Hagstrom acoustic guitar

[RBSinTo]

A hockey bud has given me a Hagstrom acoustic guitar that is about 40 years old and needs some work, in the hope that I can fix it up for him.
I know nothing about Hagstroms, and am having no luck tracking down anyone, or a site where I can learn about them.
It was made in Sweden, has a label that gives its model as "Jimmy" and serial number 110262.
It is smaller than a dreadnought, has 14 frets, open tuners, appears to have a spruce top and mahogony (?) sides and back but no adjustable truss rod.
It needs strings, and a pick guard, which are easy enough to source, but without some specs, I really don't know what gauge strings to put on.
If anyone here knows anything about old Hagstrom acoustics, or knows of a site where I can go to, I'd appreciate hearing from them. If need be, I'll take a few photos and post them as well.
Please and thanks,
RBSinTo

 

[geoguy]

Looks like the name "Jimmy" refers to Jimmy D'Aquisto, who designed some electric archtop guitars for Hagstrom:

Vintage Guitar story about Hagstrom Jimmy

Some potentially useful info might be gleaned from this AGF thread:

Hagstrom acoustic guitars

I would probably start with light-gauge strings, if that guitar were mine. If it still has old strings installed, you could measure them with a caliper, too, as a starting point.

 

[geoguy]

One of the AGF links led me to this page, re: Hagstrom Jimmy acoustic guitars:

Does your buddy's guitar resemble one of these?

 

[Guildedagain]

As easy as joining the Hagstrom Facebook page.

 

[RBSinTo]

One of the AGF links led me to this page, re: Hagstrom Jimmy acoustic guitars:

Does your buddy's guitar resemble one of these?

geoguy,
Thanks for the links.
Yes, my bud's guitar appears to match the one shown in the photos as the Bjarton Jimmy (1971).
This morning I took it to Solo Music Gear, and bought bridge pins, a pick guard and light gauge strings. Additionally, from another local store that sells nuts bolts and various tools, I managed to purchase a tiny bolt to replace one missing from an open tuner, so now I'm ready to remove and un-gunk (that's a Luthier's technical term) the tuners, re-install them, sand off the old pick guard glue, and apply the new one, install the bridge pins and strings, and give it a whirl, before returning it to my bud.
Your help is appreciated.
RBSinTo

 

[RBSinTo]

As easy as joining the Hagstrom Facebook page.

Guildedagain,
Thanks for the suggestion, but I am not a member of Facebook, and have no desire to become one.
My Social Media presence is limited to the Guild and Gibson Guitar sites, and I prefer to keep it that way.
RBSinTo

 

[wileypickett]

Some of the info on those links is incorrect. While Bjarton made Hagstrom's regular full-body acoustics, Hagstrom made the "Jimmy" and similar archtop style models in-house.

I visited the Hagstrom factory in Alvdalen, Sweden, in the '90s and got a "tour" of the abandoned factory from Karl Erik Hagstrom, the head of the company, and saw the frames used for building the Jimmy.

Hagstrom was an innovative builder.

 

[RBSinTo]

Some of the info on those links is incorrect. While Bjarton made Hagstrom's regular full-body acoustics, Hagstrom made the "Jimmy" and similar archtop style models in-house.

I visited the Hagstrom factory in Alvdalen, Sweden, in the '90s and got a "tour" of the abandoned factory from Karl Erik Hagstrom, the head of the company, and saw the frames used for building the Jimmy.

Hagstrom was an innovative builder.

wileypickett,
Thanks for the reply.
The specs on the instrument itself (such as they are) are of more importance to me than who actually built them.
In addition to what geoguy's link showed, the Luthier at Solo gave the guitar an Internal exam and informed me that:
1. it has no bridge plate,
2. it has no truss rod adjustment screw, and likely no truss rod,
3. its braces are in a "fan" pattern similar to those of a clasical guitar,
all things I did not know.
I am planning to put the guitar back together in the next few days and am very interested to hear what it sounds like and experience how it plays.
And between you, me and whoever else might read this post, if it sounds good, hope to buy it from my bud who obviously has no use for it anyway.
Time will tell.
RBSinTo

 

[wileypickett]

I'm confused -- the "Jimmy" is an archtop style electric guitar (with F-holes and a cutaway), but it sounds like what you're decribing is a standard style acoustic guitar, with a round soundhole and no cutaway.

Do you have any pics?

 

[RBSinTo]

wileypickett,
The guitar I have is identical to the last guitar shown in geoguy's post:

Vintage Guitars, SWEDEN - Bjärton Jimmy information.

Bjärton information, Bjärton history, Bjärton serial numbers, Bjärton label, Bjärton catalogs, Bjärton guitars, Bjärton bass, Bjärton mandolin, Bjarton information, Bjarton history, Bjarton serial numbers, Bjarton label, Bjarton catalogs, Bjarton guitars, Bjarton bass, Bjarton mandolin, Bjerton...

www.vintage-guitars.se

it is described there as being from 1971 and is indeed, an acoustic guitar.
On its label, it is described as being a model "Jimmy".
If you wish, I'll take a couple of photos of it and post them.
RBSinTo

 

[wileypickett]

Thanks for the link!

