If I had already received the guitar, I could probably joke about the waiting, too. I would consider waiting four times as long as expected to be patient. I have no indication at all, that I will receive the guitar in the foreseeable future or ever, as everything I have been told in the past was untrue. $ 1.500 is a lot of money for me. I am happy for Chihoe, if his business is going well, but cannot understand, why he ignores his customers (or maybe just me?). I would be a lot less anxious, if he just told me when the guitar will be ready.
Once again, I know it is not really your business; I was just hoping for some reassurance, as I do not get any Information at all from Hahn guitars.
Tim - I think of the Campy Forum as a "guitar family" and some of these posts hit me hard.
All I can do - is forward posts to Chihoe and a url (I've done that) - Although he can be unrealistically optimistic, I feel he's totally trustworthy and you'll get a guitar soon. And I see concrete evidence there are guitars going out.
I'd like to think this will have a happy, musical ending soon. Again, I know guitars are going out because I see them on social media and on this forum.
I'm reluctant to post on forums but feel compelled to address the tangible anxiety here. My experience with the Model C purchase mirrors Tim_Berlin's almost exactly. Happily though, my order in early January led to a May delivery of what's become my favorite guitar. It's as good as some others I've had costing three times as much.
I've got empathy and hopefully some reassurance for those who forked over their dough and trust on a Model C. We all understand that good things take time and boutique guitars don't spill off assembly lines. But when a vendor misses multiple delivery dates and stops communication, that's usually a serious red flag. Combine the money at risk with the hopes and emotions that go into custom or boutique guitar purchases, the worry escalates rapidly. I was in Tim_Berlin's place last April.
With my custom guitars from other builders, the schedules were conservative so there'd be some float if things took longer than expected. If there was a delay, I got a call or email BEFORE the agreed-upon delivery date came and went. Realistic schedules and open communication--even over communication--from the builder would go a long way.
Looking back I'm glad I didn't cancel the order. Model C in hand and some correspondence later, I concluded that Chihoe is a dedicated, enthusiastic, skilled, stand-up guy and hopefully a friend (for what it's worth coming from a stranger on a forum). I really feel for the folks awaiting their Model C's because the same thing happened with mine, but it turned out to be a real guitar and a treasure when it arrived. Hope y'all get to experience the same thing when yours show up.
Hi everyone... it's Chihoe here. I am at Jim's house and he just signed me into the forum. First off, thanks for checking out the Model C - it has been a joy working with Jim (did I mention I am at his house???). Like you probably are, I am a big fan. Anyway, I just wanted to chime in and let everyone know what's up. I am not great with email and phone as I am a bit inundated, but I figured this was a good time to jump in. The Model C has been amazing for Hahn Guitars - Jim and I expected to just make a few a month and fulfill our dream of making a world class, affordable instrument. We immediately got flooded with orders and, as a solo builder, I had to figure out a way to make all these guitars. I decided I had to make them in big batches otherwise it would take years. Well, it's been nine months, but the batches are finally going out. We have shipped approximately 50, and the next batch of 25 will flow in the next two weeks. The final batch - yes, we have shut it off! - will go out in the next 6-8 weeks. I believe we made it to 100! That is a good 4 years of production for me... but I can assure you that every Model C is a professional, world class instrument. I think we have taken one return of the 50 as the person didn't like the finish (it's pretty basic/primitive... but that's what we wanted :-) And, if you didn't get your guitar in the order it was ordered, don't worry. No one will be forgotten - yours is just taking longer for whatever reason. In the future, we will more likely than not start the line up again... but we will sell only pre-made guitars and not take advance orders... I am sure everyone will agree that is a good idea :-) Well, I am going to go and noodle around on Jim's Gibson 225, and I will try to check in again. Any inquiries, please feel free to contact me directly at chihoe@hahnguitars.com as I will likely not be on this forum for a while, though I will try. All the best, and thanks SO MUCH to everyone who has ordered or followed it, and thanks for your incredible patience, Chihoe
Hi, I’d like to chime in as a happy owner of the Model C. While the wait was longer than I’d expected it was more than worth it … I just love it.
I ordered mine in mid February and received it (model #33) safe and sound at the end of July. It had to cross the big pond as I live in Austria which thanks to good packaging was no problem at all.
I’ll never forget when I first opened the gig bag, there was that distinct smell and the sheer beauty of the guitar. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure about the pickguard when I saw the first photos on Chihoe’s website as I like the classic Tele design so much. But now I just love the Model C design. The color of both the body and the pick guard is even more beautiful when you see it for real than on pictures, I think.
