Hagstrom Guitars Hagström Gitar |
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THIS PAGE IS FOR REFERENCE NOW
What a super start to Page Two of the Visitor Contributions. Also Celebrating 20,000 hits on the Home page, I had thought to save this one for "you know what" in the new year... hmmm have to wait and see now...
Erland Alexander Heir from Norway has captured all aspects of the Visitor pages Guitar, Bass and Amp... and with such a delightful shot. Notice the pinched waist of the Bass compared to the Six string guitar, a lovely comparison side by side. So, what did he have to say about his pride and joy? Click on the picture to open it up full
size! I like the look of that amp.... Now Dave, we need a Bass amp.... Thank you Erland!
Ken S from New York
sent a "Please Help" message recently. Oh it does my heart good to give people
good news... out of the depths of the (by coincidence) moody looking picture,
shines one of my favourites... Just click on the pictures to enjoy the
depth of artistry captured by this picture. I don't believe it was intentional,
nor that it hides a tale of woe. Some might have said oh yea not worth much I'll
give you $150, take it off your hands etc., I did offer to adopt it, but (as
always) advised there is no list, (see note at bottom of
page) happily I had the price when new
available, and mentioned the rarity, collectability, and some recent auction
prices for similar ones. Oh yes if you want a brighter picture of the Blonde 'F' hole Jimmy Click Here
Sol from Montreal
Canada brings us this Swede story...
Hi, I would like to know if you are interested in adding my Guitar to your picture gallery. There were 150 Swedes produced in that 811 production run, and as far as know, these were the only guitars with the "patch" headstock badge. All other Swedes has the Fleur De Lys on the headstock. 1971 Hagstrom Swede (Patch)...Serial 811060 If you need any other pictures of the guitar, please let me know. My name is Sol Levinson and I live In Montreal Canada. It is actually the second one I bought, the first was stolen. it had the Fleur de lys. I don't remember the serial # completely , 8 0 2 3 were part of it. Peace, Be Well, Have Fun, Sol
Update Dec 2002:
This guitar was shown on another site as being for sale, then even shown
sold! Back to business, why not check out Sol's brilliant oil painting work at http://www.earthartgallery.com/painters/Sol_Levinson/images1.html
Had me worried for a moment. I thought we had the youngest Hagstrom player beat by this one! Lovely Viking 1 also eh? Batch 713 - Made in 1967 Hey, thanks Gabriele,
I couldn't have put it better myself (without translation tools anyway!)
And of course... Ciao Ricky! (Pictured)
I received an e-mail from Yvon Lavoie (Canada) 12th November 2002 asking some questions about a couple of Hagstroms... pictures promised in return for info... it happens many
times... then on Christmas Eve: "HI DAVID I DID NOT FORGET First another gorgeous red Viking, made the same year as Gabriele's Viking above, but two batches on - (715) - the bridge has changed to a wooden base with fully adjustable height and saddles version favoured on many models after this time. Great original case too. A mass of photo's, and a lot of time spent putting the contribution together, so let's take a look eh?
Having retired last year Yvon is looking at this as a
kind of hobby. Well, all I can say is you could have done a lot worse.... a lot
worse indeed!
Well, questions answered, photo's arrived and up on site, JOB DONE - Thanks Yvon, and good luck with the renewed hobby! It's so rewarding that so many of you Canadians are such nice people that's two people who've bothered to take dedicated photo's and send them by mail - such true sincerity restores the faith eh (Hey Rob, you're kinda OK too... so don't worry - Ha-Ha).
It took time, but David Ream finally "persweded" himself he could afford one...
