The Hagstrom Coronado is one of the most distinctive bass guitars ever manufactured; the quirky controls, 32" scale, and unique shape. The body and neck are mahogany, but with bolt on construction. This 1966 Coronado is one of the later guitars, so does not have the Hagstrom Bi-Sonic pickups, but it is still a great sounding, and highly playable bass. Check out the short Hagstrom Coronado bass sound clips on this site.
Hagstrom made the hollow-body Concord bass (initially named the Hagstrom Viking bass) from 1965 until 1971. Hollow body basses were very popular during the mid 1960s, with models such as the Gibson EB2, Epiphone Rivoli, Fender Coronado and Guild Starfire basses all capturing the mood of the times. Hagstrom guitars and basses were, of course, built in Sweden, and this was their first hollow-body bass. Check out the short Hagstrom Concord bass sound clips on this site.
The Hagstrom Coronado IV is one of my favourite basses. It is a medium scale (32 1/4") bass; so it's easy to play, and with the classic mahogany body/neck, rosewood fingerboard combination, produces dark, rich sounds; fat and mellow to a middy snarl, depending on how it's played. The neck is superb, with the fast action that Hagstrom is famous for.
The switch system only allows six distinct sounds, no tone pots keep things simple. The first two switches are simple on/off pickup selectors, allowing neck pickup, bridge pickup, or both. The last two switches 'L' an 'H' are tone selectors, the equivalent of tone set at 10 or 0 on a regular pot. Have a listen to some of the clips below.
All sound samples were recorded with an amp with the following settings: volume 3, treble 5, bass 5.
Recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone, into an M-audio mobile pre USB interface.
Neck pickup (switch 1) with the tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Fingerstyle. Neck pickup (switch 1) with the tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Played with a pick. Neck pickup (switch 1) with the tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Fingerstyle.
Bridge pickup
Bridge pickup (switch 2) with the tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Fingerstyle. Bridge pickup (switch 2) with the tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Fingerstyle. Bridge pickup (switch 2) with the tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Played with a pick.
Both pickups
Both pickups (switches 1 & 2) with the tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Fingerstyle. Both pickups (switches 1 & 2) with the tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Fingerstyle.
Guitar tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Fingerstyle Guitar tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Played with a pick Without the amps 'deep' mode, you can still get nice clear, and powerful bass sound; amp setting: Volume 7, Treble 7, Bass 7. Guitar tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Played fingerstyle.
Bridge pickup
Tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). With a pick. Boosting the treble, and without 'deep' mode, gives a bright almost clanky vibe: Volume 5, Treble 10, Bass 5. The guitar tone selector is on 'H' (switch 4). About as bright as you can get with this set up (some roundwound strings are about the only other thing to try).
Both pickups
Tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Played with a pick. Tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Played with a pick.
Amp settings are: Channel 1, Volume 5, Treble 5, Bass, without the 'Bright' mode activated - unless otherwise specified.
Recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone, into an M-audio mobile pre USB interface.
The WEM Dominator Bass amplifier gets growly, even at lower volumes, particularly when played hard.
Tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Fingerstyle. Tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Fingerstyle. A more extreme amplifier setting; both treble and bass upped to 10/10. Guitar tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Fingerstyle.
Neck pickup
Tone selector on 'L' (switch 3). Played fingerstyle.
Both pickups
Tone selector on 'H' (switch 4). Fingerstyle. Still with the brighter tone setting; 'H' (switch 4), but played with a pick
Carl Watts Comment left 3rd September 2012 09:09:29 This Hagstrom rocks! or is it those old amps?Really liking the audio clips. Not sure how i'd get on with the scale length, and it's such an odd looking bass. How does it sound DI'd? More clips please!
