Hagstrom Swede

1977-78 Swede-D'Aquisto designed tuners-2 H/B pickups-Les Paul style-
I agree with most everyone-this guitar is HEAVY-but there are contours on the back side so it is comfortable to play-Swedish made,fabulous neck-3 way p/u switch & separate bright switch-Mine is a Mahogany finish model-1st-the tuners which everyone seems to hate are very sensitive and IMHO are a good positive for this guitar. Hagstrom tune-a-matic style bridge. Overall, a very nice guitar.

I play fusion & rock and the sound of this guitar is one of its strong points-It has a very unique glassy type tone that is not easily defined.Not quite as loud as Gibson pickups, but I would not say that they are weak pick ups either. Running through Line 6 amp-very excellent clean tones and responds well to effects.

I bought this guitar used and unfortunately Hagstrom is no longer in business. The guitar I got was in excellent original condition so I'm pretty lucky. The guitar is built like a tank so I doubt I'll have any problems. Very high quality made instrument.This was Hagstrom's top of the line model.

After 25 years and the guitar is still virtually new I would say this guitar is reliable and built to last.

Company out of business-wish they were still making guitars

Been playing over 30 years-I have Fenders, Gibsons, U.S.Epiphones, I'm somewhat a collector as well. Very unique sound and the neck is fabulous-Always wanted a Hag-thought I would get one before they catch on.If it was ripped off it would be hard to get another(especially in excellent condition)I won't modify it-VERY HEAVY GUITAR

I bought this Swedish build guitar in a used gear shop and got it very cheap I think a few years ago. My model still looks like it actually never has been played although it must be 20 years old.
It's beautiful all-mahogny (which makes it heavy, but reliable) Les Paul style guitar, with two switches, one for hi-end cutoff and one for pickup changes bridge/both/neck.

I am still amazed how well this guitar is keeping in tune, the tuners are whoa, the best I've ever seen. This guitar just can't go out of tune, it can be played hard for days and I have only to make minor adjustments. I've had it lying for 3 months+ and it was perfectly in tune when I picked it up again! It totally beats my Ibanex, Lo-pro-edge system.. and it's just regular tuners nothing else. Magical!

It has an ebony fretboard with frets that are a bit to thin for my liking, but that's all about taste.

I got it with a hardcase (which isn't as solid as the guitar, but still survived a 5 year old girl jumpin' on it). It has the sexiest red velour inside.

I would prefer this guitar for blues or jazz, even though I have used it for some funky stuff too. It's best for clean broad sounds (but still preserves that crunchy high), and the sound is very full. The best amp I played it with (for it's sound) is a JazzChorus 2x10", it simply sounded wonderful in combination with this guitar.

This is not the most versatile of guitars though, and I wouldn't keep it as my only guitar... Somehow I prefer the sound of either a hollow body or a regular strat-type guitar, and this one is just in-between with a sound that's sweet with alot of deep end, but certainly not usable in every situation.

The action is perfect, and it hasn't been adjusted while I've had it, and frankly I think it hasn't been touched since it was produced! I had to adjust the pickups a bit, coz they were too high (touched the strings on occasions, but no problem really).

My Hagstrom has no flaws at all.

I think it is almost impossible to kill this one, unless you do something really dumb with it, like setting it on fire or dropping it from tenth floor.

Everything about it is rock solid.

I saw there was a museum page, where it is possible to still get parts for Hagstrom guitars, but haven't had the need.

I've been playing for about 15 years, mostly jazz, funk and pop things. I've played a bit of different gear mostly using a preamp/poweramp/4x12 speaker cabinet setup, which is not what I would ideally prefer for this guitar.

If it was stolen, I think it would not be possible to find another guitar like the one I have, at least not in this good shape, so probably I would not be looking... But, I would cry my eyes out.

I never regretted buying this guitar even though it might not be the one I play the most. Can't help to love it for being beuatiful, perfectly tuned and reliable. Only con is the sound, which is nice, but not very versatile.

One of the last Swedes made, bought new it from their store just a couple of months before they closed down.
A Les Paul Copy better than Les Paul?

I am just using it for fun, used to have a fender twin reverb amp but now using a small marshall. The sound can be anything from jazz to distorted. Has an incredible sustain, can hold a tone almost forever.

