Headless For Less! | HILS Guitars "The Next" HN3 Headless Guitar Demo & Review

[@MrJingles021]

I have one of the Korean versions called HEX. I've had it for several weeks and gigged it several times. It is rock solid. Absolutely no issues, and the frets are perfect.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Yes! Great to hear. I’m very intrigued by what they’re doing

[@richardj6593]

The Hils guitar is EXCELLENT. Priced well below similar guitars at 1k. Easier to hold than the bulky Ibanez. My son and I both will be playing it at home instead of the 2500 guitars as it makes practice so easy and still has a great sound. I got to talk to the US distributor and he is a great guy and I truly believe he is invested in delivering the highest quality guitar at this price point and even up to the 1k price range.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@richardj6593 absolutely agree Richard. These guys are doing something great and I’m stoked you and your son are on the HiLS team! Can’t wait for the new guitars

[@Atlantean-1980]

new sub sean Awesome headless guitar for the price indeed, great video and review...oh and some very tasty playing sir :)

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

thank you my friend! glad to have you

[@BigTwinRiver]

Very cool, thanks for the rundown. Nice playing! I dug the final track a lot. I already bought one and now I’m checking out reviews. At this price, these features? I figured it was a no brainer. Rock on!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy it. And you’re right, these features are way too good to NOT pick one up!

[@jasonlewis5350]

Another sick demo dude. I’m looking at these things now and I’ve never heard of Hils.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Awesome! Well they’re brand new so definitely get on the train early. I do believe new models are planned for NAMM

[@kanuuker]

I've had this guitar for about a month now and I absolutely love it. It's damn near perfect for what I was looking for. The one and only nitpick I have is that I wish the fret ends were a bit less sharp. It's not uncomfortable to play or anything, but they could be filed down a tad more. Other than that, it's fantastic. Looks cool, plays great, and has a huge variety of tones. Also, since they're new in US, Hils gave me a $50 discount on Reverb.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

That’s awesome! The discount m, not the fret ends. I’ve actually been thinking of investing in some fret files purely to roll edges on “less than perfect” fret jobs. But I didn’t have that experience with mine. Even still it’s great to hear these guys are finding their place!

[@tonepoet]

Always take new guitars to a tech to set it up and file the frets. Very much worth it.

[@wagonet]

been eyeing this for a few weeks and have just pulled the trigger on a white one, thanks for the video.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Awesome! Hope you love it

[@NiqScott]

Great demo mate. I'll be ordering (an orange) one from Andertons in the next few days. The thing that sold me on this over the Steinberg I used to have is the position of the volume knob. It's always been in the way for me on Strats, and the Steinberger was even worse.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Awesome man! Glad you liked it. Yeah this guitar is really quite good. I still need to change the strings on mine but I play it so often…

[@NiqScott]

I also like the fact that it's a hardtail. I'll be using it mainly to play in the car at lunchtimes, and to take away on holiday to the cottage, and to be able to tune to drop d easily, or even other tunings, without pratting around rebalancing the trem is a bonus.

[@nankypooh655]

I don't usually like "Headless" guitars, but this looks and sounds like a good one, at a good price. Looks like a great "Bug out" traveling guitar. I might invest in one soon, but my Hofner "Shorty" serves me well for the time being.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Just looked up those Hofners. They’re quite fun looking! I do think this would feel more like a “proper” guitar comparatively. I’d recommend giving it a try! The price tag is a pretty easy entry point

[@St_Pablo298]

Honestly, it sounds excellent. Have been looking for a headless that I can practice and travel with, but not looking to drop over $1-2k for something like a Strandberg. The thing may even be made in the same Indonesian factory for all I know.

[@ELITE815]

I saw this pop up on Amazon and it does look cool and interesting. I've been buying headless guitars from a company called Acepro. They make some amazing instruments and you can even customize the color, body and neck woods and in my case I got a custom V shape. They are made with top quality woods. The necks are reinforced, multiscale and they of course come with stainless steel frets. The prices are fantastic. Well worth it in my opinion. I'm interested to see where this HILS brand goes with their designs.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Sounds interesting. I’ll have w check them out. I too am curious to see where the HiLS stuff goes. I know tremolo models are on the way but I think there’s multi scale models in the works as well.

