Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

Andrew Lamprecht

Minion of One
Where are the guitars designed and where are they produced?

The last couple Hagstroms I've played have impressed me a lot and I've been thinking of trying to pick one up. A Swede in particular.





hagstrom-super-swede-530-85.jpg


klswegot_2.jpg


hagstrom_1a.jpg
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

I believe the Swede is made in China.

Interesting side note, in British guitar mags, "Hagstrom-strumming" is a pejorative adjective. There's some sort of negative cultural history to the brand there, I guess. Or rather, it's associated with a particular type of player.
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

It's a Gibson Les Paul copy made in Sweden in the early '70. The originals are killer guitars, but they're NOT Gibson.

Today they're made in Korea.
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

It's a Gibson Les Paul copy made in Sweden in the early '70. The originals are killer guitars, but they're NOT Gibson.

Today they're made in Korea.

I'm not worried if they are Gibson or not, they just play and sound really nice.

Thanks for the info!
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

I picked up a sweet Swede in Cherry red on eBay for $390 (free shipping) in November. I was told it was made in Korea. My friend has an Ultra and I liked it so I waited until I found one at a steal (I think so anyway).
The stock pups are surprisingly good though I am thinking of changing the bridge to an SH-11 or Custom. My friends Ultra was changed to the SH-11 and with the tone switch, I was surprised by the sounds that come out of it. I now play my Strat and PRS a lot less which is a shame since they cost me so much more.
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

There are references online to Hagstrom sourcing hardware and pickups from Korea, but I can't find anyone who comes out and says they were ever actually made there. There are a LOT of sites that mention them being manufactured in China.

It wouldn't terribly surprise me to learn that when the brand was first relaunched, they were built in Korea, and later moved production to China. Back in 2004, China only seemed to be the point of origin for the absolute cheapest instruments. $600 put you firmly in the Korean price range. But I can't find any confirmation of that being the case with these.
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

All I know is, I played an Ultra Swede once, and it was such a beautiful instrument to play, it's secured a place on my "list of guitars i NEED to get"
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

They were made in Korea until about 2005 when they switched to China.
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

That "plastic" fretboard actually IS pretty amazing if you ever get the chance to play one.

And yes, china. Funny thing is everything I've heard/read says the chinese ones are MUCH better than the korean ones ever were.
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

No IT is not pretty amazing;)
Hehe what do you mean chance to play one??
I repair those things....
Well they do not have much in common with what a Hagstrøm used to be!
 
Re: Where are Hagstroms made/designed?

The original Hagstroms were made in Sweden. At some point they went out of business and were reinvented in recent years. I believe many of the guitars are made in China.

I had a hagstrom II as my first electric back in the mid 60's. I had to sell it to fund my SG (1968) which I still have. I would love to have that Hagstrom back. When I got it it was painted like Claptons SG. I cleaned all the paint off of it with lighter fluid and polished it up real good. It was a cool guitar. I wish I still had it.
 
Back
Top