Agreed. Hagstrom and Godin fall into the 'grossly under-rated' category. Great to see Hagstrom again. I had one WAY back in the day day...3 pickups and modded. Dream guitar.
I have a lot of different from esp to fender and ibanez and i have to say, i bought a Hagström from 2004 and its easily the best guitar i have played 😲 It's s Hagström f300, so Good Tone and feeling. Hagström is something special
Again, great video! I also chose the Ultra Max over the Ultra Swede for the exact same reasons. It is really versatile! It also lends itself great for drop tuning.
I have a Hagstrom model Il from like 69. I've had it since then when I bought it. I love this guitar and I have many friends who say they love playing it better than their own guitars.
Damn , i really hope they have that red burst for lefties too. I'm in the market for new electric and this looks very promising. Thank you for a great review !
This is a great and useful video. It's chock full of information and excellent tone demonstrations. Thank you very much for making this video. I am intrigued by hagstrom guitars and I have been considering an ultra Max though the only extra I have ever even held was the Fantomen
That fuzz sounded almost like digital delay. When it comes to a fuzz test I envision stuff along the lines of Electric Wizard, Sleep, etc and for that sort of thing I'm betting the Ultra Swede wins in spades
I love hagstroms design ideas and I am looking at these two models as I suffer from thumb strain in the pad of my thumb from continuous use of the same barre chords in rapid change 4 chord punk songs on my epi LP standards neck. being so thin do these necks help situations like this?
I've heard that the opposite is true. Chunkier necks are usually easier for chording supposedly because there's more neck to hold onto when pressing down the strings. However I could be wrong and a thinner neck might feel way more comfortable TO YOU. I say you should try different necks out. Go into a guitar shop and try chording on an Ibanez or ESP or any guitar with a thin neck and compare how it feels with your Epi.
The Ultra Max is my first and only electric guitar, so I'm not able to judge the sustain. I'm generally very pleased with the guitar though. There is no neck dive.
To me the Ultra Swede sounded more aggressive, although if it's low tuned metal the longer scale length of the ultra max would help with tuning stability in drop tunings. Both have Humbuckers so would be suited to high gain tones.
How would you compare either of these to higher end Epiphone les Paul’s? Is the ultra Swede’s neck more stable than the ultra max since it’s maple and the ultra max has mahogany?
I can't comment as to how they compare to the epiphones as I haven't had chance to play any but both necks felt stable in the time I had them. It's a while back but I can't say I noticed a difference between the two stability wise, I seem to remember the ultra swede neck being a little slimmer
I absolutely loved the comparison. I'm trying to get more information about them but am struggling to find it. Do you know which coils are active when they are split? Also, how do you find the split-coil sound compared to a single-coil guitar such as a strat?
Hey Cory, I'll ask the Hagstrom guys about the active coils for you. As far as the single coil tones go, I think across the board brand wise it's generally a lot easier to achieve the less characteristic single coil tones if that makes sense, not to say they're any less useful, just not as specific sounding. I find it a lot easier to emulate neck middle and bridge tones rather than position 2&4 on a strat say. I also find that a lot of bridge humbuckers can split to give a good tele bridge type tone if you use some compression.
@@jamesfranklandguitar Hagstrom finally got back to me and said it's the outer coils. I'm not a huge fan of the tele sound so I don't know if I would really benefit from the split-coil.
@@jamesfranklandguitar not really. There's a local seller with an Ultra Swede that I'm considering and I was just trying to find out more about them. I don't know if I should go with it or wait for something else. If it had the custom 60 or 58 pickups I think I would be more tempted.
Musicians Friend has them, Try the Alvar, I have Twelve Hagstroms and the Alvar is turning into my favorite. My oldest Hagstrom is a swede from 1971 and my newest Hag is the Alvar from 2019. Low action. stable necks and the smoothest fretboard you will ever play unless you get the up and coming Richlite fretboards. The feel is very similar between the two types of wood alternatives.
Try the Hagstrom Alvar and the Viking, I have both and love them both but they are different in subtle ways. The Alvar is great and becoming my number one go to guitar. Great comparison.
They also build bass guitars ....IF that is really what you're asking...lol.....if not ..excuse my comment ...and yes they do make 12 stringers as well!!!!
Did you mention that all Hagstroms are made in China? Guitars are discretionary purchases and I am sure there are many people who would not enjoy playing an instrument made by a communist dictatorship especially after their handling of Covid-19 that has brought so much misery to so many people. It would be like you recommend buying Hugo Boss clothing made before 1945, you would not do that now, would you?
Almost everything is made in China nowadays, what are you gonna do about it... lol. Hagstrom actually just started producing the Super Swede in Sweden again. Expensive, but even better quality! For being Chinese made, the hagstroms are absolutely incredible. Swedish design at its finest.
