 Hagstrom Body Zappa PLayed 'em. The King played 'em (but Liberace didn't). Hendrix played 'em. So did Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, Larry Coryell, Bill Nelson, Bryan Ferry and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. All played the mysterious Hagstrom guitar. Now Fred joins the lineup of Hagstrom lovers. |
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 Hagstrom The wood comes from North America, and the hardware is top US and Korean suppliers, while pickups are developed in Korea according to K. E. Hagstroms exact specifications. This keeps the price well under a grand, or they would surely be up in PRS land at 2 grand plus |
 The new guitar I havent yet decided if the Ultra Swede is as good as a PRS. Its a different animal, but for me this is a keeper ... For the money, they are great value.
My Ultra Swede is well made and it sports a fair amount of cosmetic appointments, including pearl celluloid binding on the body, neck, and headstock; abalone/pearl fretboard inlays; and a pearl logo on the headstock. Add the chrome tailpiece cover which disguises six chrome-plated brass blocks that the strings load though and the swanky stair step tuning machines, and youve got an instrument that definitely makes a bold visual statement.
With the pickups in full humbucking more, the Ultra Swede delivers a throaty overdrive sound with just enough treble bite to maintain good presence in the mix. The output level of the Hagstrom units is on par with other PAF type pickups, and gives juicy distortion tones from the Marshall Valvestate amp. The Ultra Swede is a very flexible guitar that’s as adept at blues as it is for slammin out AC/DC riffs. So if youre jonesing for a little upscale visual vibe in an affordable axe that packs a bunch of great sounds, the Ultra Swede could be just what you need.This guitar has awesome features: flame maple top, basswood body, thin, set maple neck with "resinator" fingerboard, abalone and pearl inlays, medium frets, pearlized binding. |
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 Karl Hagstrom Went to that great guitar store in the sky in 2010, RIP
Swedish HAGSTROM started in 1958, and went on to produce a wide range of acoustic and electric models until it went out of business in 1983. The company started making guitars again in 2006, and it now offers an impressive series of models.
The neck has an inviting C shape and the polished frets feel great to bend on. They’ve also been carefully tapered on their ends to eliminate any prickliness as you slide you hand along the neck. This is an enticing guitar to play and though its controls are simple, the Ultra Swede delivers a surprising broad range of sounds. The coil-split switch really brightens up the response of both pickups, which can be cool for when you need some Strat-style neck pickup wail, or a crisp, shimmering rhythm tone with both pickups on. What’s also cool is that the Tone control is useable throughout its entire range—so you can use it to completely roll off the highs without it sounding like there’s a mattress over the speaker. The Volume control also keeps the highs intact when it’s turned down. |
 Utra Swede The Hagstrom Ultra Swede Golden Eagle Burst is a solid body electric guitar with great looks and top features. A stunning burst finish elevates this classic looking Hagstrom to the stratosphere! The Ultra Swede is all about blending modern with traditional features.
The body is a 2 piece Basswood body with maple cap, the neck also maple set. Resinator Fretboard with Hagstrom Select Block Pearl/Abalone Markers:Resinatorâ„¢ wood is a wood composite material that is both more uniform in density and more stable than any standard wood product. These characteristics eliminate dead spots or “wolf tones†sometimes associated with conventional wood fingerboards. Resinatorâ„¢ wood has an articulate sound similar to high quality ebony, but without any of the problems associated with ebony. It provides a stable and clear tone, and also adds higher overtones and harmonics which uniquely detail each note. Like the H-Expanderâ„¢ truss rod, Resinatorâ„¢ wood is a major contributor to the distinctive “Hagstrom toneâ€. |
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 Headstock Although this electric guitar may look fairly classic from a distance when you start to look at the details it is anything but. For a start the two Custom 62 neck and bridge humbucker pickups have been coil tapped. A micro switch splits the coils of the pickups giving you single coil tones. This adds tonal versatility to the Hagstrom Ultra Swede Golden Eagle Burst. Top quality hardware has been throughout including the stylish Hagstrom stop tail.
If you like a low action and a slim neck then this solid bodied electric might be for you. The Hagstrom Ultra Swede has been fitted with their own design H-Expander Truss Rod. It allows them to build a super slim neck yet retain stability and strength. The 15 inch radius of the fingerboard means you can drop the action low and the notes won't be choking when you bend the strings. Modern features on a classic looking guitar, the Hagstrom Ultra Swede Golden Eagle Burst is simply brilliant. |