Swedes

**Cavalier** · 10-01-2016, 01:13 AM

II picked up a project guitar in the Northern California outback to play while camping on the way home a week ago. (Comping while camping?) After emptying it of squirrel left nutshells and bionic dust bunnies I was surprised by the sound and volume even with old dead strings.. It is all mahogany or mahogany laminate with a single diagonal top brace like a Stromberg running from the treble side of the tailpiece to the left upper bout.

The label inside puts the maker as Bjarton but research has shown Bjarton made these for Hagstrom who sold them as the J-1 and later Metro. The J-2 had a neck pickup and the J-3 neck and bridge pickups. The serial number puts it as a 63, the car is a 65. It needs new fret inlays and a pickguard, I'll add some transducers and perhaps a floating pickup but nothing invasive. It is a cool, well built guitar with surprising sustain. The body is 16 1/2" at the lower bout and 3 1/4" deep at the rims. These Swedes seem built to last.

**Thumpalumpacus** · 10-01-2016, 03:39 AM

There's something rotten in -- wait, wrong country.

**oldane** · 10-01-2016, 05:26 AM

Also a nice old Swedish car from my childhood. A Volvo Amazon (if I remember correcly, with the highly regarded B18 engine, which was one of the most dependable on the market back then).

Sendt fra min SM-T810 med Tapatalk

**JazzNote** · 10-01-2016, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by oldane

Also a nice old Swedish car from my childhood. A Volvo Amazon (if I remember correcly, with the highly regarded B18 engine, which was one of the most dependable on the market back then).

Yep, very dependable, also sounding a bit like a tractor and the feel when driving it was close to driving a tractor too ;-)

**Leif_Olstrup** · 10-01-2016, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by JazzNote

Yep, very dependable, also sounding a bit like a tractor and the feel when driving it was close to driving a tractor too ;-)

Now that you mention it, we used to say back then, that the Volvo Amazon and the model 544 was deliberately designed somewhat as a tractor due to the poor conditions of the roads in Sweden back then. One characteristic of the B18 engine was its high momentum at low rev's.

**Boston Joe** · 10-01-2016, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Leif_Olstrup

Now that you mention it, we used to say back then, that the Volvo Amazon and the model 544 was deliberately designed somewhat as a tractor due to the poor conditions of the roads in Sweden back then. One characteristic of the B18 engine was its high momentum at low rev's.

Yup. Gotta have good low-end torque to deal with a lot of ruts and potholes.

Nice guitar.

**neatomic** · 10-01-2016, 11:37 AM

cool..pretty sure that was the guitar i was looking at on craigs very recently...

good pic..enjoy

cheers

**dragger201** · 10-01-2016, 12:05 PM

Uh, you do realize that if you replace those fret inlays and pickguard and the other mods............you'll totally destroy the collector's value of that fine looking car...............

**bohemian46** · 10-01-2016, 12:14 PM

The 122 Amazon started out as a B16... then the B18

Former dealer tech, former management instructor Volvo Motors of America.

I have owned 11 Volvos from 444s, 544s, 122s and 122 Wagons, 144s, 145, 240s etc.

Nice guitar

My father was the first person in his family born in the USA of Swedish immigrants.

**Cavalier** · 10-01-2016, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

There's something rotten in -- wait, wrong country.

Shouldn't have mentioned the nut shells, there is always a crowd in the peanut gallery! " To be or not to be... a Ham lets all become mockery."

I'm surprised nobody followed up with something about pastry and Danish!

**Boston Joe** · 10-01-2016, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

There's something rotten in -- wait, wrong country.

**Cavalier** · 10-01-2016, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Leif_Olstrup

Now that you mention it, we used to say back then, that the Volvo Amazon and the model 544 was deliberately designed somewhat as a tractor due to the poor conditions of the roads in Sweden back then. One characteristic of the B18 engine was its high momentum at low rev's.

To all the car respondents a thumbs up. The 122S actually has very nimble handling but the ride is best described as sturdy. It has neutral handling which makes drift easy to control on the unpaved roads it was built for. This one is my daily driver not a show car. The Amazon can keep up with modern traffic but is easier to find in a parking lot.

**Cavalier** · 10-01-2016, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by neatomic

cool..pretty sure that was the guitar i was looking it on craigs very recently...

good pic..enjoy

cheers

Probably the same one if it was the Bay area listings. The owner was a nice laid back guy willing to bargain as we sat on the tailgate of a old truck while I tuned the guitar and checked it out. He also has a old Hopf for sail among others. He mentioned he had about 40 guitars acquired over the years, most of them interesting. The main challenge for SF folk is the location about 180 miles up the Redwood Highway, I was returning to Washington so North worked for me.

**Cavalier** · 10-01-2016, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by dragger201

Uh, you do realize that if you replace those fret inlays and pickguard and the other mods............you'll totally destroy the collector's value of that fine looking car...............

I'm a player not a collector so for me a guitar has to have what I need. The block inlays were already removed, installing new ones is reversible. Like the car though I like to treat something like this as a bolt on project. Fix the problems but no cutting and welding so it can be returned to stock. I'm keeping the finish on this one, great patina and in good shape.

Obviously I'll have to not pose the guitar with the car without a note apologizing for a hopeless hot rod.

