NGD Hallmark Custom 60

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cincinnatiharry
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NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by cincinnatiharry » Wed May 18, 2022 6:26 am

Man oh man. This guitar is now my favourite. Only guitar I have ever owned where the vibrato returns to perfect pitch. It sounds so good! Looks so cool. Gonna be selling off a load of guitars to buy more Hallmark Custom 60s!

I’m in love!

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Only $995 with hard case, honestly I was expecting a cheaply made guitar but this thing is all around premium. Easily as good as a Fender USA guitar.

I am BLOWN away!

Sorry for the fanboy-ing but I have never been this jazzed over a guitar, just perfect out of the box.
"some misguided Marin county hot-tubber"

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by MKR » Wed May 18, 2022 9:10 am

very nice.

Wait is this a reissue that you bought new?

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by panoramic » Wed May 18, 2022 9:36 am

MKR wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:10 am
very nice.

Wait is this a reissue that you bought new?
these are the guitars man or astroman plays, i think they are made by a builder in Canada
https://reverb.com/item/54944785-lightl ... shell-case
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by Tehz_ » Wed May 18, 2022 10:08 am

nice score! what's the neck profile like? been curious about these things for YEARS but never seen one in person

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cincinnatiharry
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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by cincinnatiharry » Wed May 18, 2022 10:21 am

panoramic wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:36 am
MKR wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:10 am
very nice.

Wait is this a reissue that you bought new?
these are the guitars man or astroman plays, i think they are made by a builder in Canada
https://reverb.com/item/54944785-lightl ... shell-case
No, made and sold by Bob Shade in Maryland, USA. $995 w/ hard case.

Man or Astroman plays a signature model, a bolt-on “Custom ‘65” Hallmark. Mine is the “Custom 60” the set neck model.

I have named it “Mary Poppins” because it is “practically perfect in every way”.

You buy direct from Bob. I had to wait 2 and a half months n it I believe he has a few models in stock right now so you wouldn’t have to wait that long.
"some misguided Marin county hot-tubber"

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by panoramic » Wed May 18, 2022 10:23 am

cincinnatiharry wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 10:21 am
panoramic wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:36 am
MKR wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:10 am
very nice.

Wait is this a reissue that you bought new?
these are the guitars man or astroman plays, i think they are made by a builder in Canada
https://reverb.com/item/54944785-lightl ... shell-case
No, made and sold by Bob Shade in Maryland, USA. $995 w/ hard case.

Man or Astroman plays a signature model, a bolt-on “Custom ‘65” Hallmark. Mine is the “Custom 60” the set neck model.

I have named it “Mary Poppins” because it is “practically perfect in every way”.

You buy direct from Bob. I had to wait 2 and a half months n it I believe he has a few models in stock right now so you wouldn’t have to wait that long.
Nice, dude is local to me then :D
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

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cincinnatiharry
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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by cincinnatiharry » Wed May 18, 2022 10:24 am

Tehz_ wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 10:08 am
nice score! what's the neck profile like? been curious about these things for YEARS but never seen one in person
It is amazing. I am gonna sell my Gibson Les Pauls, my other stuff and just buy more Hallmarks. Bob Shade has a 12 string set neck coming out and a Bass VI set neck coming out around the same price of $1000 with hard case.

The neck profile is similar to my Gibson Firebird, so thin 60s(?)

These Hallmarks play WAY better than the Mosrites, proper frets and neck width on the Hallmarks.

It blows me away that the vibrato returns to perfect pitch every time. My bigsbys always came back a few cents flat, not this guitar!
"some misguided Marin county hot-tubber"

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by Flurko » Wed May 18, 2022 10:32 am

Well done, I just had a look on the Hallmark website, it's old school in a way that makes me trust the builder !
I don't get why Mosrites are the only guitar with 3 a side split post tuners, a big point for them in my book.

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by Jonesie » Wed May 18, 2022 11:27 am

Are they really made in the US for a grand? I thought they were made in Korea or somewhere and then setup in the US, like Reverend does.

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by LVC » Wed May 18, 2022 12:28 pm

Jonesie wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 11:27 am
Are they really made in the US for a grand? I thought they were made in Korea or somewhere and then setup in the US, like Reverend does.
That's what I remember reading as well.