[@TheDistortionist]

I’m all for headlesses at church. And Floyd Roses. And Active Pickups. And really anything except the same Gretsches, Fenders, and crazy expensive boutque brands.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

MY BROTHER 🙌🙏 divebombs for Jesus

[@SWatchik]

Great review. My biggest issue is trying to pick a colour. Does the Ivory come across more cream or white?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@SWatchik it really depends on the light. White guitars are almost entirely influenced by the light that surrounds them. So some times it’ll pick up warmer tones, others cooler. It most definitely it white but can come across cream in the right circumstances

[@SWatchik]

@@SeanPierceJohnson thanks again for the review and info. Ended up going for the metallic Purple which is a UK exclusive. Absolutely love the guitar

[@gregghuneke7976]

Nice demo. How thin is the neck? Is it comparable to a Charvel or thicker?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@gregghuneke7976 thanks man! I’m not the best person to ask to compare it to a Charvel. I’ve only played one Charvel in my life and that was over 10 years ago. But I will say the neck isn’t thin like an Ibanez wizard. It’s smaller, like MAYBE a slim C but it’s a neck that sits in your hand nicely.

[@JohnQuilter]

Love your shirts dude! Also, can they make one that looks like Vito Bratta's white Steinberger? I'd get that.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Bro, you know it won’t be…authentic 😉

[@andre_ribeiro]

Hey! How does it feel to tune? I've seen some pretty stiff tuners on headless guitar. Thanks!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@andre_ribeiro the tuners don’t feel too stiff to me.

[@andre_ribeiro]

@@SeanPierceJohnson thanks!

[@abbasnakhlband9411]

It would be great to hear some split sounds

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@abbasnakhlband9411 7:28 my dude 👍

[@robertrisso4976]

Body looks kinda thick and that extra wood behind the headpiece is freaking me out lol still wanna try one. But how about a Hils vs NK shootout.....

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

What’s an NK?

[@robertrisso4976]

@SeanPierceJohnson NK are Chinese headless

[@sdcoffeeroaster]

Important for some is weight. I have a bad left shoulder (mt bike crash) so I'm looking for very light, like the Ibanez about 5 lbs and NOT neck heavy. Do you have the weight (yes I know they will vary from guitar to guitar). Thanks for the informative video.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@sdcoffeeroaster bud, I know EXACTLY the feeling. I have a busted shoulder from straining my rotator cuff. Im using this guitar tonight for a gig hung from the shoulder with one of those CFG zero gravity guitar strap and it is INSANE how light it is. I can’t say how light, I don’t have a specific number, but my shoulder has been acting up a bit this week and it’s still comfortable to play standing with this.

[@sdcoffeeroaster]

@@SeanPierceJohnson I just saw one that was 4 lb 4 oz! Very light. Yeah broke my collar bone, 2 ribs AND shoulder blade, lol.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@ yikes! How you feeling these days?

[@sdcoffeeroaster]

@ It was about 5 years ago and then ended up with frozen shoulder for 3 months...lucky because that usually lasts years. My left shoulder is narrower and lower than my right and bump on the collar bone tends to hit straps, lol. But I still ride, lots of padding and safer and slower, lol. My blues Hils will be here on Thursday I think...no orange ones left so may have to buy a 2nd one, lol. I got a blue one and it was 4 lbs 12 oz but due to a blemish it's going back. Pretty good so far and sounds very good. I had some trouble lowering the pickups that are installed much like p90's. I could not get them pickup lower than about 2 mm a bit too close for hot pickups like this so I had to add some spacing washers...problem fixed. Love the slightly smaller frets and the the neck is not too thick and very comfortable.