Bought it new and all I have done during 25 years is changed strings, its still in almost mint condidtion. Never had to change any factory settings and the smooth action together with the perfect hagstrom neck is wonderful. If not abused these guitars will propably serve my son and his sons to.

I can onestly say that its lucky that Pete Townsend to my knowledge never tried to smash one of these, he propably would have been standing there today.

There seems still to be fairly easy to get hold of spares to these although i doubt that enu would need them.

Been playing for fun since childhood, owns also an old Levin Classic guitar, sold away my Daion which i still regret.
If this would disappear I would certainly try to get one back. It,s the most sturdy, easiest used guitar I have ever tried, and the sound its perfect for me. When I bought it I must have tried out 20-30 other guitars, washburn, Ibanez, Gibson, Fender etc but this suited me perfect.
And the look and finish, It,s perfectly setup from factory and the "baby blue" finish makes is stand out to many others.
Check this link to se the beauty of it
http://www.albinhagstrom.se/hagstrom_swede_1980.htm

1973 swede
23 fret mahogany body ebony fretboard........
red red red-even the back of the neck and headstock
wavy tuners are cool looking.........
have had it now about 18 yrs........are heavy as hell......but when you pick up a cheap guitar, you really appreciate the Hag.
All original......dont use it much as I want to keep it original.

very good for blues.......would love a tremolo but dont want to ruin body........
very loud.......good sustain

top notch product.......perfect thru and thru
looks factory new......
too bad no one will ever get to buy it from me\

NEVER for sale..............

strap button came loose.....used long screw and have large contoured washer to keep strap on small button.......

otherwise........no need to worry

Well i tried to find them but no longer around.......
too bad
Foo Fighter's lead man wanted to restart........was given a big "NO"

i have a Harmony acoustic, Johnson thinbody elec/acoustic,Takamine elec/acoustic,Applause gtx,Kramer,Galveston telecaster and my Hag

Hag is 2nd fave to play as i love a strat and a tremolo. Hag isnt good for heavy metal.

Weight is great........need the sureness of quality wood......balsa wood amateurs just wont do

My Swede is made in the mid 70's, and still it's in near mint condition. Les Paul-like but not a copy, full mahogany, two humbuckers, 3-way mic-switch, 3-way capacitator switch (which is kinda useless). As cool guitar as one from 70's can be.

Almost perfect! Clean sounds from bridge PU are a little thin and weak, but by turning down the tone knob a bit you can handle with this problem. I've been thinking of replacing bridge PU with a SD 59' or Seth Lover. Crunchy in a bluesy way if you want, not enough output for a nu-metal or "Norwegian heavy"- player, and I'm happy for that. I play nearly all but metal; RHCP, Kent, pop, Finnish rock as Don Huonot and "easier" music too.
Absolute sustain!! I'm playing it through ToneWorks AX1000G to a Peavey Classic 30, this baby sings with these!!

Well I bought this one used, of course (I'm born in 1982). Absolutely perfect action, low enough without any "rattle" between strings and frets, pots are probably never changed, they're worn but it doesn't worry me, I keep them in the same positions always. A few scratches on the body, natural aging of course. But they're all plus! A old instrument can't look like a brand new one. Finish is natural, by the way.

Very solid. Strap buttons are little ones, but got strap locks when bought, so no problem. It's written on the Net that binding is going to fall down from neck some day, but no signs from that, yet. Would gig without a backup (expect spare strings, of course).

The previous owner bought some spare parts from Sweden even if the company doesn't exist anymore. Great system, I think!
I haven't dealt with them.

I've been playing since early 90's and got a Ibanez Performer series LP-copy before this. Swede just shines compared to it. Well, I tried out a Tokai Love Rock (which they claim to be better than the original Les Paul) and Swede rules still! The best guitar I've been playing. The feel is smooth and sound fantastic. Only 7,800 have been made if I remember right, but it's the quality , not the quantity, right?

