The HF was introduced in 1989, based on the Aria Pro II FA, which Samick also built, and which is loosely in the style of the Gibson ES-175. In one particular catalog from 1992, it was referred to as the "Bluenote".
While it may look very similar to the HJ at a glance, it has a differently shaped body with a 1" narrower lower bout, a 24.75" scale (to the HJ's 25.5") and 22 frets (to the HJ's 20 frets).
Related:
HF-610[]
- 1998
Body:
- Spruce arched top
- Walnut back and sides
- Small body
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Ornate Mother of Pearl Artist logo inlays
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Quadruple-ply body (front)
- Triple-ply pickguard
- Double-ply body (rear)
- Single-ply f-holes and neck
Electronics:
- One P-90 pickup (neck)
- 1 Vol, 1 Tone
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Pearloid raised pickguard
- Headstock matching truss rod cover
- Rosewood bridge with Harp tailpiece
Finishes:
- Naural (N)
HFRG-302[]
1989 HFRG-302 TB (Vantage logo)
Some examples feature Vantage logo in 1989.
- 1989-1990
Body:
- Laminated Maple arched top, back and sides
- 12" upper bout
- 9 3/4" waist
- 16 1/2" wide lower bout
- 4" depth
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid/Abalone split block inlays
Deluxe headstock & Vantage logo
- Deluxe headstock
- Ornate Mother of Pearl inlays
- Mother of Pearl Wave logo or Vantage logo inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply body, neck and headstock
- Single-ply f-holes
Electronics:
- Two humbucker pickups
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- 3-ply raised Tortoise shell pickguard
- Triangular truss rod cover (1989)
- Bell shaped truss rod cover (1990)
- Black "notched" Speed knobs
- Rosewood bridge with Trapeze tailpiece
Finishes:
- Translucent Black (TB)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
Also branded as:
- Aria Pro II FA
- Cane 43-806
HF-650 "Bluenote"[]
- 1991-1994
1991 HF-650 TBK
Body:
- Laminated Maple arched top, back and sides
- 12" upper bout
- 9 3/4" waist
- 16 1/2" wide lower bout
- 4" depth
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid/Abalone split block inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Ornate Mother of Pearl inlays
- Mother of Pearl Wave logo inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply body, neck and headstock
- Single-ply f-holes
Electronics:
- Two humbucker pickups
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- 3-ply raised pickguard
- Bell shaped truss rod cover (1991)
- Pointed bell shaped truss rod cover (1992-1993)
- Headstock matching truss rod cover (1993-1994)
- Black "notched" Speed knobs
- Rosewood bridge with Trapeze tailpiece
Finishes:
- Translucent Black (TBK)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
Also branded as:
- Aria Pro II FA
- Cane 43-806
HF-650 "Bluenote" (Artist Series)[]
1995 HF-650 TBK
- 1995-2001
- $949 MSRP (2001)
- $489-$449 Street (2003 clearance)
2001 HF-650 N
Body:
- Laminated Maple arched top, back and sides
- 12" upper bout
- 9 3/4" waist
- 16 1/2" wide lower bout
- 4" depth
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid/Abalone split block inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Ornate Mother of Pearl Artist logo inlays
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
2001 HF-650 GS
Binding:
- Triple-ply body, neck and headstock
- Single-ply f-holes
Electronics:
- Two humbucker pickups
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
1997 HF-650 TSB
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- 3-ply raised pickguard
- Headstock matching truss rod cover
- Black "notched" Speed knobs
- Rosewood bridge with Trapeze tailpiece (1995-1997)
- Rosewood bridge with Harp tailpiece (1998-2001)
Finishes:
- Translucent Black (TBK)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
- Tobacco Sunburst (TSB)
- Antique Violin Sunburst (AV)
- Natural (N)
Also branded as:
- Aria Pro II FA
HFB-490[]
HFB-590[]
HFB-590 PBE[]
HFB5-639[]
Fretless model HFB5-639 FL also available.
HFB-690 R[]
HFB5-690 RB[]
Fretless model HFB5-690 RB/FL also available.
Meriken GR-FA (Japanese Market)[]
The GR-FA is a variant of the HF body, inspired by the Gretsch White Falcon.
1990 GR-FA W
- ¥65,000 Yen / ~$459 USD (1989)
Body:
- Laminated Maple arched top, back and sides
- 16" wide bout
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid split block inlays
- Gretsch style headstock
- Silk-screened Meriken logo
- Silk-screened Eagle graphic
- 14o headstock pitch
- 23 frets (including zero fret)
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply body, neck and headstock
- Single-ply f-holes
Electronics:
- Two humbucker pickups
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone, 1 Master Vol
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Gold plated pickguard, pickup mounting rings
- Wide fish shaped truss rod cover
- Gold metal knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with Rosewood base and Trapeze tailpiece
Finishes:
- White (W)