This 1967 Hagstrom H8 8-String Bass is a good example of what the company was producing at the time. The angular and somewhat asymmetrical shape are clearly influenced by American instruments, including the Gibson SG and Fender Stratocaster
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Hagstrom had a long history of mass producing instruments in Europe under a number of brand names, but never gained mass acceptance in North America.
In 1962, Hagstrom launched a series of guitars with coloured hard plastic (lucite) tops and vinyl covered backs.
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Here’s a 1965 Hagstrom III — marketed in the US as the F-300 Futura. These instruments were known for their thin yet wide necks – very “fast”.
Hagstrom originally marketed German accordions, and in 1958 started building electric guitars.
The Hagstrom III was built from 1964 to 1976. However, by 1984, they could not compete with Asian imports and ceased production of guitars and went back to accordions.
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Despite their quality, Hagstrom guitars were never common in North America, and the Super Swede is one of the hardest to find. The Super Swede (originally called the Swede DeLuxe) was built from 1976 until Hagstrom ceased production in 1983, unable to compete with lower-priced instruments built in Asia. The Super Swede features maple construction with ebony fingerboard, and the tone is crisp and clear with lots of sustain and definition.
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This Hagstrom Coronado IV Bass from 1967 is interesting bass and sounds really good – a warm, woody tone, and it’s light! The slim neck makes it very easy to play, too.
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The 8-string bass appears in a few key recordings (including several by Hendrix) but never really caught on.
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