Both are similar, yet different enough... and I don't own a hollowbody or semihollow and have been GASsing for one. And as luck should have it, there's one of each used on Music 123's ebay store with free shipping to PR... and I like them both.
The Dot appears to be in good shape, but the Viking looks like it's got some scratches on the top (which would also explain the deep discount from new retail.)
So which should I get?
Scumbag Dot:
Redheaded Viking:
Last edited by mkt3000 on Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
the dot is going to have a fairly chunky neck and the viking is going to have a really thin neck.
to me, it all comes to what you prefer neck wise. if you're indifferent about that, I would do w/ the dot since I think it looks better. My favorite guitar next to my mustang is my epi dot. It's like a $100 guitar but I play it all the time. Couldn't imagine a better guitar for the price.
Personally I would hold out for an old Japanese one from the '70s or even a Korean one from the '80s. The former won't necessarily be as playable as either of those two, but will make up for that in character.
For those who don't know about those Viking headstocks...it's actually the same as the larger three to a side headstock only cut across diagonally to do six in line. I myself think it looks out of place.
I picked up a Dot studio like that the other day at GC, just to see how a $200 semi hollow feels to my hands these days...I was actually quite impressed, it was a fun solid guitar. Don't know what the quality control is like on them but for the price the one I played was not bad.
I never have played a new Hagstrom...I liked my vintage one a lot, but I get the feeling they're quite different aside from both being the same shape and thin neck profiles (mine was full hollow thinline, I think these new ones are semi). The neck profile was the one thing I couldn't get along with on that guitar, but it comes down to what you like personally.
I've heard only good things about the lower-end Gretsch models playability wise, but apparently the 'Gretschbuckers' leave a lot to be desired. I have read that they can be improved by playing with the pole pieces, but a common upgrade is to standard Grestch Filtertrons, or the T V Jones versions.
Also, that Dot in your first post looks pretty nice, but I don't like the headstock on either the Dot or Hagstrom
hotrodperlmutter wrote:...and yours is the only one i've played with the fat neck.
I've played a lot of the worn studios and they all have the bigger necks. The rivera and P90s semis have fat necks too. I haven't played too many of the series like yours (solid, gloss paint).
My vintage Viking was hollow, but I'm pretty sure the reissues are semi.
Thanks for clearing up the neck profile info Tim....I got confused because when they were reissued they posted all these "some say they have the fastest necks in the world" type taglines on their website and ads, and in some of those pictures I'm quite sure they showed Vikings....false advertising I guess?
If the dude offering me the Gretsch pulls through, I'm going Gretsch. If not, then the Dot. The Hagstrom is cool, but since it's damaged, I'm concerned of how it'll arrive in PR after being bumped a few times in shipping.
I've played them both. Between the two ( and didn't want to admit it ) I felt the Epiphone played and sounded better .. Especially the Studios ... Maybe it's something to do with the lack of finish... I don't know ... Was playing them out of a Mesa TransAtlantic 15 .. The HBs seemed just as bright as the Hag's dogears..
