Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: hb3 on July 10, 2011, 02:10:27 PM

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 10, 2011, 02:10:27 PM

So I was doing a gig Friday afternoon, and some guy came in and gave me an old Hagstrom 8 string...I know, lucky...maybe...
 
I know nothing about these guitars so I'm here to access the vast knowledge base of the Alembic club.  
 
There's three strings currently on it and they fret out. I'm guessing this is because the instrument is set up for the full 8 strings, which is a lot of tension, so without that the neck is bowing backwards. However, looking at the neck from the side, it seems like there's a bit of a twist to it, and look at the bridge...is that normal?  
 
Anyway, I was thinking of just throwing an 8 string set on there and seeing what happens. It looks like a short scale neck, though, and all I see on juststrings.com are 34-35 scale. (http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/108864.jpg)

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 10, 2011, 02:11:42 PM

Bridge. (http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/108867.jpg)

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: peoplechipper on July 10, 2011, 11:33:03 PM

Yeah, that's normal. Lucky you! put fresh strings on and enjoy! the neck should be fine with a whole set on but you'll wanna put light gauge strings on there as it's a thin neck(although that Hagstrom h-bar truss rod works well)...I just bought a reissue one and it's fun to play but the old ones are very cool...they are short scale, my new one is 30.75 but maybe that is a good thing as you're fretting 2 strings at once?...anyway, enjoy it as I know you will as Hagstroms are easy and fun to play; I'm on my third one and I sometimes kick myself for selling my 2 old ones(trying to resist G.A.S. to no avail...) Tony

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: seventhsunbass on July 10, 2011, 11:50:03 PM

That is a nice find. The 8 string basses are a rare bird but they have their uses, i.e. power trio for instance. I had an Ibanez MC980, which was a 32 scale, on which I used D'Addario Electric Bass XL Nickel 8 string set. Even though they say 'Long Scale', I found they worked very well and were very punchy and bright.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: keith_h on July 11, 2011, 05:32:18 AM

The Hagstrom 8 is a 30.75 inch short scale. I have used the D'Addario XL Nickel 8 string set on mine for a number of years without problems. GHS makes a medium scale set that should also work. The number is 8MS-DYB. I have not tried them so cannot vouch for them. I found both on juststrings.com .
 
Keith

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hydrargyrum on July 11, 2011, 06:38:56 AM

I've got a friend with a vintage '60's era Hagstrom guitar (six string).  It had a ton of switches and nearly two of them actually worked.   They definitely have their own vibe.  These seem to be gaining in popularity, especially with followers of bands like the White Stripes.  If it sounds cool and the price is right, I say go with it.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: sparechaynge on July 11, 2011, 09:18:49 AM

Ha! Right about the switches Hydrargyrum. Only one on my dad's still works. Hags are definitely cool guitars but almost always need some TLC. Be cautious when handling The 8 hb3; even with extra-light strings the neck/head is very susceptible to cracking.
 
(Message edited by Sparechaynge on July 11, 2011)

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on July 11, 2011, 09:29:47 AM

The rhythm player in my high school bands had 2 Hagstroms.  One was sort of LP shaped, the other was Strat-like, with a ton'o'switches.  They all worked, and all did something, but we never really figured out exactly what. The Strat-like was nice, the LP-type was one of the nicest guitars I've met.  Can't speak to sturdiness; he was constantly buying & selling - didn't have either one long enough to tell.
 
Peter

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: keith_h on July 11, 2011, 09:49:44 AM

As the far as the switches go they do have a tendency to oxidize. I just use a little Caig's Deoxit and exercise them to clean off the oxidation. I've had my 67' since 1972 and have never had any issues with the neck of head.  
 
Keith

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 11, 2011, 11:53:35 AM

Keith,  
 
Are the d'Addarios EXL170-8?  
 
Thanks

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hydrargyrum on July 11, 2011, 12:21:30 PM

Peter,
 
I believe the LP style was called commonly called the Standard 80, or the Swede. Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music can be seen holding one in some of their promo shots.  
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/108912.jpg)

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: keith_h on July 13, 2011, 06:10:27 AM

Hugh,
Yes they are EXL170-8.  
 
Keith

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 18, 2011, 06:51:05 PM

Ok, after an epic battle, I got the strings on. But the neck still needs to be pulled back. Keith or anyone, it looks like a cylindrical grooved hole where the truss rod would be...not hexagonal. Anyone know the right tool?  
 
Also -- I gotta give props to the guy who gave me this thing. I don't think I've ever seen frets so worn down. It practically feels like a fretless.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: crobbins on July 18, 2011, 07:21:05 PM

I owned one years ago. Have fun.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: peoplechipper on July 19, 2011, 12:52:32 AM

It is an allen wrench to adjust; I think 4mm but it's been awhile, and the frets are small and low to start with the fastest neck in the world!
Tony

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: chuck on July 19, 2011, 07:32:09 AM

I played one of these for 23 years (1970-1993) but in 4 string. Its called a kings neck. Very slim and fast.
 
Chuck.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: bassilisk on July 19, 2011, 12:28:47 PM

I have a couple of Haggys. The first one I got was a HB-1 (the one with the swimming pool tin foil on the front). Tiny neck, looks practically flimsy but those pickups are remarkably huge sounding. I understand why these basses left such a mark on so many young players.
 
