Hagström H8

Infobox Guitar model|title=Hagström H8


manufacturer=Hagström
period=1967 to 1969
bodytype=Solid dubble cutaway
necktype=
scale=30" / 780 mm
woodbody=Mahogany, Birch
woodneck=Mahogany
woodfingerboard=Rosewood with dot markers
bridge=Fixed
pickups=Dual Hagström standard bass pickups
colors= Mahogany Sunburst, Cherry Red, White

The Hagström H8 was the world first massproduced 8 string bass and was produced beetween 1967 and 1969 in a total of 2199 units.

History

According to Karl-Erik Hagström the idea for the eight stringed bass came from the American who visited Hagströms American retailer Unicord. Ernie Briefe who was the head of Unicord liked the idea and contacted Karl-Erik Hagström in Sweden and in 1966 a first prototype was built and tested both in Sweden and in America. And the next year mass production of the H8 began. The H8 was based around a regular four stringed Hagström bass but all strings were doubled much like a 12 string guitar. The lighter string was placed aboce the standard string and tuned one actave higher than usual. This gave the H8 a unique tone which was very suitable for bass solos. In Hagström brochures the manufacturer also recommended creative tunigs based around the major third, the perfect fifth and the major seventh.

The bodies of almost all of the H8s was made out of mahogany but a few were made out of Finnish Birch, something very rare among guitar and bass manufacturers. The bass was available in Mahogany Sunburst and Cherry Red finishes. There were also a very few all white basses produced. There were a number of prototypes built for a successor to the H8 built with a 32" scale length as well as acoustic eight stringed versions of the Concord bass built but non were ever put in production. Recently the revived Hagström brand announced that they will launch a re-issue of the original Hagström H8 later this year.

Notable users

* Jimi Hendrix - Owned the sixth one ever made in 1967 and used jams later entitled "Get that Feeling", "Odd Ball", "Love Love", "Hush Now" and a jam based on The Beatles "Day Tripper".
* Noel Redding - Was approached by a Hagström representative when The Jimi Hendrix Experience was on tour in Sweden and was later used on "Spanish Castle Magic", "You've got me Floating" and "Little miss Lover"
* Mike Rutherford - Bassplayer of Genesis used a hagström H8 on the song "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" from the 1973 album "Selling England by the Pound".
* Danny McCulloch - Bassplayer of The Animals was listed as a Hagström H8 user in promotional material from Hagström Guitars.
*Andy Kulberg - Bassist of the shortlived psychadelic rock band Blues Project used a H8 and was alos used in Hagström's promotional material.

External links

* [http://www.hagstromguitars.se/ Offical Hagström Website]
* [http://www.albinhagstrom.se/ Offical Albin Hagström Website]

References

* [http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/hag8.php Vintage Guitars - Hagström H8]
* [http://www.hagstrom.org.uk/hagstrom_fans.htm Hagström Fansite]
* [http://www.geocities.com/abexile/jimisgear.html Hendrix and Redding Gear]
* [http://www.fuzz.se/main.asp?go=14&src=14&sgo=0&am=7&aid=179 FUZZ Hagström H8 Article]