Hagstrom HJ500 tremar & swede tremar £599 & £625 ELECTRICS PhotograPhy by Joby SESSIoNS

102 Guitarist July 2009

GIT317.rev_hagstrom 102 21/5/09 9:52:0 am Hagstrom HJ500 tremar & swede tremar £599 & £625 ELECTRICS

on the right horn. Apart from the distinctive vibrato tailpiece, Hagstrom HJ500 Tremar Tremar models come with Gretsch-like chromed control knobs, with that brand’s & Swede Tremar £599 & £625 influence extending to similarly styled metal switch tips. With the new Tremar tailpiece, Hagstrom’s electrics are Mounted on a freestanding wooden base, the Tremar now available with added wobble by Paul Day bridge is actually a stock Wilkinson-designed, Korean- made component used on

ince Hagstrom electric the Tremar version, while slots matt black finish looks odd guitars reappeared in are equally spaced and cut for against the gloss body and the The Rivals S 2007, the company has bare minimum action at the end result seems austere and mainly concentrated on models first fret. almost home-made, especially HJ500 Tremar that hark back to the brand’s The silky feeling, shallow as it lacks the usual gold best-known originals. This radius bound fingerboard Hagstrom logo. The Epiphone Wild Kat ensures ample retro-flavoured resembles ebony but, as on all Metal-covered HJ50 (£399) is an acoustic-electric individuality, an aspect recently modern Hagstroms, is a humbuckers sit in black plastic equipped with twin P-90s and enhanced by the addition of the synthetic timber composite surrounds that nicely match a Bigsby vibrato. Hutchins’ Tremar tailpiece. The name that the company calls their angle to string slope, so it’s Memphis (£599) has a pair revives the title of an early Resinator Wood. Rounded a pity that neither pickup is of humbuckers and a Bigsby. Hagstrom vibrato, but is now corner pearl position blocks actually mounted straight. The Duesenberg’s excellent CC applied to the company’s provide another link to the past, Gibson-style control (£1,299) has less internal all-new interpretation of while all 22 medium-gauge configuration features twin airspace and features this Bigsby’s classic design. It’s frets are smoothly finished on volumes and tones, but with the maker’s own vibrato tailpiece. offered on a five-strong range of the tops and ends. three-way selector switch sited Chinese-made six-strings, with Hagstrom necks of old were each identified by the new noted for their super-slimness, Tremar suffix. but the modern equivalents have adopted more mainstream HJ500 Tremar measurements and a comfy The HJ500 archtop acoustic- broad-ish ‘C’-profile, as can be electric model echoes the felt on the HJ500’s glued-in Hagstrom ‘Jimmy’, which was maple example. produced during the seventies The size and styling of the all- in conjunction with the maple body is very similar to legendary American luthier, the original Jimmy. James D’Aquisto. Construction is completely The latter was responsible for acoustic, with only a single the ornate headstock, now support under the bridge. employed across all of the new Binding all round contrasts the range. The Art Deco-ish tuners all-black finish and is also are another common feature, employed on the twin open- based on the D’Aquisto style f-holes. designed originals, although Mounted on a hefty bracket, the new buttons are smaller. the curvy pickguard is true to Like its stablemates, the traditional Jimmy form and HJ500 employs a graphite nut, made of thick plywood with and its slippery properties suit heavily bevelled edges. But the The HJ500’s bridge pickup offers single-coil-esque snap and woody low end

July 2009 Guitarist 103

GIT317.rev_hagstrom 103 21/5/09 9:52:1 am Hagstrom HJ500 tremar & swede tremar £599 & £625 ELECTRICS