The second was a fluke score off ebay. I'm sure people didn't know what it was plus it had a repaired headstock break. It's a Coronado IV with the original Bi-Sonic pickups. It's all mahogany with medium scale neck that has a very comfortable profile. Not exactly a lightweight though. Four rocker switches - one on/off for each pickup and two preset tones for each. A sliding volume control with a protective towel rack to prevent accidental adjustments complete the controls. I wish it had tone knobs, but I won't monkey with it - only 810 of these were made.
In spite of that, 3 years ago what comes up on ebay but a gutted body and neck in perfect condition in the same finish! I had to have it and outbid a music store in Germany. Now it is 100% and I have to say it's a lot of fun to play.
 
I had a Swede bass for a while. They are short scale. It was truly beautifully made and weighed a ton. Unfortunately I just couldn't get it to sound to my satisfaction.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/109391.jpg)

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 19, 2011, 07:56:52 PM

Got an alan wrench in there...succeeded in accomplishing not much of anything...I still don't know about this neck. At least the top strings aren't fretting out now. I like it, though...if I could get the action down it'd no doubt be really cool. Right now it's got that good sound of a 12 string acoustic guitar with the strings half an inch above the fingerboard...very Led Zeppelin 3.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: keith_h on July 20, 2011, 08:01:39 AM

I haven't adjusted the action on my Hagstrom 8 for years but I just took a look and I am at 4mm on the E fundamental string and slightly under 4mm on the G side. My guess is I could get it a little lower but I don't play it often enough for it to be worth the effort.  
 
Keith

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: adriaan on July 20, 2011, 11:38:28 AM

The Allen wrench would need to be a metric size - they just don't match up with imperial, and you run the risk of damaging the hexagonal shape beyond the point where the proper wrench would still take.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 20, 2011, 12:35:14 PM

Oh, I was definitely moving it. It just didn't seem like it was having any effect. I'll try again later, then maybe take it somewhere. I'm enjoying playing it. It does still seem like there's a weird twist to the neck up around the first three frets.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: keith_h on July 20, 2011, 02:00:31 PM

I wouldn't expect any twist like you describe. While a twist is possible the Hagstrom 8 uses an H shaped truss rod which generally provides for a very stable neck.
 
Are you trying to add more or less relief?  
 
If you tighten the truss rod (i.e. clockwise rotation) do you feel any resistance or is it loose?  
 
Have you tried adjusting it with less tension on the neck (loose strings)?
 
Here is a link to the neck and truss rod details (http://www.hagstrom.org.uk/expander_stretcher.htm).
 
One other thing that comes to mind is you say the problem is around the first three frets. Could it be the way the strings sit in the nut and you need a new nut with more height?  
 
Keith

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: afrobeat_fool on July 20, 2011, 03:41:46 PM

There is one for sale here in PDX if anyone is interested. http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/msg/2497564429.html (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/msg/2497564429.html)
 
Nick

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 20, 2011, 04:04:00 PM

Keith,  
 
Thanks so much. Cool web page. I think I'll take some photos of the neck again and maybe that will help. The alan wrench I was using was troublesome and a pain -- it's part of a set that doesn't really fit in the short space between the neck and first pickup, so I'm not really making precise movements, but when I did manage to get it in there, there was definitely resistance.  
 
The nut seems ok. The twist I'm describing is a subtle effect...like the next slowly, almost imperceptibly, starting to corkscrew...it's so slight, it may be nothing, but it does become visible to me near the top of the neck.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 20, 2011, 04:22:00 PM

Ok, here we go. What you should see here is the action up high and the action near the nut, plus the bridge again. Does the bridge assembly need to be lowered?  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/109488.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/109489.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/109490.jpg)

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: slicknickhaas on July 20, 2011, 05:35:24 PM

I'm no expert but it almost looks like the truss rod needs a good tweak, maybe even the bridge. I just reworked an old Krammer 8 string recently, had a heck of a time getting the bridge set up right. even thought it had an aluminum neck I had to remove the last 2 frets and a small chunk of the fret board just so the strings could clear it when you play below the 7th fret.  
 
try lowering the bridge first, but from the looks of it the strings may bottom out at the top of the fret board, so you may have to play with both the bridge and truss rod to make play. if all ells fails you have a great wall hanger there

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: crobbins on July 20, 2011, 06:12:48 PM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/109498.jpg)

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: David Houck on July 20, 2011, 06:48:31 PM

Based on the pics, I would think the bridge needs to be lowered substantially.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 20, 2011, 07:43:30 PM

Believe it or not, in that pic I'd already lowered the bridge a bit -- the screws are getting pretty tight...but...here we go...

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 20, 2011, 08:09:37 PM

Ok, I got it. I just didn't understand how the bridge worked. The action came down great. Oh, yeah -- it's functional.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: David Houck on July 21, 2011, 07:24:47 AM

Yay!!!

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: mario_farufyno on July 21, 2011, 09:41:45 AM

Great pic, Graig!

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 21, 2011, 12:05:34 PM

I'm digging the bass quite a bit. One further question. All the switches are quite scratchy, and one cuts off the volume totally. Any cleaning advice? The volume pot isn't so hot either.  
 
Thanks so much.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: David Houck on July 21, 2011, 12:12:22 PM

I've used this (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103700) from Radio Shack.  I don't know if it's the best choice, but if you have a Radio Shack near by you can probably pick it up today.

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: keith_h on July 21, 2011, 01:10:54 PM

I use Caig's Deoxit. You should be able to pick it up at Radio Shack or other electronics oriented stores. It should work on both the switches and volume pot.  
 
Note that the solo switch by the neck is a standby switch.  
 
Keith

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: hb3 on July 21, 2011, 05:15:05 PM

Thanks. I'll get something at the local RS....

Title: Hagstrom 8 String
Post by: tmoney61092 on July 22, 2011, 02:55:53 PM

if you decide you don't want it I'll take it and paying shipping and for the strings ;)amazing luck though!!
 
~Taylor