captmike
Joined: Sep 03, 2011
Posts: 84
Murrieta, CA
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Posted on May 09 2012 10:16 AM
Hey guys,
Which do you think will give me a greater surf guitar sound? The Fender Jaguar or a Hallmark 60 Custom....I know, I know, big difference in price. I just would like to know what you all think. I don't mind waiting to save up for the jag. I also own a Fender 57 reissue in Surf Green but I would like a shorter scale and 22 frets. What sucks is I've play a Jaguar and can't play a 60 Custom before I buy it.
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ludobag
Joined: Jun 05, 2010
Posts: 620
at south of
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Posted on May 09 2012 10:33 AM
i think you must try it before doing something cause if not you will have regret
i see your in us then it must be easy to find a member near you who have one
i love my jag and i am sure i will love an hallmark 60 too
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captmike
Joined: Sep 03, 2011
Posts: 84
Murrieta, CA
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Posted on May 09 2012 10:44 AM
Maybe I can find someone out in Southern California that has a Hallmark 60 Custom. I was dead set on buying a 50th anniversary Jaguar after playing one at NAMM but I played one at Guitar Center I was disappointed. It really needed to be set up...plus I'm not sure I like the short scale. I am short and have stubby fingers and waqnt a shorter scale but just not sure. I just recently built myself an ES335 clone and I like the 24 3/4 scale length. That was the interest behind the 60 Custom it's 24 3/4...dang just not sure.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on May 09 2012 11:04 AM
Not a big Hallmark fan myself. Skip the 50th Anniversary Jag, overpriced in my opinion. Get a used AVRI or thin skin.
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ludobag
Joined: Jun 05, 2010
Posts: 620
at south of
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Posted on May 09 2012 11:09 AM
for the scale i understand ,for me 24 are too short
25.5 too long then 24 3/4 are the good for me ,surely cause i have play long time on a guitar with 24 3/4 but i feel better with
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1267
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on May 09 2012 11:11 AM
If you like a 24 3/4" scale neck, you might try finding one of these - Fender Cyclone II
They were discontinued around 2005 but they still pop up on Ebay now and then. I had one for about a year. Its 3 Jag pickups sounded great and you could get some really interesting sound combinations but I eventually traded it for a nice CIJ Jag. Sometimes I wish I still had it though!
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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captmike
Joined: Sep 03, 2011
Posts: 84
Murrieta, CA
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Posted on May 09 2012 11:30 AM
WOW that's cool. I still want to play a Hallmark though. The Fender Cyclone mayb be a solution. the other thing I may do is build a warmoth Jag with a 24 3/4 scale neck and vintage Jag pickups
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on May 09 2012 11:37 AM
Yeah, I would suggest building one. Get a 9.5" radius if you like the ES-335. Makes a big difference.
And don't splurge on vintage pickups, get Lollar or Fralin reproductions.
The Cyclone isn't a guitar they chose to put good parts on.
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Rob_J
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 500
Sacto, CA
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Posted on May 09 2012 11:37 AM
I have no first hand experience with a Jaguar. I've always been under the impression that Jags are overly "spikey" treble-wise, but again, it is only an impression and I could be way off base.
I do own a Hallmark C60 and it is my second favorite guitar of the several that I own. My only minor complaint might be that it is a bit on the heavy side, but Hallmark C60 sounds GREAT for surf. I was a bit apprehensive about buying a H60 without playing it first, but I had run across a used one in a local music store and was able to play that one. It convinced me that they are good guitars. I'd have bought that one if it had been the right color.
Good luck with choosing. I would personally would not hesitate to buy another H60. I'd have to spend a little time with a Jag to know what to think about that. There are a lot of Jaguars being used for surf. You probably can't go wrong with either choice.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on May 09 2012 11:41 AM
Rob_J wrote:
I have no first hand experience with a Jaguar. I've always been under the impression that Jags are overly "spikey" treble-wise, but again, it is only an impression and I could be way off base.
That is because people have no idea there is a tone knob on the guitar and various knobs on the reverb unit and amp that limit this. The dreaded ice-pick sound need not happen ala Dave Wronski and other Jaguar players such as Kyle Alaniz and Bill from the Aquanauts.
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6V6
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 284
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Posted on May 09 2012 12:07 PM
I own both...AVRI jag, Hallmark C60, and formerly a CIJ Jag. Also have an AVRI Jazzmaster and two strats. I like my C60 and actually picked it over all the others for a recent gig, but fenders just fell better to my hands.
I could be talked into selling my Hallmark so shot me a PM if you are interested...now or down the road.
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on May 09 2012 12:57 PM
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on May 09 2012 01:09 PM
I'd have to demo one before dropping that kind of $$$ (Hallmark).
I was considering a Hallmark Swept Wing model a while back but I have no way to try one??
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
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BillAqua
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
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Posted on May 09 2012 01:19 PM
JakeDobner wrote:
Rob_J wrote:
I have no first hand experience with a Jaguar. I've always been under the impression that Jags are overly "spikey" treble-wise, but again, it is only an impression and I could be way off base.
