Hagstrom Viking Deluxe V.R.S. Gibson ES335

[Mystrom]

Just saw this on Youtube and thought some of you might get a kick out of this as well. I am pleasantly surprised with the out come. At least in my opinion. Who do you think was the winner?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxt6IfXoWUQ

[Heywood Jablomie]

Goes to show that tone-wise, the amplifier is the bigger factor.

[Monkus]

to my ear and the crappy laptop speakers, the Gibby is mellower on the neck pup, I guess whichever tone you prefer. The viking is easier on the wallet tho'.

[MAXIFUNK]

I thought the Gibby sounded better.
2 Grand better not sure!

Also seem to me they had different strings too but that could just be me.
I would take either one.

But as far as hollow Bodies goes tops on my list right now are

1. Taylor T3
2. Gibson CS-336

[sunvalleylaw]

Hmm, I thought the difference was subtle at best. It was the same amph, and is my amph so I recognized the sound. I guess because that first clip sounded just like my guitar through my amph clean, I liked it the best. I did not think the Gibby sounded that much different though. Also, I just cannot see me spending that much on a Gibby for such a subtle difference.

[Eric***]

Hmm, I thought the difference was subtle at best. I guess because that first clip sounded just like my guitar through my amph clean, I liked it the best. I did not think the Gibby sounded that much different though.

I agree. I was listening to it blind, but I did see that he started with the Viking. Seemed to be very similar. I think you'd really have to listen closely to pick up the differences.

[ZMAN]

I am a little biased but the Gibby was the winner. The gibby just has that 335 tone. The hagstrom is close but lacks the rounded tone of the Gibson.
Also the tailpiece on the Hag might make a difference in it sounding a little "tinny" to my ears.
I have owned lots of 335 copies and they all sounded "pretty close" but you know what second is? The first loser. I spent 2000 on a Mint 335 and it is pure sweetness in ebony.

[markb]

The Hagstrom has slightly hotter and harsher pickups. It's hard to tell much else with a combination of YouTube compression and teensy weensy laptop speakers.
Even given the limitations, an easy win for the Gibson. Replace the pickups in the Hagstrom though and it'll get closer. Not spot on as zman says.

[Tone2TheBone]

The 335 was clearly warmer sounding. I preferred that tone over the Viking.

[Eric***]

Question: did the guy even go to the bridge pickup on the 335? I didn't see or hear him play anything other than neck and combined on the 335, but he did do bridge on the Viking.

I see some comments about the 335 being warmer and wonder if I'm missing something, because comparing neck to neck, I really struggle to hear a difference.

[progrmr]

I thought the 335 sounded better but really they both sounded very good.

I don't think much is going to sound better than the 335...it is what it is for a reason.

[Tig***]

If I had lottery money, I'd go with the Gibby... A vintage one for that matter!

But back in reality, the Hag is the choice, but I'd be looking at a Ibanez Artcore Custom as well.

[hubberjub***]

Question: did the guy even go to the bridge pickup on the 335? I didn't see or hear him play anything other than neck and combined on the 335, but he did do bridge on the Viking.

Excellent point Eric. This was not a very good review. If he wanted it to be a little more professional he would have played the same progression or licks on both guitars. Instead, he just kind of wanks away on the Viking and then slows down quite a bit on the Gibson. I don't think he played the bridge pickup on the 335 either. To my ears the Gibson did have a more complex sound. That's not even a high end 335. That's one of the satin finish models with no fingerboard binding.

[Heywood Jablomie]

I think there should have been one more selection in the poll: I hear what I want to hear

[hubberjub***]

True dat.

[Eric***]

I think there should have been one more selection in the poll: I hear what I want to hear

Ha. That's the most truth in this thread yet.

[sunvalleylaw]

HaHa! I like that one! I tried to answer kinda that way when I said the difference was subtle, but I picked the Hag through the C-30 because it was the sound I was used to. I voted Hag, but I probably should have voted no clear winner between the two clips. Though I dare say the Hagstrom wins the bang for the buck test as between the two, in my book anyway.

Here is a Gibby compared to a knock off Guild played by the same guy. I have always liked the Guild clip better, but there could be many, many reasons for that. I think the Guild pups may be a bit hotter or more saturated, or maybe the recording is. I really don't know. Certainly the quality of the recording of the Guild seems better.

But would I lose sleep over which guitar he was playing? Nah. Same with the above comparison. The extra couple/few thousand (or whatever it is) would not be worth it to me. Enjoy these below though. Nice semihollow numbers each.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lw5aA7XUFw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvy4oybNIxA

[syo***]

I think there should have been one more selection in the poll: I hear what I want to hear

Of course there are definite differences between those two guitars but "hearing what I want to hear" can be the most important factor of all.

There was a rather famous broadcast by the BBC in 1974 that assembled violin greats Isaac Stern, Pinchas Zuckerman and violin expert Charles Beare.
A professional violinist played behind a screen the violins belonging to the famous players (a Strad, a Guarneri del Gesù, and a Vuillaume) along with a modern (1 year old) violin from British maker Ronald Praill. None of the panelists could identify the Praill and they furthermore had limited success identifying their own instruments.

Of course there are important differences between instruments. The Hag and 335 do sound different. But I do think that sometimes our ears can be "fooled" by our heads. And as someone else has mentioned, badly compressed audio played through computer speakers is no real test at all.

[otaypanky***]

I think it's cool John was playing a Guild. But I definitely think the suit affected his tone. That and the fact that I think he was playing through a different amp.
I think the player has an awful lot to do with the final sound. Beside using different amps or guitars, your tone will be influenced by the cable, the pots and caps, your playing attack and personal style, type of pick or finger pickin', etc. Years ago there was a jam I attended for years. I have a number of guitars and amps and each week I'd bring something different. One night a guy came over to me and said "I don't get it. I have heard you play dozens of times, with all different amps and guitars, but you always have the same tone. Why is that?" I realized then how much 'your tone' is based on much more than your gear. Of course, we all have a particular tone in our head and we tend to tweak things to get that sound, whatever it may be.
And I'm a firm believer in the fact that you don't need expensive gear to get a great sound.
I had a few DeArmonds that were nice, fat ones and thinlines. An Epiphone re-issue of a Les Paul Signature I had for years was one of the sweetest guitars I have ever owned, very versatile. I have an original '73 Gibson in a goldtop finish too, so I eventually sold the Epi. I have a few other hollow bodies too and I love 'em. A '66 ES-335 I bought in '68 from my school friend for $200. I got a '66 Deluxe Reverb included in the $200 price. At least I still have the 335. And I have a Gibson Johnny A.