The Swede has a toppy acoustic tone, layered binding is sharp edged. The block markers and frets The Rivals with the Tremar tailpiece contributing are also the same, although the to some extra sprang latter suffer from sharp ends. HJ500 Tremar This could be down to fingerboard shrinkage, but as The Electromatic Pro Jet this is synthetic and immune G5235T (£399) offers an numerous other modern six- latter isn’t quite as successful as to movement in theory, it affordable interpretation of strings including the Taylor T3 the former, it’s something the implies inadequate attention at an original Gretsch Duo Jet, (reviewed in issue 315). The six real thing can’t manage at all. the production stage: a gripe toting twin mini-humbuckers roller saddles are anchored we had with earlier Hagstroms. and a Bigsby vibrato. securely and the complete unit Sounds Dimensions and profile of Eastwood specialises in can be locked into place on its Acoustic volume isn’t as loud as the glued-in mahogany neck recreating retro electrics, twin posts. you’d expect, with an upper follow those of the HJ500 and, including the Airline Tuxedo The Tremar vibrato tailpiece mid-range tonality. Plugging in unlike its Super stablemate, the (£649), which boasts a is a sturdy re-working of the is also a surprise, as sounds are standard Swede employs a Bigsby and numerous fifties- equivalent Bigsby, equipped more Gretsch than Gibson. Gibson-style scale length. style features. Much further with an integral string tension The neck pickup is punchy The carved-top, mahogany up the price scale, the Starla bar. Unfortunately, this style of and open-toned, while the body is bigger all round than a (£1,989) is the first Bigsby- vibrato is really not ideal for an bridge humbucker has an Les Paul, but the cutaway is packing PRS solid. all-acoustic body, as the front almost single-coil like snap and tighter, making upper end fixing screws are secured only a woody low end. Combining to the thin top and the upward the two brings a Gretsch string pull could cause Tennessean-type quality and problems. The chunky tailpiece although the Tremar tailpiece section features the Hagstrom is a hefty piece of hardware, it badge and all parts are nicely seems to be adding to the chromed. The grooved tension guitar’s overall airy character. bar does a good job of keeping The HJ500’s all-acoustic strings correctly aligned after nature means feedback isn’t they anchor around the ridged hard to induce, while the tone rear-rotating spindle. pots provide a usefully gradual The flat-section arm starts transition from country twang off horizontal, before going through to smooth jazz. through a 90° twist and terminating in a sizeable, Art Swede Tremar Deco-style metal knob. Unlike Back in the seventies, the Bigsby’s version, there’s no original Swede was Hagstrom’s swing stop, so the arm can be major play for a share of Les moved over the strings. It sits Paul sales, becoming one of the quite high, but the shape brand’s best-known models. suggests it’s meant to be held, Unsurprisingly, the reissue rather than pressed, so extra air maintains the same styling and underneath is a good thing. many other features. The Tremar tailpiece The Swede also employed provides that classic shimmer Jimmy D’Aquisto’s headstock on chords and a gently and naturally the new version expressive wobble for single- does likewise, along with the note work. The action is smooth updated Art Deco-type tuners. and responsive, combining As on the HJ500 the graphite with the roller bridge and nut is cut to a high standard, graphite nut for impressively while the Resinator Wood stable tuning over a semitone fingerboard shares the same bend down or up. Although the radius, but the black and white The Tremar tailpiece’s distinctive Hagstrom livery really sets it apart

104 Guitarist July 2009

GIT317.rev_hagstrom 104 21/5/09 9:52:2 am Hagstrom HJ500 tremar & swede tremar £599 & £625 ELECTRICS

