Hils HZ7 - first impressions
Was at Thomann yesterday and got to try a Hils HZ7, liked it so much I took it home for 699€, as I was in the market for a headless 7 string anyway.
Three disclaimers:
- As it all is super fresh, take it with a grain of salt.
- I have gotten a model from the warehouse and have not bought the showroom model.
- No setup work has been done as of yet
Good:
- no sharp fret edges
- frets seem level enough in regular playing
- nut cut okay could be a tad lower, but nothing outrageous
- finish is good
- factory setup is okay, definitley playable, but room for improvement
Neutral (because a "personal issue"):
The stock pickups are okay for B Standard/Drop A.
I will likley swap them for something of a higher grade (mby BK Halcyon), as I plan on tuning to Drop F# with the guitar and I can not see the pickups performing to well that low, as they have tons of low end.
The placement of the output jack seems rather weird, for a guitar that is supposed to be ergonomic.
When sitting I play in classical position, and with a straight cable, it is digging uncomfortably into my right thigh.
Bad:
- active circuit is (imho) more of a unneccesary gimick rather than something actually useful, as you can not engage or adjust it on the fly (adjustment is in the electronics cavity)
- tuners are very stiff and hard to turn at times, I am resorting to using a Warwick Rock N Ruler to turn the tuners
- pots and switch are scratchy/noisy out of the box
Overall very impressed and it can hold its own among my other more expensive guitars (USA King V, PRS CE, Ibanez Prestige).
It is obviously not on the same level but it is punching way above its price point.
