Scumbag Hagstrom II custom shop relic

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:01 pm

This is my twelveteenth Hagstrom guitar, but first HII and I'm very excited. Always liked the look of Hagstrom IIIs but often find the middle pickup is redundant and gets in the way. That and the two extra switches do nothing cool. The plan with this one is to leave it in relic (mashed-up) condition appearance-wise, but strip and refinish the back of the neck for playability, clean and buff-up the body, and complete it with this hardware:

Replacement Hagstrom/Guild bridge
2 x Hagstrom Viking I pickups - these sound really nice, and were fitted on some late HII/IIIs anyway
Kluson Deluxe plastic headed tuners
1 x black witch hat (scuffed-up a bit- this used to be on a fender twin)
I've also got a bunch of these tricky and easily breakable Hag switches, but it's worth pointing out that Jaguar-style ones will fit fine.

mellowlogic · Post by **mellowlogic** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:13 pm

Dude that thing is gonna be awesome when you get it in working order!

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:14 pm

oh man, that finish does look really cool

Jackackack · Post by **Jackackack** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:56 pm

That burst is HOT.

James · Post by **James** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:07 pm

I still have a little bit of regret over not buying the Hagstrom that Hurb sold to Stewart. I think I might own one someday. I've never played an older one but they look brilliant.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:13 pm

twinsies!

Jackackack · Post by **Jackackack** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:14 pm

^Also hot

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:20 pm

Ha you've got a nice one- you can't even see it's pink bits (ooh-err!)

Also, does your sunburst have any red in it? Maybe it's the lighting, but this one I've bought has crazy colours.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:26 pm

it does have a little bit, but the finish has much less contrast than the one in your photo. it's brown-er overall. but yeah, it could just be the lighting. i'm looking forward to seeing how you'll piece that one back together, i'm sure it'll be a beauty when it's done.

i don't actually know much in the way of history of my one- maybe hurb can enlighten me... it belonged to someone else on the forum before he got it if i'm not mistaken?

punch · Post by **punch** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:36 am

Kinda like a mustang crossed with an sg in a way. Or is that just me? How do those bad boys play/sound?

More Cowbell · Post by **More Cowbell** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:27 am

That was Mr. Mustache's Thrift store find...He had to punch some old lady in the face for it I believe.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:42 am

punch wrote:Kinda like a mustang crossed with an sg in a way. Or is that just me? How do those bad boys play/sound?

They play fiddly- the necks are very narrow, billed as "the world's fastest neck" in the sixties, this is great if you've small hands or are a gurl. I am/have neither, but I'm used to these necks by now. The switches similarly take getting used to for switching pickups, but that's part of the charm. Sounds hot imprecise garagey sort of sound. More output than a mustang, great with fuzz.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:11 pm

timhulio wrote:
punch wrote:Kinda like a mustang crossed with an sg in a way. Or is that just me? How do those bad boys play/sound?
They play fiddly- the necks are very narrow, billed as "the world's fastest neck" in the sixties, this is great if you've small hands or are a gurl. I am/have neither, but I'm used to these necks by now. The switches similarly take getting used to for switching pickups, but that's part of the charm. Sounds hot imprecise garagey sort of sound. More output than a mustang, great with fuzz.

i used mine live for the first time last month for 2 or 3 songs and i really liked the punch it has, i think i'll use it more often in future. i like the thin-ness of the neck, but then i've got the hands of a 7 year old child.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:11 pm

Completed! There's still a few setup issues- like the TOM radius is a bit funny on the hag and a few frets are a bit buzzy, and the volume pot is shot. Gonna play it for a few days before taking it to bits again for final tweaking. The bridge will stay (it's just sat on the original hagstrom bridge posts) until a real hag bridge shows-up.

New p/g looks old, note no on/off switch

Shiny ass Gotoh Schaller copies. Nightgoat'd!
Whoever Justin is, I'm gonna track him down and gut him.

Not pretty. Was a squillion chips in headstock/neck.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:14 pm

that looks magic tim, well done for bringing it back to life.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:48 pm

Great work on that mate.

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:25 pm

That is perfect. I love the beat look. Nice job.

holyCATS1415 · Post by **holyCATS1415** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:23 pm

every time someone posts pictures of these it makes me want one.

eljeffe · Post by **eljeffe** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:39 am

Nice work, I'll have a Hag eventually.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:14 am

Yeah, nice one tim. The wear works well with the dulled-up new guard and those pickups suit it just fine.