The guy I bought it from had it since the early 80's - he thought that he got it in '81. All the modifications were done to it before he got it because he thought it was all original which obviously it isn't. Normally I never do anything to a guitar that is in it's original condition becuase I figure it was built the way the manufacturer thought best to design and build it. So if I don't like the way the guitar is as it
is I usually just pass on it. I am not a collector. I am a player, so I look for
guitars that I can play with nothing other than adjustments. However with this
guitar I can't really do that since the circuit board is gone. Someone has
drilled a hole in
I am going to keep the original Hagstrom parts
in case I ever need to put it close as possible to its vintage state. After I
have made the adjustments and modifications that me and my luthier decide upon I
will post before and after photos on
Well now for my Hagstrom story... In about 1978 or 1979 I was in high school and there was a local music store in California near my home. I had been playing bass and guitar for about 3 years and had never really owned a quality instrument. In this store they got a matched set Swede and Swede bass and had them in their display window with a price tag of $850.00(USD)each. Now to give you an idea what that meant to me, I had worked very hard to buy my first car that I was now driving and gasoline and insurance was draining me for every cent I could possibly earn. My car only cost me $450.00 (USD) so as you could see how this guitar was priced way out of my range but they both were the tranparent cherry red with chrome hardware and were the most beautiful guitars I had ever seen. In short they became the object of my desire which remained unfulfilled and to be honest kind of lost in the recesses of my memory as the years had passed. Hagstroms just completely were out of my life
and I never crossed another one since. I was going out with a girl from Sweden
for a while in about '81 ... but that is another story. Fast forward 25
years.... I am on ebay just looking at guitars and I suddenly remember how I
loved that
They are even better than I remember. I
learned the model name (Swede) and begin a quest to buy a Swede, Patch or
SuperSwede. About Moreover David, thanks for sharing your prize with us, and realising the quality of the original instrument, so many get less attentive owners who don't appreciate what they're meant for... music...pleasure...and a little bit of synergy when you take hold of that piece of art... and make it Live!
Since the article on the EDP46 and the arrival of the classic Red Goya, I am pleased to have received a flurry of messages from people who also appreciate these individual pieces of unique guitar history. In a variety of versions colours and pickup specs, these are actually great players too, so don't write them off as being just a quirky collector item. Patrick Desplanque from USA was one of them, and with a bit of
background provides a perfect backdrop for his Goya picture. Thursday, February 20, 2003 2:39 AM - Subject: Enjoying your site! I love your site and the other Hagstrom sites as well. On a whim I had decided to research the origins of a guitar I bought used in NY in 1962-63. As it turns out, your site has helped me identify it as a GOYA Standard 90. I still have it but long ago, having broken one of the tuning pegs, I replaced them all with aftermarket parts. I wish now I had'nt! I don't suppose I could find a set of originals (unless...). The instrument is identical in every respect to the red sparkle except that the body is black. It sounds quite good although the action is very hard (normal?). Does it have collector's value (assuming it were in excellent condition- I would rate mine "fair")? I'd love to hear from you So as always I try to give a bit of a reply - as we appreciate our visitors! Subject: Your site Hello David: Thank you very much for your kind and enthusiastic reply. If memory serves I paid $80 for the guitar in 62 or 63 (used, with original case which was in bad shape and long gone). The plate with the serial plate was replaced with a blank one but there is a number (free hand) on the aluminium plate that serves as a washer for the neck adjusting screws. It is a 3 digit number and could be the unit number that normally follows the batch number. I'll check and revert. I was in an amateur band in school in the mid 60's and although they were not known in the US, we played Shadows and Spotnick songs (or tried to ;-)). Yes I have a digital camera and will try to take some decent shots and e-mail them. Again thanks and all the best. Patrick
Thanks Patrick
Thorsten Lundquist kindly
contacted me to say I was welcome LUCKY GUY - LUCKY
PRODUCTION - www.lucky.se Go See! Here's a couple to be going on with, but do visit the site So, as an small example I thought we'd do an almost "first and
last" (of a style)
Notice the ridge through the centre for the pickups on the
Partner - first appeared on the HI in 1970? ...and dont forget to go and see the rest of Thorsten's collection at LUCKY PRODUCTION - www.lucky.se
John Forster from Maryport, UK and his Jimmy III ? (a-hem...)