I've been GASing hard for one for a long time. They look much closer to classic Mosrites than most current copies... And with some really awesome finishes.

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by cincinnatiharry » Thu May 19, 2022 12:11 am

Jonesie wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 11:27 am
Are they really made in the US for a grand? I thought they were made in Korea or somewhere and then setup in the US, like Reverend does.
Nope. Bob gets the bodies, unfinished CNC'd in Korea. Then shipped over. Bob finishes them, assembles them, sets them up, does the fret work, winds the pickups by hand. The cases are made overseas, and dye cast hardware is too but he is assembles and finishes the guitars in Maryland.

So "made in the USA with components supplied from around the world" would be more accurate. However they don't become guitars until Bob Shade assembles, finishes them, and sets them up, before that happens they're just parts.

Pretty sure Fender USA gets their bodies CNC'd in Mexico and sent up, I believe only the Fender Custom Shop CNC's their own bodies.

We are a world economy now, guitar manufacturers get components made all over.

I will say this, the Hallmark is the most premium guitar I own. Feels way more "premium" than my Gibson Firebird and Gibson Les Paul.

The Hallmarks are too inexpensive, they'd be $2500 guitars if anyone else was selling them. Easy.
Last edited by cincinnatiharry on Thu May 19, 2022 12:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by cincinnatiharry » Thu May 19, 2022 12:22 am

LVC wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 12:28 pm
Jonesie wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 11:27 am
Are they really made in the US for a grand? I thought they were made in Korea or somewhere and then setup in the US, like Reverend does.
That's what I remember reading as well.

I've been GASing hard for one for a long time. They look much closer to classic Mosrites than most current copies... And with some really awesome finishes.

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I would pull the trigger. They're BETTER than Mosrites as they're easier to play and the vibrato returns to pitch. Bob Shade apprenticed with Joe Hall who owned Hallmark (before selling to Bob) and Joe Hall designed Hallmark guitars and worked on the Mosrite guitars. Andy Moseley, Semie's brother was a "silent" partner in Mosrite and Hallmark.

Since Fillmore and Kurokomo are out of business Hallmark is the only place to get a production "Mosrite" guitar. Yes, you can get a Luthier like Ed Elliot to build you a bespoke Mosrite for $4500, and those are nice sure, but I can't imagine they'd be nicer than the $1000 Hallmark.

I will say this, in person they look even nicer than the website. They look and feel like the "real" mid-1960s "The Ventures" set neck Mosrites but the Hallmark finish is better and plays better. The neck is slightly wider on the Hallmark and the frets bigger. You can do "Boomer bends" on the Hallmark.

Its like Bob Shade has taken what Joe Hall and those guys in Bakersfield started and improved it.

I am serious about selling off most of my electric guitars and buying Hallmarks to replace them. It was just perfect for me out of the box. Every other guitar I have had to adjust or modify to make it work for me, without it ever being perfect. I have poured a lot of money into upgrades, mods, and luthier trips to make my 2013 Gibson Firebird V work for me and this Hallmark does it out of the box for a fraction of the cost, it blows my mind.
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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by CorporateDisguise » Thu May 19, 2022 2:02 am

:-* :-* :-*

I’ve always loved the Mosrite shape, but have always been scared away by the crazy thin necks. I’ve probably spent q bit to much time on the Hallmark website over the years just drooling.


How do you like the trem? I’ve been considering using one on an upcoming parts build I’m working on.

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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by Salfaromeab » Thu May 19, 2022 4:08 am

Congrats! Lovely burst on that, and I'm not usually a sunburst guy! Mosrite and Hallmark owner, Hallmark do make some great stuff, really have GAS for a Hallmark II...
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Re: NGD Hallmark Custom 60

Post by panoramic » Thu May 19, 2022 6:09 am

LVC wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 12:28 pm
Jonesie wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 11:27 am
Are they really made in the US for a grand? I thought they were made in Korea or somewhere and then setup in the US, like Reverend does.
That's what I remember reading as well.

I've been GASing hard for one for a long time. They look much closer to classic Mosrites than most current copies... And with some really awesome finishes.

Image
Image
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that copper one is fucking hot
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

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