Very confusing! If you do a Google search of "Hagstrom Jimmy," you'll see guitars that look like this:

Vintage Hagstrom Jimmy D'Aquisto electric Hollow Body cherry sunburst w case | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Hagstrom Jimmy D'Aquisto electric Hollow Body cherry sunburst w case at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

The "Bjarton Jimmy" however seems to refer to one of a series of acoustic guitars, including the Estrella, the Rebecka, the Senorita, and -- the Jimmy, the latter bearing no resemblance to the Hagstrom Jimmy.

It's the kind of confusion we'd expect from Guild!

 

[RBSinTo]

Thanks for the link!

Very confusing! If you do a Google search of "Hagstrom Jimmy," you'll see guitars that look like this:

Vintage Hagstrom Jimmy D'Aquisto electric Hollow Body cherry sunburst w case | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Hagstrom Jimmy D'Aquisto electric Hollow Body cherry sunburst w case at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

The "Bjarton Jimmy" however seems to refer to one of a series of acoustic guitars, including the Estrella, the Rebecka, the Senorita, and -- the Jimmy, the latter bearing no resemblance to the Hagstrom Jimmy.

It's the kind of confusion we'd expect from Guild!

wileypickett,
When I first began searching for this guitar, the link you referred to was one that came up, and I was also confused, which is why, in desperation, I posted here.
RBSinTo

 

[SFIV1967]

So it seems to be a ca. 1969 made Bjärton "Jimmy" marketed under the Hagström brandname outside Sweden.
They have 7/8th size, scale length 635 mm.

Here's one and the label:






Source: https://www.hagstrom.org.uk

The decription under the picture is:
"A Western model guitar with sides and bottom of beautiful striped mahogany. Top of fine resonant spruce. Narrow neck of mahogany with fingerboard of rosewood (jacaranda). Scale length 635mm. This model is delivered satin-finished and mounted with steel strings. 5 years warranty."

And no truss rod sounds right for that model. I have a similar one from another maker from the same time that also had no truss rod.

Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

Cool! I'd like to hear it.

 

[RBSinTo]

So it seems to be a ca. 1969 made Bjärton "Jimmy" marketed under the Hagström brandname outside Sweden.
They have 7/8th size, scale length 635 mm.

Here's one and the label:






Source: https://www.hagstrom.org.uk

The decription under the picture is:
"A Western model guitar with sides and bottom of beautiful striped mahogany. Top of fine resonant spruce. Narrow neck of mahogany with fingerboard of rosewood (jacaranda). Scale length 635mm. This model is delivered satin-finished and mounted with steel strings. 5 years warranty."

And no truss rod sounds right for that model. I have a similar one from another maker from the same time that also had no truss rod.

Ralf

Ralf,
Yes, that is the guitar I received from my bud. Looks identical and mine has the same label as the one in the photo.
I picked up the last of the supplies I needed today, and did the repairs I was able to, this afternoon.
Good looking litle guitar that sounds nice enough, and despite still having problems that I neither have the expertise nor tools to correct, is certainly playable.
Currently waiting for the strings to stretch out snd settle down, so I can play it for more than a couple of minutes before it goes out of tune.
Again, thanks to all who pitched in and gave me insight into Hagstrom guitars.
RBSinTo

 

[SFIV1967]

Also I would only use low tension strings on them in order to not bend the neck too far up resulting in high action.

Maybe something like Martin MM10 Retro Monel (10-47), Martin MA530S Marquis Silked (.010-.047), Martin MA130S Silk&Steel (.0115-.047), Pyramid Silver Plated Wound 304 100 (.011-.047), Pyramid Silk & Steel Silver Plated Wound 305 100 (.011-.046).
I think .010-.047 or .011-.046 might be a save bet. The lowest tension strings I know are Pyramid Silver Plated Wound 301 100 (.009-.042) with only 6.5kg tension (the other mentioned Pyramid strings have 8.5kg tension. (I think that was average tension per string with 6 strings if I remember correctly).

Ralf

 

[RBSinTo]

Also I would only use low tension strings on them in order to not bend the neck too far up resulting in high action.

Maybe something like Martin MM10 Retro Monel (10-47), Martin MA530S Marquis Silked (.010-.047), Martin MA130S Silk&Steel (.0115-.047), Pyramid Silver Plated Wound 304 100 (.011-.047), Pyramid Silk & Steel Silver Plated Wound 305 100 (.011-.046).
I think .010-.047 or .011-.046 might be a save bet. The lowest tension strings I know are Pyramid Silver Plated Wound 301 100 (.009-.042) with only 6.5kg tension (the other mentioned Pyramid strings have 8.5kg tension.

Ralf

Ralf,
When buying the various bits I needed, the Luthier and I discussed strings, and agreed that a light gauge string would be safest since the guitar has no truss rod, and already had a slight neck warp, even without any tension.
He suggested, and I bought D'Addario EJ15 Phosphor Bronze Extra Light 10-47 strings.
With the strings on, the action is a bit high, but I was not inclined to start steaming and straightening the neck, especially when I suspect that no one will be playing this guitar seriously, or at all when I return it. My bud might just be keeping it for sentimental reasons.
RBSinTo