Darren Hippner

[mistermark]

I am seriously considering having Darren Hippner make a flamenco negra guitar for me. I have been going back and fourth with Darren through email in regards to options and specs. I would say for the most part he is very responsive to my needs.

If anybody has a Hippner Guitar, please share you experience in regards to working with Darren Hippner.

[Pepe Vergara]

http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=007382

[mistermark]

There is a problem with that link you provided Pepe.

[shakyhand]

Replace the *** with the URL of a popular acoustic guitar magazine web site, and you'll find the thread Pepe is referencing.

I have a Hippner Hauser model in German spruce and birds-eye maple; I snagged it when Darren put it on e - b a y early this year, so I can't say much about working with Darren, except that he is an honest e - b a y seller, for what that's worth. I can comment on the guitar itself; for what I paid, it was a bargain. I had read that Darren builds a light guitar, and that much is certainly true. It is very light and resonant, with a quick and airy voice. Remarkable string separation, excellent intonation, lots of volume. It is not dark or romantic-sounding. More clear and bright. At first the high end seemed a little sterile and uninspired (the bass end was awesome right from the start), but some months of daily vigorous playing have really opened it up. The trebles are more responsive now, quicker and louder, and clean, clean, clean, with a sweet round flavor to them. Not a lot of overtone content on this instrument, but surprising sustain.

All in all, I'm quite happy with it. The fit and finish is not up to the standards of some; it appears that the birds-eye maple used for the lower side had two small cracks open, probably during bending or shortly after. Each is about an inch long. This is not at all uncommon in highly figured wood (especially as thin as Darren uses), and these cracks were neatly repaired before the guitar was finished. These may be the reason the guitar was sold on e - b a y, and for what I see as a bargain price. If I had commissioned the instrument from him, and paid twice as much, it might bother me. As it is, I'm all about the tone, and I have nothing to complain about there.

I hope that helps! I would, and still might, buy another guitar from Darren without hesitation.

Bill

[micahdunn]

I have a '04 Hippner Rosewood/Brazilian rosewood (Bernabé bracing), sides lined with cypress, elevated fretboard, soundports, 12-hole bridge, gilbert tuners...the works. For what I paid, I doubt that I could find a better guitar. Darren is incredibly helpful. I told him what I wanted, and it seems as though he pulled all the stops to make me happy. He even sent me several pictures of different brazilian rosewoods (about 4 sets), and I chose my favorite one. If you got to his website, the bernabé model guitar that is shown is actually my guitar. After having it for about 1 month, a crack developed on the soundboard seem right below the bridge. I had to pay for shipping to his house, but I had the guitar back in 2 weeks, no charge. I just had a student receive a '07 hippner, and again, for what he paid, it is a great guitar. Hope that this helps.

jai guru dev,
micah

[tatodoc2002]

I, too have a Hippner that I got on e - b a y. It's exceptional work, inside and out.

[Bailey]

I have a 2011 Hauser model that I purchased directly from Darren with European Spruce top, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, French polished. It's an easy playing guitar and a very nice instrument that gives a warm, rich, consistent tone throughout the register.

It took about 6 months of playing 2-3 hours/day to get the guitar to truly open up; first it was the mid-range, then the base an now the upper trebles, but now that it has, its just lovely and very rewarding to play. One of my goals now is to be able to play well enough to bring out the best in this guitar.

My teacher, who has a series of classical guitars from different, well known luthiers is considering purchasing a Hauser from Darren.

Bailey

[Allan]

I've commissioned two guitars from Darren, both of them the Torres model, one in quilted maple and Engelmann and the other in flame maple and Engelmann. One was 640mm scale and the other 630mm scale. I thought both of them exceptional compared to a half-dozen other guitars I used to own which were both custom and some off-the-shelf. What I like best about his guitars are the two things I'm always looking for, playability and sound. In those two areas his guitars greatly surpassed the Vicente Carillo, Loriente Angela, Hill Rodriguez, Cervantes Hauser, and IMO the $7500 brazilian/spruce Antonio Marin I had. In retrospect, it's odd to see the financial inverse of this situation, that is, the Marin being the most expensive guitar I ever owned was also the biggest dud and the least expensive guitars (at $2500 each) were the Hippners which turned out to be the finest. After a couple decades of playing, buying and selling classicals I honestly don't know where you could get better value for your money. You might also check around the internet, you'll find there are some professional players who record and perform with Hippners (Andrew Schulman is a talented example and I think he had extensive experience with a lot of well-known guitar makers like Traphagen before he went on to Hippner guitars).

I found Darren to be easy to work with. He has built hundreds of instruments, and even though he seems to be constantly busy he does do one thing that is greatly appreciated and that is finish the guitar at or prior to deadline. You know what I mean if you've had a passionate commitment for a 3-month delivery from someone turn into a year or more of endless waiting.

I let go of my 640mm Hippner to go shorter scale and ordered a 630mm with a 50mm nut. But as time goes on I have found myself gradually abandoning modern repertoire and spending most of my time with Sor, Carulli, Bach and Scarlatti. I also fell in love with gut strings and the sound of nail-less playing, so a segue into an even smaller Early Romantic guitar is a natural for me (which is why the 630mm Hippner is now posted in the For Sale section).

My only regret with Darren is that he isn't also making historical guitars like Panormo and Lacote. If he were I'd probably order one of each LOL.

If anybody has any questions regarding either of my Hippner guitars please feel free to email.

Allan

[hyz]

I had the experience of playing a Hippner's Hauser replica recently. I am quite impressed with the tone, color and the workmanship overall. It is a real good bargain at that price.

hyz

[gitgeezer]

Thanks, everyone, for restoring my confidence in Hippner. I have a Hippner Houser on order and had become a little concerned when I saw some criticism on another thread. I see now that I have nothing to worry about.

[AdamX]

Look around enough, and you can find criticism of anybody.

[Bailey]

Look around enough, and you can find criticism of anybody.

+1 on that!

Bailey

[AKGuitarist]

Darren is building me a guitar now (it should be done sometime this month) and I can express that throughout this whole process he has been very helpful and honest about what he thinks I want from my guitar. I have personally played two of his guitars and both were fabulous instruments, amazing tone, clarity, and projection. When my guitar arrives, I'll be sure to post pictures and hopefully a video or two.

[av8t0r]

I brought a parade of guitars to my teacher for evaluation, and my Hippner Hasuer was his favorite. He commented on it's quick response; shakyhand's description of his sounds very like mine. I bought my Hippners used, but when I did contact Darren, he was very helpful and straightforward.

The rap against Darren is that he cuts some corners on fit and finish. My Hippner custom OM (pictured in my avatar photo), has a few issues, such as an indent in the heal that was not fully sanded out, but I think that was a result of using an extraordinary piece of rose mahogany that was probably just big enough for the project, and may well have been a client request. Cracks are another common complaint, but again, I think Darren is using some beautiful wood that is in itself prone to these; highly figured Brazillian and Maple for example. I'm glad to trade a small amount of esthetics for a great guitar at a great price.

[David_Norton]

I just placed an order last night with Darren for a 640mm 10-string. This will be my sixth commission from him. I still own 2, sold the others.