HAGSTROM SWEDE MK 3

I have been a fan of Hagstrom Guitars since I played the Pat Smear Signature that I reviewed on Stoakes Media a few years ago. Since then I have reviewed a number of Hagstrom’s and based on the quality of the brand, I have also purchased a few over the years and added them to my collection! Last year I bought myself a Swede Gold Top, so imagine my excitement when I discovered earlier this year that there was a new Swede model coming out. I had to have a go.

I’ve had this beauty for about a month now. Boasting a gorgeous red flame Canadian maple top with a 2 piece mahogany body, this guitar is striking! The guitar comes with a Hagstrom hard case and features a pair of Lundgren Alnico II pick ups. This is a high spec guitar; complete with locking 19:1 ratio tuners, medium jumbo frets and ivory binding. I love the fret inlays and the Hagstrom coat of arms at the 12th fret is beautiful.

The guitar looks absolutely stunning, but the big question here is; how does it play? And how does it compare to the old one? The first thing I noticed as I picked it up out of the case is just how heavy this thing is. This is a solid guitar, it feels like Les Paul weight and the neck is really chunky too, giving you 50s single cut vibes! This is certainly the chunkiest Hagstrom neck that I’ve ever played!

These Pickups sound beautiful. Not the highest output, but I really am enjoying the tone of these Lundgren pickups, the Alnico II magnets sound so sweet and musical. I am particularly enjoying the neck pickup, which sounds almost velvety. Plugged in, this is a blues rock machine, I even had a cheeky go at Gary Moore’s Parisenne Walkways, this thing has tone for days!

The Bridge, which is also an Alnico II feels a little lacklustre. It’s just lacking a bit of punch. I wish (as Hagstrom have done on the new Super Swede) that it was an Alnico 5 instead. As a result I found I spent most of my time either in the middle position, or on the neck pickup. Both pickups are splittable too and you can find some really nice tones when you’re in the middle position and split the neck and have the full humbucker on the bridge.

Who is this guitar for? Like I’ve said, this is a meaty guitar, the neck is chunky and the pickups are medium output, so this would not suit someone who wants to play hard rock or metal as they run around the stage. If however, you play blues, jazz or even soft rock and want that ‘Les Paul’ feeling and look, then this is the guitar for you.

I do worry Hagstrom are trying to appeal to a Les Paul fan with this guitar. So many things that made the original Swede special don’t feature. The tone switch that in one position gave you extra sustain and the other added midrange which acted like a half cocked wah has been omitted and that super fast, slim neck has now been replaced by a far chunkier one.

Would I buy one? If it were a choice between a Gibson Les Paul and this, we are in Gibson money territory here afterall, I would take this every day of the week. This is a guitar for the ‘individual’. The Swede is a top quality, Les Paul alternative guitar. It plays really well, sounds great and looks stunning.

For me personally, playing it side by side with my old Swede, I’m missing the extra punch in the pickups – the old Swede pickups are a higher output and suit my playing style more, and it’s much lighter – the weight might be an issue for some people, which is a problem the original didn’t encounter.

Perhaps not my favourite Hagstrom that I have ever played, that crown is reserved for the Pat Smear Signature, closely followed by the original Swede, but for those of you looking for a Les Paul type experience to channel your inner Gary Moore, then this is the guitar for you!

Specs:

Body

Top: ¾ Maple Top w/ Top Grade Flame Maple Veneer
Body: Material: 2pc – Mahogany
Binding: Single-Ply Ivory
Style: Single Cutaway

Neck

Neck Joint: Nape-Tenon w/ Recessed Neck Joint
Truss rod: Dual Action H-Expander™
Fretboard: Resinator™ Fretboard
Inlays: Ivoriod Hagstrom Crest inlays – Lions on 12th fret
Fretboard Radius: 14.4“
Frets: Stainless Steel – 22 Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75” – 629mm
Binding: Single-Ply Ivory
Nut: Custom String Spaced – GraphTech™ Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 43 mm
Neck Thickness: @1st fret: 21mm (excludes FB, paint, clear coat). @12th fret 22.5mm (excludes FB, paint, clear coat).)
Headstock Reinforcement: Volute with internal reinforcements

Electronics

Pickup Neck: Lundgren Design AlNiCo-2 No. 2 (Medium Output – Calibrated – 7.3K) Humbucker – Splitable
Pickup Bridge: Lundgren Design AlNiCo-2 No. 2 (Medium Output – Calibrated- 8.3K) Humbucker – Splitable
Pickup Selector: 3-Way Toggle Switch w/Hagstrom Brass Plated Cap (Chrome Plated)
Controls: 2 x Volume Control with R/C Circuit, 2 x Tone Control with Push-Pull Coil Splits

Parts and Hardware

Tuning Keys: Hagstrom Bottom Locking – 19:1 Ratio Chrome Tuners w/Hagstrom Tuning Buttons
Stop tail: Hagstrom Direct Mounted Sustain Blocks, Plexi Glass Plate, with Chrome Cover
Bridge: Long Travel Tune-O-Matic Bridge
Knobs: 4 x Hagstrom “H” Barrel Knurled Brass Knobs (Chrome Plated)
Pickguard: Single Ply Ivory or 3-ply Black/White/Black (depending on finish)
Pickup Frames: Hagstrom Standard Pickup Frames
Strap Buttons: Set of 3, with dual mount at base of body (to avoid tipping)
Strings: D’Addario (10-46)
Case Included: (C-51)
Optional: E-20 Hagstrom Gig-Bag

SRP: £1,275.00