Product: Hagstrom H 1 B
Price Paid: N.A.
Submitted
11/02/2002
at
08:01am
by
Mike Knowler
Features
:
No Opinion
1973 Model H 1 B Hagstrom 4-String Bass. Made in Sweden. This is a Follow-Up to my earlier Review but now I have had time to better evaluate this Bass.
See Previous Review.
Sound
:
10
I plugged my H 1 B into a very "unforgiving" Bass Rig at a Local Music Society Open Stage. The Rig is a Peavey Mark IV 400 Watt Bass Head & Cerwin-Vega 1x18" Cabinet. The Cab also contains a 10" Speaker and Horn but they are not connected, so the 18" Speaker is all there is to work with. The propensity for ths Bass Rig to sound crappy is great.
After some minor service on the H 1 B and a new Set of D'ADDario EXL-170M Medium-Scale Soft Gauge Strings, I set off to put the H 1 B to the test in a Live Situation. It Shone ! Even through the aforementioned Bass Rig ! Through a better Bass Amp it ought to excel.
I own a 1971 Hagstrom H II B N Bass also, and the Sound doesn't hold a candle to this H 1 B. However, the H II B N is in better condition, and has better "Playability". It's Sound with the Twin Humbuckers is Muddy, versus Clear, Strong, Bright, and Warm with the Single-Coil H 1 B. The Pickup Output of the H 1 B is about double the H II B N. I feel the H II B N almost needs Pre-Amping at the best of times!
I don't know if I even want to play the H II B N now as the " Holy Grail " has arrived !
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
See Previous Review.
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
See Previous Review.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
See Previous Review.
Overall Rating
:
10
These are very Rare Basses, built to last forever. If you can...BUY ONE !
Product: Hagstrom H 1 B
Price Paid: $560.00 (Canadian)
Submitted
10/26/2002
at
10:47pm
by
Mike Knowler
Features
:
7
Hagstrom Model H 1 B Bass Guitar. Year Made 1973 in Alvadalen, Sweden. 4-Strings. 30 Inch Scale. Volume and Tone " TV " Style Knobs. One Single-Coil Pickup. Passive Electronics. Birch Body, Neck, and Headstock. High-Gloss Lacquered Finish. Sunburst Finish on Body, Natural Finish on Neck and Headstock. Body Style Similar to Gibson EB-O except Offset Upper Horn. " Strat-Like " Headstock. Wood Bridge. Non-Locking Tuners ( 4 In a Row ). Narrow, Fast Neck.
Came with Original Soft Shell Case.
Sound
:
8
Actually, for a basic type of Bass, it Sounds very good. It has a good sustainful Tone due to the Positioning of the Single-Coil Pickup and the Wood Bridge Design. It produces a Warm Tone yet Distinct and Clear. I also own a Hagstrom H II B N Bass with two Humbucking Pickups, and it doesn't sound as good as this H 1 B. Will be using it soon with a Hartke Kickback 10 Combo ( on Backorder ). I use it at home with a Fender BXR 25 25 Watt Practice Amp, and I have also used it straight into a PA with surprisingly good results. I have gotten away from effects recently, and am running straight into Amps and PA....I don't miss the Effects and like being back to basics.
The H 1 B is relatively Quiet for a nearly Thirty Year Old Bass. The Bass is Limited as to the Variety of Sounds it can make as it is a Beginner's Model and was never designed for the Professional.
I've only used it in a Jamming situation so my experience is limited.
I wish it had a " Mute " or "Standby" Switch like the H II B N.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Factory Set-Up 29 Years ago ! Pickup Adjustment who knows. When I received it recently both were good. This Bass is Solid as the Rock of Gibraltar...exemplary quality. Only flaws are from usage over the Years: Dings, Scuffs, Scratches Etc.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Already has withstood live playing...no problem. Built like an Ox. hardware has lasted 29 Years so far. Finish the same. I would say that being a Hagstrom, with the " H Beam " Truss Rod, adjustment is indeed very infrequent.
I would Gig without a Backup anytime.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Stopped Production of Hagstrom Instruments in 1983. Now, parts, Etc., are available through Websites, Collectors and the like.
Overall Rating
:
9
Playing 34 Years. Also own a 1971 Cherry Burst H II B N Hagstrom Bass, a 1977 Sunburst HOB 6-String Acoustic Guitar, a Fender BXR 25 Bass Practice Amp, a Hartke Kickback 10 Bass Combo, a Rolls Mini-Mix 51 System.
If it were stolen or lost, I would probably buy a different Vintage Bass, maybe a Gibson EB-O, as I already have a good Hagstrom Bass.
I love the Size, Sound, and Playability of this H 1 B, it's also not hard to look at ! My first Bass was a 1972 Cherry Burst H 1 B, purchased in 1973 when I was Fifteen, so this Bass purchase has sentimental indeed !
Wish it had a better Original Case...this one's kind of Cheap ! Also, a " Mute " Switch.
These are becoming increasingly hard to find: only 652 were made for the Canadian Market between 1971-1973. They don't come up for sale very often.
As I've found with Hagstrom Instruments, the quality is superb, and they have survived in excellent playing condition for many years for a reason