I own a Baja Tele which is not bad at all but the Model C actually DOES kick its ass ;-) Whereas the Baja neck can feel sticky at times the neck of the Model C always feels smooth like on a fine vintage instrument. And the Nitro finish is much more to my taste than the plastic looking poly …
Most importantly the Model C sounds fantastic. It has plenty of Tele twang yet sounds amazingly rich and well balanced. I don’t know if this comes from overtones, resonance of the wood, pickups or whatever but it just sounds really gorgeous …
I was on search for a new Tele for quite a while. With vintage instruments in playable condition out of my price range I was contemplating models like the Fender Vintage series and the like. I’m really happy I went with the Model C in the end. Chihoe and Jim whom I greatly admire as both a musician and a human being did some great work. It’s worth the patience ... Just my two cents ... Karl
I only purchased some hardware from Chihoe...the HAHN top/bottom loader Tele bridge and neckplate...but I spoke with him on the phone when ordering these and was so pleasantly surprised at how much attention he showed for this small order. He was also happy to talk about what a great musician and person Jim is and how much he valued his relationship with him. I'm not on the waiting list for the Model C...and I empathise with my fellow Campy Forum-ites who are.. but I have developed a serious attraction to the HAHN Model 112 in red! BTW: that HAHN Tele bridge made my Fender play and sound better...kinda wishing I had a Model C attached to it!
Thank you, Jim and Chihoe, for the timely and human responses and updates. Thanks also to kindred forum members who encouraged that very precious virtue of patience.
And though you (Chihoe) may not see this, your reply confirmed exactly what I thought was your reality, and why I felt that, ultimately, the wait was part of the purchase and process.
I'm still grateful for the Jim-and-Chihoe collaboration that made the guitar possible in the first place, and secondly, that I was able to purchase one.
Look forward to getting mine! I read about Hahn guitars years ago in one of the guitar magazines. The reviewer stated that the build quality is stellar. When I heard that he partnered with Jim to build a guitar purchasing one was a no brainer. Just a reminder, complaints about thin finishes led Fender to cover guitars in plastic. Guitars covered in thick finishes don’t feel, play, or sound good in my opinion. I own Gibson guitars that were made in the fifties and sixties. There finishes are extremely thin.
I don’t mind waiting for a quality product from a master craftsman. Take your time, do it right. I have no doubt Chihoe will!
One other thought. I ordered an effects pedal years ago. I called the person that was building it to place my order. He interviewed me extensively about the amps I play, playing style, and what I expected from the pedal. I was perplexed about why the interview was so intense. I asked him what was going on, he apologized and said people were returning his pedals because they weren’t like tube screamers. He was a little discouraged on the day I talked to him. The builder was Bill Finnegan and he was building Klons on his kitchen table. And yes it did take him much longer than anticipated to build it.
Let’s put this in perspective, a master craftsman and one of my favorite all time guitarist collaborated to build a guitar for 1500.00. I’ll enjoy the guitar for my lifetime, what’s a few extra months?
I agree! I also had that same kind of phone "interview" will Bill Fiinegan back in 1998...and my Klon has remained on my pedal-board since then. And now 20 years later.. I find out that Jim Campilongo is friends with Mr. Finnegan...AND I heard in an interview that it was Bill that sort of encouraged Jim to come up with the ultra-cool BACKBURNER scorcher....case closed!
Jim, the gang over at TDPRI are getting a bit squirrely about their Model Cs and not hearing from Chihoe. May I repost your comment, or would you like to check in there?
The guitar arrived this week. During the little time I could spend playing it so far, it became clear that playability is great and the sounds — dry and plugged in — are very promising. It is also a beautiful instrument to look at. Dear Chihoe, many thanks! It was worth the wait.
Could I ask those who've recently received their guitars - when did you place your orders? I'm waiting patiently here in Scotland, hoping it might arrive in NYC in time for my girlfriend's mum to bring it over on 21st October... I ordered in early May. If they do indeed all go out by October's end but it misses the boat, that would be awfully frustrating!
I ordered Mine May 2nd and have not recieved it yet. I thought that I had missed out when I ordered initially. This leads me to believe I was one of the last to order and therefore will be among the last to receive mine. It appears that you may be in the same boat. Have it shipped to me and I will bring it over to Scotland, I have always wanted to visit.
Comments
If I had already received the guitar, I could probably joke about the waiting, too. I would consider waiting four times as long as expected to be patient. I have no indication at all, that I will receive the guitar in the foreseeable future or ever, as everything I have been told in the past was untrue. $ 1.500 is a lot of money for me. I am happy for Chihoe, if his business is going well, but cannot understand, why he ignores his customers (or maybe just me?). I would be a lot less anxious, if he just told me when the guitar will be ready.
