The Canadian Guitar Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Hagstrom serial number decoding

Jump to Latest
161 - 180 of 390 Posts
#161 ·
KanskeInte said:
I'm very happy to have discovered this forum & I'm hoping that you may be able to answer my questions below.

I have purchased a black RH Hagström I with squared pick-ups (s/n 6502404), and I think it's made in 1966: #2404 in a 1965-1966 production run which produced 2497 H1's.

According to the Wikipedia page in English, in the notes for run 639, the factory changed to squared-off p/u's during 1966, and part shortages led to logo substitutions during 1966. I think that those years must have been a hectic and exciting time for those individuals involved in these large production runs!

Overall, 6502404 is a very nice guitar. The body feels light and well-balanced, and the leatherette and lucite parts easily evoke a bygone era in european industrial design. The lucite is crack-free, although very fine, light, almost 'misty' scratching on the p/u's and below the strings shows that this guitar has been extensively used. Even so, the p/u's are absolutely silent apart from the string signal. Switches and dials also operate silently and smoothly. Tuners are solid and smooth. String response is supple and predictable, despite minor pitting along the face of the rosewood. Frets show almost no flattening. I'm astonished at how good this guitar looks and how well it plays despite it's obviously heavy use, and age of more than half a century.

Anyway, I'm now wondering... from the standpoint of future collectability, would I be advised to fully restore/refinish the minor paint chips on the back of the neck and edge of the headstock, as well as re-stretch some slight bunching of the vinyl adjacent to the back of the neck, or should I rather leave them alone, and simply perform minor cleaning and/or 'neatening' without any actual cosmetic or structural alteration?

For example the edge of the fretboard and the "high e" side of the neck are scratched. It appears that a player wearing rings on their left hand has spent a lot of time fretting. These scratches could be repaired (i.e. removed/refinished), or they could be buffed down to become smooth enough to play over without distraction, and thus become part of the instrument's visible history.

Another example is that the "cheese grater" and the p/u's have minor scratches, yellowing around the edges etc. Should these be repaired/replaced or simply cleaned up?

This is NOT a troll, I'm seriously attempting to decide between restoration & cleanup, and I have no knowledge of Hagström norms and expectations about the different models, and the H1 against the H2 & H3.
Click to expand...
You are correct on the appointments and age of your Hagstrom 1. I can tell you that it was indeed made in 1966 and that it was the 2,404th Hagstrom 1 to be made in production run 650 which produced 2,497 of them between 1965 - 1966. As for restoring it or not for collectability purposes, that's ones personal choice. I can see replacing a part or two and leaving it at that. If you want to go further that's up to you.

TD
 
#162 ·
I have purchased a Hagström (s/n 040592), and model#0100s I know nothing about this guitar other than it is acoustic. I am hoping you can give me some insight on this Hagstrom guitar as to what type of acoustic model it is what year it was made
 
#163 ·
Dc1155 said:
I have purchased a Hagström (s/n 040592), and model#0100s I know nothing about this guitar other than it is acoustic. I am hoping you can give me some insight on this Hagstrom guitar as to what type of acoustic model it is what year it was made
Click to expand...
Dc1155, The Hagstrom factory in Alvdalen Sweden only made electric guitars. All Hagstrom branded acoustic guitars were manufactured by Bjarton Guitars of Sweden and because of this identifying Bjarton made Hagstrom acoustic guitars by their serial number can be difficult. Unfortunately I can't find a reference to serial number 040592 so I'm unable to help you with the model and date of manufacture. Please double check the serial number.

TD
 
#178 ·
Priks said:
Good morning from Italy. :)
Could someone help me with this serial number?

Guitar #726049

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Priks, your Hagstrom is a Hagstrom-III that was made in production run 726. That run commenced in 1968 and finished in 1969 producing a total of 650 Hagstrom-III guitars. Yours was the 49th guitar made in that run in 1968.

TD
 
#180 ·
S8ist said:
Hi TD, I have a Hagstrom with a serial number 021194. Any info available on this one? Also, curiously there's also a "53" stamped to the left of the SN. Any idea what that might refer to? I have seen it stamped on other Hags, but not all of them.
Click to expand...
S8ist, your Hagstrom is a Swede that was made in production run 021. The run commenced production in 1977 and finished in 1978 producing 600 Swede guitars. Your Swede was the 194th guitar made in that run during 1977.

As for the "53" that's part of the serial number, it's a prefix that the factory started adding to the serial numbers in 1974. All instruments made before then won't have the prefix and all made after then will have it.

TD
 
161 - 180 of 390 Posts
About this Discussion
389 Replies
130 Participants
Last post:
Bruce123
The Canadian Guitar Forum
posts
1.6M
members
26K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to guitar owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, displays, models, styles, amps, modifications, kits, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
The Open Mic (Non Music Related) Electric Guitar Amps and Cabs Music Effects Pedals, Strings and more