Mosrite/Hallmark/Univox guitars in Europe?!

SanchoPansen

Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
Germany

Posted on Dec 23 2011 10:48 PM

Ever considered buying an Aria Diamond DM380? Put in some decent PUs and you have a nice sounding, good looking guitar you can smash after the show

—

The Hicadoolas

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surfing-matze

Joined: Apr 12, 2010
Posts: 99
Germany

Posted on Dec 24 2011 04:27 AM

Hi everyone,

@ Rob_j - wow your Custom 60 is sooo beautiful !!!! I have one in white, but without matching headstock and my pickguard looks darker than yours. I think yours is the perfect look for a Mosrite style axe. How did you you get that colour - and is the pickguard something special ?

concerning Univox / Aria Hi Flyers:
I own a Univox phase II and an Aria 1702t, which is excactly the same guitar from the Matsumoku guitar factory. Both sound great - the Aria a bit better. I think the pickups are very good, I wouldn't swap these.

From my experience the Hi Flyers are fantastic sounding, but lose a little, when it comes to playability, sustain and intonation. But if you can handle this, you are rewarded with great sound. I would even say, my Hi Flyers sound better than my Custom 60, but the Custom 60 plays like butter, while I always have to fight with the Hi Flyers...

just my 2 cents
best Reverbs
Matze

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Rob_J

Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 500
Sacto, CA
United States

Posted on Dec 24 2011 12:28 PM

The pickguard on my HM60 is the one that came on it. The fact that it might "look" lighter may have to do with lighting when the photograph was taken along with a little post processing to brighten the colors. Still, it's pretty true to the way it looks in the photo.

And you are right about the playablity of the Custom 60 - it is soooo easy to play.

Another shot: This one shows the silvery aspect of the white a little more. Again, the pickguard probably shows a little brighter than it actually is, but not by much.

image

Last edited: Dec 24, 2011 12:29:58

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Noel

Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
United States

Posted on Dec 24 2011 07:07 PM

All this love about the playability of the Hallmark 60 Custom. Just what makes it so playable? Neck shape? Scale? Fretboard radius, width? Frets? Is it an intangible thing or something specific? Thanks.

—

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

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killbabykill34

Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 3201
Jacksonville, AL
United States

Posted on Dec 24 2011 07:10 PM

Noel, I have the 59 Custom(same guitar with different binding/paint) and I wish I could tell you what it is that makes this such a playable guitar. All I can say is that my fingers move where they need to be effortlessly.

—

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

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Rob_J

Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 500
Sacto, CA
United States

Posted on Dec 24 2011 08:57 PM

"All this love about the playability of the Hallmark 60 Custom. Just what makes it so playable?"

That's a fair question. In my opinion I think it's a little of both; some things specific and some things intangible. For one, the neck is very thin. I don't mean in width, I mean top to bottom. With the thin neck and very low action, it somehow just plays easy. I don't feel that way about my Strat or my Jazzmaster although I'm not saying either of those are difficult to play. Might just be a part of the "honeymoon" phase - hard to say.

Getting back on topic, the original poster was describing how hard it is to find a Hallmark in Europe because of no dealers there. There are no dealers here in the States either. I'm on the West Coast and Hallmarks are sold directly from the builder on the East Coast. I ordered mine directly from Bob Shade at Hallmark. Other than that, they sometimes turn up used, but not new.

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killbabykill34

Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 3201
Jacksonville, AL
United States

Posted on Dec 25 2011 03:45 PM

Yeah, Rob...I had brought that up before and someone disputed it. Hallmark sell direct at this point. You might find a few hanging in shops but they don't have an authorized dealer program to speak of. I am sure that import costs on these would be outrageous for the guys in Threesome thought.

—

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

Top

jonny_flatbottle

Joined: Aug 29, 2011
Posts: 173
Massachusetts
1 Contributor Pin

Posted on Dec 25 2011 04:12 PM

I have a Hallmark 60 custom in sunburst. love it!
still like my jap Mosrite a little better though..
does anyone know if Bob offers a left handed 60 yet?

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 685
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Dec 25 2011 08:03 PM

Apparently Jerry's Lefty Guitars will be selling a special run of lefty Hallmarks, you might ask them for details.

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jonny_flatbottle

Joined: Aug 29, 2011
Posts: 173
Massachusetts
1 Contributor Pin

Posted on Dec 25 2011 08:25 PM

cool, thanks!

