Hagstrom Guitars Ha gström Gitar

SPONSORED BY
www.gbmusic.co.uk

Thanks for the last 20yrs or so!
2020 - Due to a life limiting illness, this site will remain until the next renewal date but may not be updated again.
Please ensure you have all the info you require as the site will inevitably disappear sometime in the future.

FOR SALE

Short Hag History Up Hagstrom and me Hagstrom UK Visitors Hagstrom Fans Full Hag History Short Hag History Hagstrom Electrics Hagstrom Acoustics Hagstrom Amps Catalogues Wanted or Selling Media Files Other Brands Hagstrom Links NewsHome 


I have based the text below on an old photocopy sent to me from Germany. I do not know who wrote the original text, but will of course acknowledge the author if they make themselves known. I believe it is dated around 1977 due to the references including synthesizer guitars...

THE HAGSTROM GUITARS STORY

This is a potted history:

Hagstrom made some very fine guitars. And that, as far as most of the world knows, is where the story started and ended. But for musicians in Scandinavia Hagstrom was a way of life.

In Britain and America, guitarists had been offered various instruments bearing the Hagstrom name over the last 20 years and by 1977 the name was associated with an exceptionally fine range of instruments with the Hagstrom Guitar Synthesizer as flagship of the fleet. But manufacturing only accounted for about ten per cent of the Hagstrom operation.

In Scandinavia, Hagstrom was principally known for a large chain of retail music stores. Almost every major city in Norway, Sweden and Denmark had a Hagstrom store and it’ had been that way for the previous 40 years.

The empire was founded upon piano accordions. In the 1920’s a Swedish farm hand called Albin Hagstrom found he had a talent for playing, making and selling piano accordions. He went into business manufacturing the instruments at the extremely tender age of 19 and within 10 years had built up a business exporting to many parts of the world.

The business was founded in his tiny mid-Sweden village of Älvdalen and as his fortune began to mount, he opened retail shops in various parts of Scandinavia. During the war the business contracted without severe loss and immediately peace was restored he set about expanding the empire again. But he died suddenly at the age of 46. About to go on a business trip to the USA, he was inoculated against smallpox and complications set in following the injection. He died soon afterwards.

His business did not crumble. His widow appointed a Managing Director in a caretaker role until her children were old enough to take over the business. By 1977 her eldest son, Karl Eric Hagstrom was the head of the by now much expanded empire.

The 1950’s presented Hagstrom with its first stagnant period. The long boom in piano accordions was over and the Latin and French influence that had dominated popular music for so long gave way to a new form of British and American popular music. The instrument of the new music was the guitar.

During this slow period more retail stores were opened and the company considered what to do with its manufacturing facility. Karl Eric Hagstrom finished his education in the USA and after looking very carefully at the market there, he decided that guitar making should be the future concern of the Älvdalen plant.

From 1957 onwards Hagstrom guitars became available. In the early years the company also made instruments with various brand names and British guitarists may well remember the Futurama models that were popular in the early sixties, in the USA they produced some of the Kent brand for a short period.

Like the rest of the world Northern Europe experienced a massive boom in “teenage orientated” music in the sixties and Hagstrom benefited greatly from this.

Hagstrom amplifiers were introduced and they gained the number one sales position in their home market although they had yet to gain acceptance abroad.

Hagstrom were by now more aggressive (in the nicest sense) than ever before. The day to day running of the entire organisation was left in the hands of Roland Beronious and Torgil Hagman who operated from the company’s head quarter in Malmo, Sweden.

Karl Eric’s younger sister Justine was also extremely active in developing the professional end of the retail operation.

If there was one word which summed up Hagstrom’s approach to guitar making it was quality. Many of the hand-building operations carried out at the Älvdalen plant would be considered “old fashioned” in other industries, but in high quality instrument making there was absolutely no substitute for care and personal attention.

Most of the craftsmen working at the plant had been with the company for many years and their dedication to quality was just as great as it was in the 1930’s.

Onto this background of traditional workmanship had been blended the art of high technology as applied by Pete Ollson. Pete was the electronics designer for Hagstrom and he’d been with the company since 1964 developing some exceptionally good amps and echo units. He contributed largely to the development of the Guitar Synthesizer and he worked on electronic developments intended to surface in future Hagstrom Products.

