NBD: Hagstrom Swede Bass

[Pauly 4001]

So I just returned from a long drive up to Bellingham and back to pick up a beautiful 1974 Hagstrom bass that I've been admiring for a while online.
It will need a refret, intonation setup and new strings but is pretty clean otherwise.The headstock looks to have been professionally repaired at some point and there's a little buckle rash and some slight gouging to the back but what a gorgeous chunk of mahogany and the inlays on the headstock and the fretboard are super deluxe.
Sorry for the quick crappy photos but of course you need to see pictures and I need to spend time with my new pal.

 

[woodyng2]

So I just returned from a long drive up to Bellingham and back to pick up a beautiful 1974 Hagstrom bass that I've been admiring for a while online.
It will need a refret, intonation setup and new strings but is pretty clean otherwise.The headstock looks to have been professionally repaired at some point and there's a little buckle rash and some slight gouging to the back but what a gorgeous chunk of mahogany and the inlays on the headstock and the fretboard are super deluxe.
Sorry for the quick crappy photos but of course you need to see pictures and I need to spend time with my new pal.
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These are beautiful basses,especially the headstock. Congrats,

 

[TomB]

Isn’t that a Viking? I loved mine, many years ago.

 

[2saddleslab]

Had one of those in black 30 years ago. It was a nice bass and quite the looker.

Enjoy that beauty!

 

[Pauly 4001]

Isn’t that a Viking? I loved mine, many years ago.

The materials and craftsmanship are incredible.
The Viking seems to still be in production and looks to be a hollow body and not a massive slab of mahogany:
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[Brad Johnson]

Gigged with one of these for a few years back in the eighties. Heavy but sounded very nice, especially for Fusion. There are a couple that have been at Atomic Music for around a year.

 

[ajkula66]

Congrats on your "new" bass. May it serve you well.

I've owned a number of Swedes - both guitars and basses - and loved them dearly. The build quality is pretty stunning for a production instrument, and these are the only wooden necks that never need adjustment in my experience.

Play it in good health and enjoy !

 

[TomB]

The Viking has been reissued in recent years with a few upgrades from the original design. It is a medium scale neck with an ebanol board, and markers like those pictured. With a 6-position rotary switch, it is a lot of fun to play!

 

[JRA]

i'm with the group: great looker you've snagged for yourself! congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[Father Gino]

I had a de-fretted one as my only bass for 20 years or so. I loved it dearly and thought I would be buried with it. But, alas, the love faded eventually partly due to it’s 13+ lbs of Mahogany.

Nice score, hope you like it.

 

[40Hz]

They have a great tone and are pretty easy on the eyes. I’m surprised they didn’t become more popular than they did. I knew a two players who had a Hagstrom for their main bass. Congratulations on scoring such a nice one. Play it well.

 

[JW56789]

Swede's (and most of Hagstrom's 'Greatest Hits') have been available from the re-constituted Hagstrom over the last several years: As usual for this kind of thing, a lot of the original design with some modern tweaks.

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[Keger Jupit]

The materials and craftsmanship are incredible.
The Viking seems to still be in production and looks to be a hollow body and not a massive slab of mahogany:
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Sweet! I do love me some mahogany, one of my favorite tonewoods. Have fun!

 

[Dee-man]

Add me to the list of congratulators. I have a '67 Hagstrom that's terrific in every way and a blast to play. Enjoy!

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Isn’t that a Viking? I loved mine, many years ago.

Looks like a Swede to me...no tailpiece as in the Viking

 

[TomB]

Looks like a Swede to me...no tailpiece as in the Viking

Ok. Yes, the Viking tailpiece is a piece of work alright. Also, I think maybe the original Vikings had inline tuners Fender-style, while the reissue has what you see pictured. I’m not an expert though, just an enthusiast!

 

[daveman]

So I just returned from a long drive up to Bellingham and back to pick up a beautiful 1974 Hagstrom bass that I've been admiring for a while online.
It will need a refret, intonation setup and new strings but is pretty clean otherwise.The headstock looks to have been professionally repaired at some point and there's a little buckle rash and some slight gouging to the back but what a gorgeous chunk of mahogany and the inlays on the headstock and the fretboard are super deluxe.

Nice! I have a cherry red Swede of that vintage with some Hammon Dark Stars. The combo of mahogany and DS's makes for a sweet, monstrous tone. Great neck profile for a short scale and the fit and finish on these Swedish made 70's basses is unparalleled.

 

[ajkula66]

Great neck profile for a short scale and the fit and finish on these Swedish made 70's basses is unparalleled.

Indeed it is. One has to experience it to believe it.

The modern Hagstrom reissues in general leave an awful lot to be desired IMO *if* one has played and liked the originals. I wouldn't mind grabbing a Northern Super Swede though, but haven't come across a reasonably priced one on this side of the pond.

Threads like this one don't help, though. I could see myself pulling a trigger on a Swede like one that @Pauly 4001 just grabbed...and it's not like I need another old, mahagony short-scale bass......oh well.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I had an old, original Swede bass. Other then the weight, I wouldn’t mind still having it.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Pauly

I need to spend time with my new pal.

skål

Happy NBD!

Wise(b)ass