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spoox

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So this was supposed to arrive on Bastille Day, but it finally showed up on our anniversary instead. I spotted this Tuesday of last week on eBay--it was described as an early '60s black Hagstrom I although obviously the photos showed a later sunburst 12 string. I emailed the seller to ask which it was, but the next morning the listing was gone. It was a pawn shop in Connecticut, so I called to find out what had happened. They'd just relisted it correctly--I asked detailed questions, the guy said it was really close to perfect, so I bit. Now ever since Wiley had mentioned how much he'd liked the later '60s IIs and IIIs, I'd had the idea of trying one some day, but the $699 price and the fact it was a 12 string pushed me over the edge.
The $20 shipping I'd assumed was a mistake--nope! However, since it had seemed to take an inordinate amount of time crossing Illinois, I finally figured out the $20 charge
was due to the fact that a Fedex employee was driving it in his personal Dodge van to visit his parents in Chicago--then after a 3 day visit he continued to Missouri where the guitar
was transferred to a regular Fedex vehicle. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
No chips, no buckle rash--only the pickguard shows it had ever been played as there is a small area that is slightly duller. The switches all seem to work although the on/off could use some contact cleaner. I have to put new strings on it--it has phosphor bronze acoustic strings on it now. The case looks new save for a funky replacement handle, which partially came off (the guitar in case was in a peanut filled box--no other packing material--no packing inside the guitar case--what should I expect for 20 bucks shipping?!).
Oh, and the volume knob seems to be a Fender one--looks nice, maybe I can engrave a small "12" next to the "F". That Tuesday night I listened to all the solid body 12 string Hagstroms I could find on Youtube. Now my Guild Starfire XII for me is the perfect guitar--in fact I sold my Dano Hodad 12 to our guitarist when I bought the Guild, although the Dano had so many different tones I still kind of miss it. But this Hagstrom reminds me of my '63 Polara--even to the sunburst...I'm stoked!
That's not a scratch on the back of the neck--a broken string. Batch 692--1966? "67? Anyone out there that sells vintage Hagstrom parts?
F12A.jpgF12D.jpgF12C.jpg
 

wileypickett

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Nice! (You got it for a decent price too!)

Mine was black.

My favorite pickup combo was with the center and neck pickups active and the bridge pickup off. But because Hagstrom didn't make a three-pickup version of their solid-body 12-strings, I had my guitar tech route out a center pickup cavity and move the bridge pickup to the center position and cover the old pickup hole with a matching piece of black pickguard material.

I used it for more than a decade in my band, Cul de Sac. Loved that guitar!

The string-tree is not original (nor is the volume knob as you noticed) but everything else looks right, even the case. The On / Off switches seldom worked on the guitars I had (luckily they were all "On") and the pickup selector switches needed an occasional spritz of TV Tube Cleaner to keep them from getting scratchy.

I have a book somewhere that dates the guitars based on the serial numbers. If I can find it, I'll check yours.

Karl-Erik Hagstrom in Sweden sold me a bunch of parts (a couple decades ago now) and he was still kicking as of 2020. See this link -- he (or someone) there might be able to help.


Congrats!
Glenn
 
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spoox

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Thanks, Glenn. I see what they say about the "fast" Hagstrom necks--nice. I love those frets, too. I'm used to the low narrow ones on a lot of my '30s guitars. The frets are the one thing I don't like on my NS M-75--too fat and wide for me. Would the 6 and 12 strings both use the same string-tree>
I saw that "Bonfires" had one, but I don't really want to help support him. The aftermarket one on my guitar really doesn't bother me, but if I eventually find one in decent condition I'd probably buy it...
 

spoox

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So just now I was re-watching this video, but on my TV and noticed the knob and string tree:

Uh...I believe they're the same ones on my guitar (same shape volume knob, same flat bar tree)...so I have a strong feeling that this is my guitar.
This is one of the videos that convinced me to purchase the guitar that night.
So if the poster is correct--it's a '67--same year as my Starfire XII...neat!
 

jp

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Cool Hagstrom! The string tree in the video seems like an original part, whereas yours looks like copper or maybe brass? I couldn't see the volume knob clearly in the vid outside of seeing that it isn't chrome-topped.

Here's the site of a Swedish parts seller if you haven't seen it yet.

 

spoox

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Cool Hagstrom! The string tree in the video seems like an original part, whereas yours looks like copper or maybe brass? I couldn't see the volume knob clearly in the vid outside of seeing that it isn't chrome-topped.

Here's the site of a Swedish parts seller if you haven't seen it yet.

Yup...realized that later after looking again...ordered the correct knob & tree from them before my Monday post.
 
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cupric

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Definitely has the Byrds tone! Very nice.
 
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