Hagstrom Owners Club

[rcboals]

YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON THE PICS TO MAKE THEM APPEAR

Hagstrom Owners Club, I had no idea. I am late to the party. I love my Hagstroms that I have upgraded. They are a compliment to my Telecaster.

1.Viking Deluxe Tremar semi hollow Gibson P94's Gretsch Master Volume Wiring

2.Hagstrom Swede Tremar Gibson Classic 57's Gretsch with Master Volume wiring

3. Hagstrom HJ800 Hollow Body Solid One Piece Solid Spruce Arch Top, Buddah Custom hand wound P90's, Guild X500T wiring Bigsby

Modified correctly they hold their own with any pro line instrument made by Gretsch, Gibson USA, and USA Guild guitars. I know this because I have at one time or another owned some of the best of Gretsch, Gibson and Guild. As some of you know over the years I have done my share of modding, building, customizing and restoring on this forum. These Hagstroms are the pinnacle for me they are amazing guitars with the right mods.

 

[mcknigs]

YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON THE PICS TO MAKE THEM APPEAR

Hagstrom Owners Club, I had no idea. I am late to the party. I love my Hagstroms that I have upgraded. They are a compliment to my Telecaster.

1.Viking Deluxe Tremar semi hollow Gibson P94's Gretsch Master Volume Wiring

2.Hagstrom Swede Tremar Gibson Classic 57's Gretsch with Master Volume wiring

3. Hagstrom HJ800 Hollow Body Solid One Piece Solid Spruce Arch Top, Buddah Custom hand wound P90's, Guild X500T wiring Bigsby

Modified correctly they hold their own with any pro line instrument made by Gretsch, Gibson USA, and USA Guild guitars. I know this because I have at one time or another owned some of the best of Gretsch, Gibson and Guild. As some of you know over the years I have done my share of modding, building, customizing and restoring on this forum. These Hagstroms are the pinnacle for me they are amazing guitars with the right mods.

Interesting. I've got a beat '70s Swede that I've considered Gretsch-ifying with Filtertron clones and maybe a Bigsby. It's already pretty non-original so it's not liking I'd be ruining the collector value.

 

[Mr_Martin]

Bought this Hagstrom Deluxe D2H (made 2005) today.
It was a bargain for 150 Euros/175 Dollars.

Nice weight (3,9kg/8.5 lbs), not too light not too heavy.
Perfect neck and playability.

 

[eddy jaye]

A mighty fine looking axe. Hope you share your mods with us when you get finished.

 

[Mr_Martin]

A mighty fine looking axe. Hope you share your mods with us when you get finished.

Yesterday i played her through my Marshall Halfstack.
Great sounding pickups.
Only (little) problem: there's a squeal at high volumes.
I think it's the pickup covers.

Greets

 

[Mr_Martin]

Removed the pickup covers today, more brightness, no squeal

 

[McGiles]

View attachment 366596 View attachment 366596 View attachment 366597 New Guitar Day!

I just got this Hagstrom Swede last night!

G11110172
I got the same Swede as you pictured about 5 years ago here locally in PA, USA and I am trying to verify the serial (G11110172). Do you know any way to do this? How close am I to your serial? McGiles

 

[Robb]

Well.... i think I have a few Hags in the barn.

Here's a family pic missing my latest one I finished rebuilding yesterday

 

[teletina]

Wow, what model (year) is that last Suede ?

 

[Robb]

Thank's,

From left to right.

1- Hagstrom L.P. (before they were called Swede) made in 1970 in Sweden.

2- Hagstrom HIIN made in 1972 in Sweden.

3- Hagstrom Swede made in 1972 made in Sweden.

4- Hagstrom Viking 1N "Bubinga" made in 1972 in Sweden.

5- Hagstrom Super Swede made in 1983 in Sweden.

6- Hagstrom Select Super Swede made in 2007 in China or Korea.

And finally in the last pic:

7- Hagstrom Scandi made in 1976 in Sweden.

Oh! and this acoustic Hagstrom D-15 Limited edition all in white,made in China or Korea in 2009

 

[Super Jay]

OI’ve had this guitar for a few years now and it’s one of the best sounding guitars I’ve ever owned. Does anyone know what this is? I can’t find a serial number on it and the headstock/body shape have me at a loss.

 

[rockntroll]

New to the forum here, hello!

