Hagstrom HL550

rimm

I just picked up my brand Hagstrom and its totally blowing me away. The build quality on it is really first class, no dodgy binding/glue etc and it plays like a guitar in the 2 grand plus range. But the most important issue here I think is the fact that it plays AMAZINGLY acousticly-almost as loud as some gypsy guitars I have played in the past and when amplified there is no need to sit back or decrease the volume when vamping..Honestly, it plays just like a really good gypsy jazz acoustic with none of the fartyness that can come with Humbuckers. Also, from what I can see it retails for about 500 bucks in the states which seems to me to be a steal.

And Elvis had a Hag..

Pugs47

I've had my 550 for three years, in the dark mahogany finish. Looks like on yours they've gone to a more natural finish, cut out the tailpiece area in the center and maybe changed the pickup, which was a definite weakness on mine, which is a terrible mini Johnny Smith clone. But for the money hard to beat. I've gigged with it quite a lot in straight ahead situations, but not in GJ. Very righteous and resonant guitar for the money.