A Swedish made Mid-seventies solid body electric--pretty much like a Les Paul. It has a pretty incredible looking solid top--not laminate; I guess the finish is known as "budinga"--natural w/ lustrous grain. It has two pickups (replacement dimarzios)and was rewired to function like a Paul, and the mystery switch was deactivated.
Body and neck are 100% mahogany. the construction is pretty interesting:
the neck has a glued seam running down the center all the wat to the headstock...the back is two pieces and the top is one. the fretboard is ebony....wow!
A lot of the stuff has been changed like the aforementioned pickups....
the pickup rings
the tuners--now grovers
the pickguard
the nut and a total refret job

I'm playing a lot of noisy indie pop type stuff.....I'm using a 4X10 Deville with dano delay, an envelope filter, boss tremelo, and a Turbo RAT. It has a monster tone--more on the darker side--its very big. I get a lot of comments on the sound. the neck is pretty bassy and louder compared to the bridge---but I'm mostly playing on the middle and lead anyway.

pretty tight finish & neckwise. the refret, and refurbishment is a little sloppy looking, and the newer rings leave some of the routing exposed...but I'm not really concerned--it doesn't affect the sound.

Really durable so far. I had the pickup selector switch go out, and I had a store repair it for 6 bucks. Iwas worried about losing the original chrome switch, but the tech took the back off a new one and swiched out the defective pt. of the swich. the finish looks rad. the strap buttons are a little sketchy, but I'm all about the duct tape--cuz the mutha weighs a ton!!! I'm pretty sure I can depend on it OK

Apparently Hagsrom's grandson runs a Hagstrom Museum, and is selling off various parts like tuners and msc. hardware. He's really nice and answers questions!

I've been playing for ten years, and have owned various used guitars, and for the price nothing nearly this nice and nice sounding. I have a reissue mustang, a gibson Nighthawk, a 70's Electra LP Copy,.

If I lost it I would really be bummed. Its pretty rare.

I like it cuz its totally neat looking, and weird....and it sounds cool. I hate tha weight of the thing.

I wish it was all original.

Like I said...I get comments on it. I've had people ask me to sell it to 'em.

1970's Hagstrom Swede. Solid mahogany everwhere. Natural finish. Made in Sweden. Les Paul shape with two humbuckers and white binding. Two volume and two tone knobs with three way switch and a second three way for phasing. Neck is mahagony with an ebony board and block pearl inlays. Stop style bridge, tuners are a bit bizarre and not the most reliable. I have some pictures at www.guitarscanada.com in the collectors corner section if you want to check it out. The neck is real fast (which was a major advertising scheme) for Hagstrom, but I have to agree with it. I love to play this one.

This guitar rocks as far as sound. I would put it up against any Les Paul for the fat sound. I run this through a Marshall 4x12 with Marshall rack amp and JMP1. Also run it through the new Fender Cyber Twin with equally good results. The switches are upside down compared to a Les Paul, that takes some getting used to.

I would give this a very good rating as far as quality is concerned. They certainly did not go cheap on hardware (except for the tuners) and the fit and finish is great. After all these years it still looks great.

It will be around another 30-40 years from now, durable. If I ever find a set of tuners to put on it, it will be complete.

Not anymore

Very nice guitar. Looks great and plays great, can you ask for anything more.

1974 Swede ( serial # can be found stamped on the input jack plate)
Basically a Les Paul style but heavier! Solid carved mahogony top and i believe it was a mahogony neck with ebony fretboard. 2 vol, 2 tone 2 selector switches. ( I've yet to figure out what the hell the top selector switch is for!)2hums, tune-o-matic bridge with a stop tail piece. Very interesting bolt-on design.I traded 2 junky corts for this so it is used. When I got it, the previous owners swapped tuners and stuck a Dimarzio Super Distrotion in the bridge. The Hagstrom neck pickup was week so I moved the SD to the neck, and put a Duncan JB in the bridge. The result= SONIC FLAME THROWER! TRhis is a beautiful guitar. It's a natural high gloss finish over that dark mahogony body. It looks so 70's.. As far as the frets go, these babies are blew out! Someone played the daylight out of this axe! BUt it still plays better than ANY Les Paul, or Gibson for that matter,that I've ever played .

I play everything under the sun. With my pickup combo, it's not exactly a cowboy guitar. I play alot of metal and hard rock.I'm not into effects at all. They mask my gain too much. I'm running through a Crate gx-212 and I've run her through my brothers Blue VooDoo rig with the Tube Works ax 1000G precessor. It ripped either way. I love this pickup combo in this guitar do to the fact that the pure mahogony body gives it a darker tone than a Les Paul.I like everything about this guitar.