The ornate headstock was originally designed by luthier legend Jimmy D’Aquisto

operation a little cramped. The courtesy of an even and Swede Tremar is no expressive response. lightweight, although it sits well, with some rear waist Verdict contouring increasing comfort. The HJ500 Tremar combines As yet, white is the only colour Gibson and Gretsch elements in offered in the UK, contrasted an appealingly individual by multi-layer black binding instrument. The slim depth around the front edge. makes it more manageable than Twin Custom 58 humbuckers many big-bodied archtop Hagstrom HJ500 Hagstrom Swede partner a control circuitry that electrics, while performance is Tremar Tremar continues the Les Paul likeness, more wide-ranging than the but with the addition of a image might suggest. PrICe: £599 PrICe: £625 toggle-type selector on the The Swede Tremar obviously orIgIN: China orIgIN: China right horn. On the original treads Les Paul territory, but in tYPe: Single-cutaway hollow body tYPe: Single-cutaway solid electric Swede this was a simple a more characterful way than semi-acoustic BodY: Mahogany with carved standby switch, but now it’s some single-cutaway solids, BodY: Canadian maple mahogany top a triple-position type that with the Tremar tailpiece again NeCK: Maple, glued-in NeCK: Mahogany, glued-in performs filter functions, adding another dimension in sCaLe LeNgtH: 629mm (24.75-inch) sCaLe LeNgtH: 629mm (24.75-inch) providing two different tonal terms of looks, feel and sound. NUt/wIdtH: Synthetic/42.5mm NUt/wIdtH: Synthetic/42.5mm choices plus centre bypass. As with the others in the FINgerBoard: Bound wood FINgerBoard: Bound wood Control hardware repeats the Tremar series, these composite with pearloid block composite with pearloid block HJ500 format, as does the Hagstroms revisit this maker’s position markers position markers Tremar bridge, although here past in respectful fashion, with Frets: 22, medium Frets: 22, medium this is stud-mounted. updated performance Hardware: Roller bridge and Hardware: Roller bridge and Offering equally consistent combining effectively with the separate Tremar vibrato tailpiece; separate Tremar vibrato tailpiece; pitch return, the Swede’s vintage qualities offered by the Hagstrom tuners – all chrome-plated Hagstrom tuners – all chrome-plated Tremar vibrato is correct, being company’s new vibrato. strINg sPaCINg, BrIdge: 50.5mm strINg sPaCINg, BrIdge: 50.5mm Hagstrom’s version of the flat- eLeCtrICs: Two Hagstrom HJ-50 eLeCtrICs: Two Hagstrom Custom mount Bigsby, but with a more humbuckers; two volume controls; two 58 humbuckers; two volume; two tone; angular baseplate that’s been The Bottom Line tone controls; three-way toggle pickup three-way toggle pickup selector made big enough to carry the selector switch switch; three-way toggle tone switch company’s crest. HJ500 Tremar weIgHt (kg/lb): 3.5/7.7 weIgHt (kg/lb): 4.50/9.9 oPtIoNs: None oPtIoNs: None Sounds We like: Looks; sounds; raNge oPtIoNs: Tremar Deluxe-F raNge oPtIoNs: Tremar Deluxe-F This Swede has a toppy acoustic vibrato performance Special; Tremar Swede; Tremar Super Special; Tremar HJ500; Tremar Super tone, with the Tremar tailpiece We dislike: Wood pickguard; Swede; Tremar Viking Deluxe Swede; Tremar Viking Deluxe contributing to some extra incorrect vibrato tailpiece LeFt-HaNders: No LeFt-HaNders: No sprang. This balances the Guitarist says: A good- FINIsHes: Vintage sunburst or FINIsHes: White only in UK warmer tonality of the all- looking acoustic-electric black (as reviewed) mahogany construction, that offers individuality and Hagstrom UK ensuring cleanly defined a surprisingly versatile level 0870 143 6736 delivery from the Custom 58 of overall performance www.hagstrom-guitars.co.uk humbuckers. The neck position is thick-toned and meaty, while Swede Tremar the bridge adds more bark and attack, with the centre selection We liked: Sounds; vibrato Test results Test results supplying the best of both. performance; character The filter switch offers We dislike: Weight; sharp Build quality Build quality enhanced mid or bass options, fret ends Playability Playability like a less subtle version of the Guitarist says: A classy and sound sound PRS ‘Sweet’ switch. It helps individual alternative to Value for money Value for money with higher gain performance, many more-obvious single- although the Custom 58s keep cutaway six-strings gUItarIst ratINg gUItarIst ratINg things well under control

106 Guitarist July 2009

GIT317.rev_hagstrom 106 21/5/09 9:52:4 am