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Average Price: $995

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$400

$1001+

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Description

The Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar is a true icon in the world of bass guitars, offering a distinctive sound that has captivated legendary musicians from Jimi Hendrix to Lemmy Kilmister. Originally introduced in 1967, this first serially produced 8-string bass has made a lasting impact on the music industry. With its rich history, the H8 continues to inspire bassists with its unique tonal palette and robust design.

Crafted with a double cutaway mahogany body, the H8 delivers both aesthetic appeal and ergonomic comfort, allowing for effortless playability. The Canadian Maple neck is bolstered by Hagstrom’s signature H-Expander truss-rod, ensuring precise neck stability and sustain. The short 30.75 in. scale length adds to its playability, making it a versatile choice for both studio sessions and live performances.

A standout feature of the H8 is its DynaRail Humbuckers with coil-split capability, offering endless tonal possibilities. The push/pull switch built into the volume control allows you to seamlessly toggle between powerful humbucking tones and bright single-coil sounds. Whether you're layering intricate bass lines or driving the rhythm section forward, the H8 ensures every note resonates with clarity and depth.

Key Features:

  • Double cutaway mahogany body with Canadian Maple neck
  • H-Expander truss-rod for enhanced neck stability
  • Short 30.75 in. (781mm) scale length
  • Dot-inlaid Resinator fingerboard
  • DynaRail Humbuckers with coil-split capability via push/pull switch

Product specs

Shape Info not available
Wood Maple
Neck joint Bolt-on
Scale length 30.75 in.
Truss rod Standard
Active or passive pickups Passive
Pickup configuration HH
Neck DynaRail Humbucker
Middle Not applicable
Bridge DynaRail Humbucker
Brand Info not available
Series or parallel Info not available
Active preamp Not applicable
Special electronics Not applicable
Material Rosewood
Radius Info not available
Fret size Info not available
Number of frets Info not available
Inlays Not applicable
Nut material Info not available
Nut width 1.75 in. (44.5 mm)
Neck width at 12 fret Info not available
Cutaway Double cutaway
Construction Solidbody
Body wood Mahogany
Top wood Not applicable
Body finish Info not available
Orientation Right handed
Control layout Info not available
Pickup switch No
Coil tap or split No
Tone switching Yes
Special switching Yes
Bridge type Fixed
Bridge design Standard
Tailpiece Not applicable
Tuning machines Die-cast
Number of strings 8
Pickguard No
Special features Not applicable
Case Sold separately
Accessories Info not available
Country of origin Info not available

FAQs

What makes the Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar unique compared to a standard bass?

The Hagström H8 features eight strings paired in octaves, creating a rich, natural chorus effect that enhances the bass's tonal depth and complexity, unlike the four-string standard bass.

Is the Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar suitable for beginners?

While the Hagström H8 offers unique tonal possibilities, its eight-string configuration may be challenging for beginners. It's better suited for experienced players looking to explore complex soundscapes.

What type of pickups does the Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar use?

The Hagström H8 is equipped with DynaRail Humbucker pickups, which are passive and provide a powerful, punchy sound ideal for diverse musical genres.

How does the short scale length of the Hagström H8 affect playability?

With a 30.75-inch scale length, the Hagström H8 offers a slightly shorter reach, which can enhance playability and comfort, especially for players with smaller hands.

Can the Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar produce a natural chorus effect?

Yes, the Hagström H8's octave-paired strings naturally create a chorus effect, adding richness and depth to the sound, which is a hallmark of this unique instrument.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 7 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
skylinerr

Love it

This one I bought new in 2012 these are great and sound amazing like 2 bassists mine is red and I love it

Genres:

Artist usage

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See how Jimi Hendrix uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Jimi Hendrix

Guitarist

The Isley Brothers

...
Verified via Photo

Hagstrom writes in this article from their official site "There are very few instruments which have influenced classic rock music quite like the Hagstrom eight string bass. The bass was famously used by such players such as Jimi Hendrix and Noel Redding."

See how Billy Corgan uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Billy Corgan

Singer, Guitarist

The Smashing Pumpkins

...
Verified via reverb.com

In the Reverb News article titled "New Reverb Shop Will Let You Own a Piece of Billy Corgan," the second image in the gallery shows Billy Corgan with a Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar.

See how Geddy Lee uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Geddy Lee

Singer, Bassist

Rush

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video on Dee Dee Ramone, a photo of Lee is shown at 5:00, and to the far left of the shot we can see a Red Hagström 8-String Bass.

See how Lemmy Kilmister uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Lemmy Kilmister

Bassist, Guitarist

Motörhead

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video you can see lemmy using a Hagström 8-string bass.

Lemmy said it was given to him by Jimi Hendrix when he was his roadie, this was confirmed in this interview with Lemmy's roadie.

See how James Jamerson uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

James Jamerson

Bassist

The Funk Brothers

...
Verified via Ricksuchow

"I have an old German upright, a Fender 5-string, a Hagstrom 8-string, and the Precision."

See how Mike Rutherford uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Mike Rutherford

Singer, Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Photo

Rutherford can be seen in this photo playing a Hagstrom 8-String bass.

See how Noel Redding uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Noel Redding

Singer, Guitarist

Mountain

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, we can see Redding with his Hagstrom 8-String Bass.

See how Canaan Dove Amber uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Canaan Dove Amber

Singer, Guitarist

Duster

...
Verified via Photo

Canaan Dove Amber is seen using the Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar in an Instagram post by __canaan, captioned "helvetia+duster💖🖕."

See how Diego Arnedo uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Diego Arnedo

Guitarist, Bassist

Sumo

...
Verified via YouTube

lo utiliza en "Sabado" y "Perro Funk"

See how Marty Willson-Piper uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Marty Willson-Piper

Guitarist

The Church

...
Verified via Marty Willson-Piper

Marty Willson-Piper used a Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar, specifically a 1968 model with two pickups, on the track "The Mermaid," as detailed on his official website.

See how Bruce Thomas uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Bruce Thomas

Bassist, Music Producer

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

...
Verified via Guitar World

In an interview with Guitar World, Bruce Thomas mentioned, "Then I had a Fender Mustang, a Danelectro Longhorn, a Hagström eight-string, a Fender Vl and several different P-Basses," confirming his use of the Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar.

See how Elliott Sharp uses Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar

Elliott Sharp

Guitarist, Composer

Mofungo

...
Verified via Premierguitar

According to the 2019 Premier Guitar interview, Sharp uses the Hagstrom H8.

Album Usage

The Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Hagström H8 8-String Bass Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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