Made in Sweden, a 1966/67 Hagstrom I, in astonishingly fine condition. Finding a guitar over 45 years old in such fine shape is one of the biggest thrills going in the vintage guitar business, making this an absolute treat!
Introduced to the US market
Introduced in 1962, and marketed throughout Europe and the UK as either the Futurama or Kent, this 1966/67 Hagstrom variation was produced exclusively for the US market, where it was known as the Hagstrom I, (often referred to as simply the H-1). With a range of refinements over the preceding four or five years, this was the model's final variation, and very much its finest incarnation. Only around 200 instruments were produced in Blue across 1966/67, adding to the Hagstrom I's highly desirable status today. (The only finish more rare than the Blue is Lavender, with just 35 or so produced)
Unique body construction
Featuring a unique two-part body construction, the H-I was constructed with a textured vinyl-clad timber back and a two-tone Lucite* top, the two halves joined together with the six coach bolts visible around the guitar's top edge. All of the electrics and the 'Tremar' tremolo system are mounted on the sexy Lucite top. The majority of these guitars appear on the vintage market with the vinyl back scuffed or torn and the acrylic top cracked or damaged, but as noted above, the condition here is exceptional – no cracks, no tears, no damage, plus extremely minimal play wear!
World's fastest playing neck
One thing you will always hear about these Hagstrom guitars is that they have what many players say are the best necks of all time. Hagstrom's own claim, "The world's fastest playing neck" was no idle boast, their exclusive 'H-Expander' truss rod, (courtesy of Volvo aircraft construction), enabled the Birch neck to be unbelievably thin, while also being the strongest neck of any guitar in the marketplace.
Pickups & Controls
The mix of controls let you wrangle a great range of styles out of the H-1. The high output single-coil pickups' strong mids and highs make them fantastic surf guitars, but also just as good for jangly 60s pop, psychedelica and blues. The controls are: Low, (neck pickup); High, (bridge); Tone, (treble boost); and Mute, (not a kill switch, but a muffling-style mute). The electrics are all fully shielded; the bridge is fully adjustable from the rear of the body, (Rickenbacker-style); and the Tremar trem system is sure and reliable – it needed to be, as Hagstrom were supplying the same unit to Guild, Harmony, Goya and others for a wide range of sixties solidbody guitars.
Neck & Frets
The amazing low-action, full 24½" scale Birch neck is topped with a glorious slab of Brazilian Rosewood; frets are Hagstrom's take on the famous Gibson "fretless wonder" frets of the fifties Les Paul Customs, though unlike the fat Gibson variety, these are a thin to medium width, with the 14" radius board allowing for effortless note bending.
Nirvana and Allan Holdsworth
Guitar virtuoso Allan Holdsworth was an early Hagstrom advocate, and a later adopter was Pat Smear of Nirvana - so you know you'll be in good company.
Original Hagstrom case
Your Hagstrom I ships in its original chipboard case, in perfect working order.
*The Lucite used by Hagstrom in their sixties guitar production was the same acrylic material used for the cockpits of US bombers and fighter planes during World War II. Very tough stuff!
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