Build and features

From the moment we first laid hands on the Viking Deluxe it’s been evident that Hagstrom’s quality control department is firing on all cylinders. The amber sunburst finish, fretwork and set-up out of the box are flawless.

The whole package oozes class, from the rounded block fingerboard inlays to that asymmetrical headstock design pillaged from the Viking models of the seventies. Incidentally, the Viking’s headstock and elegant f-holes (referred to by some Hag fans as ‘s-holes’) were designed by the late archtop builder Jimmy D’Aquisto.

There’s some serious pedigree here. The Viking Deluxe maintains the Hagstrom reputation for fast necks, but you don’t need a neck with the profile of a lolly stick to get around at speed. We reckon the Viking Deluxe strikes the perfect balance between an ultra-playable neck and one that still has a reassuring amount of meat on its bones.

It’s a joy to play. Incidentally, the fingerboard is formed from Hagstrom’s Resinator composite material, which offers a similar level of toughness to ebony.