elleon ricardo Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 hi everyone, long time no see.. its been awhile LOL me and my friends had argument which were better between epiphone casino, dot, or hagstorm viking deluxe? he think hagstorm is a killer, but id say casino are much better.. both of us love rock genre.. so give us some of your thought.. so we can settle this down.. thanks Rico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson4life Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Casino hands down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome_travis Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Vikings of the past hahaha are definitely finer instruments. It really depends on the genre you play. I love mine, but it didnt suit my styles of playing so i let it go. It's a real beauty. But for harder rock, gotta look elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 There might be some legitimate debate between the Dot and the Viking, since they're both the same type of guitar --- thinline semihollow construction with two humbuckers. The Casino is a different species altogether, being fully hollow with P-90's. They're intended to do different things, so any preference is purely subjective. Better for what? To whom? It's kind of like asking whether a piano or an organ is a better instrument. Each has their distinct qualities and is better for certain types of parts in a composition. Some players and listeners may prefer one over the other, but neither can completely substitute for the other, and neither is definitively "better" than the other overall. As with many other things in life, learning to enjoy the variety can make our lives much richer than having to rank one thing as better than another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Casino hands down I think not..! In terms of build quality' date=' the new Hagstroms leave a standard MIC Epiphone Casino in the dust, scratching its head and wondering what just hit it. That said, the Viking is based (loosely) on an ES-335 and oozes that semi-hollow vibe. The Casino is probaby still the best hollow-body electric out there for the $$. I love my Viking. It's a wonderful guitar, the best I have ever owned (and I own American Fenders and have owned Gibsons in the past). If I could have only one guitar, it would be this one. Choose whatever guitar suits you best. But I'm certain the Hagstrom will not disappoint you.... But remember that the Viking and Viking Deluxe are actually the same guitar. The Deluxe just has more 'bling.' That said, the new Viking Deluxe Tremars (Hagstrom's take on a Bigsby fitted as stock) tend to leave one salivating... [img']http://www.hagstromguitars.com/images/VDT_BLK.jpg[/img] Johnny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elleon ricardo Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 @ jerome_travis : since you're in singapore, i have something to ask jerome, where i can find a epi casino elitist or a hagstrom viking in singapore, i check sweelee last time they dont have any.. ???? me and my friend are in a "have fun and kill some time" Band, who just love to jam whenever we feel like it and both of us are in Rock Genre, we had argument since i choose epi over hagstrom and he said the opposite.. now we had a bet and see whos won in the end.. my argument are epi dot or casino, are well build in quality ( at least its epi.. not some crappy gibson copy )and it also had great value of money.. while he said hagstrom really good in sound and quality despite they also made in china so you guys think hagstrom win overall compare to epi dot or casino? ( please say epi better or i lost my 20 buck to a chump LOL ) (crossing fingers ) RICO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafaelh Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 so you guys think hagstrom win overall compare to epi dot or casino? Not at all...at least not the few Hagstroms I've tried. I have however read very good reviews on the older Hagstrom, '80s or so, but have no hands on experience with those....as I said just from reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Not at all...at least not the few Hagstroms I've tried. I have however read very good reviews on the older Hagstrom' date=' '80s or so, but have no hands on experience with those....as I said just from reading. [/quote'] To be honest, I kind of regret my earlier exuberant post. I agree with those who have basically said, "What's the point in comparison threads like this?" If a guitar works for you...it works for you (irrespective of the name on the headstock). My Viking works for me and my Casino didn't (hence I still own the Viking and sold the Casino). Other people would doubtless have reached the converse opinion. Raf - here's the deal with the new Hagstroms. When the reissues first came out there were a lot of quality control issues (as my local Hagstrom dealer freely admits). Some of these issues were serious (such as people cutting themselves on the poorly-finished fret ends). Unfortunately, a lot of these guitars (which should have been recalled) ended up on e-bay. This accounts, in part, for the mixed reviews you'll find at Harmony Central for the new Hags. Then, around 2008, Hagstrom really got their act together. And the reissues from that point on are truly excellent (especially for their price). If you find a dealer with a few Hags in stock and try one or two, I think you'd be impressed. The Hagstrom serial number is simple. It begins with an "M" for some reason, followed by the year...07, 08, 09 etc. Pick up an 08 onwards and I'll bet it's a fine guitar. But to each his own. I revise my earlier statement. To the original poster: there is no "better" guitar between the Casino, Dot and Viking. All that exists is the model a player (personally) prefers. Johnny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome_travis Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I'd go with the viking Why people don't like the Viking as much? my guess would be it doesnt even stand a chance in the cosmetic department. The Casino trumps all in terms of vibe, it has every combination right for a winning "old faithful" look. I let my casino go as well, as much as I love it, sonically there's not much that I can do with it except blues and jazz! The limited fret access to me was a bit of a bother as well. The Viking on the other hand has the winning combination of a versatile guitar - semi hollow construction, easy fret access. Ric, There are no elitists in Singapore. Perhaps try www.soft.com.sg. the classifieds page, one or two may pop out occassionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 The Viking is one of the most incoherant looking guitars I've seen in a while. The horns are too pointed, not nice and rounded and traditional like a Dot or Casino, the F holes