Hagstrom Beluga II-F Bass

The Hagström Beluga II-F is an unusually versatile bass from Hagström's modern era, combining a chambered mahogany body with a maple top, a long-scale maple neck and an unusually flexible pickup and electronics system. The "F" version is distinguished from the solid-body Beluga II by its chambered construction and F-hole, giving it a more resonant, semi-hollow character while retaining the substantial low-end response of a full-scale electric bass.

The Beluga was designed around versatility rather than a traditional bass layout. Its two Dyna-Rail pickups can be switched through six different combinations using the rotary selector, providing both single-coil and humbucking configurations. This gives the instrument a considerably broader tonal range than its two-pickup layout might suggest, from relatively open and articulate sounds to fuller, more powerful humbucker voices.

The electronics can also be operated in active or passive mode. In passive mode, the bass has a direct, relatively dark voice with a strong fundamental, while the active circuit provides additional control over the instrument's tonal character. The 18V electronics include a four-band EQ, allowing separate adjustment of the bass, low-mid, high-mid and treble ranges. This makes it possible to shape the sound considerably further than with a conventional passive two-pickup bass.

The chambered mahogany body is paired with a maple top and a maple neck. The long 34" scale provides the familiar response and string tension associated with a full-scale electric bass, while Hagström's Resinator fingerboard and H-Expander truss rod are characteristic features of the company's modern instruments. The body is shaped with a pronounced waist and contoured edges, making the relatively substantial instrument comfortable to hold despite its unusual construction.

The bridge is Hagström's Full Contact Bass Bridge, designed to provide a solid connection between the strings and the body. The combination of the chambered construction, long scale and versatile electronics gives the Beluga II-F a character quite different from more conventional Precision- or Jazz-style basses.

The Beluga models were part of Hagström's modern revival period, when the company reintroduced instruments under the Hagström name with new designs rather than simply reproducing its historic models. The Beluga is a good example of this approach: its combination of chambered construction, multi-mode pickups and active/passive electronics makes it a distinctly contemporary instrument.

This particular Beluga II-F is in excellent condition with only minor signs of wear. It comes with its original Hagström gigbag.

Specifications

• Model: Hagström Beluga II-F
• Construction: Chambered
• Body: Mahogany
• Top: Maple
• Neck: Maple
• Fingerboard: Resinator
• Scale: 34"
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: 2 × Dyna-Rail
• Pickup selection: 6-way rotary switch
• Pickup modes: Single-coil and humbucking
• Electronics: Active/passive
• Active circuit: 18V, 4-band EQ
• Bridge: Hagström Full Contact Bass Bridge
• Weight: 4.20 kg
• Condition: Excellent, minor wear
• Included: Original Hagström gigbag

The bass has been fully checked and set up in our workshop and is ready to play.