Any Hagstrom Fans?

nofi · February 06, 2011, 06:39:54 PM

hagstrom guitars have always been much better than any of their basses, which seems like an after thought.

Dave W · February 06, 2011, 08:00:05 PM

Quote from: nofi on February 06, 2011, 06:39:54 PM
hagstrom guitars have always been much better than any of their basses, which seems like an after thought.

Having owned an SG-type Hagstrom guitar (can't remember the model), I disagree. They had a rep for low action and substandard electronics. I ignored the warning of the music store owner who sold me one. Model for model, I don't think the guitars were any better than the basses.

Hornisse · February 06, 2011, 09:33:29 PM

I'd thought the Super Swede bass was very well made. I played one many years ago. A pretty rare bass.

Not a bad version. A very bouncy bassline on the original by Rutger Gunarsson.

PhilT · February 07, 2011, 04:01:38 AM

They seem to be way more common in the US than in Europe, judging by what comes up on eBay.

I like the look of the HIIB, even if it has too many switches, but I'd have to find one for about half what they usually go for.

The name has been revived on a new range, including an 8-stringer, but they don't have the same appeal somehow.

Bart! · February 08, 2011, 03:59:50 AM

The new Viking bass looks cool to me...

PhilT · February 08, 2011, 06:48:30 AM

Quote from: Bart! on February 08, 2011, 03:59:50 AM
The new Viking bass looks cool to me...

Not sure I like the headstock, but the rest of it is good.

An interesting experiment would be to buy a new HB-4 and stick two of these in it. Looks like they'd fit.

Dave W · February 08, 2011, 08:49:16 AM

Quote from: PhilT on February 08, 2011, 06:48:30 AM
Not sure I like the headstock, but the rest of it is good.

An interesting experiment would be to buy a new HB-4 and stick two of these in it. Looks like they'd fit.

FYI, those pickups aren't from Bill Lawrence (Willi Stich) the man, but from his former business partner. Bill's pickups are here.

rahock · February 09, 2011, 05:38:38 AM

Quote from: PhilT on February 07, 2011, 04:01:38 AM
They seem to be way more common in the US than in Europe, judging by what comes up on eBay.

I like the look of the HIIB, even if it has too many switches, but I'd have to find one for about half what they usually go for.

That Sunburst one is the one I liked. List price on that was $195 back in 1970 (I found my Hagstrom catalog from that year). That was the cheapest bass they offered and my favorite of the bunch. Like my 8 String, they were loaded with tiny little switches that were very sensitive but if you kept them sprayed with a good cleaner /lube they weren't too bad.
Rick

Thornton Davis · February 09, 2011, 05:32:33 PM

Quote from: Hörnisse on February 06, 2011, 09:33:29 PM
I'd thought the Super Swede bass was very well made. I played one many years ago. A pretty rare bass.

Unfortunately for us, Hagstrom only made 356 of them.

TD

Dave W · February 09, 2011, 07:51:54 PM

Quote from: thornton davis on February 09, 2011, 05:32:33 PM
Unfortunately for us, Hagstrom only made 356 of them.

TD

Did you sell your Hagstrom collection?

Thornton Davis · February 11, 2011, 07:00:11 PM

Yes, I did Dave. But i've still got lots of photos that I took of each one of them.

TD

Basshappi · February 11, 2011, 09:16:21 PM

Quote from: thornton davis on February 09, 2011, 05:32:33 PM
Unfortunately for us, Hagstrom only made 356 of them.

TD

Well, at least one was a lefty!

eb2 · March 04, 2011, 11:09:11 AM

I always figured the speaker one was decent, as it was in the Mel Bay book when I was a kid. Then I played one. It is not horrible, just peculiar. The neck was like a Framus - tube-y.

I think I like their pickups on Guilds more than I like Guild-clone bodies on Vikings.

Any Hagstrom Fans?

Hornisse