STOAKES GEAR TALK – HAGSTROM VIKING DELUXE 12 STRING

Everyone knows by now that Hagstrom are fast becoming one of my favourite guitar brands. Since reviewing the Pat Smear Signature and Fantomen models last year and sadly having to send them back, I have since bought two Hagstroms of my own; the Ultra Swede and most recently a Swede Gold Top, both of which I adore and are exactly the same quality as the review models that arrive, which I was pleased to discover. Quality control across the brand is exceptional.

Imagine my excitement when I was asked to take a look at a twelve string Viking Deluxe! When it arrived and I took it out of the box, the guitar just blew me away with its looks. It’s a real stunner with it’s Transparent Wild Cherry finish on it’s flamed maple body. I really love the Hagstrom Tuners and knobs, it’s these little details that really set Hagstrom’s apart from the crowd. This Semi Hollow guitar will certainly catch your eye!

The guitar has 22 medium jumbo frets and a maple neck with Hagstrom’s resinator fingerboard and H Expander Truss rod. The Truss Rod adds extra support to counter the 200lb worth of pressure that is exerted on the neck of a 12-string guitar. Normally, this is a problem for traditional guitar designs, however, Hagstrom’s H-Expander truss rod handles this with no problem, and even allows for an incredibly thin neck for playing comfort with no compromise in stability.

The guitar features rounded off pearl inlays with binding all the way around the body, a gorgeous tail piece complete with Hagstrom coat of Arms, the usual Hagstrom headstock and two very meaty Humbuckers with no option to split the coils, this thing is full fat Humbuckers all the way!

So, how does this twelve string beast play? Well, firstly, the Viking is a lot of guitar. It’s big, it’s chunky, it feels huge in your hands. The neck, despite it being thin, is still nice and chunky. Having twelve strings, it’s wider than a standard neck. In fact, the whole guitar is very wide! But, more guitar just means a better sound. And this thing sounds exquisite. It really rings out when you play it. Even just strumming it acoustically, its huge. Plug it in and the H50 humbuckers really bite. I’ve spoken before about the quality of Hagstrom pick ups and this guitar is no exception. They are hot. Even clean, they want to be pushed.

Turn the volume up to ten and really dig in with your pick you’re getting close to that clean signal breaking up. I love it. Such power. The guitar performs sonically as you would expect a twelve string to, with that gorgeous jingly sound, think the intro to Hotel California or Wish You Were Here and you’re in the right ball park. But a one trick pony, this guitar is not!

Turn the Gain up, get a bit of Overdrive going and The Viking is still very much at home. The overdriven sound is enormous and is actually quite exciting. I would never have even considered hard rock or metalon a twelve string, but somehow, the Hagstrom makes it work, delivering a huge anthemic rhythm section, with just one guitar! You can even play lead (at a push) but, that is a bit trickier!

The one disappointment I have encountered with The Viking is tuning stability. Unlike all the other Hagstrom’s I have played, that will stay in tune for weeks, the 12 String is a little temperamental. I’m having to tweak it a lot as it tends to slip out fairly regularly, however if you’re playing a live set, you might only use a twelve string for one or two songs, so perhaps this won’t be too much of a problem for you. Twelve strings are more susceptible to tuning issues and it’s definitely something to be aware of.

All in all, tuning issues aside, it’s brilliant. I am blown away. I have had so much fun playing with the Viking Twelve String this last month. It really is a super guitar and Hagstrom again, haven’t disappointed. Would I buy one and should you? Well, let me answer the question of should you first! If you’re in the market for a twelve string guitar in a 335 shape, then yes, you should absolutely consider the Hagstrom Viking 12 String and regarding the should I question, I fear this may actually be the next guitar I buy!!

*** Upon reading and considering this review, regarding the tuning issues, Hagstrom have suggested that a new set of quality strings that have been properly stretched before tuning should take care of these tuning issues. They say, ‘They don’t do this at the factory (in order to not shorten the life of the strings), but generally once a guitar is going to be played properly the strings should be given a few good tugs to get everything into place and the string pre-stretched.’ ***

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