Review - Talking about & Doodling on a Hagström HL-550 jazz guitar

[dirkitjes]

I think I will buy one.....since 6 Weeks I am not shure with Jazzbox I should buy...Thank you so much for this presentation!

[edudzzaj]

@dirkitjes Hey glad if it helped you. The hag sounds pretty sweet really, they can have varying build quality in my experience though so try before buying and you should have a sweet jazzbox for a very decent price :)

[licengswie]

I like the quality of this recording. I think im gonna buy one, the price is very decent. by the way may i know how you set up ? what is your recording devices ? Very cool playing bro.

thanks a lot.

[edudzzaj]

@licengswie I should charge Hagström or take down this video ;) Nah it's there for you guys who like playing. Glad you like the vid. I use a Line6 Toneport UX2 and a TSM MT87S condenser here. Fairly inexpensive but decent sounding stuff that plugs right into computer USB.

[darthfocus]

what was the last tune you were playing?



[edudzzaj]

@darthfocus Blue Monk



[darthfocus]

@edudzzaj thanks man, love that stuff

[Myntrik]

Is it good for anything other than just jazz?

[edudzzaj]

@Myntrik I play rock n roll on it too and it has a really cool dirty sound on the vox ac30, it handles high volumes just as well as my ES335, probably due to the neck mounted PU which doesn't actually touch the body of the guitar. I have banned friends from playing this guitar though, as they play too heavy and move the bridge so I have to reset intonation.. If you have the technique for it though, sure - or fix the bridge. Guitar itself is still more fragile than a solidbody though.

[Myntrik]

@edudzzaj Okay, thanks for the fast answer.

I'm planning on playing music similar to Dropkick Murphys. Not too rough maybe.

[edudzzaj]

@Myntrik Hollowbodies are generally more fragile, more prone to feedback at high volumes, and non-fixed bridges a bit more demanding. If you are comfortable with this kind of bridge, and intonating it (on a quite regular basis in my case) then sure it's a cool and affordable guitar. Matter of taste and playing style really if you will be happy with it, but run it into the right amp and it should give some good rock sounds too.

[lifewithasong]

Very enjoyable review. Very nice playing, tone, and presentation. Thanks. 

[edudzzaj]

@lifewithasong Thanks for feedback, glad you liked it :)

[CanyonTide]

Hey there :) Can you tell me..does this guitar use acoustic strings or electric? Also, what guage are they?? Thank you!

[edudzzaj]

@CanyonTide Hey it came set up with surprisingly light gauge strings, Electric strings, felt like .011 or even .010.

[CanyonTide]

@edudzzaj Thank you for the info...really thinking about getting one of these..they sound great! Have a wonderful day!

[edudzzaj]

@CanyonTide They aren't bad, but recommend trying before buying. Godin 5th Avenue is a strong competitor in around same price range, recently ended up with one of those, and I play that more. Bit of a matter of taste tho :)

[CanyonTide]

@edudzzaj Thanks for your thoughts! I haven't played either one, but I find that I like the sound of the Hagstrom better.. I don't know that anyone around here carries either one..I'll have to check. Thanks again!

[zappafan93]

all the things you are :)

tryna get one of these

[edudzzaj]

@zappafan93 post a vid with it if you get one :)

[DelTorres]

Since yesterday I also own a Hagstrom HL-550. I am very pleased with the sound (playing on a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp). Gives me the jazz sound I was looking for.

I have a pack of flatwounds I might put on it some day. But for now I'm busy playing :)

Does anyone know how to take care of the fret? I think it got finish right? So the usual oil won't be good..?

[edudzzaj]

@DelTorres Resonator wood is a composite wood made by Hagström. I am not sure you actually need to oil it. I'd just email Hagström and ask them.

The HL-550 on the Fender amp sounds like a nice combo. Chromes sounded mellow but had zero sustain so I am currently using .012 Elixirs on mine, brighter but still has that nice hollowbody sound, and gives this guitar just crazy amounts of sustain. Have fun playing :)

[MrFrancisAlexis]

Hi I'm looking for a guitar , for Jazz but for Rock n Roll too. Can you tell me a little bit more about the Hagstrom?

