Been looking to add to my collection, I think this is going to be the deal I'm looking for. Thank you for taking the time in making this. And, how the hell have I not seen your channel before? TH-cam, get with it!!
@@jamesfranklandguitar it really did... I now have a Derby Brown metallic Alvar coming from the Netherlands as I couldn't find a single one here in the states!
@@allen5638 Yup. Hagstroms do not have the honour they desetve. I play 2 alongside two Dueseys, an Eastman 445B and a topline Epi and they stand their ground firmly.. The Hagyrom Tremar tremoli dystem bests the Bigsby and is at least as good as the well appraised and appreciated Duesey Les Trem system. I don t know if Hagstrom aiming to remain a niche brand. If so, their matketing does a great jiob ... ;-)
I have this in Swedish Frost. It’s not white paint. It has a cool pink sheen to it. I love it. I normally switch out the pickups on most of my guitars. The Hagstrom came with super amazing pickups. It’s a keeper!!
Nice video James, this is a cool guitar! Seems like a nice instrument overall. I just tried one out recently but wasn't able to play it through an amp. I may go back to the store and try that. But I like the ergonomics of the guitar and the neck felt good as well. I would consider one of these for a semi-hollow Body Electric, thanks again for the great video and nice playing there too on your part!
Hi James, I've been interested in the Alvar and I see nits been awhile since your review , but I just came across your demo and was wondering it it had any neck dive issues? Thank you
Did you feel that the paint, binding, and frets seemed well made? I had seen some reviews concerning quality control issues - it looks and sounds great in your video - nice job!
Thanks man, yeah I've demoed a few Hagstroms and they've seemed very consistent from what I've seen. I'm not endorsed by them or obliged to say so but I've never experienced any qc issues with any I've had through the studio
That's an old comment, but for anybody that's wondering, I have a viking for about 10 years now, and although I don't love the guitar the quality has been great and feels pretty darn well made.
I do own 2 Hagstrom for some 15 to 20 years now, play them very regularly and they are great gyitar, easily contending their Duesenberg, Eastman, Epi, Gibson and Fender contemders in ny collection. They are actually the gtars I take gigging, for they seem the most roadworthy robust, reliable and stable to me.
It's a while since I filmed this one but from what I can remember the action was pretty low. It didn't need any setting up when it arrived for demoing 🎸
As far as distortion goes to me the Alvar had more modern voiced pickups compared to the 67 (still fairly vintagey sounding but in comparison the more modern of the two). Although with that said one of my favourite fuzz tones I have found was with the '67. There's a clip of that tone in the demo I've filmed of the 67'. I've also done a shootout between the viking, super viking and viking dlx and of those three I would suggest the super is the most modern feeling and sounding, with the partial pickup covers and longer scale length giving it more bite with distortion.
@@DANismMUSIC I don't own either personally but I think it definitely depends on the playing situation. To me the Alvar felt more modern, still retro inspired but the Viking II is more of a reissue so a bit more true to spec from a vintage point of view. It's worth noting the Viking II is a hollowbody and the Alvar a semi. To me the Alvar felt a little more along the lines of a les paul in terms of how it sat when playing sat down and with the scale length. But I didn't necessarily have a favourite, it would more be the playing situation that I'd choose one over another in. Just for reference though my favourite Hagstrom I've played so far was the Viking Tremar DLX model.
James, thanks so much for this! Great review and FANTASTIC playing! I've been very much considering acquiring a Hagstrom Viking, and until your video showed up in my feed, and now I'm focused on the Alvar. Assuming you've played the Viking as well, how do they compare in your view?
Hi mate, thank you for the kind words! Like Albert says it's essentially a smaller bodied version of the Viking. I've played the gold top Viking and I also own a Viking Baritone which I really like. (Hagstrom haven't paid me to say that, I do genuinely love it). But all it really boils down to is the body size, in the past I've sometimes found 335 style guitars a bit cumbersome, particularly when playing sat down but the Gold top model I played ( I think it's a signature model ) was really comfortable. I've just had a quick look over the specs and it seems they're very similar in all other respects.