The retail side of Hagstrom also changed. In Stockholm a new Orchestra Terminal had been opened. A professional “drive-in” store designed to cater exclusively for professional musicians. The equipment available was limited to top line professional amps, guitars, drums and keyboards and the shop made a special feature of large PA systems.

An unusual incentive scheme operated in the retail arm of Hagstrom and it served to ensure first class service in each of the company’s 48 outlets. Once a shop manager proved his worth to the company, he was allowed to start his own private business within the Hagstrom store - selling accessories. He was responsible for buying and selling such items as picks, strings, straps, mouth pieces and so on and if  good at making the store attractive and keeping the customer level up he stood to earn far more than usual shop managers out of the operation.

The company had operated the scheme for several years and said it was extremely successful.

The next big step for Hagstrom was to increase their worldwide market for Hagstrom guitars. Their overseas distributors — Fletcher, Coppock and Newman in the UK and Selmer in the USA — were doing much to further the Hagstrom cause, and the Swedish company were right behind their overseas agents giving them help and guidance.

Hagstrom was a unique force in the guitar market and history.

--0--0--0--

When the pressure increased from the far eastern manufacturers, every traditional manufacturer was placed under pressure. Some bought into this manufacturing source, and automated much of the traditional production facilities.

Hagstrom did dabble with this idea at the turn of the 1980's, but in the end decided to cease operating and sadly the manufacturing story drew to a close.

This leaves us with some precious and ever more collected examples of traditionally crafted instruments that were often as adventurous and unique as they were special to play.

The association with names such as Bjarton (acoustic guitar manufacturer), also the celebrated luthier James D'Aquisto and his personalised Jimmy models, all add to the flair and pioneering spirit that was the Hagstrom Company.

THE MICHAEL WRIGHT ARTICLES FROM
(CLICK) THE '90S VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE SERIES ARE ALSO REPRODUCED ON THIS SITE (CLICK)
 WITH KIND PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, AND APPROVAL FROM THE HAGSTRÖM FAMILY.
The details and text of a much fuller history above have been updated, with new information
and pictures since the original publication - this page, below and left, is a summary.

Hagstrom History

Where it all began...

Originally manufacturing accordions from the 1920's the Hagstrom company moved into guitars just before 1958.

Initially some of the bright sparkle moved into the electric guitars, here we see the legendary Deluxe Ä ny mod or Batman or Duckfoot (and many other nicknames!), one of the most beautiful guitars ever made.

Acoustic models were contracted alongside to the well established and local Bjarton guitar Luthiers. Virtually all non-classical guitars from then onwards employed the legendary Hagstrom thin fast neck, and the patented 'H' expander rod, designed with the SAAB aerospace company.

horizontal rule

Sure you haven't been able to buy a new Hagström since about 1981,
but anyone who's owned one, realises how special they are.
There is a heritage of skill, innovation and pioneering spirit!

 

Be they acoustic, electric or electric bass, those thin guitar necks sport a patented 'H' expander-stretcher, allowing a very low action combined with the fastest slimmest necks you can imagine. DC75Bro In1s.jpg (84858 bytes)

 

This theme was maintained right through the company's history, see this updated version of the "secret" 

 

Over forty years later they're just as straight and true.

horizontal rule

Later the "Patch 2000" - The first synthesizer guitar, based around the Hagstrom Swede, the package was sold in the USA by AMPEG, and as a Hagstrom Ampeg bundle in other parts of the world.

See some pics courtesy of Ron from Canada: (Check out the quality construction - would cost a fortune today!)


There is a SUPER example of a perfect condition Swede Patch 2000 system on the Hagstrom Electrics page and I have added a full UK catalogue specification / description of the Swede + Patch 2000 features.

Also see some pics or read the details at the site Bälgdraget site, (a non-profit association for former Hagstrom employees). 


horizontal rule

Hagstrom (Goya - US brand)

See the feature page for an EDP46, with an April 1995 "Guitarist" article reproduced, or view the Hagstrom UK Goya

Kent, Goya, Levin, Bjarton, James L D'Aquisto (went on to Martin) a few of the many names connected with Hagstrom at some time, either by model / brand / association...