[MrFrancisAlexis]

hey i'm about to buy the guitar. did you think that it could handle some rock n roll n grunge sounds?

PS nice chord connections

[edudzzaj]

@MrFrancisAlexis Hi, thanks :)

I plugged my hag into my vox ac30 and overdrive it on the clean channel, gave a sorta vintage sound, muddy and dirty. But then I had flatwounds on, rounds will give a brighter sound and might be better for allround use.

I do think you will find feedback issues with high gain/volume. Other than that you have the wood non-fixed bridge that will move if you play it too heavy, like heavy palm muting can easily move it.

[davidfenton1]

I had a problem with the jack receptor falling into the guitar when I inserted the jack. I took it back to the store who told me this happens to guitars all the time which is nonsense - has not happened to me in 20 years of playing. Great playing on your other video - pleasure to listen to. Any comments? jonathan.fenton@talktalk.net

[edudzzaj]

@davidfenton1 Did he fix the jack receptor at least? I have also owned a lot of various guitars through the years and none had a "jack receptor falling into the body", although having to regularly tighten a screw here and there, including jack receptor sure. If this is a problem that couldn't be fixed by simply screwing the receptor back in place then it sounds like a flawed product.

[Chortiza]

I've listened to this many times and have enjoyed it. I'm looking to buy a Hagstrom guitar like yours.....I can't play as well as you but I can dream....

[edudzzaj]

@Chortiza They are nice axes especially for the price tag, the tuners could be better might switch them at some point, but they aren't too bad. Joe Pass made a video called "the blue side of jazz" that I recommend to everyone who say that :) It helped me improve and Joe is a genius not just playing but as a teacher too, and you just gotta love the guy. Glad you like the video, thanks for watching and comment!

Stian

[Hoopskidoodle]

That Hagstrom is a pretty guitar, but a little more money, you can get an ALL-WOOD, CARVED-TOP, NITROCELLULOSE FINISH, The Loard LH-650. Of course, The Loar guitars are built in China, but they are built like something an Italian guy made in his shop on the lower east side of Manhattan in 1939.

[dethklokfan254]

How different do the flatwounds feel compared to regular wound?

[edudzzaj]

@dethklokfan254 I went from .011-.046 elixir rounds to .012-.052 D'addario chromes on this one. Quite different feel, and sound.

They feel kinda fat, which is fine on this guitar. Good tone and sustain.

The Chromes come in .011 and even .010 though, but haven't tried those.

[Hoopskidoodle]

@edudzzaj IMO, chromes suck a fat one.

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing flat-wounds, that's the ticket.

[edudzzaj]

@Hoopskidoodle Thomastik-Infeld have a good rep so wanted to try them but harder to come by here - also found em only in .013 and I'm not sure I want to go above .012's

The chromes sound decent to me, but I will probably try out a few other brands to see which I like better.

[edudzzaj]

@Hoopskidoodle hm checking around, I see they come in lighter gauges as well, I'll have to order some.

[Hoopskidoodle]

@edudzzaj I have Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing 13s on my Jazzbox. But, I have Jazz Swing 10s on my Strat. I have a custom set on my ES-335 knock-off (the wound strings from a set of 10s, and the two plain strings are .015 & .012.)

[ThDuddd]

4.11 - 4.20 is why i love fingerstyle jazz

[edudzzaj]

@ThDuddd Huh what? That is just leading into a short bit of "Tenderly" by Nat King Cole :)

[Kapteinar]

Great playing and tone! :)

[edudzzaj]

@Kapteinar Thanks :)

[edudzzaj]

@HerschelTalker It's a nice box really, especially considering price tag.

[NARO2006]

Interesting guitar, i find a very Jim Hall sound.

The kind of guitar that flatwounds suit so well.

And nice playing too.

[edudzzaj]

@NARO2006 Yea it's the kind of tone I wanted, the 335 still has regular electrics as it's my "one trick pony", wanted this one for an all out jazz box :)

Glad you like it thanks.

[EFFORTLESS7]

you play wonderfully O.o !!

[EFFORTLESS7]

Wow looks beautiful!  Thanks edudzzaj!

[edudzzaj]

@EFFORTLESS7 No problem glad you liked it