are an odd shape, as is the pickguard and the aesymmetry of the tailpiece and headstock do nothing for it. The bound neck is about the only positive thing about its appearance. Sorry to Lord Summerisle and others who love them. Besides that, I will agree that these comparisons are pointless. Depends on your use, your playing style, and what you want to get out of the guitar. A Dot, to me, sounds quite like a Les Paul, given that it has humbuckers and it mostly solid. Not exactly like a Les Paul, but not different enough for me. Though I'd probably take one over a Les Paul because they're gorgeous, and cheaper. The Casino is a lot different. Fully hollow with P90s. Beautiful clean tone, much more resonant, but it also sounds great with some overdrive. The sound is a bit more finite and specific and won't suit everyone, whereas a Dot is, arguably, more versatile. That's why I bought a Casino, because it offered me that beautiful, resonant, almost acoustic kind of tone. Fantastic for emotive, clean, bluesy stuff, rock and roll, rockabilly, which is what I wanted. And as I said, it still sings with a bit of overdrive, though it doesn't quite have the sustain of something solid (but who needs sustain when you have FEEDBACK?!) I already have the sound of humbuckers in a solid body with the SG, so I went for the Casino over the Dot because it's considerably different. If you like playing on the upper frets, then you won't like the Casino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonbass76 Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I have owned a dot (Korean), and a viking. They were both comparable in quality, the main difference is price. Meaning, the chances of you finding a used dot are a lot higher than finding a used viking. If it were me I would play a used dot, if you can find one where you're at, make sure you like it and use what you saved buying used and upgrade the pickups. I like the stock pickups in the viking, they suit me better than the stock dot pickups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ataylor Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 The Viking is one of the most incoherant looking guitars I've seen in a while. The horns are too pointed' date=' not nice and rounded and traditional like a Dot or Casino, the F holes are an odd shape, as is the pickguard and the aesymmetry of the tailpiece and headstock do nothing for it. The bound neck is about the only positive thing about its appearance. Sorry to Lord Summerisle and others who love them.[/quote'] I couldn't agree more. I can't get past the headstock on the Hagstroms -- it's a deal-breaker for me from the start. If I were going to get a 335-shaped guitar other than an Epiphone or Gibson, I'd probably take a look at the new Harmony reissues. Who knows if they play good, but they sure look cool. Actually, if money was no issue I'd go for a Collings, but if I could afford a Collings I'd probably get one of their acoustics anyway. And in any case I will never be able to afford one, so that's that. But to be fair, the Hagstroms are definitely unique and would probably look great in an indie rock band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxHart85231281734137 Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 what about the hofner verythin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome_travis Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 The hofners are now made in china. Having said, the neck is pretty comfortable, but it has playability issues for me, i suspect a bad nut job to blame here. They sound a tad brighter than a semi should, but could be due to the Vox I use to test it on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafaelh Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 The hofners are now made in china. Not so. Don't mistake the Verythin Standards with Verythin CT(contemporary). The CT's are MIC and the Verythin Standards are still MIG. Mine's a MIG and is one of the best guitars I've ever had the pleasure to play and own. Never played a CT, or seen one, but have heard pretty good reviews...but like I said no hands on experience on them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafaelh Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 here's the deal with the new Hagstroms. When the reissues first came out there were a lot of quality control issues (as my local Hagstrom dealer freely admits). Some of these issues were serious (such as people cutting themselves on the poorly-finished fret ends). Unfortunately' date=' a lot of these guitars (which should have been recalled) ended up on e-bay. This accounts, in part, for the mixed reviews you'll find at Harmony Central for the new Hags. Then, around 2008, Hagstrom [b']really[/b] got their act together. And the reissues from that point on are truly excellent (especially for their price). If you find a dealer with a few Hags in stock and try one or two, I think you'd be impressed. The Hagstrom serial number is simple. It begins with an "M" for some reason, followed by the year...07, 08, 09 etc. Pick up an 08 onwards and I'll bet it's a fine guitar. Hey Johnny, that could very well be the case with the ones I tried.....very first reissues. I did read the reviews which were not all that favorable, but you know one still has to check for one self. The ones I did try just felt like they was going to fall apart in my hands. The necks were just as you described and felt like made out of plastic....kind of a toy feeling. Anyhow I haven't bothered with them since but might check them again after reading what you typed. Definitely do like the way some look. Especially the Viking....I always thought it was a pretty sharp looker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 As others have stated a guitars sound is purely subjective,it depends on your genres of music,the feel you get from the guitar etc.I love the sound of my Casinos and I love my old Hagstroms but their sounds and feel are quite different.I'd say try out each on the same amp,then make your choice. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marek Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 On 11/2/2009 at 4:47 PM, jerome_travis said: Vikings of the past hahaha are definitely finer instruments. It really depends on the genre you play. I love mine, but it didnt suit my styles of playing so i let it go. It's a real beauty. But for harder rock, gotta look elsewhere. What would you recommend for harder rock? Semi-hollow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 Zombie thread time! 10 years later I still have the Viking. It's held up very well. Still my "go to" guitar. To answer Marek, I think there's plenty of people who have played hard rock on 335 style guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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