Hadean Guitars

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redman
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Hope everyone is well I haven't been on here much in quite awhile but I need you guys input. I have a 25 year old grandson-in-law that I gave an IYV Tele I had and he loves it trouble is he's like Mickey, Tobijohn and lots others he's a lefty. So my granddaughter wants to get him a left handed guitar and like most young couples not much $$$. Kurt has a strat style Hadean lefty for $115. So my question is, are the Hadean guitars as good as the SX line? I have 3 SX guitars a S style, a T style and a Liquid I did mod the S and T but the Liquid is stock and I love them. I don't mind doing a proper set-up on it as long as it has good bones.
So what say you Masters of great guitars for little moolah buy the Hadean, step up $70 for a SX or keep looking.
Thanks for the input my friends
Randy

PS A little gratuitous guitar porn ;)
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dabbler
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I have 3 Hadeans, only one is a solidbody, but my experience tells me yes, it is on par with SX.

Here is mine with it's SX cousin:
IMGP2553a.jpg
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ILuvTeles
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Hadean guitars seem to be primarily basswood (one reason I have not purchased one). For a few $$ more, the SX seem to be available with mahogany, alder or ash.
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Partscaster
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I think that yellow Hadean lefty looks great for 115$.
Alder would be my first choice but thats going to be much more $.
Jeff Beck's #1 is a basswood strat. He's managing a few good sounds out of it.

Its got 22 frets with a real rosewood fretboard which is a lot nicer IMO than many Squire options these days.
If he takes to it well, some inexpensive GFS strat pickups could likely upgrade to a very good sounding Alnico pickup set for 60-80$.

Plus, its got a full thickness body at 1-3/4". So later a trem or full size trem-block replacement could be fit more easily.
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"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, and his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted."
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redman
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dabbler wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:18 pm I have 3 Hadeans, only one is a solidbody, but my experience tells me yes, it is on par with SX.

Here is mine with it's SX cousin:

IMGP2553a.jpg
Thanks Dabbler I think I'm going to pull the trigger how was it out of the box?
ILuvTeles wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:39 pm Hadean guitars seem to be primarily basswood (one reason I have not purchased one). For a few $$ more, the SX seem to be available with mahogany, alder or ash.
Thanks man all I see on Rondo's site in a lefty SX is a T style with an Alder body and maple neck for $189.95 and that's a bit out of the kids reach for now. I would really like to check out some more though so if you will please let me know where you saw those I would really appreciate it.
As far as the Basswood I have no problem with it about all the big brands have models with basswood bodies I'm pretty sure all the MIJ Fender Teles use basswood and Jeff Beck's #1 Strat is basswood and EVH used basswood for his Fender Custom Shop built Wolfgang guitars. I will agree it's a bit softer than even Alder and tends to denting more easily.

I found an SX on Reverb but shipping put it over $200 There is also a Dinky on there that would be in the price range but if I can I like to support Kurt cause he's just an awesome guy.
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toomanycats
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I've got, rather, had, a Hadean fretless with a Floyd Rose. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. It was something like a failed experiment for me and I don't recommend that you choose that model. However, even though I've since parted it out I will say that the guitar in itself was a decent quality instrument. I have SXs too, and I didn't consider the Hadean to be of inferior build.

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dabbler
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redman wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:19 pm
Thanks Dabbler I think I'm going to pull the trigger how was it out of the box?
It was playable, just like my SXes, but of course it was better after a setup.
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tobijohn
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I'm with the consensus here on the build quality of the Hadean being on par with SX. You mentioned that $190 was a bit more than what he wanted to pay but unless he definitely wants a Strat style, IMHO the SX Callisto LP is a lot of guitar for the money. I've got one and it really needs nothing:

https://www.rondomusic.com/SX_CallistoS ... _Left.html

As for the price being a little rich for him right now, Kurt also has it listed on Reverb which offers a payment plan option through Affirm:

https://reverb.com/item/37153921-sx-cal ... ItXNbkyllI
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nomadh
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tobijohn wrote: Tue Dec 01, 2020 5:39 pm I'm with the consensus here on the build quality of the Hadean being on par with SX. You mentioned that $190 was a bit more than what he wanted to pay but unless he definitely wants a Strat style, IMHO the SX Callisto LP is a lot of guitar for the money. I've got one and it really needs nothing:

https://www.rondomusic.com/SX_CallistoS ... _Left.html

As for the price being a little rich for him right now, Kurt also has it listed on Reverb which offers a payment plan option through Affirm:

https://reverb.com/item/37153921-sx-cal ... ItXNbkyllI
I think the hadean could be fine but I got to admit for a few bucks more these are getting rave reviews.
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mickey
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I have only ever looked at seriously purchasing one Hadean guitar THIS ONE.
And it convinced me not to consider Hadeans seriously.

Firstly, who wants a guitar with an upside down preamp?

Image

And who on earth would want a guitar with the intonation completely hosed?
Note the angle of the saddle is correct for a righty on this lefty guitar:

Image
Would have been improved by going straight across (as many cheap nylon string guitars do.)

Pics are from Rondo's website.
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nomadh
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Gearlist: My Gear:Electric
Gibson '13 studio dlx hsb
Gibson '79 flying V
Gibson '06 sg faded
Gibson '15 LP CM w gforce
Epiphone Casino coupe
Epiphone dot studio
Fender USA strat w mjt body _w Original body 81
Fender lead II
Firefly spalted 338
Squier affinity tele bsb
Squier strat std relic
Squier subsonic baritone
Agile al2500 albino
Agile al3001 hsb
Sx ash Ltd strat
Sx ash strat short scale
Sx ash tele
Sx callisto jr
Dean vendetta
Washburn firebird. Ps10
Johnson trans red strat
Johnson jazz box Vegas
Seville explorer
Inlaid tele
flametop bigsby tele wood inlaid neck
23

Acoustics
new Eastman acoustic
Sigma dm3 dread x2 (his and hers)
Fender 12 str
Ibanez exotic wood
Silvercreek rosewood 00
Ovation steel str
martin backpacker acoustic
Johnson dobro

toomanycats wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:44 pm I've got, rather, had, a Hadean fretless with a Floyd Rose. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. It was something like a failed experiment for me and I don't recommend that you choose that model. However, even though I've since parted it out I will say that the guitar in itself was a decent quality instrument. I have SXs too, and I didn't consider the Hadean to be of inferior build.


IMG_1878.JPG


IMG_1862.JPG
I knew hadeans were cheap but not including frets? Man I hope that doesn't catch on. I am willing to pay the extra $10 :)
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redman
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The Hadean came yesterday and really was a good one didn't have to do anything really but adjust the action a bit the fret ends didn't even need filing. I guess I could have nit-picked it to death and found some other things to do but it was really playable and fine out of the box and for $140.54 with shipping and tax and no plywood IMO you can't beat it I'm happy and I know the son-in-law will be.

Here's a couple of shots of it.
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Partscaster
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It looks really nice, too. IMO
Cheers.
"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, and his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted."
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