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SanchoPansen Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg	Posted on Dec 23 2011 10:48 PM Ever considered buying an Aria Diamond DM380? Put in some decent PUs and you have a nice sounding, good looking guitar you can smash after the show — The Hicadoolas Top
surfing-matze Joined: Apr 12, 2010 Posts: 99 Germany	Posted on Dec 24 2011 04:27 AM Hi everyone, @ Rob_j - wow your Custom 60 is sooo beautiful !!!! I have one in white, but without matching headstock and my pickguard looks darker than yours. I think yours is the perfect look for a Mosrite style axe. How did you you get that colour - and is the pickguard something special ? concerning Univox / Aria Hi Flyers: I own a Univox phase II and an Aria 1702t, which is excactly the same guitar from the Matsumoku guitar factory. Both sound great - the Aria a bit better. I think the pickups are very good, I wouldn't swap these. From my experience the Hi Flyers are fantastic sounding, but lose a little, when it comes to playability, sustain and intonation. But if you can handle this, you are rewarded with great sound. I would even say, my Hi Flyers sound better than my Custom 60, but the Custom 60 plays like butter, while I always have to fight with the Hi Flyers... just my 2 cents best Reverbs Matze Top
Rob_J Joined: Sep 29, 2007 Posts: 500 Sacto, CA	Posted on Dec 24 2011 12:28 PM The pickguard on my HM60 is the one that came on it. The fact that it might "look" lighter may have to do with lighting when the photograph was taken along with a little post processing to brighten the colors. Still, it's pretty true to the way it looks in the photo. And you are right about the playablity of the Custom 60 - it is soooo easy to play. Another shot: This one shows the silvery aspect of the white a little more. Again, the pickguard probably shows a little brighter than it actually is, but not by much. image Last edited: Dec 24, 2011 12:29:58 Top
Noel Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.	Posted on Dec 24 2011 07:07 PM All this love about the playability of the Hallmark 60 Custom. Just what makes it so playable? Neck shape? Scale? Fretboard radius, width? Frets? Is it an intangible thing or something specific? Thanks. — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Top
killbabykill34 Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL	Posted on Dec 24 2011 07:10 PM Noel, I have the 59 Custom(same guitar with different binding/paint) and I wish I could tell you what it is that makes this such a playable guitar. All I can say is that my fingers move where they need to be effortlessly. — THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/ www.reverbnation.com/thekbk www.facebook.com/thekbkal Top
Rob_J Joined: Sep 29, 2007 Posts: 500 Sacto, CA	Posted on Dec 24 2011 08:57 PM "All this love about the playability of the Hallmark 60 Custom. Just what makes it so playable?" That's a fair question. In my opinion I think it's a little of both; some things specific and some things intangible. For one, the neck is very thin. I don't mean in width, I mean top to bottom. With the thin neck and very low action, it somehow just plays easy. I don't feel that way about my Strat or my Jazzmaster although I'm not saying either of those are difficult to play. Might just be a part of the "honeymoon" phase - hard to say. Getting back on topic, the original poster was describing how hard it is to find a Hallmark in Europe because of no dealers there. There are no dealers here in the States either. I'm on the West Coast and Hallmarks are sold directly from the builder on the East Coast. I ordered mine directly from Bob Shade at Hallmark. Other than that, they sometimes turn up used, but not new. Top
killbabykill34 Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL	Posted on Dec 25 2011 03:45 PM Yeah, Rob...I had brought that up before and someone disputed it. Hallmark sell direct at this point. You might find a few hanging in shops but they don't have an authorized dealer program to speak of. I am sure that import costs on these would be outrageous for the guys in Threesome thought. — THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/ www.reverbnation.com/thekbk www.facebook.com/thekbkal Top
jonny_flatbottle Joined: Aug 29, 2011 Posts: 173 Massachusetts	Posted on Dec 25 2011 04:12 PM I have a Hallmark 60 custom in sunburst. love it! still like my jap Mosrite a little better though.. does anyone know if Bob offers a left handed 60 yet? Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 685 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Dec 25 2011 08:03 PM Apparently Jerry's Lefty Guitars will be selling a special run of lefty Hallmarks, you might ask them for details. Top
jonny_flatbottle Joined: Aug 29, 2011 Posts: 173 Massachusetts	Posted on Dec 25 2011 08:25 PM cool, thanks! Top

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Mosrite/Hallmark/Univox guitars in Europe?!