Within Norse Mythology of millennia far past, the warrior-elf god “Alvar” was a distinguished mighty warrior. As legend tells us, Alvar held a storm of emotion within his calm exterior, and was the perfect role model as a true best friend that could always be relied upon.
Hagstrom Guitars proudly present the Hagstrom Alvar, the smaller brother of the Hagstrom Viking which perfectly lives up to its Norse origins as the “Elf Warrior”. A true best friend and fellow fighting companion.
This semi-hollow bodied instrument in its “petite” body size, will be a perfect match for players searching for a semi-hollow in a smaller compact form. While it shares so many elements of its larger bodied sibling, the Alvar is a reigning force despite its diminutive proportions and elements.
The Elf-Warrior Alvar, always has your back
As Alvar was also known for having a calm and cool side of his personality, this 6-stringed wonder has the ability to easily “dial down” for cool and calmer moments. If battle insists and a raging fight pursues, he takes up his battle axe and delivers some of the tightest and controlled death blows of mayhem. Sturdy, focused and resistant to feedback at high volumes and excessive gain, this guitar reacts and steps up to the task required. It is surprisingly capable of delivering an onslaught of destruction taking players by pleasant surprise, with all of the power and might that this little beast can dish out.
It’s sleek and slim multi-ply maple body and set maple neck, are key to delivering its sharp attack and long sustain. The dually equipped Hagstrom HJ-50 humbucking pickups transform this cool cat into a raging beast at the flick of a switch.
Our custom equipped RC-Circuit on each independent volume pot helps to keep the Alvar calm and subdued, while turning up the dials summon forth the elf-warlord. Players that have already become acquainted with Alvar have been shocked at is exceptional feel and flexible tonal control, despite its meager size. The Alvar demonstrates its ability to flip from wholesome clean, to full staunch aggression in a heartbeat.
ALVAR STANDARDS:
H-Expander
All Hagstrom electric guitars and basses include our patented H-Expander truss rod. Providing tension at both ends and running the entire length of the neck, the rigid yet light-weight alloy truss rod allows for a very low action and thin neck, two factors that were instrumental in earning Hagstrom its reputation as the world’s fastest playing guitar. The H-Expander truss rod not only provides ultimate neck stability, but it also contributes to Hagstrom’s unique tone. Longer sustain and a round attack are some of the sonic characteristics the H-Expander adds to the tonal essence of Hagstrom.
Trapeze Stringholder/Tailpiece
The classic Viking trapeze stringholder/-tailpiece design, is a work of art in itself.
Right underneath the top part, where the two beautifully swept beams meet, it features a string claw for easy access and super comfortable string changes. Adorned with the legendary Hagstrom crest it truly is elegance defined.
Set Neck
Hagstrom uses a variety of different neck joints throughout our range. Our set-neck recipe is the classic and time-tested Mortise and Tenon joint, a design that most efficiently transfers string energy from neck to body, and can often only be found on more expensive custom-built guitars. A team of experienced and dedicated craftsmen hand carves every neck joint, insuring perfect execution of this traditional technique preferred by luthiers for generations.
Resinator Wood
Resinator wood is a wood composite material that is both more uniform in density and more stable than any standard wood product. These characteristics eliminate dead spots or "wolf tones" sometimes associated with conventional wood fingerboards. Resinator wood has an articulate sound similar to high quality ebony, but without any of the problems associated with ebony. It provides a stable and clear tone, and also adds higher overtones and harmonics which uniquely detail each note. Like our H-Expander truss rod, Resinator wood is a major contributor to the distinctive "Hagstrom tone".
Hagstrom Machine Heads
Hagstrom models use 18:1 or 15:1 gear ratio machine heads based on our own designs to insure accurate tuning. Viking and HB series basses feature machine heads with a 17:1 gear ratio.
