Hallmark 59 Custom

[sleeperNY]

Does anyone from Calf. know rickorama. He/it is the store that had both the 59 and 60 custom offered on e-bay. My brother bought the 59Custom and should have it soon so I will get to see it. I can't believe the price he paid for it so I am wondering if he has anything to be worried about. It has been shipped and he has the tracking #.

Jim

[Veenture]

Be sure to convey your findings when you've had a chance to check it out, Jim

[Sarah93003]

Hopefully he receives a guitar and not a tie tac.

[sleeperNY]

I saw the Hallmark 59 Custom today and it is just a Beautiful guitar. Pictures do not do it justice. It plays and sounds like the 60 Custom as I thought it might. It is now on my short list of guitars I have to get.





Here it is with my 60 Custom.

[GattonFan]

Beautiful pair of Hallmarks there, Jim. Bob S. nailed the essence of the Mosrite ...
Dennis

[dubtrub]

Great looking guitar as expected. Does the vibrato return to pitch? Hopefully Hallmark got that problem resolved.

[MWaldorf]

Very nice. How do you find the vibrato action compares to the 60 Custom? Does the 59 vibrato return to pitch after you pull it sharp as well as when you push it flat?

[sleeperNY]

Sadly the vibrato system does not work as well as the 60 Custom model. I didn't get to look into just what the problem is but think that the spring is to soft. It just doesn't keep it in one spot. It may also be hanging in the bridge. I need about a half a day to just sit and tinker on it and my brother is still in the honeymoon stage with it right now. Other than that everything else is set up great right out of the box.

I should also add that the new cases are great looking and appear to be much more rugged than the old cases.

Jim

[dubtrub]

Good luck Jim. Please keep us informed if you can find a solution. Mel and I tried every conceivable method imaginable to get his to work properly and the only solution was to change it out completely for a later version Vibramute. A heavier spring will elevate the arm beyond the comfort zone and still not return to pitch. Personally I think it's a geometric design flaw, although it was copied from an original very early version. The later ones like the ones Elliott puts on his 59s seem to work just fine. I know the one I got from him and used on the doubIe neck worked as it should. I guess there was a reason Semie upgraded from that design.

[sleeperNY]

I have been looking at the pictures I took of the 59 and 60 side by side and I do believe that the neck is set at a different angle. Not sure if that has anything to do with it but seams strange that they would change the angle. You can clearly see it in this pic.