1968 Hagstrom Concord C-2 Deluxe Vintage Hollowbody Bass Guitar Ebony Board & Gold Hardware, Viking

Up for sale, a 1968 Hagstrom Concord C-2 Deluxe vintage hollowbody bass guitar in excellent condition and in perfect working order. Essentially the bass version of the popular Hagstrom Viking, the Concord bass was offered in two versions. The C-1 was available from 1965-1971 and almost three thousand were produced. The C-2 Deluxe model seen here is exceedingly more rare, produced only from 1967-68 with only 150 basses total in existence. And at almost twice the price of the C-1 (and costing as much or more than any Gibson and Fender models), it's no wonder so few C-2 Deluxe models were ever in circulation!

With its ebony fretboard, block inlays and gold hardware, the Concord C-2 is a real looker, and the figured maple body is highlighted by a "Golden Mahogany Sunburst" finish as described in the original catalog. Delightfully thumpy and warm, with great top end articulation thanks to the ebony board and maple body construction, this Concord is strung with flatwound strings and plays effortlessly. The bass weighs in at 6lbs 14oz, balances well on a strap, and has a smooth, even acoustic voice that translates well through the original single coils.

The neck has a slender C shaped profile with the aforementioned slab ebony fretboard and pearl block inlays. Both the neck and headstock sport multi-ply binding, and the scale measures 31" with a nut width of 1 7/16". The original slender frets are intact with only light wear beneath the A and D strings on frets 1-3 and virtually no wear further up the board. The frets retain their full factory height and the bass plays well in all registers with a straight neck and no buzzing or dead spots. The headstock retains the original low profile gold tuning machines with clover buttons, and the stock raised Hagstrom logo on the face.

On the body, all of the original electronics work as intended, with individual Volume and Tone controls for each pickup and a three-way pickup selector switch located on the treble side body horn. Original hardware includes the plexi pickguard and gold harp tailpiece with Hagstrom crest insert, along with the four-saddle bridge and witch hat knobs with original gold caps.

Cosmetically, the bass features new binding around the heel of the neck, and the gold hardware shows its fair share of patina while still retaining enough gold to be recognized as such. There are light scuffs on the bookmatched flame maple back, as well as assorted tiny nicks on the instrument as a whole and light pick wear adjacent to the neck pickup ring. Seen virtually across the board with all vintage Hagstrom basses, the bridge has sunken on the top, but still well within the range of a proper setup. Both pickups sit ideally close to the strings with room to adjust further for ideal tonal balance, and the action is low and comfortable. The instrument is stable at full pitch, structurally sound, and ready for stage and studio use.