Last updated: 10/03/00.

Hagstroms as instruments

What is a Hagstrom like? Of course, it's impossible to generalize, and furthermore it's a matter of taste. Some people like Fender and hate Gibson, others the other way round.
The oldest models (mother-of-toilet-seat or sparkle finish) may not have any greater playing value, and should be seen more as a collector's instrument. Instruments from the late 60's to the early 70's are decent work horses, except for some details. Some appreciate the necks since they were rather thin on some models.
The Les Paul-influed Swede- and Super Swede-models are regarded as the best instruments Hagstrom ever built. Super Swede was developed from the Swede-model, but with a set neck instead of a bolt-on-neck and a zero-fret. Super Swede was also made in a synth-guitar version called Patch 2000.
The necks will seldom cause any problems, maybe because of the unique system with the reinforcement rod inserted in a aluminum profile. This may be the secret to the characteristic, hard, metallic sound. The oldest models are non-adjustable and are just reinforced with a H-profile aluminum rod. The acrylate fret board on these are unfortunately nearly impossible to re-fret.
The tremolo tailpiece (called Tremar) serves its duty as tailpiece, but if you have heavy bar exercises in mind, you better wait until the end of the last song. The tailpiece was designed for light Shadows-style vibrato long before Hendrix showed us new techniches, and Hagstrom's goal was just a tailpiece able to lower or raise the tone half a note.
The pickups on a Hagstrom can be a little week on some models, and it's very common that the pickups are changed. Probably the best way to increase the performance on a 70's Hagstrom, even if I don't want to encourage it.

Common faults:

Cracked mounting frames on the pickups. Very common.
The plates on the knobs with the text VOLUME and TONE on Swede/Super Swede falls of or the silver layer with the text darkens.
Neck binding falls off.
The pots (volyme and tone) are not of top quality.
Switches might also cause problems, especially the sliding switches on the older models. Try some contact cleaner.
Tremolo arm missing. Screw replaced or missing.
The little black plastic plug on the back of the body is often missing, only a cosmetic matter but since some collectors are looking for mint condition instruments I thought it would be worth mentioning. In the manufacturing process, the guitar body has to be fixed on the routing table when it's routed. Most manufacturers do this by drilling two small holes in the back of the body, one beneath the neck plate and one at the bottom of the body. Fender and others insert a wooden plug in the holes (if you take a close look at a natural finished Tele or Strat you'll see the plugs), Hagstrom simply plugged the hole with a plastic plug.
The celluoid layer on the back of the body of the old mother-of-toiletseat models can easily crack.
Some of the Super Swede basses suffered from a defect in the finish. After delivery, the lacquer developed a milky white mist.

Photo: Kenny Carlsson.

Back to main page.