| Hagstrom guitars are, not surprisingly, made by | | | | It did have an interesting sound, however. This |
| Hagstrom, a company that started life in the | | | | was mostly because of lighter gauge strings being |
| town of Älvdalen in Sweden. The company | | | | arranged above the standard strings and tuned to |
| name is correctly spelled as Hagström with | | | | a whole octave higher. The resultant tone was |
| a dieresis over the "o," but once the Hagstrom | | | | quite unique. |
| guitars hit the English speaking market, the name | | | | Hagstrom guitars were not the only thing the |
| was changed to include only letters without | | | | company produced. They also made a range of |
| accents. | | | | amplifiers and speakers. Swedish super group |
| Electric solid-body Hagstrom guitars have been | | | | ABBA used Hagstrom equipment on their first |
| produced since 1958. The company had been | | | | tour of the world. However it is for their guitars |
| producing accordions since 1932, so the Hagstrom | | | | that Hagstrom are best remembered. |
| guitars were a considerable deviation from their | | | | The company stopped their Swedish side of |
| usual line. The early Hagstrom Deluxe guitar, | | | | production in 1983. They did some collaborative |
| however, had a sparkling celluloid finish that had | | | | work with Japanese companies, but decided not |
| long been used on their accordions. | | | | to proceed in that direction. Hagstrom guitars, |
| Hagstrom soon started making hollow-body | | | | while much loved all over the world, could no |
| guitars along with their solid-body guitars. The | | | | longer compete with the cheap labour markets of |
| Viking and the rather strangely name Jimmy | | | | Asia. |
| (named after Jimmy D'Aquisto of New York) are | | | | It took 21 years before Hagstrom guitars once |
| early examples of successful Hagstrom | | | | again started in production in 2004. As they |
| hollow-bodied products. | | | | couldn't compete with Asia, they decided to go |
| Hagstrom guitars expanded from making lead and | | | | there and their current factory is now in China. |
| rhythm instruments to making bass guitars in | | | | There are plans to return production to Sweden, |
| 1961. The Hagstrom Standard was their first | | | | but at the time of writing this has not happened |
| model, but it was the Hagstrom H8 produced in | | | | yet. |
| 1965 that caused a stir in the world of music, for | | | | Hagstrom guitars, especially the early ones, have |
| it was the world's first 8-string bass guitar. | | | | become highly collectible items. Elvis Presley used |
| The sixth Hagstrom H8 to be produced was | | | | a red coloured Hagstrom Viking II on his Elvis |
| owned by guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix. He had his | | | | Presley's '68 Comeback Special. In the early 1990s |
| bass guitar in 1967. Other well-known bass players | | | | this guitar was sold for $50,000. |
| who owned one of the famous Hagstrom guitars | | | | Hagstrom guitars have developed a cult following |
| include Danny McCulloch who played bass for the | | | | from people all over the world who have fallen in |
| Animals, and Mike Rutherford, bass player for | | | | love with the highly distinctive instrument. Since |
| genesis. | | | | 2006, fans gather every year for the |
| The innovation that is Hagstrom guitars probably | | | | Hagström Festival at Älvdalen in |
| reached its peak with the Hagstrom H8. It was | | | | Sweden during the first week of June to |
| based around a normal four stringed bass guitar, | | | | exchange guitar stories and play some music - on |
| but the strings were simply doubled up, a bit like | | | | Hagstrom guitars, of course. |
| the way a 12-string guitar is. | | | | |