[WAB74]

Can you date a hagstrom from the serial number? I read recently that the first two numbers are the year, but this seems wrong to me at least sometimes. Is there a rule governing this? Do new Hagstroms follow the same numbering system?

tia
WAB

[jedistar]

There are a lot of Hagstrom resources available but I must confess it is difficult to find a statement about dating: see links at the top of this page for more...

http://www.jedistar.com/jedistar_guitar_dating_H_N.htm

Threre is a a statement about goya made hagstrom from 1959-61 on this page:
http://goyaguitars.tripod.com/goya_serial_no.htm

The following site is running a registry so you might be able to match your serial with a time period...or deduce a coding system...

http://perso.orange.fr/hagstrom/redirect/index.html

Let me know if you find a definitive (or orugh will do) statement - I will post it (attributed of course)

good luck

[jules]

Originally Posted by WAB74

Can you date a hagstrom from the serial number? I read recently that the first two numbers are the year, but this seems wrong to me at least sometimes. Is there a rule governing this? Do new Hagstroms follow the same numbering system?

No, Hagstroms can not be dated by the number alone. Hagstrom do publish a serial number book, but (if my memory serves) the money from the sales of the book goes to the Hagstrom workers pension scheme or something - so I think they've asked for it not to be reproduced.... no idea where I read this - might be wrong in the details.......

If you tell me a number I can give you a year

Sorry got not information on the numbering scheme of current Hagstroms

[WAB74]

I just wanted to verify the dates of certain guitars i've seen.

For curiosities sake : do the numbers follow any pattern? Is the first one 001?

[jules]

each number has a three digit batch number from 449 (1958-59) up to 999 (1977) and then starting at 001 again, followed by another 3 digits which number the instruments within the batch

so 670056 will be the 56th instrument from batch 670

[glennwhite]

Hi

I have an old Hagstrom 6 string H45 or J45 accoustic (not sure which - sorry this is on a bass guitar forum - but its the only one I found where anyone asked a question about s/n and age) that I bought secondhand in 1969 in London, s/n 57563. I have always been curious about the year of manufacture. I see from this forum that there is no easy way to tell the year of manufacture from the s/n. Does anyone please have access to the Hagstrom book that is referred to in this forum, and would you mind terribly if I asked if you would kindly be able to look it up for me. I hope this is not an inapproriate request, I realise that everyone is very busy, but this has been one of my favourite accoustics for almost 40 years, and I would like to know a little more about its origin.

Many thanks

Glenn White

[jules]

Hi Glenn,

This is a guitar forum too!

Unfortunately the Hagstrom book only gives details for electrics - nothing about acoustics at all i'm afraid

Try emailing someone at this site http://www.albinhagstrom.se/ - you may get your answer there - I hope so

[Dave Rose]

Hey Glenn,

Your guitar is H-45 from the second half of 1964. Bjarton was the company that produced the Hagstrom acoustic line and that is the reason that there are no acoustic serial numbers in the Hagstrom book(Although I would incourage you to pick it up anyway).

I recently purchased a 1965 H-45 on ebay and I am still awaiting it's arrival. I also have a 1966 H-22 and a 1966 H-11. if you check the 66' Hagstrom catalogue on the www.hagstrom.org.uk site, you will see the 4 Folk guitars listed with pictures:

H-11, H-22, H-45, H-45e(This one has electronics)

2 great sites for you to check out:
http://www.bjarton.com/bjarton.htm (this is were the serial numbers for bjarton made guitars are and also some interesting info)

www.hagstrom.org.uk (another amazing site for info and pics and stuff)

Hope this helps,
Dave Rose

[fjabjr]

Found this thread and thought I'd revive it. I just bought a vintage Hagstrom Swede, serial # 873164. Anyone have any idea of when it was built? I don't think the first two numbers represent the year because the vintage Swedes were not assembled after 1983.

any help would be great.

Thanks

[jules]

Originally Posted by fjabjr

serial # 873164

873- is a batch of 250 Swedes from '73

You can't tell anything from just looking at the numbers; you have to look this up

any chance of some pics?