@@jamesfranklandguitar, this is all very helpful, thank you so much! I've been looking on Reverb, eBay, and ProAudio, and there are some real deals out there on mint or even brand new Vikings, so I am probably going that direction. There are quite a few online sellers who offer free returns, though, I might get an Alvar and a Viking and just return the one I don't want. Anyway, your playing is AMAZING, and you go a great job on these videos, so thanks again for all the great work.
Got this in white. Was really disappointed because it played awesome with a sweet neck that played fast. But my guitar came with a slight chip in the head stock and the paint finish was awful...I got the white, Swedish Frost, and the paint job was uneven to the point where it didn't even look white...it looked off white almost like a almond color. Plus the paint around the F holes were sloppy and unfinished. Looked terrible. And the fret ends were as sharp as knives???? WTF? I never seen anything like that? And the tuner for the A string was weird and wouldn't tune properly...overall the tuners felt really cheap. Ended up returning it. Just wasn't worth keeping. Very disappointed. If you're interested in getting a smaller size semi hollow like this, get the D'angelico Mini DC. Better quality overall for the same money
I found one of these online for sale at $99... beautiful guitar. Seems like a steal for that price.
Been looking to add to my collection, I think this is going to be the deal I'm looking for. Thank you for taking the time in making this. And, how the hell have I not seen your channel before? TH-cam, get with it!!
Haha thank you, glad the video helped!
@@jamesfranklandguitar it really did... I now have a Derby Brown metallic Alvar coming from the Netherlands as I couldn't find a single one here in the states!
@@allen5638 Nice, enjoy the new guitar man! There should be some more Hagstrom demos on the channel soon 🎸
@@allen5638 Yup.
Hagstroms do not have the honour they desetve.
I play 2 alongside two Dueseys, an Eastman 445B and a topline Epi and they stand their ground firmly.. The Hagyrom Tremar tremoli dystem bests the Bigsby and is at least as good as the well appraised and appreciated Duesey Les Trem system. I don t know if Hagstrom aiming to remain a niche brand. If so, their matketing does a great jiob ... ;-)
I have this in Swedish Frost. It’s not white paint. It has a cool pink sheen to it. I love it. I normally switch out the pickups on most of my guitars. The Hagstrom came with super amazing pickups. It’s a keeper!!
Thanks for sharing James its beautiful Guitar . I'm thinking on getting Swedish Frost Finish its a beautiful color. Thanks...
They do look awesome in white, really enjoyed playing this one
Nice video James, this is a cool guitar! Seems like a nice instrument overall. I just tried one out recently but wasn't able to play it through an amp. I may go back to the store and try that. But I like the ergonomics of the guitar and the neck felt good as well. I would consider one of these for a semi-hollow Body Electric, thanks again for the great video and nice playing there too on your part!
Thanks Jonathan!
Nice, video, I would have liked to have seen some classic demos. Like, AC/CD, Zeppelin, Stones.
I love this!
Thank you :)
Very nice review mate.!
thank you mate
Hi James, I've been interested in the Alvar and I see nits been awhile since your review , but I just came across your demo and was wondering it it had any neck dive issues? Thank you
Did you feel that the paint, binding, and frets seemed well made? I had seen some reviews concerning quality control issues - it looks and sounds great in your video - nice job!
Thanks man, yeah I've demoed a few Hagstroms and they've seemed very consistent from what I've seen.
I'm not endorsed by them or obliged to say so but I've never experienced any qc issues with any I've had through the studio
That's an old comment, but for anybody that's wondering, I have a viking for about 10 years now, and although I don't love the guitar the quality has been great and feels pretty darn well made.
I do own 2 Hagstrom for some 15 to 20 years now, play them very regularly and they are great gyitar, easily contending their Duesenberg, Eastman, Epi, Gibson and Fender contemders in ny collection. They are actually the gtars I take gigging, for they seem the most roadworthy robust, reliable and stable to me.
Is this the same size as a 339? Does it have a center block?
