, your playing is excellent!

  • I have exactly the same guitar, but an old one, built in 1968. It has a Strat style headstock, but otherwise identical. The neck is so thin, they call it the fastest guitar in the world. It's a real treat to play.. Thanks for another great video, Robert. Keep em coming...

  • Swedish quality!!!!

  • Fabulous as usual Robert

  • sounds like a chinese made guitar! good playing robert though! :) blues onn

  • I've been wanting a Viking for a while now. This makes my GAS even worse. Thanks for putting this up.

  • How much do they pay you for demos like this?

  • @mcdudepostal Zero - I am not affiliated with Hagstrom in any way.

  • @rotren

    Sorry then)

    I'm surprised to see such great demos made for free!

    Have you ever been payed for them?

  • @mcdudepostal No I have not.

  • @rotren

    You are my hero now!))

    Great playing!I like to watch your demos just to hear beautiful blues)

  • Nice Demo. You got some real sweet tones going on there.

  • I loved the ending :)

  • You should do some close-ups of the fretboard and the body, back of the neck, etc if you have the time.

    Great playing!

  • great playing, great demo. I saw one of these for sale the other day, before you posted this demo. and being a hagstrom, I thought of you, hah ha! thanks robert! cheers

  • As always, a joy to watch and listen to - my favorite on all of YouTube! My very first electric was a Hagstrom solid body, circa 1964, in this wild turquoise color, which i later put humbuckers on and then built a preamp into it following an article by Craig Anderton in Guitar Player magazine. I think i want a Viking . . .

  • So Robert--- which do you prefer, the Viking or the Swede?

  • awesome playing

  • It's a Chinese made copy of a Gibson. That's not to knock it, but

    that's what it is.

    You can pick one up for about 600

    My Gibson semi hollow will now fetch about three times what

    I paid for it.

    This guy's going to make any guitar sound great, not saying it

    is not a great guitar..maybe it is.

    The video looks like a professional job. That's my two cents.

  • tasty playin as always my friend .....

  • Superb instrument and very nice demo! Congratulations! This is dream babe for me! Hope to see more cool vids with this guitar from you very soon! Cheers!

  • Awesome video man, I saw (he looked a bit like you in fact) playing a viking in a restaurant in Chicago. Good blues.