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how to date a hagstrom

WAB74

how to date a hagstrom
« on: May 27, 2007, 04:23:53 PM »
Can you date a hagstrom from the serial number? I read recently that the first two numbers are the year, but this seems wrong to me at least sometimes. Is there a rule governing this? Do new Hagstroms follow the same numbering system?

tia
WAB

how to date a hagstrom
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2007, 11:22:24 AM »
There are a lot of Hagstrom resources available but I must confess it is difficult to find a statement about dating: see links at the top of this page for more...

http://www.jedistar.com/jedistar_guitar_dating_H_N.htm

Threre is a a statement about goya made hagstrom from 1959-61 on this page:
http://goyaguitars.tripod.com/goya_serial_no.htm

The following site is running a registry so you might be able to match your serial with a time period...or deduce a coding system...

http://perso.orange.fr/hagstrom/redirect/index.html

Let me know if you find a definitive (or orugh will do) statement - I will post it (attributed of course)

good luck
c\'mon send me some links :)
Guitarbon dating at www.jedistar.com

jules

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Re: how to date a hagstrom
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2007, 03:56:41 AM »
Quote from: WAB74
Can you date a hagstrom from the serial number? I read recently that the first two numbers are the year, but this seems wrong to me at least sometimes. Is there a rule governing this? Do new Hagstroms follow the same numbering system?


No, Hagstroms can not be dated by the number alone. Hagstrom do publish a serial number book, but (if my memory serves) the money from the sales of the book goes to the Hagstrom workers pension scheme or something - so I think they've asked for it not to be reproduced.... no idea where I read this - might be wrong in the details.......

If you tell me a number I can give you a year

Sorry got not information on the numbering scheme of current Hagstroms

WAB74

hagstom numbering
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2007, 10:10:01 PM »
I just wanted to verify the dates of certain guitars i've seen.

For curiosities sake : do the numbers follow any pattern? Is the first one 001?

jules

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hagstrom serialisation
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2007, 11:58:52 PM »
each number has a three digit batch number from 449 (1958-59) up to 999 (1977) and then starting at 001 again, followed by another 3 digits which number the instruments within the batch

so 670056 will be the 56th instrument from batch 670

Hagstrom H45/J45 year of manufacture
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2008, 02:37:38 PM »
Hi

I have an old Hagstrom 6 string H45 or J45 accoustic (not sure which - sorry this is on a bass guitar forum - but its the only one I found where anyone asked a question about s/n and age) that I bought secondhand in 1969 in London, s/n 57563. I have always been curious about the year of manufacture. I see from this forum that there is no easy way to tell the year of manufacture from the s/n. Does anyone please have access to the Hagstrom book that is referred to in this forum, and would you mind terribly if I asked if you would kindly be able to look it up for me. I hope this is not an inapproriate request, I realise that everyone is very busy, but this has been one of my favourite accoustics for almost 40 years, and I would like to know a little more about its origin.

Many thanks

Glenn White
Glenn White

jules

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Hagstrom acoustic
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2008, 03:20:37 PM »
Hi Glenn,

This is a guitar forum too!

Unfortunately the Hagstrom book only gives details for electrics - nothing about acoustics at all i'm afraid

Try emailing someone at this site http://www.albinhagstrom.se/ - you may get your answer there - I hope so

Glenn's Hagstrom H-45
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2008, 03:41:43 AM »
Hey Glenn,

Your guitar is H-45 from the second half of 1964. Bjarton was the company that produced the Hagstrom acoustic line and that is the reason that there are no acoustic serial numbers in the Hagstrom book(Although I would incourage you to pick it up anyway).

I recently purchased a 1965 H-45 on ebay and I am still awaiting it's arrival. I also have a 1966 H-22 and a 1966 H-11. if you check the 66' Hagstrom catalogue on the www.hagstrom.org.uk site, you will see the 4 Folk guitars listed with pictures:

H-11, H-22, H-45, H-45e(This one has electronics)

2 great sites for you to check out:
http://www.bjarton.com/bjarton.htm  (this is were the serial numbers for bjarton made guitars are and also some interesting info)

www.hagstrom.org.uk   (another amazing site for info and pics and stuff)

Hope this helps,
Dave Rose

Hagstrom Swede dating?
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2008, 04:31:35 PM »
Found this thread and thought I'd revive it.  I just bought a vintage Hagstrom Swede, serial # 873164.  Anyone have any idea of when it was built?  I don't think the first two numbers represent the year because the vintage Swedes were not assembled after 1983.  

any help would be great.

Thanks
Hagstrom Swede, G&L Legacy, Fender Telecaster (MIM)

jules

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Re: Hagstrom Swede dating?
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2008, 11:08:13 PM »
Quote from: fjabjr
serial # 873164


873- is a batch of 250 Swedes from '73

You can't tell anything from just looking at the numbers; you have to look this up

any chance of some pics?

Re: Hagstrom Swede dating?
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2008, 11:29:03 PM »
Quote from: jules
Quote from: fjabjr
serial # 873164

873- is a batch of 250 Swedes from '73

You can't tell anything from just looking at the numbers; you have to look this up


Thanks for the reply.  So you're saying this could possibly be from '73.  Interesting.  I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "have to look this up".  How, where?   I've found some websites (most already listed in earlier postings in this thread) but it's hard to figure out where to go.  I've emailed some folks over in Sweden who seem to know much about Hagstrom so hopefully they'll get back to me.

I haven't taken any photos yet.  Will do so soon.  The shop I bought it at said there was only one previous owner.  The guitar definitely has its fair share of dings and scratches and finish issues.  But because the neck  just plays so nice and the beast (its heavy) sounded so great, I didn't care what it looked like.   And how can you resist that cool Hagstom headstock and those awesome tuning keys.   The orignial owner replaced the  hagstrom bridge pu with a Dimarzio (have no idea what model) but it sounds very sweet.  There is also a missing part or two...the string holder cover that I see on most photos of old Swedes is not there and the pu and tone selector switches are missing the plastic caps

I traded in a 2003 Epiphone Dot and $50 for the Swede and couldn't be happier.
Hagstrom Swede, G&L Legacy, Fender Telecaster (MIM)

jules

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Hagstrom book
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2008, 03:04:05 AM »
The Hagstrom serial numbers are in a little book published in Sweden - they are not online anywhere. I just looked in my copy of the book, and yes, yours is a '73

That sounds like a good trade, by the way. I do hope you can post some pics eventually

how to date a hagstrom
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2008, 05:20:09 AM »
Jules,
Thanks for the info.  Here I was thinking it was early 80s.  But I like the sound of '73 better.   :D
Hagstrom Swede, G&L Legacy, Fender Telecaster (MIM)

how to date a hagstrom
« Reply #13 on: December 17, 2008, 05:20:56 AM »
...and I will get photos up soon.

Thanks again!!
Hagstrom Swede, G&L Legacy, Fender Telecaster (MIM)

1973 Swede Photos
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2008, 03:07:27 AM »
As promised, here are some photos of my recently acquired 1973 Hagstrom Swede.  You can seen them here:

http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp34 ... m%20Swede/

Enjoy!
Hagstrom Swede, G&L Legacy, Fender Telecaster (MIM)

 

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