Hagström is a musical instrument manufacturer in Älvdalen, Dalecarlia, Sweden. Their original products were accordions that they initially imported from Germany and then Italy before opening their own facility in 1932. During the late 1950s, the company started making electric guitars and later amplifiers. The early guitars were heavily influenced by the accordion production and had a special look and feel. Hagström were the first company to mass-produce 8 string bass guitars as well as the first to build a guitar/synthesizer hybrid. The company ceased production in 1983. In 2004 the brand was resurrected and has since been building guitars both in Europe and in Asia. Throughout the years Hagström has expanded their line of products since the restart of the brand and re-introduced such Hagstrom classics as their famous Hagström H8, an 8 string bass. Hagstrom has also introduced new models and designs, where the firm still operates out of Sweden.
Three generations of Hagström guitars: A Standard 80 made in 1960, a Kent II made in 1964 and a HIIN OT made in 1975
A vintage Hagström leaning against a Hagström amplifier combo
Viking model, one of the classic Hagström guitars that are currently being reproduced
The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and scale length. The bass guitar most commonly has four strings, though five- and six-stringed models are also relatively popular, and bass guitars with even more strings or courses have been built. Since the mid-1950s, the bass guitar has largely come to replace the double bass in popular music due to its lighter weight, the inclusion of frets in most models, and, most importantly, its design for electric amplification. This is also due to the fact that the double bass is acoustically compromised for its range in that it's scaled down from the optimal size that would be appropriate for those low notes.
Paul Tutmarc, inventor of the modern bass guitar, outside his music store in Seattle, Washington
An early Fender Precision Bass
Design patent issued to Leo Fender for the second-generation Precision Bass
Gibson EB-3