A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

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

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?



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:


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

Pics are from Rondo's website.

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

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.

It looks really nice, too. IMO
Cheers.