If you guys would see under what circumstances these guitars are being built you would not touch them anymore. Our actions matter and dealing as a human being with empathy for others I think is a pretty relaxed attitude…
MAN! You are a saviour! I'm so glad I found out your videos about Hagstrom! I am definetely getting and ULTRA SWEDE!
satisfied?
Dude you rocks ! Just love your playing and your humble attitude thumbs up and follow 🤟🏼
Thanks man! 🎸
Hagstrom are the most underrated guitar on Earth, plenty of guitars selling for much more cannot compare.
Yes ! I absolutely agree !!!!
i know it's kind of randomly asking but does anybody know a good place to stream new movies online ?
Agreed. Hagstrom and Godin fall into the 'grossly under-rated' category. Great to see Hagstrom again. I had one WAY back in the day day...3 pickups and modded. Dream guitar.
Yep - I bought one a while back on a whim and now I've got my third one coming
I've seen you commenting on a couple Hagstrom Review, so I think I might get one of this!
Very well presented information, as well as great playing. Awesome stuff, mate.
Thanks again mate!
considering the price, build quality and playability, this is the most underrated guitar , i don't know why but it should be king among others
I have a lot of different from esp to fender and ibanez and i have to say, i bought a Hagström from 2004 and its easily the best guitar i have played 😲 It's s Hagström f300, so Good Tone and feeling. Hagström is something special
so true
I love my ultra swede , the playability and tone is killer !!!
Love your playing fella...great musicianship. Guitars look nice..very tempting!
Thanks man!
Excellent video. I'm considering the Ultra Swede so this has been very helpful.
Thank you, glad it helped!
Hagstrom is such an awesome brand. Lovely playing here, nice demo.
Again, great video! I also chose the Ultra Max over the Ultra Swede for the exact same reasons. It is really versatile! It also lends itself great for drop tuning.
Thanks man, they're both on their way back to Hagstrom now but looking like the next video with be on the fantomen
Hope it comes soon!
Thank you very much for your helpful videos. Your explanations are really great. I learned a lot 😄
Thank you, glad they helped!
I have a Hagstrom model Il from like 69. I've had it since then when I bought it. I love this guitar and I have many friends who say they love playing it better than their own guitars.
Damn , i really hope they have that red burst for lefties too. I'm in the market for new electric and this looks very promising.
Thank you for a great review !
This is a great and useful video. It's chock full of information and excellent tone demonstrations. Thank you very much for making this video. I am intrigued by hagstrom guitars and I have been considering an ultra Max though the only extra I have ever even held was the Fantomen
That fuzz sounded almost like digital delay. When it comes to a fuzz test I envision stuff along the lines of Electric Wizard, Sleep, etc and for that sort of thing I'm betting the Ultra Swede wins in spades
This is a perfect review. Subscribed!
Thanks Tim!
I love em' both but own the Ultra Swede. It is my main player for any style. Great review thanks"
I am chosing between these two. Your video, James, was really helpfull, thank you!
Glad the video helped, which did you go for?
@@jamesfranklandguitar haha, classic Swede, because both of Ultra seems to be a bit hard for my style. But anyway thanks for great explanation!
Nice work, James!
Thanks Shawn, I think quite a few places stock them, or they're available online from lots of online stores
Great review! The one thing that caught my attention is, i thinnk both guitars are characteristically quite sharp.
?
First video of yours i have seen, surely not the last!
Excellent video.
Thank you! 🎸
Very good and helpfull explanations!
Curious how the Ultra Max will hold up to scratches and dings being that it’s a flat and not a clear hard coat?
Great video - anyone know what they weigh? Curious as I am considering the Ultra Swede as an option to another Gibson LP. Thx.
Thanks. I have a super swede that's great except that it came with a bigsby. What ID really like is an ultra max with a short scale
I love hagstroms design ideas and I am looking at these two models as I suffer from thumb strain in the pad of my thumb from continuous use of the same barre chords in rapid change 4 chord punk songs on my epi LP standards neck. being so thin do these necks help situations like this?
I've heard that the opposite is true. Chunkier necks are usually easier for chording supposedly because there's more neck to hold onto when pressing down the strings. However I could be wrong and a thinner neck might feel way more comfortable TO YOU. I say you should try different necks out. Go into a guitar shop and try chording on an Ibanez or ESP or any guitar with a thin neck and compare how it feels with your Epi.
Good video, thanks.
Do they really sustain more as claimed by Hagstrom? Also, any neck dive on the long scale? Thanks for any feedback.
The Ultra Max is my first and only electric guitar, so I'm not able to judge the sustain. I'm generally very pleased with the guitar though. There is no neck dive.
Does it matter much when the length of the ultra swede is alittle less long than the ultra max?
Which of these two would one choose to play in a blues band ?
I'm thinking I'd prefer the Max for playing the blues, personally.