The Kent Branded instruments were extensively produced in Korea and Japan circa 1960’s. The was no Kent Guitar company, it was a distribution brand for the USA. Distributed in the US by Distributors in New York, Texas, North Carolina and Massachusetts. Kent was a trademark used on a full line of acoustic and solid body electric guitars, banjos and mandolins imported into the US and Canadian markets in the 60’s - but NOT MADE BY HAGSTROM. Some of the early Kent guitars (all types) were made in Japan by either Teisco or Guyatone, at this time entry level models. After this, Hagstrom produced versions of their Solid Electric Hagstrom I, II and III and Electric Bass guitars as Kents also just for the US market, as: 1) a way to get into the market with a brand that was at heard of in the US, and 2) a way for the Kent brand to make a quality leap in an increasingly discerning market. Hagstrom ceased to produce under the Kent brand presumably because they became popular under their own name! I have no other info on Kent, beyond the old “David Bowie once played a Kent Guitar” – now that one WAS a Hagstrom!
See a non-Hagstrom semi-acoustic "Kent 822 on the Other Brands page. ...to be continued...

horizontal rule

Extract of a Hershman description for the versatile Goya (pictured above); Brochure here

"..Made in Sweden, the outstanding feature of the guitar is the patented interchangeable pickup. These unique pickup units are self contained and enclosed and are sold separately from the guitar. They are easily plugged into the guitar body enabling the consumer and dealer to make any combination of guitar and pickup to suit his needs. 
 … enables a guitarist to pick the body, size and color of his choice and use the same instrument for as long as he plays guitar.
… With a few basic bodies and colors the dealer can instantly change pickup to satisfy the requirements of any customer…
There are many other features of the Goya guitar that make this instrument the finest in the world. The fingerboards are made of super strong, warp-proof, lightning smooth acrylite.

A super strong "H-rod" of a special alloy of Swedish airplane metal means the neck cannot warp or twist out of shape..."

horizontal rule

The broad history of the Electric, Semi Acoustic, and Bass Guitar models runs like this:

Standard and DeLuxe 1958-1962 
Kent, Kent I and Kent II 1962-1966 (and Futurama)
(The Hagström I and the 'branded' Kent are the same model)
Impala / Corvette and Coronado / (and Futurama) 1963-1967
Hagström I, II and III  and 12 1964-1976
Viking, Viking IN and Viking II 1965-1979
Jimmy 1969-1979 F-Hole and Oval
Swede and Super Swede 1970-1982
Scandi 1976-1980
Swede Patch and Patch 2000 1976-1979
Partner 1979
Ultra Swede 1983 - (Prototypes made in Japan - not taken forward)
There were a few other 'futuristic' prototypes from Japan which all went to Canada

Check Out the Hagstrom UK Model Index for more details - Click on the beating heart at the base of any page, or visit the Hagstrom UK Visitors and stories pages linked at the top.

There is also the TOUR OF 1976 - extracts from a rare UK publication
showing models, players, methods of manufacture and lots of models at the time, plus the only adverts I've seen for the Hagstrom SuperSwede!

Apart from branding some models for specific markets, (Kent and Goya mainly for USA, Patch 2000 synthesized kit branded Ampeg in USA) Hagstrom also manufactured for many other brands, Futurama connected with Selmer and Hofner, and of course the "Jimmy" refers to James D´Aquisto possibly the finest luthier who went on to work with Martin in USA. He worked on a number of models with Hagstrom, also working for Fender, and used the best necks in the world from Hagstrom, and some Hagstrom Jimmy bodies on some of his own custom models! Unfortunately the necks were so well appreciated, he also had a whole consignment stolen...

After John D'Angelico had taught James D´Aquisto the first experience in designing an instrument for another company occurred in 1966 when Hagstrom requested a design for an arch-top guitar they intended to build in Sweden...