I have a 2014 Viking made in Indonesia. It plays great, sounds lovely, however the stock hagstrom tuners are TERRIBLE. I can't play for more than 2 minutes or bend without it going out of tune! I'm looking to replace it with grover, either the 305 or the 102 model. I'm not sure if the 305 is a direct replacement (perfect fit) but i dont mind drilling new holes if i choose to go with the 102. Any thought on this?

(Edit: i want to upload a pic of the guitar, can't figure out how)

 

[Guran]

New to the forum here, hello!

I have a 2014 Viking made in Indonesia. It plays great, sounds lovely, however the stock hagstrom tuners are TERRIBLE. I can't play for more than 2 minutes or bend without it going out of tune! I'm looking to replace it with grover, either the 305 or the 102 model. I'm not sure if the 305 is a direct replacement (perfect fit) but i dont mind drilling new holes if i choose to go with the 102. Any thought on this?

(Edit: i want to upload a pic of the guitar, can't figure out how)

I would be surprised if the tuners are at fault. I suggest that you check a few things first. Make sure that the nut is correctly cut and not binding. That the strings are good and put on in a good way. Not too many windings and that the windings are tight and nice.

I have seen many poor tuners, but they have all kept the tuning once tuned. They have had poor action, making it hard to tune, but they haven't slipped. The only two slipping tuners I have ever seen were clearly and obviously broken.

 

[mstrat]

Long time lurker here. Stumbled on this thread and thought you might appreciate a couple pics.
My Ultra Max, refretted with stainless steel. Ultimate versatility in this guitar. (Next to my other main player, 2014 american standard)

And a Viking Deluxe. I love this guitar, but am selling it because of my self-imposed "2 guitar" rule. It's the last to go, and I'm holding the price high so it might take a while

IMG_20191010_130403

• mstrat
• Oct 28, 2019

IMG_20190916_142301

• mstrat
• Oct 28, 2019

 

[docdaddy]

Question for you Hagstrom experts out there: bought my first one, a black Viking Deluxe. Gave it to a guy who I use for set ups (he has about 40 guitars and does a lot of guitar setups for people.) He'd never worked with a Hagstrom before, and here is his question:

I need to adjust truss rod on a Hagstrom to remove approximately 3/16” relief.

1. With the way that the Hagstrom neck is made with the rail system, as thin as it is with minimal “meat” around the rail, is it safe to adjust this amount with 1/8-1/4 turn on truss rod at a time?

2. I read that Hagstrom also has an “alloy” truss rod. Does this mean aluminum and will it withstand the amount of tension needed to remove 3/16” relief?

Really worried about cracking the neck and/or popping the fingerboard loose when pulling out this much relief. Any advice?

 

[THRobinson]

Grabbed a Hagstrom today, 1970 Hagstrom LP (later renamed Swede). Looks like the 3rd one ever made, which is kinda neat.

Looking for info about it... Sadly looks like the original pickups, pickup rings, knobs, pots and tuners were replaced, the body binding is shrinking and pulling apart and the neck binding is half gone one side and all gone the other. Will take some elbow grease to rebuild... Sadly I'll have to find modern similar pickups, knobs etc because too hard and pricey to get original.

Anyone know a good place to get some details? Like, what finish was used? Mine is natural and can see and feel the wood grain, so, not a thick layer of nitro like a Les Paul... Anyone know what it is?

 

[Ronzo]

Attached is my (sadly) modified Hagström II (F200) 1965 sunburst. It has a new custom-made pickguard with a DiMarzio PAF in the bridge position, and a DiMarzio Dual Sound Super Distortion in the neck position, wired for series/parallel switching with the chrome toggle switch. The white toggle emulates the Hagström mute switch, and affects both pickups.

I deliberately did this mod to be completely reversible, using the same mounting holes, screws, and shape. I’ve been searching for the original loaded pickguard for over 20 years; it was apparently lost in a move, or maybe my former wife discarded it. I contacted Karl E. Hagström Jr. via their website, asking for a price on a loaded pickguard assembly. He emailed me back a week later. He has been ill - no reason given - and he told me that they no longer had pickguards for this model. I wished him and his company well.

Sad that I couldn’t restore this. But it plays and sounds good as is.

 

[THRobinson]

Well, more info about mine... 3rd Swede ever built, shipped to Canada Feb 2nd, 1970 to Arc Music in Toronto. How's that for record keeping?