The picture of me and "Jimmy" is in the local British Legion Club in Maryport. We played for dancing on a Friday night and we backed various artist on Saturdays. I was in the resident trio for nearly ten years and had a great time. I started playing in a band when I was 19 and I played continually on the music scene up until 18 months ago when I suffered a slight stroke. I couldn't play for a few weeks and I sort of got used to not going out in all weathers trailing up and down the county so I packed it all in. I teach guitar full time now and also make Hawaiian guitars etc. Why not visit my website www.johnforsterguitars.co.uk and who knows, you just might know an Hawaiian who's looking for a guitar! Anyhow it's nice talking to you and I hope you find the pics are of some use. If I come across anymore I'll send them on to you. Regards John Forster
Gerrit got a Diamond Deal in the Big Apple
Hi, I've certainly enjoyed perusing the interesting stories
and beautiful photos on your site. Back in the 70's I had a Hagstrom Swede just like the one in
the photos I've attached. I liked it a lot, but the realities of paying my own
way through college forced me to sell it. While I've enjoyed the fruits of having gone to college, I
missed that guitar. recently I became interested in playing again after having
been away from music for many years. I found this guitar, and the Viking, at a dealer of vintage
guitars in Rochester, NY (Diamond Strings). I bought this Swede (a 1974, just like the one I had), but the
12-string Viking caught my eye as well. I purchased it also, and when I opened
the package I was just overwhelmed with how beautiful it was! It has some very minor finish checking, and that's about all. I had to clean up the electronics a little on both guitars, and had to polish the Swede out a bit, both overall I have two very playable and quite beautiful instruments. The neck on the Viking
The Swede just plays exactly like I remember my first one
playing, easy and fast. Use these photos as you please on you site, or just
enjoy them. If you like, I'll try to get some more to you. This message has
pictures of the Viking. I will send a follow-on message with pictures of the
Swede, to keep the message size low. Best regards, Gerrit
Thanks for the pics and info Gerrit, I love that Viking 12. As a guy who grew up with a 12 string (acoustic BJ12) I can appreciate the fullness and clarity of this style.
I am lucky enough to have a Hagstrom 12 (solid) too, and there I can appreciate your comments regarding string spacing! However, it doesn't take anytime to adjust between the differences, and what a sound eh? Nice guy that Bruce Diamond by all accounts.
Short and Sweet... Black Beauty is a "Yester play"...
Randy's Condor - is a Corvette - is a fine example!
I last played it in the 80s, and even though I took it apart and cleaned all the moving parts and button areas as best I could, a few of my buttons are "iffy," as I recall. But other than that, it sounds wonderful and the finish is mint. I've concentrated on acoustic since the 70s. But I'm still in love with the look of the Condor, and the memories of the late 60s when I was playing it. Best regards, Randy
David, Hey, I bought some film last night and snapped a few shots. Here are the promised photos of my 1967 Hagstrom Condor. Best regards, Randy Scott St. Louis, MO USA That's what I like - a sense of duty -
yes folks, get your pictures in to me, add a bit of background, and hey presto,
here they are!
Please note:
although I will try my best for the occasional request, this site is not an
official price record site, and if I can help, any valuations are still
difficult as there are silly prices from time to time, very variable quality,
and it all depends on the person who wants to
sell and the person who wants to buy. I am no
dealer, and therefore can not provide a firm expectation considering the above.
As Kwinn says - There is no price list any more!
There must be loads of
pics around from the last forty years, why not share them with us! *Max individual message size 300 to
500kb including pictures (jpg preferred). (* Hagstrom related pictures). Do not confuse with any other interpretation... |
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Hi
David, I bought "Jimmy" when I had an music/electrical shop in Maryport. I saw
it in a catalogue and just had to have one. It cost me about £600. At the time I
was playing in a jazz combo and fortunately my bank manager was a fan, and I had
no problem convincing him that I really needed a new guitar.
If
I'd asked him for £200 for the electricity bill he would probably have said NO!,
but a new guitar was much more important. Long gone are the days when my bank
manager liked to say YES!. I fitted the third pick-up myself, it's a Gibson
humbucker, (Shame on me I hear you say). It does give a great sound and I don't
regret doing it at all. I like it, and I never intended to sell it so what the
heck. I played him all the time until about ten years ago when I bought a
Patrick Eggle New York. Unfortunately I was playing a lot of C&W and "Jimmy"
didn't have enough twang on the top end so he went in to semi-retirement, like
me. 
is
a bit narrow for a 12-string (especially since I have rather large fingers), but
if you tune it down 2 steps and capo the 4th fret you get a great easy-playing
12. 
This
Hagstrom Condor is mint condition. I've had one in my closet for almost 35 years
-- bought it new in 1967.
