Hagstrom Guitars
Ha gström Gitar |
Thanks for the last 20yrs or so! |
|||
|
|
|||
| |||||||||
|
Visit to Sweden - July
2005 HOMEPAGE |
October 2005 | June
2006 Now what could 'top and tail' the experience we we'd had so far. Meeting and enjoying the hospitality of the two Generations of Hagströms, seeing the delights of the past in so many different ways, feeling the anticipation of the future, and enjoying the sights of this beautiful country. Ulf, his lovely family, his good neighbours and Kwinn too, were waiting for us to arrive for another feast of food, and music and great company. Chris played remote control car for a while to unwind, then joined us up on the veranda to enjoy the view (and some pudding). Soon after, Ulf produced a guitar case and asked Chris to open
it... we then enjoyed a full description and look at the detail of this
amazing sight... there is no better way to put it than to take you through this
final chapter with pictures of - yes, that original and only fully hand crafter
guitar made in Sweden by James L D'Aquisto - for Hagström. The binding width follows the contours of the body shape in perfect sympathy; narrower near the strap button as the back sweeps in toward the neck area. So, no 'standard' binding for this baby. If there is one video you must watch from this trip, it is the one below. It is a delight of sight and - well I was gong to say sound - but potential sound is better to say. The reason for this was simply the trepidation and respect at
the thought of playing it, and many players in attendance shied away from this
exquisite and quite unique guitar. One little guy didn't really know the
significance until later...
What a treat, THANK YOU SO MUCH Ulf.
It was only fair to say that after this unveiling - a very rare occurrence - we all needed a drink and those without the need to consider driving (how unfair to Anders), retired to the back garden, the bar, Kwinn's Taylor Travel guitar, and some blues, all rounded off by some more great conversation. Around 1.00am we had to finally say goodbye. A sad moment with Kwinn returning to USA quite soon too. We realised that this magical journey really was coming to an end, and once again there were no words that fully expressed our gratitude and appreciation. Not once did we anticipate or expect the friendship we were shown. It was a revelation from start to finish: no politics, no baggage, no holding back, just simply... Sweden.
Ulf is a devoted Hagstrom enthusiast, and knowledgeable guy - proud and generous a rare combination. Both Karl-Erik's were closer to my enthusiasm than I had expected, both again open and willing to afford us time and hopefully received our sincerity and thanks in return. Stefan is simply amazing in his energies and ideas. The boy is now a man, and I hope he can achieve some of his aims within the story too.
Returning to the car, still 'glazed in the head' from this fresh encounter, we had no problem staying awake through the night.... well actually no, I'm lying... we stopped half way for a quick nap for safety. Also it is very fair to say I was finding it very hard to keep Anders company by the time we arrived back at Braås at around 4.30am Friday - and we probably kept him going by the sound of a rather un-harmonious snoring by the time the journey ended!
Yes if you need it, there's another short video HERE with a taste of this wind-down before our journey back. Starting at 1.00am Saturday morning we headed back to Malmo, then the train over the bridge to Copenhagen, and the check-in for our flight back to the UK departing at 7.15am. Taking the hour difference into account we landed before 8.30am Saturday. Who says you don't get Jet Lag in Europe? I was shattered, but satisfied (Understatement). My thanks to everyone we met, so much friendship and openness, and especially many thanks to Anders Karlsson, our guide and companion throughout the whole adventure. I keep wishing to re-live this experience in my mind - every
day.
BEFORE YOU GO HERE'S WHAT THIS NOSTALGIA DID FOR CHRIS AUGUST 2005 CHRIS, INSPIRED, AIMS TO BE GOOD WITH A VIKING (YES, ANOTHER VIDEO) ...and finally, remember that card Chris
left behind? Thankfully it was posted on to us in August!
Back to Page8 | Back to Page1 | HomePage | NewsPage | Forum Many Thanks to Anders, Stefan, Karl-Erik Hagström Junior, Karl-Erik Hagström Senior, Ulf, Kwinn, Bengt, Bjorn, Rolf, Kikki - great cooking too, and all families (the support teams!), Maersk Airlines, SAAB, Porsche, Honda, Barclaycard, and anything and anyone else who knows us. Phew! Roll on next time...
Other Visits: October 2005 Östersund Festival | June 2006 Älvdalen Festival
Hej! we didn't get that far north last time!
|
|
Any questions
contributions or comments about this web site are welcome. All
Presentations are Copyright © 2001-2013
Hagstrom.org.uk - Hagstrom UK
Projects
| ||||
| There's nothing like a REAL original Swedish made Hagstrom (and there are loads around), but if it 'floats your boat', or you can't find an original then who are we to say? | |
|
|
Plenty has been said already and |
The instrument
incorporates a McCarty Gibson dual pickup and pickguard assembly that James
D'Aquisto brought with him from America. Other (only partly finished) prototypes
used a different arrangement with pickups placed separately, which was the
ongoing configuration for this guitar in it's production years. 
Friday was a lazy day,
up by midday, Anton came round to play with Chris - guitars and cars were the
order of the day - what a surprise eh? 