Selmer / Futurama:
hagfucat.jpg (125389 bytes)In 1964 Selmer updated the Futurama range. An older Futurama II remained available for some time under the name "Duo". These new models were manufactured by Hagström in Sweden and sported the infamous "King's Neck", with the H Expander-stretcher. Either a three pickup Futurama 3 De Luxe or two pickup Futurama 2 De Luxe produced in "Glowing Red" or "Cool Blue". These guitars offered lots of switches and a Hagström design tremolo, and matching Bass De-Luxe Models.  Hagström had produced export-only models including the Kent for some time and combining features from the early Hagstrom II/III models. These guitars were branded Futurama by Selmer. Indeed Hagström's pro' range Corvette and the Coronado Bass models completed the range, and special versions of these were made at Selmer's request. The Futurama brand started life at Blatn in Czechoslovakia by the Resonet Company.

Originally named the "Resonet" the model went through a metamorphosis under a number of models before becoming a Hagström model. Early Futurama guitars were popular in the UK, used by many famous names including George Harrison from the Beatles. The connection between Hagström and the Name Futurama continued until the big US models came to the European shores and Japanese guitars flooded in hastening the demise of Hagström manufacture in Sweden. There have been many rumours about resurrecting the Hagström name just as Goya continues today. It's better to never say never... but how could anyone be worthy enough to re-create such a story. 

Sadly there are few specific details of the true acoustic models available,
beyond that many acoustic models were contracted out to excellent manufacturers
such as Bjarton (SWE) and Landola (NOR).
Very early acoustics were less high spec and imported from another Norwegian
maker due to import / export restrictions following WWII
But we try to unpick this story from fragments from people like you - Click Here

horizontal rule

If you're 'down Sweden way' there is an excellent museum of Hagstrom creations, from accordions, guitars, amps, strings and many accessories.  Click the Pic for more info...



Or, see our own visit in July 2005 by following this link

horizontal rule

THE MICHAEL WRIGHT ARTICLES FROM THE '90S VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE SERIES ARE ALSO REPRODUCED ON THIS SITE WITH KIND PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, AND APPROVAL FROM THE HAGSTRÖM FAMILY.
The details and text of this full history have also been updated, with new information since the original publication

SEE ALSO THE HAGSTROM HUB PAGE

Anyone with Hagstrom facts or photo's is very welcome.
Send them to me for posting. There's an e-mail link on virtually every page of the site!
A story isn't absolutely necessary, but adds a little bit of what we like to add to this site
- Appreciation and the appreciators!
So bung a pic of you too along with it.... Hell, past and present...
stage photo's...you, the dog and the Hag... It's up to you!

Take a browse through the Catalogues Pages     

Home

Any questions contributions or comments about this web site are welcome.  All Presentations are Copyright © 2001-2013 Hagstrom.org.uk - Hagstrom UK Projects
IMPORTANT: SEND E-mails to webstrom@hagstrom.org.uk (cut and paste). Please check occasionally - it may change due to junk mail idiots...
 (REPLIES TO YOUR MAIL COME FROM A DIFFERENT ADDRESS)  
EMAILS APPEARING TO COME FROM THE ADDRESS ABOVE ARE JUNK  - PLEASE DELETE !
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last site modification: July 13, 2020 18:20 UK Time (Individual pages update more frequently)
 <Hagstrom Models  

         (LOST? )    |    Free Message Forum from Bravenet < Hag UK Forum   |  Hagstrom UK Home page

If you appreciate or enjoy this website, please help toward the costs of upkeep.
 >>>>>>>>>>>> Click the PayPal Icon to
Thank You very much! <<<<<<<<<<<<<

Pictures submitted are posted in good faith. Please advise if you feel anything should not be posted here.
NOTE: This is a personal appreciation site, not authorised by or affiliated to the Hagström  company, family, or other websites.
Pictures and text sent for submission, appraisal or display are deemed approved for use in Hagstrom UK projects,
acknowledgement will be given wherever possible, no other recourse or promise is implied or available,
all presentations are copyright Hagstrom UK projects.
This Hagstrom UK Project is a free service. GBMusic supports youth live music and community charities.
See:  www.gbmusic.co.uk  www.goldenboulder.org.uk  [Just Adverts >  Free Message Forums from Bravenet ]

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
will be said forever forward probably.
Only you know what's right for you!