A lot of musicians who are looking for new gear often ask the same question: are Hagstrom guitars good? Although this Swedish guitar brand is not as well-known as major players in the game like Gibson or Fender, they still offer interesting guitars for all level guitarists. What’s more, their gear is also really affordable. But what’s the actual truth – are these guitars worth it?
Absolutely! Hagstrom is one of the most underrated guitar brands in the world. Their guitars feature exceptional sound quality and solid attention to detail. The brand offers a wide range of various types of guitars. Whether you’re looking for a hollow body or solid body guitar, Hagstrom is definitely worth considering.
What’s important, the company also manufactures bass guitars. The most popular models include Hagstrom Viking and Hagstrom Super Swede, although there are many more other models that are worth having a closer look. Let’s dive deeper with research and let’s find out what makes Hagstrom guitars so good. At the end of the article, there will also be a few top recommendations when it comes to their gear. Make sure to grab your best headphones too, because there will be a few sound samples as well!
Great Quality Is A Result Of Interesting History
The Hagström Guitars was founded in Sweden in 1925 by Albert Hagström. What’s interesting, the company was originally focused in accordions. In 1950s, Hagström decided to try making electric guitar and amplifiers. The brand become recognizable worldwide and they experienced years of success, although in 1983 they stopped manufacturing any instruments. Nevertheless, 21 years later Hagström was reopened and they’re still producing guitars nowadays.
What’s important, today’s Hagström guitars follow the tradition from past years. As an example, one of the most popular models today, called Hagström Viking, is still almost the same as the model introduced in 1960’s. Another important fact is that Hagström was the first guitar company that introduced 8-string bass guitars to the public. Thanks to them, these guitars were easily accessible to thousands of players around the world. Undoubtedly, the company had a massive impact on the music industry in general.
Hagström Guitars Are Used By The Best
It is worth mentioning that there were a lot professional musicians who trusted Hagström and decided to use their gear during live performances and studio recordings. Some of the most famous players that owned and used Hagström guitars include:
- Jimi Hendrix
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
- Ace Frehley (KISS)
- Pat Smear (Foo Fighters)
- Dweezil Zappa (Zappa Plays Zappa)
- Justin York (Paramore)
- Todd Kerns (Slash)
- Tezz Roberts (Discharge)
- and many, many more!
Of course, this is just a few examples of professional players who are fans of Hagstrom guitars. If you’d like to see the full list of musicians who use their gear on a daily basis, here’s a full list.
Innovative Approach
What’s important, Hagstrom was never afraid of experimenting with new gear. Apart from the 8-string basses, the company created a synthesizer and guitar hybrid – Swede Patch 2000. This interesting instruments looks the same as any Hagstrom Swede guitar, although it features wiring inside the neck that transmits the input to the synthesizer. As a result, the guitarist is able to either play the guitar or the synth. Or both at once! Although the company manufactured only around 500 of these guitars in the past, it was a really interesting experiment. It’s also a proof that Hagstrom was acting really bold and wasn’t afraid of innovation in the music industry.
If you’re interested to hear how the Swede Patch 2000 sounds like, check out this sound demo below.
Which Hagstrom Guitar Is The Best?
Although there are dozens of different models available online, I picked 5 best and most interesting guitars created by Hagstrom. Feel free to check out the guitars listed below! I also included a few sound samples so you can actually hear how they sound. What’s important, all of these guitars are great for all-level players, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re an amateur or intermediate guitarist. You will find both solid body and semi-hollow body guitars in here. In addition, they’re pretty affordable!
Top Recommendations
| 1. | Hagstrom Viking | See on Amazon |
| 2. | Hagstrom Super Viking | See on Amazon |
| 3. | Hagstrom Ultra Swede | See on Amazon |
| 4. | Hagstrom Fantomen | See on Amazon |
| 5. | Hagstrom Ultra Swede BGB (Flamed Maple) | See on Amazon |
1. Hagstrom Viking
One of the most popular guitars manufactured by Hagstrom. In fact, it’s one of the most interesting and versatile guitars on the current market. It is heavily inspired by the Gibson ES-335. As you can see on the picture above, this cherry red color is really similar to the iconic model offered by Gibson. The guitar features two Ahlstrom humbuckers, which feature a really powerful and punchy tone. Undoubtedly, this guitar will be ideal for all level players. Whether you’re into clean jazz melodies or more distorted rock and grunge riffs, the Viking will definitely help you find your own tone. I highly recommend checking it out! Here’s a sound sample if you’re interested.
2. Hagstrom Super Viking
Absolutely beautiful guitar. Although it’s a little bit more expensive than the regular Viking model, the guitar is a piece of art. For me, the Super Viking is like a Viking on steroids. There is something absolutely special and powerful about this guitar. I don’t know if it’s this maple top or block fingerboard inlays (which are available only in Super Viking version), but from the outside, the guitar is just spectacular. In terms of sound, it’s really versatile, so it has everything that you need. You just have to hear it for yourself! See the demo below.
3. Hagstrom Ultra Swede
One of the cheapest models offered by Hagstrom. To be honest, the Ultra Swede model is really similar to Epiphone Les Paul, although it has a slightly different shape. In my opinion, it’s one of the best and most affordable guitars on the market right now. The guitar features a mahogany body and a really comfortable D-shaped neck. In addition, it’s equipped with two open-coil humbucking pickups that offer a really cool tone. As a result, the Ultra Swede is particularly great for rock, grunge and metal riffs. If you’re into a solid amount of distortion and overdrive, this guitar will be perfect for you! Here’s a short demo in case you’d like to check it out further.
4. Hagstrom Fantomen
By looking at the shape of the Fantomen model, you may think that it’s a rip off of Gibson Explorer or Firebird. Of course, it is clear that this model was heavily influenced by the guitars created by Gibson, but it’s still an interesting and far more affordable option than any Gibson guitar. This guitar is made for heavy riffs! On top of that, it’s surprisingly lightweight. In my opinion, it will be an ideal choice for any guitarist who loves rock and metal. Undoubtedly, the Fantomen will give you a lot of fun when it comes to playing these genres of music. Check out the sound demo below.
5. Hagstrom Ultra Swede BGB (Flamed Maple)
Another absolutely special model created by Hagstrom. This version is slightly more expensive than the regular Ultra Swede mentioned earlier, but it’s still definitely worth it. To be honest, the manufacturer did an amazing job with this flamed maple model. The guitar looks and sounds absolutely spectacular and it’s really versatile. If you’re looking for a mid-shelf guitar, the Ultra Swede will definitely be a good choice. Feel free to have a look on the sound demo below!
Summary
As you can see, if you’re looking for a new guitar, Hagstrom is definitely an interesting choice. Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced player, their gear will give you access to a great sounding and comfortable gear. It is really surprising that this brand is not as recognizable as Fender, Gibson or Ibanez. On the other hand, all people who know about their exceptional quality – including you – can keep it as a secret and use it as an advantage! What do you think about Hagstrom guitars? Would you buy one for yourself? Let me know in the comment section below, I’m really curious!
Thanks for checking out Best Guitars Now. I hope that today’s blog post was helpful! In addition, if you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
