In 1969 the legendary luthier James "Jimmy" D’Aquisto began a cooperation with Hagstrom that was to last nearly 10 years.

Hagstrom’s hollow-body archtop jazz guitar series is the result, and the master’s craft is unmistakably written all over these fine instruments. In fact, the asymmetrical headstock used for these guitars and now used for most current Hagstrom models, was Jimmy’s design.

Immaculately clean, well rounded jazz tones for single note patterns and walking-bass chordal comping are the HJ500’s home turf, although it is fully capable of taking a different route into rock-oriented soundscapes when necessary.

HJ500 STANDARDS:

H-Expander
All Hagstrom electric guitars and basses include our patented H-Expander truss rod. Providing tension at both ends and running the entire length of the neck, the rigid yet light-weight alloy truss rod allows for a very low action and thin neck, two factors that were instrumental in earning Hagstrom its reputation as the world’s fastest playing guitar. The H-Expander truss rod not only provides ultimate neck stability, but it also contributes to Hagstrom’s unique tone. Longer sustain and a round attack are some of the sonic characteristics the H-Expander adds to the tonal essence of Hagstrom.

Trapeze Stringholder/Tailpiece
The classic Viking trapeze stringholder/-tailpiece design, is a work of art in itself.
Right underneath the top part, where the two beautifully swept beams meet, it features a string claw for easy access and super comfortable string changes. Adorned with the legendary Hagstrom crest it truly is elegance defined.

Set Neck
Hagstrom uses a variety of different neck joints throughout our range. Our set-neck recipe is the classic and time-tested Mortise and Tenon joint, a design that most efficiently transfers string energy from neck to body, and can often only be found on more expensive custom-built guitars. A team of experienced and dedicated craftsmen hand carves every neck joint, insuring perfect execution of this traditional technique preferred by luthiers for generations.

Resinator Wood
Resinator wood is a wood composite material that is both more uniform in density and more stable than any standard wood product. These characteristics eliminate dead spots or "wolf tones" sometimes associated with conventional wood fingerboards. Resinator wood has an articulate sound similar to high quality ebony, but without any of the problems associated with ebony. It provides a stable and clear tone, and also adds higher overtones and harmonics which uniquely detail each note. Like our H-Expander truss rod, Resinator wood is a major contributor to the distinctive "Hagstrom tone".

Hagstrom Machine Heads
Hagstrom models use 18:1 or 15:1 gear ratio machine heads based on our own designs to insure accurate tuning. Viking and HB series basses feature machine heads with a 17:1 gear ratio.