**Cavalier** · 10-01-2016, 01:26 PM

Here is a old catalog page, can anyone translate? The other picture is of a Metro with a DeArmond add on which would be period correct. An interesting approach to the flloater but I'd need to go with the reissue and make the controls as the vintage ones are very expensive as well as a bit busy. I'd want the pickup close to the neck too allowing a shorter rod. Other floater suggestions are welcome, someone else put a different pickguard on one with a conventional floater. I like the transparent pickguard and stock shape, I have to use the old screw holes anyway.

**Thumpalumpacus** · 10-01-2016, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Cavalier

Shouldn't have mentioned the nut shells, there is always a crowd in the peanut gallery! " To be or not to be... a Ham lets all become mockery."

I'm surprised nobody followed up with something about pastry and Danish!

It is a beautiful guitar.

Can't say much about the car, I'm not much of a gearhead.

**Nils** · 10-02-2016, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Cavalier

Here is a old catalog page, can anyone translate?

I'm Danish (well, half Swedish, actually) and the catalogue is in Norwegian, but here you go: “JAZZ GUITARS FOR CONTEMPORARY RHYTHMS. Hagstrøm jazz guitar. Made of prime mahogany. Specially constructed top and back to prevent the formation of cracks. The neck is “split” (probably means it is laminate/has several pieces of wood glued together) and with a slim profile. Walnut fretboard with position markers. Nickle hardware. Silk matte mahogany brown finish. 1 year warranty. Total length: 1,046 mm. Body length: 420 mm. Body depth: 82 mm. Scale length: 625 mm.”
The cash price for the one pickup model is listed as NOK 445,-

**Cavalier** · 10-02-2016, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Nils

I'm Danish (well, half Swedish, actually) and the catalogue is in Norwegian, but here you go: “JAZZ GUITARS FOR CONTEMPORARY RHYTHMS. Hagstrøm jazz guitar. Made of prime mahogany. Specially constructed top and back to prevent the formation of cracks. The neck is “split” (probably means it is laminate/has several pieces of wood glued together) and with a slim profile. Walnut fretboard with position markers. Nickle hardware. Silk matte mahogany brown finish. 1 year warranty. Total length: 1,046 mm. Body length: 420 mm. Body depth: 82 mm. Scale length: 625 mm.”
The cash price for the one pickup model is listed as NOK 445,-

Hey Nils, thank you so much, it was all Dutch to me. The specially constructed top must be laminate, the view into the pickguard screw holes suggests it. The bridge is snakewood, I found out while shaping the feet for a better fit last night, thought it was rosewood under the dust. I've got some new strings on the way but it still sounds nice and loud. I'd suggest keeping a eye out for these, they are good guitars. The neck is fuller than slim to me but I'm used to Ovations, it fits the hand well, without a truss rod I'm happy about the extra beef.

**Nils** · 10-02-2016, 05:30 PM

Laminate top - yeah, that makes sense. They do pop up from time to time here in Scandinavia, such as this guy, who restores and sells old guitars: Bjarton Jazz Model 1260

Anyway, play yours in good health!

**Cavalier** · 10-02-2016, 05:51 PM

Another great reference photo. I'd played a pair of Eastman's from 2007 the day before, a AR880ce John Pisano and a AR805ce Classic, much to my surprise acoustically the Bjarton wasn't giving anything away in terms of volume and tone which was a good recommendation, especially since it was a fraction of the price. It is about as loud as my Ovation 1117 Legend but with that woody archtop sound.

Cheers!

**Bluedawg** · 10-03-2016, 12:53 AM

LOL

I learned to drive in a Volvo 122 station wagon

Then moved on to 1971 Saab 96 as my main car from High School through my first year of work and then I bought a new Saab 900

Cool guitar

**Cavalier** · 10-03-2016, 01:18 AM

My formative years were spent in air cooled Volkswagens. Playing in hippy rock bands I had to have a camper but I also ran type 3 fastbacks and a squareback. Around the time I became a parent I discovered Volvos, better durability, room for wrenches, engines I didn't have to crawl under to set the valves etc... and the ability to pass other cars without needing a tailwind. My 145 wagon is being replaced by a 940 for the truck chores but the Amazons are my favorite. They actually handle better than the P1800 and are more practical. Even Eddie Van Halen used to drive one to gigs.

**Cavalier** · 10-04-2016, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Nils

Laminate top - yeah, that makes sense. They do pop up from time to time here in Scandinavia, such as this guy, who restores and sells old guitars: Bjarton Jazz Model 1260

Anyway, play yours in good health!

I've done some more research and the Bjarton 1260 is a pretty different beast, at least the early ones are. The body shape is about the same but the soundholes are different, the guitar is made of spruce and maple and the electronics are far less conventional. So this has to be one of the metros built for Hagstrom. The restored guitar must be one too, the 1260 doesn't show after 1961.

Interestingly when looking for a case that would fit I realized the proportions were similar to a Dreadnought with a wider upper bout and waist than a conventional Gibson. This probably accounts for some of the volume and tone.

**Cavalier** · 10-10-2017, 01:02 PM

Swede beach photos showing the discussed inlays and pickguard. I did this quite a while ago and meant to put on a floating pickup but it really works well without it and I like the clean look. The pickups are the K&K Big Twin model mounted internally with one under each end of the bridge. I use superglue for maximum volume and tone. I'm using these in several guitars and they all sound great. The pickguard is thin plexiglass which is a great alternative in a wide variety of colors. Cutting and drilling this stuff is a bit of a delicate operation but it is light and durable when finished. The original inlays would have been pearloid so I sourced some to stay with the original concept. I used a green/blue instead of the original white to go with the pickguard and ad some color.