Once again, I know it is not really your business; I was just hoping for some reassurance, as I do not get any Information at all from Hahn guitars.
All I can do - is forward posts to Chihoe and a url (I've done that) - Although he can be unrealistically optimistic, I feel he's totally trustworthy and you'll get a guitar soon. And I see concrete evidence there are guitars going out.
I'd like to think this will have a happy, musical ending soon. Again, I know guitars are going out because I see them on social media and on this forum.
- Jim
I've got empathy and hopefully some reassurance for those who forked over their dough and trust on a Model C. We all understand that good things take time and boutique guitars don't spill off assembly lines. But when a vendor misses multiple delivery dates and stops communication, that's usually a serious red flag. Combine the money at risk with the hopes and emotions that go into custom or boutique guitar purchases, the worry escalates rapidly. I was in Tim_Berlin's place last April.
With my custom guitars from other builders, the schedules were conservative so there'd be some float if things took longer than expected. If there was a delay, I got a call or email BEFORE the agreed-upon delivery date came and went. Realistic schedules and open communication--even over communication--from the builder would go a long way.
Looking back I'm glad I didn't cancel the order. Model C in hand and some correspondence later, I concluded that Chihoe is a dedicated, enthusiastic, skilled, stand-up guy and hopefully a friend (for what it's worth coming from a stranger on a forum). I really feel for the folks awaiting their Model C's because the same thing happened with mine, but it turned out to be a real guitar and a treasure when it arrived. Hope y'all get to experience the same thing when yours show up.
Keith
"a palm-sized tube amp that uses a pair of new-old-stock Phillips 6021W dual-triodes (originally made for use in ballistic missiles)"
https://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/z-vex-nano-head
You can buy 'em:
https://www.watfordvalves.com/product_detail.asp?id=3560
I’d like to chime in as a happy owner of the Model C. While the wait was longer than I’d expected it was more than worth it … I just love it.
I ordered mine in mid February and received it (model #33) safe and sound at the end of July. It had to cross the big pond as I live in Austria which thanks to good packaging was no problem at all.
I’ll never forget when I first opened the gig bag, there was that distinct smell and the sheer beauty of the guitar. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure about the pickguard when I saw the first photos on Chihoe’s website as I like the classic Tele design so much. But now I just love the Model C design. The color of both the body and the pick guard is even more beautiful when you see it for real than on pictures, I think.
I own a Baja Tele which is not bad at all but the Model C actually DOES kick its ass ;-) Whereas the Baja neck can feel sticky at times the neck of the Model C always feels smooth like on a fine vintage instrument. And the Nitro finish is much more to my taste than the plastic looking poly …
Most importantly the Model C sounds fantastic. It has plenty of Tele twang yet sounds amazingly rich and well balanced. I don’t know if this comes from overtones, resonance of the wood, pickups or whatever but it just sounds really gorgeous …
I was on search for a new Tele for quite a while. With vintage instruments in playable condition out of my price range I was contemplating models like the Fender Vintage series and the like. I’m really happy I went with the Model C in the end. Chihoe and Jim whom I greatly admire as both a musician and a human being did some great work. It’s worth the patience ...
Just my two cents ...
Karl
Many thanks for the clarifying information!
Looking forward to receiving a well crafted instruments in the near future.
Habe
And though you (Chihoe) may not see this, your reply confirmed exactly what I thought was your reality, and why I felt that, ultimately, the wait was part of the purchase and process.
I'm still grateful for the Jim-and-Chihoe collaboration that made the guitar possible in the first place, and secondly, that I was able to purchase one.
Thank you everyone.
I don’t mind waiting for a quality product from a master craftsman. Take your time, do it right. I have no doubt Chihoe will!
Let’s put this in perspective, a master craftsman and one of my favorite all time guitarist collaborated to build a guitar for 1500.00. I’ll enjoy the guitar for my lifetime, what’s a few extra months?
I agree! I also had that same kind of phone "interview" will Bill Fiinegan back in 1998...and my Klon has remained on my pedal-board since then. And now 20 years later.. I find out that Jim Campilongo is friends with Mr. Finnegan...AND I heard in an interview that it was Bill that sort of encouraged Jim to come up with the ultra-cool BACKBURNER scorcher....case closed!
Thanks for your patience gentlemen.
Have a great day- Jim
I see your headed MN-way, and I hope to attend your Minneapolis show in December. If there's an opportunity, I'll introduce myself.
Thanks again.
John
Y E S !
The guitar should arrive next week.
Dear Chihoe, many thanks! It was worth the wait.
I ordered mine first week of March and received it last Tuesday (Oct. 9) with a heads-up by ups 5 days before.