For it's age, the body is in killer shape. It almost looks brand new. There was some missing neck binding that must have come loose at one point or another and some finish checking on the back of the headstock.

This axe is built like a tank, and as heavy as one! Everybody complements this axe. I've owned it all of 2 weeks and have 3 offers on it! NOT FOR SALE! I even turned down an Ibanez Jem 555! If you are into a guitar for the way it plays and are not one of these "flavor of the month" guys, pick one of these up. You won't put it back down!
I suck too bad as a player to gig.

Don't know

I've been playing for 12 years. I also buy/sell/trade guitars as a secondary business. I have alot of guitars run through my hands, and believe me, I can spot alot of differances in guitars. I also can tell when a special piece hits my hands. THis is one of them! This is the only Hagstrom I ever played and it is killer. Everybody who has owned or played one, seems to agree. I recommend you get one while they are cheap. It plays ever bit as nice as a Gibson Les Paul for the price of an Epi Les Paul. And there unique neck joint makes you believe you are playing a neckthru guitar.
If it were stolen, some poor SOB would have hell to pay if I caught him! This is truly a treat to play every time I pick it up. The action is effortless like my San Dimas Charvel or an '89Paul Reed Smith.

I bought this guitar in the mid-70's after trying it and a Les Paul out. I liked the Swede sound so I bought it. I immediately customized it by getting Grover Pegs, a Gibson Tune-o-matic bridge and a DeMarzio Super Distortion Humbucking pick-up for the neck position.

Mainly have played rock. Used an Ampeg V-4 with this guitar for many years. This set-up gave a blistering sound with great sustain. I rarely used effects and then only a phase shifter or a wah wah pedal. Also used this guitar in doing some more mello studio work.

As indicated by other commenters this is a solid, well crafted guitar. My change to the DiMarzio was simply for my preference to the metal rock sound. The change of the pegs and the bridge was to make up for a slightly lower quality of the stock set-up.

Have had this guitar for 25 years and the only thing I have had to replace are the plastic shields around the pick-ups. A highly dependable, solid guitar.

Has never required repairs.

Have been playing for over thirty years and was thinking about selling this guitar as I don't play as much anymore. Was searching the web to see what it might be worth and was shocked at the very low prices at which people were picking up used Swede's. I guess I will hold onto it for now. I agree with one of the other commenters that once people realize t he true value and superior performance of the Swede, the used price will rise considerably.

Mine is cherry red and was completely stock when I bought it. The body is mahogany and the fingerboard is ebony. I replaced the plastic nut w/ bone very early on. I agree w/ everyone else on the tuners-they suck. However, I think the Grovers I put on to replace them look better than the originals as well as working better. The bridge is a little difficult to adjust, so I try to avoid it. I think they got into a bad batch of glue when they made my neck. A seam in the neck began to seperate at the tip of the headstock, so I glued the joint and drove a 3" screw from one side of the headstock to the other to reinforce it. It has held up for 15 years without further problem. The neck binding has also needed regluing, but has held up well since.
The pickups suited me well at first, but they were a little thin and weak. I replaced them w/ a Gibson PAF at the neck and a DiMarzio PAF at the bridge. The DiMarzio has the ceramic magnet from a SuperII in it. The tone switch on the shoulder has been rewired as a coil tap(both humbucking/neck single-coil/both single-coil).

In its stock condition, the guitar sounded rather bitey. The pickup replacement was the only fix it needed. People simply do not believe the tone and sustain of this instrument. I've used it w/ a variety of amps and it always sounds great.

The craftsmanship is top-notch, with the only flaw being the aforementioned neck glue.

I used this guitar exclusively for 15 years and it is very roadworthy. The finish is beautiful save for belt buckle dents in the back. I have straplocks on it.

I needed some bridge saddles about 10 years ago and was surprised to find that I could still get them!

I've been playing for over 25 years and the Swede is my first love. I keep her close to home now. I use an old Japanese Strat copy w/ a humbucker and a Kahler tremolo as my workhorse.