The sensational Hagstom 12 string electric guitar - projects the full rich quality sound effects of 5 guitars... adds pulsating excitement, amazingly increased tonal range PLUS musical fire to your performance
Bolt-on. Rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays. 25 1/2" scale. Width at nut: 1 11/16". Width at 12th fret: 2 11/64"
Hardware
Chrome plated. Hagstrom pickups, Van Ghent tuning keys.
Finishes
Sunburst, red, black, white
The Hagstrom 12 (or F-12S in the United States) was a Swedish-built solid body electric guitar produced from 1965 until 1967. It was a two-pickup guitar, very similar to the Hagstrom II (F-200) and Hagstrom III (F-300), and in some ways the Hagstrom eight string bass (F-800). Easy-playing, with a low action and hagstroms famous fast neck.
According to the Hagstrom shipping data, a total of 3484 units were produced, in four batches, although it seems at least one batch is missing from these records. The guitar below, from batch 706, is not listed in Hagstrom shipping data, and so production may have continued beyond 1967, especially as the model was featured on the cover of the 1968 Hagstrom catalogue
The controls on Hagstrom guitars at this time were a little different to those of their competitors. No tone pot, just a volume. Flick switches to select pickups, and two more to activate the tone and mute modes. Check out the soundclips to hear what effect these have on the instruments sound.
Hagstrom F-12S (H12) - Long and Slippery
Frank Zappa appeared in a number of Hagstrom advertisements in the late 1960s, for the Hagstrom Viking, and two 12-strings: a Hagstrom H33E, and this one featuring the Hagstrom 12 (or F-12S as it was known in the US).Unicord were the distributers in the US at the time, and they used several variations of this image used, as did Verve (for the Mothers of Invention album 'Absolutely Free'). Other versions show a plain photograph, but this one has extra features drawn in - eyes, hands, hair, and the guitar has a machine-gun style handle
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention featured in a series of advertisements with the Hagstrom 12 in 1967, using the image (left). There were several variations, used both to promote Hagstrom guitars, and their own album Absolutely Free. Another H12 user is Steve Hackett of Genesis
Through a WEM Clubman MK8. All samples recorded with the amp mic'd (Shure SM57) into a M-audio mobile pre USB interface
Through a Marshall Mercury 2060, mic'd with a Shure SM57, into a M-audio mobile pre USB interface
The first clip is the same 'clean' amp settings as above: volume 5/10, bass 5/10, treble 5/10, the second is a cranked amp, volume 10/10.
These clips are with the tone switched engaged, and as above, first the clean, then the cranked amp setting.
both pickups
Both pickups together, amp settings: volume 5/10, bass 5/10, treble 5/10. First with a pick, then fingerstyle.
neck pickup
Hagstrom 12 neck pickup only. Amp volume 8 tone 1, first with a pick, then fingerstyle
As above, still just the neck pickup, but with the tone upped a little on the amp. Amp volume 8 tone 5. Getting crunchy.
These two clips demonstrate the bass boost switch on the H12 neck pickup - first with a clean amp (v8, t1), then a little dirtier (v8, t5)
And this clip demonstrates the treble boost, or tone switch on the neck pickup. As can be heard, it produces a really glassy, chiming sound. Amp v8 t5
bridge pickup
Three clips of the bridge pickup under different amp settings: with clean amp (v8, t1), crunchier (v8, t5) and finally with the amps inbuilt tremolo effect (v10, t5)
Bridge pickup with tone switch. Amp V8 t5
both pickups
Both pickups together, under different amp settings (v8, t5, then v10, t3)
drew hines Comment left 20th December 2011 06:06:21 I have one of these- i should like to divest. Anyone out there?
JasonX Comment left 24th June 2012 10:10:31 Great to see some love for old hagstroms. My Uncle has a real nice red Hagstrom F12, and you really notice that fast playing neck on a 12. Any idea where to buy a spare machine head, other than ebay. I need one for the treble side.
Sharla Comment left 8th September 2012 04:04:43 Hello,
I am looking for this Hagstrom ad in a print, poster, whatever.
I'd like to give it as a gift.
Any ideas where I can get my hands on one?
I've seen it hanging on a pub wall so I know they exist ...
Thanks a bunch!
Sharla
The sensational Hagstom 12 string electric guitar - projects the full rich quality sound effects of 5 guitars... adds pulsating excitement, amazingly increased tonal range PLUS musical fire to your performance
