Hi, and thanks for visiting Hahn Guitars. I am Chihoe Hahn - the founder and sole builder of the guitars that you see on this site.
I have been a musician for over 30 years and have played guitar from New York City to Athens, GA, to LA, and back. I have been fixing, tweaking and modifying guitars for over 20 years. I have been making guitars for five years — basically out of my desire to find an ultra-responsive, clear, articulate guitar that sounded like the old country, soul, and rock records that I love.
My guess was that the plastic finishes and production parts found on the countless new guitars I had purchased over those 30 years (running total was around 40 guitars) had something to do with it, and every "vintage" guitar I ever owned either had lots of "issues" or was too valuable to take out. So, "why not make a guitar with the same quality components and using the same processes as those great vintage axes?" Anyone who has ever picked up a 50s or 60s guitar knows that the finish is palpably different, and the guitar's resonance and acoustic sound is simply better than what is generally available today. And so my guitar-making journey began.
After many trials and tribulations, the guitars that you see on this site were born. Great materials, true processes, and lots of attention to detail: that's the formula that creates great electric guitars, and that is the simple formula I use to make Hahn guitars. They are not new under the sun, but they play and sound really good. I put my heart into each one, and play it, tweak it, play it and tweak it, and play and tweak it some more, until it's done.
If you are looking for a guitar with a true, woody tone, great resonance, great electric energy and dynamics, then look no further. This is what my guitars are all about, and I hope you get a chance to own one.
Build Philosophy
Our philosophy is simple — make a simple guitar, the right way. We stay true to the straightforward build methods and ethics of the great guitar makers: use great woods, the finest hardware and pickups, and only allow lacquer on the guitar so that it can breath and sing like the "acoustic" instrument it is.
"My goal with the Model 228 is to
build a guitar as inspired in its execution as in its
original, brilliant design."
MODEL 228
Only the highest quality woods are used for our necks and
bodies. The wood is cured, then comes grain filler, sanding
sealer and nitrocellulose color and clear coats. All
sanding and buffing is done by hand. I build primarily with
swamp ash and alder for the bodies (6 3/4 to just under 8
pounds), and maple necks are available with maple or
rosewood fingerboards.
Pickup choices are limited in production guitars as I have
found great pickups that work with my guitars. Typically, I
build with lower output “vintage” tone pickups, or the
hotter variety for those who want to drive their amp a
little harder. Tone is still well within the “vintage”
spectrum with these hotter pickups. Of course, custom
orders can be made, and any pickups can be requested.
When the neck is placed in the pocket, you can lift the
guitar up and carry it around — the fit is that tight. The
integration of the neck and body in my guitars is second to
none.
Bridges are made in-house from stainless steel, saddles are
compensated and made in-house from the finest brass, and
all knobs are extremely heavy knurl brass with nickel
plating. Pots are all measured and matched, and all wiring,
caps, solder and switches are the highest quality. Pickups
are all ear-tested and are from the finest boutique pickup
makers such as Jason Lollar, Lindy Fralin and Seymour
Duncan.
The guitar is then assembled — every screw is put in by me,
and every point is soldered by me. I then crown and polish
the frets and complete the setup. The final result is a
great-playing guitar with responsive action that strikes
that perfect balance between lead and rhythm, but is
capable of being taken to hot-rod status with minimal
effort.
When the final balance is just right — when the wood,
hardware, pickups and setup all compliment each other and
create a coherent, brilliant tone — the guitar is done.
Sound
There is nothing like the clarity and tone of a great
vintage guitar. We believe that, while no new guitar can
achieve its full potential without being played
extensively, our guitars start at the best possible place
in terms of tone, expressiveness, responsiveness, and
aesthetic beauty.
I am building the guitar that you would have bought as a
pure production model in the 50s — you can break it in or
relic it yourself by playing it!
The sound of a Hahn guitar is unmistakeable — it's new, but
it sounds old. The tone is absolutely clear, but is not
analytical — the goal is a coherent ringing tone where each
string is articulate, but blends seemlessly with the next
and all the others — musicalilty! You can hear the strings
snap when you snap ‘em and they sound plunky when you pluck
‘em, and you’ll have consistent, true sustain up and down
the fretboard.
Play these guitars through a blackface or tweed amp and you
are in heaven!