Hi sir! It was a really informative video, thank you! But I have a question. Do you think the action is low or mehh? Cheers!
It's a while since I filmed this one but from what I can remember the action was pretty low. It didn't need any setting up when it arrived for demoing 🎸
Between this and the Viking (67 Viking more specifically) what would you say has a better distortion sound?
As far as distortion goes to me the Alvar had more modern voiced pickups compared to the 67 (still fairly vintagey sounding but in comparison the more modern of the two).
Although with that said one of my favourite fuzz tones I have found was with the '67. There's a clip of that tone in the demo I've filmed of the 67'.
I've also done a shootout between the viking, super viking and viking dlx and of those three I would suggest the super is the most modern feeling and sounding, with the partial pickup covers and longer scale length giving it more bite with distortion.
@@jamesfranklandguitar that’s very helpful. Thank you. Overall, do you prefer 67 Viking or the Alvar? I’m torn right now.
@@DANismMUSIC I don't own either personally but I think it definitely depends on the playing situation.
To me the Alvar felt more modern, still retro inspired but the Viking II is more of a reissue so a bit more true to spec from a vintage point of view. It's worth noting the Viking II is a hollowbody and the Alvar a semi.
To me the Alvar felt a little more along the lines of a les paul in terms of how it sat when playing sat down and with the scale length. But I didn't necessarily have a favourite, it would more be the playing situation that I'd choose one over another in. Just for reference though my favourite Hagstrom I've played so far was the Viking Tremar DLX model.
@@jamesfranklandguitar thank you so much for the info. You rock, my friend. 🤘🏼🤘🏼
@@DANismMUSIC happy to help! anymore questions let me know 🎸
James, thanks so much for this! Great review and FANTASTIC playing! I've been very much considering acquiring a Hagstrom Viking, and until your video showed up in my feed, and now I'm focused on the Alvar. Assuming you've played the Viking as well, how do they compare in your view?
Boomer Dell The alvar is just a smaller viking, much like a 339 is a smaller 335
Hi mate, thank you for the kind words! Like Albert says it's essentially a smaller bodied version of the Viking. I've played the gold top Viking and I also own a Viking Baritone which I really like. (Hagstrom haven't paid me to say that, I do genuinely love it).
But all it really boils down to is the body size, in the past I've sometimes found 335 style guitars a bit cumbersome, particularly when playing sat down but the Gold top model I played ( I think it's a signature model ) was really comfortable.
I've just had a quick look over the specs and it seems they're very similar in all other respects.
@@albertfritz3159 thanks!
@@jamesfranklandguitar, this is all very helpful, thank you so much! I've been looking on Reverb, eBay, and ProAudio, and there are some real deals out there on mint or even brand new Vikings, so I am probably going that direction. There are quite a few online sellers who offer free returns, though, I might get an Alvar and a Viking and just return the one I don't want. Anyway, your playing is AMAZING, and you go a great job on these videos, so thanks again for all the great work.
Do you know the length of the lower bout? I'm having a hard time finding it.
As in the trapeze mate?
@@jamesfranklandguitar the widest part of the body. I assume it's something like 13-15 inches.
@@southpawOO7 I'm not sure of the top of my head mate, it felt more PRS type size but a bit deeper, but considerably smaller than a 335
Got this in white. Was really disappointed because it played awesome with a sweet neck that played fast. But my guitar came with a slight chip in the head stock and the paint finish was awful...I got the white, Swedish Frost, and the paint job was uneven to the point where it didn't even look white...it looked off white almost like a almond color. Plus the paint around the F holes were sloppy and unfinished. Looked terrible.
And the fret ends were as sharp as knives???? WTF? I never seen anything like that? And the tuner for the A string was weird and wouldn't tune properly...overall the tuners felt really cheap. Ended up returning it. Just wasn't worth keeping.
Very disappointed. If you're interested in getting a smaller size semi hollow like this, get the D'angelico Mini DC. Better quality overall for the same money
so you go around to every review of e guitar to complain about it? Seems fake.