That is because people have no idea there is a tone knob on the guitar and various knobs on the reverb unit and amp that limit this. The dreaded ice-pick sound need not happen ala Dave Wronski and other Jaguar players such as Kyle Alaniz and Bill from the Aquanauts.
Thank you for listing me with those fine Jag players sir.
I'd probably pick a Jaguar over the Hallmark too. The tough one with that decision is I want a longer scale guitar so the Hallmark wins with that in mind. But say I already had a Jazzmaster as my #1 and I was picking up a second guitar and it was down to the Hallmark and Jag? I'd go Jag.
The Hallmark bug has bitten me a few times. The idea of a Mosrite with a playable neck for my large hands is tempting. The guitarist in the band I've been playing with lately has one, but I haven't gotten my hands on it yet.
— "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"
https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/
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FritzCat
Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 667
Sonoma, CA
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Posted on May 09 2012 02:27 PM
I think Mr_Reverb63 has a sunburst 60 Custom for sale, you might message him and ask what he wants for it.
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jp
Joined: Feb 09, 2007
Posts: 917
Brew City
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Posted on May 09 2012 03:20 PM
BillAqua wrote:
JakeDobner wrote:
Rob_J wrote:
I have no first hand experience with a Jaguar. I've always been under the impression that Jags are overly "spikey" treble-wise, but again, it is only an impression and I could be way off base.
That is because people have no idea there is a tone knob on the guitar and various knobs on the reverb unit and amp that limit this. The dreaded ice-pick sound need not happen ala Dave Wronski and other Jaguar players such as Kyle Alaniz and Bill from the Aquanauts.
Thank you for listing me with those fine Jag players sir.
I'd probably pick a Jaguar over the Hallmark too. The tough one with that decision is I want a longer scale guitar so the Hallmark wins with that in mind. But say I already had a Jazzmaster as my #1 and I was picking up a second guitar and it was down to the Hallmark and Jag? I'd go Jag.
The Hallmark bug has bitten me a few times. The idea of a Mosrite with a playable neck for my large hands is tempting. The guitarist in the band I've been playing with lately has one, but I haven't gotten my hands on it yet.
Is that guitarist Roger? He has kind of a special Hallmark. Isn't it a 60 with a 59 neck or something like that?
— The Exotics 1994-Current
The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org
www.thedoghouseflowers.com
www.uptownsavages.com
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Pipeliner
Joined: Oct 23, 2010
Posts: 41
Texas
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Posted on May 09 2012 03:52 PM
These are two very different guitars. I have a CIJ jag and added antiquity pickups, then got a stock Hallmark 60 from DiPinto's used site (at a great price), and recently picked up a used avri jag which is stock plus a mastery bridge. The two jags sound similar and are more what I think of as surf. The hallmark pickups are a lot hotter... If you use a reverb unit, you may have to turn the dwell down quite a bit if you want a clean tone. I find the tone knob on the reverb needs to be turned way up on the hallmark. To my ears, the jag likes treble, the hallmark bass. Jag is more likely to snap, hallmark is more likely to bark.
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6V6
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 284
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Posted on May 09 2012 05:17 PM
I don't think there is any doubt that a Jag is up there with the best in terms of being a surf machine.....the Hallmark makes a nice alternative since it has a longer scale and much flatter fretboard. The trem is excellent, though I did have to modify mine to so that it didn't come loose. The Hallmark, as you would expect, is great for Ventures stuff. I has an added dimension that the Jag doesn't have in that it can do a respectable job with older jazz or country stuff like Joe Maphis/Merle Travis. The tone is not as twangy as a fender, but is much thicker. Great for something like Taste Of Honey. The bark is a function of the pickup height - if you put them up close to the strings it will really drive the amp, but back them off and its much cleaner. I like it both ways.
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WetBandit
Joined: Feb 01, 2010
Posts: 106
MA
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Posted on May 09 2012 06:17 PM
I own both and play them every single day through my '67 Bandmaster and Gomez reverb unit...Love them both to death but I find myself playing the Hallmark more because I like the hotter bark it has. And the neck is FAST as lightning on the C60. I have mine strung with D'darrio 11-49 and its like butter...
But as the old saying goes "Try before you buy"
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captmike
Joined: Sep 03, 2011
Posts: 84
Murrieta, CA
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Posted on May 09 2012 09:58 PM
See this is the challenge. I don't feel comfortable buying something I haven't played. I play Surf Music every Thursday night at am open mic tavern called J Carters in Murrieta. I've really gotten known for it and I want to continue working on more. My strat is fine and does a great job. I just want more of the traditional Ventures, Chantays, Belairs sound. I'm really leaning toward the 50th anniversary Jag. It has all the bells and whistles.. I guess I really want both. I remember the Moserite days and all the hype. Just never got to play one. I must confess and love having different style guitars.
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