Made in Sweden.
Hagstrom continually strives to build the finest guitars available. We steadily take steps to improve our methods and reach new heights of building instruments of the highest possible standard. After several years of consistent pleas by Hagstrom fans over the world, we are very proud to announce that Hagstrom now returns to its roots with production out of Sweden for the first time since the early 1980’s.
To commemorate this historic moment, we are pleased to present the introduction of a very special limited edition of one of Hagstrom’s historic flagship models, the Hagstrom Super Swede. First introduced to the Hagstrom range in 1978, this limited edition will be produced in a total of 30 pieces world-wide. Each of these limited edition instruments is each meticulously built using premium African Mahogany necks and bodies, Mortise and Tenon necks joints, united together using some of the highest graded ¾” flame maple tops. To top off this classic combination of the 25.5” scaled Super Swede, each instrument is offered in one of the most popular Hagstrom finishes, “Cosmic Black Burst”. Each guitar is numbered and documented, to commemorate the first step of returning this point of production back to our motherland.
We have joined forces with Johan Lundgren of Swedish Lundgren pickups, where each of the instrument’s features a perfectly matched pair of Lundgren’s hand-built pickups from Sweden. The Super Swede with its long sustain and powerful tone, is perfectly matched with Lundgren’s Alnico 5 splitable “Suckerbucker” in the bridge position. The tone can be best described as “tight” and “lively” which only contributes to the Super Swedes already miles long natural sustain, which literally “sucks” the tone out from the instrument. Lead players will feel an immediate need to lengthen their solos, as the output of this “medium plus” bridge humbucker sings to bring out the guitar’s full potential.
In order to provide a perfectly-balanced marriage with the “Suckerbucker” and provide extra versatility, Lundgren’s “Heaven 57” was chosen for the neck pickup adding “vintage breath” and delivering a sensational and harmonic clarity. Players will have the best of both worlds using this perfect calibrated set of Lundgren pickups, which will guarantee bringing a wide grin to the face of any player. It’s literally a match made in heaven.
"We proudly present to you the Super Swede LTD Made in Sweden. This instrument combines all our experience, our independent developments and traditional Hagstrom craftsmanship, with the latest manufacturing technologies."
We worked with Swedish pickup guru Johan Lundgren, designer of pickups used by artists such as Ghost or Meshuggah’s Martin Hagström (no relation!). His pickups cover an immense expressive range; from smooth, warm tones to the kind of attack and intense dynamic output that would satisfy the demands of even the most extreme musical styles.
All Hagstrom electric guitars and basses include our patented H-Expander™ truss rod. Providing tension at both ends and running the entire length of the neck, the rigid yet light-weight alloy truss rod allows for a very low action and thin neck, two factors that were instrumental in earning Hagstrom its reputation as the world’s fastest playing guitar. The H-Expander™ truss rod not only provides ultimate neck stability, but it also contributes to Hagstrom’s unique tone. Longer sustain and a round attack are some of the sonic characteristics the H-Expander™ adds to the tonal essence of Hagstrom.
Resinator™ wood is a wood composite material that is both more uniform in density and more stable than any standard wood product. These characteristics eliminate dead spots or “wolf tones” sometimes associated with conventional wood fingerboards. Resinator™ wood has an articulate sound similar to high quality ebony, but without any of the problems associated with ebony. It provides a stable and clear tone, and also adds higher overtones and harmonics which uniquely detail each note. Like our H-Expander™ truss rod, Resinator™ wood is a major contributor to the distinctive “Hagstrom tone”.
We have also teamed up with one of Hagstrom’s long time suppliers since days of past with “Schaller” Germany, since these specialized instruments prescribed extraordinary hardware to inspire the eyes and ears of the beholder. This joint effort brought forth a customized Schaller STM bridge together with a customized set of Schaller’s rear-locking M6 tuners, all presented with a special mix of Schaller’s Ruthenium with Gold trim finish. Each hardware piece has been carefully designed as a detailed ornament. Playability, tone and response is unequalled with this fantastic combination of hardware, to bring out the best from each instrument.
As icing on the cake, specially inscribed Schaller knobs with our discernible Hagstrom “H” is featured on each of the two independent volume and push/pull tone knobs, to further justify the singularity of each instrument. The arduous setup of each guitar before its initial delivery from Sweden, is executed with utmost passion where each instrument receives several hours of refinement, for perfect playing performance. The instrument frets and fretboards are also specially scanned and treated using the latest “Plek” technology, where any where any necessary fret adjustments are made within 1/1000 of a millimetre, resulting in perfect playability throughout the fretboard. The newly introduced setup of a specially customized “Hagstrom Plek” fret radius, offers frets with a slight compound radius for comfortable and even playing from the first to last fret. We have also taken steps to ensure that players in the future can rely on their local “Plek” service shops, to guarantee that their instrument receives the exact same setup as intended when the guitar originally left production. This is done by simply indicating the serial number on the rear inscribed plate at the back of the headstock, where the detailed information for that specific instruments can be accessed through Plek’s international database.
Do not hesitate in obtaining one of these unique wonders, as quantities are few and sparse. However, as our Hagstrom intention always goes, each of these instruments offered are listed at a very meagre cost considering the time, materials, and heart to offer an incredible value for building some of the world’s finest instruments.
