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Hagstorm bass worth it?

Unless the one the OP is looking at has major issues, $200 is a great deal.

Yep. Vintage Hagstroms do not change change hands for insane sums of money, but they do have a pretty strong following.

While I've definitely owned more than my fair share of Hags in my younger years and am not actively looking to buy one, that bass - presuming that everything is working - would be sitting in my lap right now if I could get it for $200, maybe even $250.
 
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It is a Hag II- I have TWO of them! Most amazing basses to play. The first bass I bought was my '67 (new) and then later got the '68. The short-scale necks are incredibly fast and easy to play and have an ""H" shaped truss bar for super stability. I have never adjusted mine. One limitation to the them is that because of the tailpiece, they require MEDIUM SCALE strings. Short scale won't fit and long scale will wrap forever around the tuners and be floppy as they cannot be pulled to proper tension.

Be aware that the switches will be problematic and the chances of getting replacements are slim and none due to an unusual size and the metric screw mounting. They do not slide internally like most slide switches, but the contacts just touch instead. I found to clean them -- I lifted the pickguard and sprayed in some Cramolin and then used a very thin, fine file stuck in the innards of the switch to carefully clean the contacts. Just working them back and forth doesn't do much - they will crap out in the middle of a gig.

It seems that the bridge on this one needs some work as well. There are 2 strings with spacers on them, probably because some filed the slots too low. I would raise the bridge and make new slots. You cannot replace the bridge with a newer type because of the unusual height and string spacing.

Be also aware that the tuners are "reverse" tuners like on the old Fenders. They turn backwards (clockwise) to tune. If you try to string it and turn the normal way the strings go off at an angle and can break the nut and not tune properly.

If you decide not to buy it I would love to have another as a project bass and would make it worth your while to help me acquire it. PM me in that event.
 
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Looks like it sold, hopefully OP got it :)

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So i have trying to contact seller. Now the listingbis gone and it has just been
" relisted" and for 100 more! Can u believe that? I will still try to get it but will definitely not go over 250 i just don't want to go too deep into it. Was kind of a turn off after he pulled that number but we will see. Will keep u guys posted and thanks for replies!
 
The Hagstrom guitars I have played all had extremely thin necks - too thin for my taste. No idea whether that holds true for the basses.

It does. At least for this model. Extremely thin neck. I've got one. The neck is a bit thin for my taste too but I still love it! It's incredibly easy to play and the neck has been impressively stable for the 20 years I've owned it. I have set the action insanely low, practically touching the 12th fret and there's no buzz whatsoever, even with the floppy Pyramid Golds.

The pickups are amazing too. Really fat, punchy and sits in the mix like a good P-bass.

One of my favourite basses EVER!
 
I ended up with a Hagstrom Swede from mid 70's (like a lost puppy it just showed up). That model is essentially a les paul style bass. I put flats on it and it has a pretty cool "thud". Seems very well made. Sort of a novelty ... not my main bass ... but I pick it up and play it every time I think I need a short-scale for something.
 
I have a (at one time) very similar Hagstrom H2B. Great sounds, great feel, crazy thin neck all the way up into the higher register. In barely decent condition, 200USD is a price I'd likely jump on. But I've got a definite thing for old Hags and other oddities.
 
Hagstroms have huge heritage though outsourcing to China left newer models in need of a visit to a good luthier to finish off properly. I own a six string and a baritone. The Baritone was so good I put those pickups on the six string and some expensive seymor duncans on the baritone which never sounded as good again. The the six string is fab!!!