Hagstrom HB-8 – The Old School Eight String Short Scale Boat Anchor! – LowEndLobster Review
NOTE: This video was filmed in April of 2022, well before any of the allegations against Andrew Callahan of Channel 5 went public. Though were were strong supporters of his message of radical empathy, we no longer can support Andrew or Channel 5 after what has come to light. Please forgive the shirt here!
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Hagstrom HB-8: https://www.hagstromguitars.com/your-hagstrom/instrument-archive/hb-8.html
Edit: Bridge is a Sung Il B208
Hey Everyone! Today we’re reviewing the Hagstrom HB-8, a weird little retro eight string short scale bass! This strange stringtastic bass features some guitar-ish rail pickups and a 6-way rotary switch allowing for a ton of different pickup modes. is this Hagstrom the perfect little bass for some 8 string fun? Let’s find out!
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with SIT Foundation Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at https://sitstrings.com/
Info on my signal chain, setup and more: https://youtu.be/QtZdeV7Ngv0
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#Hagstrom #HB8 #School #String #Short #Scale #Boat #Anchor #LowEndLobster #Review
Originally posted by UClpTFnWcfIg4pcgFZ8dRTyg at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXTVDLSX6UU
Sad and weak posturing on the shirt????didnt age well either, he was innocent
Of all the 8 strings you have played which one do you feel is the best quality I’m looking at the Warwick basic corvette have you also played that one thanx Ron
I have a friend looking to sell one of these, except his is red. It has pretty much just sat in the case it’s whole life so it’s in really good shape. Reply or message me if you want more info!
Ohohohooo I am buying an eight string bass as soon as I get the money and then I will immediately put it in drop D
Was going through your backlog and this is a cool beast! Not for everyday applications for most people but this sounds killer! It has a very organ-like quality and it looks great too
Is it like a octaver ?
I gigged with this bass a few years ago. The OEM strings were terrible. I swapped them for Rotosound 8-strings and that helped a lot, but overall, the weight really put me off. It also has a clunky feel. In the past I've played the mid-60's Hagstroms and they are night and day from these new basses. The original models have much nicer, narrower necks, very fast action, reasonable weight, much better workmanship, and a wider tonal range. Unfortunately they are now over $2k. I wish Hagstrom would make a reissue that was accurate.
Maybe do the Hagstrom Viking bass instead. Its more popular and conventional, but despite that its not so widely available that it can be easily 'had' for audition. As the kind of instrument that is therefore likely to be bought online in many countries where Hagstrom has no dealership agreements, it is 'needing', if not necessarily yet 'deserving' of, a capable review. That remains to be seen. Vote with a thumbs up if you want the 'new' Viking Bass to be reviewed here.
This bass is the second iteration of Hagstrom's 8-string bass. The first ones were issued in the late 1960s. The one in this vid is from 2010 or so. A newer model (the "Retroscape") has the vegematic switches like the 60s models did. I have a prototype for the first reissue model. Yes, it's a boat anchor. But it's a very cool boat anchor! And you really need to use a pick. Also, I think the stock strings are kind of wimpy.
Love hearing your jazzy,funky, soulful playing on that 8 string. I thought it sounded good! It’s fun to play Wes Montgomery licks in the upper registers.
I’m not a short scale guy, and wouldn’t like the excessive weight, though. I’m happy with my Fernandes 8, a full scale that is a feather weight 7 pounds.
I've got the hb4. I gig it and it sounds great for the stones, ccr, and stuff where I need a vintage tone. Pushes a ton of bottom end, even on higher notes. Sounds super warm.
screw you for acting like "made in China" is a minor detail.
2 minutes in and he drops the bomb "Made in China"…………………………AHHHH! See if this sounds like an American patriot walking away.
Sounds just like Joe Pass and NHØP!
Hmmmmm for sure stainless steel strings with a fuzz or distortion and this would be sick
Sounds best with the tone down, I think. Else, the octave strings are too pronounced.
Can anyone actual find these anywhere
8 string bass equals Manowar (Bridges Of Death.)
Sounds pretty cool, doesn't every 8 string. I hate wonky headstocks. Strings should go straight into the pegs and not touch the previous peg.
I want it for retro factor. Any plans to do a 12?
Hell yeah….I’d pay $899 for that. Sounds good, looks good, looks like it sounds like it plays good. Sold.
Ahh, ok, a reissue. I was going to say it sure looked different that the one my older bro had back in the day. They were fun.
Anytime you pick up an 8-string bass you are supposed to play the riff to "Spanish Castle Magic". It's pretty much a mandatory legal requirement actually. Tune down to Eb for 100% accuracy.
Its not strange she is a unic black bass lady with a good sound you did well when you throw the pick away .still with this kind of price for this bass you should get more in each parameter ????
8 string basses sound like a fever dream, nice video lobster!
Great to see the Hagstrom 8 strings back, Hendrix had one and Lemmy used it on Top of the Pops, also you need more practice to play with a pick, it's not hard to play with a pick with practice. Also, I'll never understand why you never use an overdrive pedal, we want to hear the growl out of these basses, also if you think the 8 string bass is out of place, look at John Entwistle using an * string of his buzzard here, and he used many of them at different shows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TwoMhXvO4Y
thats what u call a MANdolin.
Lobster you must review some of the new modern series by SX Guitars. It's hard to find more info on them but I'm seeing a lot of those for sale. They had some amazing new colors and I hope they still remains the best affordable basses that you can buy (maybe even better than HB).
Schecter 8 string beats the shit out of this bass! I would not get this bass. I played one at Guitar Center. Sure the setup was bad but because this thing is shortscale your going to be retuning this A Lot due to the loose tension on the strings (and its shitty tuners). You may be able to remedy these issues with upgrades & very well done setup. But who wants to spend $800 on a new 8 string bass that needs upgrades?!? Not worth the aggrevation.
I'll stick with my Boss OC-5, it's way lighter.
It's a bit of a turnip….
It sounds more like a Guitar with an octave pedal than a bass with more treble content.
Either a Frettles or an 8 string bass are the only two basses that are on my radar. Saw one of these used on line and thought about and decided I don't want short scale version, nothing against short scale my first bass that I still have is a 1966 Gibson EB-0. It has a unique sound though.
Man, I love that sound. Please excuse my ignorance, but I know virtually nothing about 8-string bass guitars. Perhaps it's my ears, I don't know, but it seems that the harmonics is more noticeable when the tone is up. By the way, are you using a BeatBuddy for your drums? If so, what is the setting that you are using?
Great review, I Bought one, Got it back in 71 after I Heard Jimi's song Fire were they used one. I remember there selling points were, made in Sweden and I Beam tress rod that won't supposedly won't warp. The first day I took 4 strings off and used it as a 4 string from then on…
For your health!