Newer Hagstrom 8 String Basses

[24 Hour Tom]

Hey Team!

Now that the newer Hagstrom 8 string basses have been out a few years, what’s the verdict?
- neck twists?
- worth the bump they got from original prices to over 1k?

I really want an 8 string in my arsenal.

 

[Mosthigh]

LowEndLobster did a review in 2022.

 

[woodyng2]

Hey Team! Now that the newer Hagstrom 8 string basses have been out a few years, what’s the verdict?
- neck twists?
- worth the bump they got from original prices to over 1k?
I really want an 8 string in my arsenal.

The one I tried in Portland around 2005 didn’t leave a great impression on me. (actually the sharp upper horn DID leave an impression on my ribcage).
I remember it as being awkward to sit with, neck heavy, with a weirdly shaped neck, and fret sprout galore.
As far as neck twists, I thought Hagstrom had some patented neck reinforcement device to prevent that?
I got my first 8 string in the early 80s, a wonderful Veillette-Citron 1-pickup Standard. It’s been a tough one to follow.
Unfortunately I had to sell it after a year, and then they pretty much became unobtainium.
I always kept my antenna out for another 8 over the years, trying some out in stores,
and mostly being underwhelmed one way or another. I also tried several 12 strings and concluded those are not something I want to wrestle with.

 

[jglunt]

I’ve played one of the newer Hagstom 8s in a Portland guitar shop, and didn’t care much for it.
The beautiful headstock makes it neck heavy, and in fairness, I generally don’t like short scale basses.
OTOH, I found my Fernandes 8 string online, and it is a fantastic instrument, one that I will always keep.
Jglunt- is yours like this one? I think they only made these in black, at least that’s all I’ve ever seen.
I modded mine with Lace Sensor Man o war pickups and a passive harness, only because I don’t like active pickups/wiring,
but I knew I really loved the instrument enough to want to keep it as a player.
These pics are from the ad when I found the bass, so this is the original look.


View attachment 7437385View attachment 7437386

Yep, that's exactly like mine, except mine is all original.

 

[mikewalker]

I have found the 'modern' hags overall pretty disappointing / not worth the asking price.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I got my first 8 string in the early 80s, a wonderful Veillette-Citron 1-pickup Standard.

DROOL!!!!!!!!

 

[woodyng2]

DROOL!!!!!!!!

I never got a picture of that bass, unfortunately. It was a single pickup model with a tobacco finish like the first picture.
Only in 8 string form.
The last picture is a VC 4 string I found about 6 years ago, and still own.

 

[woodyng2]

Someone etched a face in the finish on the back of mine ….it’s currently covered up with a Lace Sensor sticker.