Guitar building flourished in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s around the world. Goya guitars were first made by the Levin company in Gothenburg (Goteborg), Sweden sometime in the early 1950s. Levin guitars began in 1900 and were well known for their quality workmanship. Their guitars were exported under the "Goya" brand to America through the Hershman Musical Instrument Company in New York under an exclusive distribution agreement. Goya and Levin guitars models are essentially identical. The distribution of Goya guitars then went to Kustom Electronics Inc. and then to Dude Inc. sometime in the early 1970s. The Martin Guitar Company took over the Levin company by 1975. By the late 1970s Martin Guitars started making the Goya guitars in Japan then moved manufacturing to Korea during the 1980s and finally to Taiwan during the 1990s. Martin stopped making the Goya brand guitars in 1996. Goya electric guitars have been made in Sweden, Italy, Japan, Korea and possibly other countries by various guitars makers.
This vintage Goya "hollow-body" Les Paul style electric guitar was made by the Hagstrom Guitar Company of Sweden in the 1960's. Based on the Hagstrom serial numbers list (477/027) it indicates a 1960 model. In the July 1999 issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine the article "Swedish Hagstrom Guitars, Part 1" the article stated that production lasted only a year from 1960 to 1961 for the Goya Hagstrom brand guitars. The article goes on to say that the Model 90 (DeLuxe) sold for $135 and the Model 80 (Standard) sold for $90. The Model 90 has a pointed pick-guard while the Model 80 had a rounded pick-guard. According to the article there were only 177 of the Model 90 made and 370 of the Model 80 made.
This is a Goya Model 90 and is identical to the Hagstrom EDP46 Deluxe.The Goya Standard and Deluxe models were all hollow. They were manufactured in mahogany (back and sides) and spruce (top) with support posts quite similar to Gretsch guitars, then finished with a variety of glitter or solid colours, and sometimes natural mahogany top too as this example. The most important feature of the guitar is however the patented interchangeable pickup. These unique pickup units are self contained and enclosed and were sold separately from the guitar. They were easily plugged into the guitar body enabling the consumer and dealer to make any combination of guitar and pickup to suit the customer’s needs. With a few basic bodies and colours the dealer can instantly change pickup to satisfy the requirements of any customer. This feature appeared later in the 1960’s with the Dan Amstrong designed Ampeg guitars.
These Goya guitars are among the rarest of the Hagstrom guitars from Sweden.