Definitely stripped. Hoped maybe that the finish wore down or was partially sanded, but originally the Swede was Cherry Red, and now Natural. If I were to guess... Shellac coating.

I decided at that point to do a full tear down, sand to wood, and rebuild it to like-new condition. With the original pickups/rings/knobs/pots and paint missing, plus most neck binding, I don't really see the harm now that. Not enough "original" to worry about.

Biggest debate is, how "original" do I make it? Pickups are crazy expensive... like $300CAD each from what I have found, and none currently for sale. I found reproduction rings and knobs, rings are cheaper than expected but knobs not so much. But they look unique. No stock on a pick-plate though. Finding all vintage parts, I don't think will make me much money back when time to sell it. So... vintage reproductions vs modern Swede knobs and rings which are easier to get. I like the sound of those IronGear Rolling Mills pickups and will likely go that route.

Any thoughts?

Strip and refinish to Cherry? or strip and refinish to Natural? Likely nitro vs the original polyester... Solarez makes a UV cure polyester brush on though.

Reproduction rings and knobs? or just go with modern?

 

[grayn]

NGD:
These days, playing wise, I tend to move between vintage R'n'R/Rockabilly and Heavy rock, with elements of metal, prog and space.
My current guitar collection of Tele, SG and Duesenberg semi, lean more toward the vintage stuff, although the SG and Duesey certainly can rock
out, pushing heavy overdrive rather nicely.
But I wanted something a bit more "widdly", if that makes sense.
A guitar with a slightly more extreme feel, sound and charisma.
I'd been looking at a pre-owned Ibanez Prestige AZ series guitar and a Cort X700.
Both amazingly specced guitars but TBH, I just don't like the look of Ibanez's AZ guitars, kind of bland and uninspiring.
I want to like them but I can't and the X700 is hard to locate and I'd need to do a pretty long drive to try before I buy .
My nearest, decent guitar shop is Aire Valley Guitars, in Keighley.
I've bought a lot of stuff from them, over the years and am a good mate of Tony, the owner.
A few months ago, they started stocking a good range of Hagstrom guitars, Vikings, Swedes, Ultra Swedes etc.
Then, in came a Hagstrom Fantomen (translated: The Phantom), now this did have that edgy look/feel I was looking for.
I didn't try it initially but had a good scrutinize and went home, to find out more.
It had been designed with the assistance of the Swedish metal band, Ghost.
I watched a few vids of folk reviewing/playing the Fantomen and decided it was definitely a contender.
The funny thing was that most reviewers compared it's appearance to a Gibson Explorer, whereas to my eyes, it is far closer to Gibbo's RD Artist.

So a few days ago I went in to try the Fantomen and got a very good feeling, as soon as I picked it up.
It's a solid guitar but far from heavy, especially condidering it's size/design.
Everything I'd been playing on my other guitars recently, just felt even better on this rather unusually shaped, asymmetric beauty.
And the Johan Lungren pickups didn't disappoint either, with the attack and definition I want, sounding really good clean and articulating the
monster overdrive just brilliantly.
Yes, I was impressed but had one fear, how would it balance on a strap?
I knew Explorers can have a problem with neck dive, I had no idea if the RD Artist did.
So we fitted it with a real thin, weedy strap that would not make up for any balance problems.
And thank the gods of rock, the Fantomen balanced perfectly, solid as a rock.
So today I went to get this Hagstrom and brought it home, to get it through my own gear.
I love the neck on this Fantomen, with it's flatish, 15 inch radius and lovely, easy on the hand, profile.
It came perfectly set up for fast playing, with a solid but very low action, that was great for expressive and aggressive playing.
I'd say the Lungren pickups are probably medium output, that push overdive very sweetly if needed or with plenty of balls, if played that way.
Never even heard of Johan Lungren before but I have to say, he knows how to design some great pickups.
You have the option to coil tap these humbuckers and this adds some lovely jangle, on clean settings.
I bought this guitar for my heavier material and it is a joy to play it on this Fantomen.
And I have to say that strapped on, it looks really cool, to my eyes.
The Fantomen doesn't come with a bag or case and it's unusual shape and size means I'll probably have to get one from Hagstrom.
I tried it in my bass gigbag but it was just a little too broad at the base, for it.
Overall then, a very, very nice guitar with looks you'll probably love or hate.

 

[Rockguide]

New here, thanks for having me! Here's my two Hagstrom beauties!