Hagstrom I Model F-11 Model Solid Body Electric Guitar, c. 1965, made in Sweden, lilac finish, wood body with acrylic overlay, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original grey chipboard case.
While the Swedish-made Hagstrom I series guitars were quite popular and good selling instruments in the US during mid-1960's, this one is a bit of a rarity. It is finished (by underpainting on the clear acrylic faceplate) in a pastel purple color described in the catalog as "lilac". This finish, much like Fender's Burgundy Mist, proved to have very little customer appeal and was hardly ever ordered making for a seldom seen variant today. We think it's unusually attractive, and certainly an interesting cosmetic twist on a familiar guitar.
With two good sounding pickups and the Hagstrom vibrato the Hagstrom F-11 is a handy instrument, good sounding and better made than most European guitars of its time. The necks are very slim, re-inforced with a very sophisticated metal-sheathed truss rod system ("The Hagstrom Secret" according to the catalogs) that keeps them true over time and very easy to play. The two pickups are controlled by a single master volume knob and a bank of switches allowing on/off for each and "Mute" and "Tone" functions. The Hagstrom I was a solid hit in the 1960's and has continued to be a popular choice in a budget vintage guitar.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 5/8 in. (651 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). A nice example overall; a very good playing example with none of the common cracks to the plastic face these often have. The original tuners have been cleanly refitted (some light "Grover marks' are visible) and there is some shrinkage to the vinyl covering where it meets the face. Light wear overall but still a very attractive example of this rare color and a nice player as well. Excellent - Condition.