[@spookytkid]

Sounds like the intonation is out. Or you need to tune it better. What gauge string are you using?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Whatever it got shipped with…probably 9s.

[@N-VAMusic]

I switched my strings out as soon as I got the guitar for John Mayer Slinkys. Plays fabulously now.

[@phunkym8]

such a bummer that this isnt available outside the u.s. and uk. one can only hope hils will work on their availability and maybe when it comes to europe they also have released their announced fan fret version by then.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Give it time. The brand is fairly new. Also look up HEX guitars. Same guitars just sold in different markets. The fan fret model doesn’t have a hard release date that I know of. I believe we may see something at NAMM

[@Venom_Snek]

Give it some time, they just came out so they probably haven't worked out their complete distribution network yet. EDIT: Didn't see the above comment lol.

[@sasha-v4j]

which one is more ergonomic ? hils or strandberg ?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

i don't have a lot of intimate experience with Strandbergs. i've played several and do like them but i would prefer to play them side by side before making a comparison. one thing you do need to consider is that Strandberg's biggest ergonomic claim to fame is the neck. the HiLS neck is much more conventional.

[@miles3794]

A deep blue would've slapped hard

[@AGuitarNinja]

Does anyone know of any budget headless guitars with a trem other than the steinberger

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

HiLS is likely going to release one next year

[@Thecrimsonhill]

@@SeanPierceJohnson I emailed them and they're releasing in January!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@Thecrimsonhill there ya go! Looking forward to it

[@AGuitarNinja]

@@Thecrimsonhill a true gentleman and a scholar!

[@richardj6593]

Hils is coming out with trem soon

[@nicks3456]

Would you want to sell this guitar? I’m ready to buy one in blue but I truly want white and thought I’d ask.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Sorry man. This has become a favorite. It’s staying with me

[@geoffhipwell2198]

The bottom of the body reminds me of a map of the bottom of Australia. 🎸 🌏 🦘

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Does the bottom of the body also want to kill me?

[@geoffhipwell2198]

@@SeanPierceJohnson It's really not that bad at all.😂 I do like the guitar though! 🎸👍🏼

[@lokiethornton579]

So it's a horny Australian?

[@Ryan-Hall]

SPJ, Thanks so much! Love seeing Brandon on your shirt, miss him and Bruce 😢, I know I'm Old but its been since the First Stinebergor and Ed Played one with the 5150 LP that I started to buy one and chose a Charvel/Jackson instead, but the trancetrem would be the changing point, so i noticed one guy ask already about a Trem, but will it be like a transtrem and stay perfect tune?? Also was it me or does this guitar sound like it's lacking tone? Im sure it screams on Dirty Sounds as you Played but maybe the set of effects and Amps change it but I know there are many out there now in the headless Zone, but ONLY thing I could compare it to would be the Steinberg in the 80's that I should have bought just for what it done but never could Bond with That. Body, Thanks SPJ, noticed you in B. Coombs Chat TY Brother and God Bless & thanks again! Your Music-In-Law Ryan Hall 🤘🎸🤠

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Well there is less material so it’s a bit thinner sounding. Oh, and it’s Keanu on my shirt 😉

[@Eliteguitarschool]

Got one of these guitars, and wow, the frets were a mess! Both sides were sprouting like crazy - totally unplayable. Love the guitar itself, but had to do a full fret job just to make it playable. For what these cost, they really need to step up their game with the frets! Anyone else had this issue?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

First I’ve heard of this myself

[@N-VAMusic]

Mine had a VERY minor amount of sprouting but I had to really try to make contact for me to notice.

[@yankeeverse]

LOL this is for poor people who can't afford a Strandberg.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@yankeeverse uh yeah it kinda is. Not everyone has $1k+ to drop on something that many would be taking a chance on. It serves a segment of the marketplace that isn’t being served. And HiLS wins this round

[@mattozx6rr]

I'm not poor. I am a hobby player and guitars in this price range are all I look at. It will never make me money so no reason to break the bank.

[@goldenboy5695]

idiot