REVIEW > HAGSTROM
Selecting the neck pickup only is what
really drew the vintage side of the Viking
out. The tone was smoooooth, and when I
moved my plucking hand directly over the
pickup, it inspired soulful grooves that had
me thinking about the closest R&B clubs
in town. One more turn of the selector
knob, and I found the tone more pointed,
with more attack. Where the neck pickup
had a laid-back sound that begs you to play
behind the beat, the bridge pickup was its
brash little brother with its strong, defined
tone. Scrolling through the other pickup
combinations, I found them all to be useful, distinct variations on the theme—but
each still had an individual identity. And
while the Viking was not designed to win
first place at a slap competition, that’s
okay—this bass has other places to be.
The Verdict
Being a sucker for vintage semi-hollow
and hollowbody instruments, I really
appreciated this bass. When Hagstrom
talks about their signature sound, they
have a legitimate claim. And this holds
true for the Viking, which has a tonal
character all its own and makes no prom-
ises it can’t keep. The sound may not
be as instantly recognizable as a P bass
or a Rickenbacker, but it should be at
home in a wide variety of applications. I
would take it to a rock or a country gig,
and would love to use it in the studio. I
wouldn’t play metal with it, but I would
put it through the rigors of a surf-punk
band. Likewise, the Viking might not be
the first choice for a funk outfit, but it
would be perfect for an R&B or soul act.
Rating:
Buy If...
you want refined vintage tone.
Skip If...
your tastes run a bit more modern.
Hagstrom Guitars
Street $749
hagstromguitars.com
or use a mobile device to hear
audio clips of the bass at
CLICKHere…
premierguitar.com/feb2012
124 PREMIER GUITAR FEBRUARY 2012
premierguitar.com
