Hagstrom trem arm question

[BradHK]

I have a couple questions regarding the tremolo arms on the Hagstrom units from 1960’s Thunderbirds and Polaras. My 1963 Thunderbird has a broken tremolo arm plastic tip. I tried to find a replacement tip but had no luck. Anybody know where to obtain a correct replacement black plastic tip?

I purchased a complete 1960s NOS trem unit with the arm. When comparing the NOS part to my current arm with the broken tip the replacement arm is slightly longer and at a slightly steeper angle (it sits further away from of the guitar face). I started looking at older Thunderbird photos and it looks like there are ones with longer arms and some that appear (from the photos) to be shorter. Were there two different arms available in the mid-1960s or did Hagstrom modify their arm at a certain date? Just trying to determine what would have been original on my 1963 Thunderbird and I am also just curious. I have no idea if the arm I have with the broken tip is original to my guitar or if it has been replaced some time after 1963.

Thanks

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Maybe @GAD can "print" one up for ya!

 

[Nuuska]

Have you tried this one in Sweden?

Spare parts

hagstrom-vintage-guitars.se

 

[BradHK]

I will contact them to see if they have replacement tips. Thanks for the link!

 

[BradHK]

I contacted the Hagstrom parts place above and received an automated message regarding shipping issues and a recommendation to contact hagstromparts@hagstromparts.se. I sent them an email and just received a response. They have the original black plastic tips for USD$15 and USD$4 shipping. I am ordering one and will post back once I receive and confirm fitment and such. Thanks

 

[Guildedagain]

Interesting post as I've always wondered if the one offered today was a true reproduction of the original part.

I think only way to really solve this is to post very good pictures of the guitar in detail ;]

And then pics of tremolo arms, which I have a fascination for.

That saying what, I don't know.

I've actually considered compiling the material to write a book about the guitar Tremolo, which is actually a Vibrato but we won't go into that. The guitar Tremolo as we know it comes in thousands of forms, some mild, some wild, 60's Japan in particular.

At this point in my life, playing electric pretty hard core since 1980, I consider myself a pre eminent ;] expert on the subject, meaning I know more than anybody else I know in person, but seriously after have experienced many guitar tremolos over the years, I'd have to say the Tremar is the unsung hero.

A great tremolo, neatly designed, extremely compact, easily adjustable, and most importantly that doesn't get in the way of your playing.

I just described everything that a Bigsby is not.

Most trems, ranging from the Bigsby to the Floyd Rose* really impact playability in the Blues genre, the pitchdrop that happens to the high E/B strings as you bend the G up, it's unforgivable and can make for a truly miserable playing experience.

Neither my Bigsby or my Floyd equipped guitar can twang it out worth a you know what in G, but my '74 Strat with even older all steel trem can.

Back to the Tremar, it's even more rock solid/stable than the Strat, bend that G string all day and the trem arm doesn't dive, what more could you ask for?

And it's a bewitching little piece, like a mystery, really a looker.

*If you really want to dive bomb and stay in tune, grab a guitar with a Floyd/locking nut.

 

[Default]

Roller bridge, graphite nut and locking tuners do wonders for a Bigsby.

 

[matsickma]

I always thought that I was the only one at LTG who liked the Hagstrom Tremar!
Since it was the first vibrato I ever used and was on my first electric guitar (in an era when having more than one electric guitar was almost unheard of) I learned to use it subtle pitch shifting and never complained. I venture to say the vintage design is better than the new "improved" version.

I am now wondering if the Tremar arm length is different between the S200 and S100? I know the built-in guitar stand is longer on the Thunderbird verses Polara.
M

 

[Guildedagain]

Roller bridge, graphite nut and locking tuners do wonders for a Bigsby.

No issues with returning to pitch, does what it does well and quietly.

My issue begins when you bend the GB/E strings hard and the spring compresses - I have a nice vintage penny under the spring to boost it slightly - the other strings drop in pitch, as well as the one you're bending, virtually ruins the ability to bend like you could say on a Tele, so what it needs is a dang lock, but not wanting to deface a vintage original I won't, but should.

 

[BradHK]

Here are some photos of the NOS Hagstrom and the unit in the guitar. The “original” arm could have been cut down at some point by a previous owner and bent slightly different. The unit on my guitar also has a different piece to hold the strings in. I have seen photos of this type on other Thunderbirds but on those it looked like the ends of the strings were held in with pins through the holes in the top rather than threaded through the back. Thanks

 

[matsickma]

I have owned around 10 different combinations of vintage S100, S200 and S50's and none had the Hagstrom Tremar like the one on your guitar. The NS one is similar to all the vintage ones that I had. However somewhere in my parts drawer is one that looks like your that I purchased along the way on eBay. I assumed it was a variant or a Japanese version based on the Hagstrom.
M

 

[BradHK]

Below is a photo of another 1963 Thunderbird current on eBay that appears to have the same string retention piece as mine. You can even see the holes in the back where my strings are strung through. However, this guitar (and others I have seen with this same retention piece) appears to have brass pins or something holding in the strings through the top six holes. i Thought mine was a previous owner modification until I noticed the same part on other Thunderbirds.

 

[BradHK]

I sent an email to hagstromparts@hagstromparts.se asking about the differences in the string retention pieces. He said that Hagstrom made the style with the string pins first then changed over to the other style. He also said that Hagstrom did sell this earlier version to Guild before they changed to the “newer” version. I learn something new every day!

 

[matsickma]

Thats interesting. I can't get a real close zoom-in on the "string bar" but take your word on it.

I'll go through my parts and pull out the vintage guitars this weekend to see if I mis-spoke and have an example of that tremar. Pretty sure my older S200 with "anti hum" pickups is a '64 and the other with "Mickey mouse" pickups is a '65. Similarly the S100's may span the same years with the oldest having the "chrome soap bar" pickups and newer "Mickey mouse" pups.
M

 

[matsickma]

So there were 3 different versions?
1) string pins, 2) string holes and 3) string "cups"?
M

 

[BradHK]

My understanding is that mine should have string pins and somebody removed them or lost them so I think there is just one “earlier” version with string pins but they also had holes in the back so you could string through if you wanted. Hagstromparts had some NOS string pins for this older version and I added six to my order and will post pictures when I receive. Below is a photo I received from Hagstromparts showing the older style string pins beside the “new” part that replaced the use of string pins. My 1964 Polara has the new style Hagstrom string retention piece. I also took a closeup photo of my tremolo that has the older style string retention piece. My strings are currently strung through the back but you can see the holes in the top and bottom plate for the string pins.

 

[Guildedagain]

Great stuff, excellent pic, not a cell phone shot I'm guessing, I love the frosting on the chrome, it's fractal, literally ;]

Very hard early frost last night, 19.5º in the lawn this morning, but all prep, draining of fire pumps, picking fruit, done, nothing to do now, but go take a super close up of my Tremar to post ;]

 

[Guildedagain]

Lucky day, two shots turned out nicely.

'65 JetStar. It's amazing how futuristic older guitars look ;]

This is a gem of a trem ;]

 

[BradHK]

Wow, that JetStar is gorgeous! It looks brand new

 

[Bonneville88]

Great photos GA, that JetStar is sweet!

Trem on my '70 S100 Polara: