Haskin’s Hagstroms

This site was established by long time Hagstrom guitar and bass enthusiast John A. Haskin to communicate and connect with the vintage Hagstrom community.  John wished to share his experience and knowledge about the instruments, their restoration, and be able to provide instruments and parts to novices, collectors, and enthusiasts.

John passed away in November of 2019.  He was my best and longest friend.  Though John was a few years my senior our shared memories reach back to church school in the late 1950’s, Boy Scouting in the 60’s, and a lasting friendship in music, philosophy, and sailing from the early 70’s on.  We have played and sang together for countless thousands of hours since that time.

In the 60’s when John was playing in a ‘garage band’ he first encountered Hagstrom in the form of an H I bass, though it wasn’t until later in the 20^th century that he became an active collector and restorer of Hagstrom instruments.  John hooked me on ‘Hags’ and I learned much from him over the years.  I helped John with the repair and restoration of his instruments particularly the electronics.

John was known as a person of integrity, commitment,and passion in all aspects of his life.  With the guitars this was expressed through both his personal collection of instruments and his desire to preserve well-used Hagstroms as instruments rather than ‘part them out’ even though they were sometime more valuable as parts.  He would buy them on eBay in virtually any condition, fix them up, and find new homes for them.  Last week when inventorying his workshop, I counted 49 necks in varying states of re-finish!

Through mutual agreement and legally established in his will, I am charged with continuing the task of finding new homes for these instruments.  I did not expect this task to fall to me so soon.  I have no personal stake in this; it is simply what you do for a friend and their family at this time of loss.  I will continue in John’s spirit of integrity.  You may contact me through this web site.

John Loveless

January 1, 2020