My personal preference was the Ultra Max of the two 🎸
@@jamesfranklandguitar ✌️
Hey buddy James, Jason here long time seeing ur vedio, keep going!!!
Hey thanks Jason!
Which stays in tune better?
Which one is heavier? Thanks
It's a while since I had these two side by side but from what I remember they were pretty similar, with the Ultra Max maybe being slightly heavier
@@jamesfranklandguitar Thank you 😉🙏
My Ultra Swede is 7.5 pounds
I wish they would offer the 58 pickups on the ultra Swede
@Frederick Banjoman 🤣
Which one is better for metal
To me the Ultra Swede sounded more aggressive, although if it's low tuned metal the longer scale length of the ultra max would help with tuning stability in drop tunings.
Both have Humbuckers so would be suited to high gain tones.
What about the neck shape? Is it similar?
hey what's the track from 0:00 to 0:45? I love it 😍 Great great review btw, just bought a 2009 Ultra Swede🤩
Thank you 🙏 That piece ended up in a track called ‘Fallout’ from my instrumental album Dystopian Utopia 🎸
@@jamesfranklandguitar ->added to my favs on my streaming app, thanks and keep up the good work!
@@gti110 Ah thanks so much for checking out the track! So pleased you like it, I’ve got the next album lined up for release in the next few months 🎸
How would you compare either of these to higher end Epiphone les Paul’s? Is the ultra Swede’s neck more stable than the ultra max since it’s maple and the ultra max has mahogany?
I can't comment as to how they compare to the epiphones as I haven't had chance to play any but both necks felt stable in the time I had them. It's a while back but I can't say I noticed a difference between the two stability wise, I seem to remember the ultra swede neck being a little slimmer
I absolutely loved the comparison. I'm trying to get more information about them but am struggling to find it. Do you know which coils are active when they are split? Also, how do you find the split-coil sound compared to a single-coil guitar such as a strat?
Hey Cory, I'll ask the Hagstrom guys about the active coils for you. As far as the single coil tones go, I think across the board brand wise it's generally a lot easier to achieve the less characteristic single coil tones if that makes sense, not to say they're any less useful, just not as specific sounding.
I find it a lot easier to emulate neck middle and bridge tones rather than position 2&4 on a strat say. I also find that a lot of bridge humbuckers can split to give a good tele bridge type tone if you use some compression.
@@jamesfranklandguitar Hagstrom finally got back to me and said it's the outer coils. I'm not a huge fan of the tele sound so I don't know if I would really benefit from the split-coil.
@@coryclark8577 Ah okay cool, Is there a specific strat tone you were chasing?
@@jamesfranklandguitar not really. There's a local seller with an Ultra Swede that I'm considering and I was just trying to find out more about them. I don't know if I should go with it or wait for something else. If it had the custom 60 or 58 pickups I think I would be more tempted.
@@coryclark8577 You can sometimes find those pickups on Ebay where someone took them out for aftermarket replacements.
Where to buy?
Musicians Friend has them, Try the Alvar, I have Twelve Hagstroms and the Alvar is turning into my favorite. My oldest Hagstrom is a swede from 1971 and my newest Hag is the Alvar from 2019. Low action. stable necks and the smoothest fretboard you will ever play unless you get the up and coming Richlite fretboards. The feel is very similar between the two types of wood alternatives.
👍👍👍👍👍
Try the Hagstrom Alvar and the Viking, I have both and love them both but they are different in subtle ways. The Alvar is great and becoming my number one go to guitar. Great comparison.
Thanks man! I've demoed the Alvar and the new 67 Reissue Viking, possibly a more extended look at the Viking range on the way soon
Correct if I’m wrong this company only builds 6 strings only!
I know they have a 12 string viking option 🎸
They also build bass guitars ....IF that is really what you're asking...lol.....if not ..excuse my comment ...and yes they do make 12 stringers as well!!!!
Underrated? Great! So the price - quality ratio is good!
Middle clean really gave me Opeth vibes
Did you mention that all Hagstroms are made in China? Guitars are discretionary purchases and I am sure there are many people who would not enjoy playing an instrument made by a communist dictatorship especially after their handling of Covid-19 that has brought so much misery to so many people. It would be like you recommend buying Hugo Boss clothing made before 1945, you would not do that now, would you?
Almost everything is made in China nowadays, what are you gonna do about it... lol. Hagstrom actually just started producing the Super Swede in Sweden again. Expensive, but even better quality! For being Chinese made, the hagstroms are absolutely incredible. Swedish design at its finest.
Hey Don....simmer down there tough day.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
If you guys would see under what circumstances these guitars are being built you would not touch them anymore. Our actions matter and dealing as a human being with empathy for others I think is a pretty relaxed attitude…
Everything is now made in China including most of the stuff you own buddy. The horse has bolted.