Cleaning My 1977 ‘Jimmy’ Hagstrom.

[Archie]

Hi all.

Here’s a video of me cleaning my 1977 Jimmy Hagstrom.

These guitars usually seem to turn up in rather poor condition. This one appeared much cleaner than it actually was.

I cleaned it off with some dunlop (silicone free) spray. I was going to strip it completely but couldn't get the knobs off and the pickups were better off staying on.

These guitars are very reminiscent of early Aria Archtops. This is likely because they have a relatively large sound post under the bridge and they have a slightly different shape. I think the EA- 650 would be the closest thing in terms of sound.

If you have any questions about the model I can help answer, feel free to ask.

cheers

[Gitterbug]

Nothing shocking if you ask me. In fact the overall condition looks just fine for the age. Practically no yellowing suggests it's been kept in the case for most of its life. Birch, IIRC.

[aquin43]

You seem to be trying to pull the knobs off but I don't see you undoing the grub screws.

The original bridge on these is ebony with a simple slant on the top, i.e. no particular compensation for the transition from plain to wound at the third string position and yet the two that I have will play perfect sounding octaves between 1st and 3rd all the way up the fingerboard.

[Archie]

You seem to be trying to pull the knobs off but I don't see you undoing the grub screws.

The original bridge on these is ebony with a simple slant on the top, i.e. no particular compensation for the transition from plain to wound at the third string position and yet the two that I have will play perfect sounding octaves between 1st and 3rd all the way up the fingerboard.

Thanks Aquin. That’ll be why they won’t come off then!

I would like to put original parts back on but they're likely unavailable.
If you could send me some pics next to a ruler, I might be able to recreate the bridge in CAD?

Would be an interesting project and on worth while, since it’s a D’Aquisto design.

[Archie]

Nothing shocking if you ask me. In fact the overall condition looks just fine for the age. Practically no yellowing suggests it's been kept in the case for most of its life. Birch, IIRC.

I should have done a close up of what looked like soil dust under the pick guard. It looked much darker and more impressive in person.
I think like a lot of old guitars, at some point it had been well played and then put away, or sold onto someone who didn’t use it.
I doubt a guitar that hasn't seen much action would have a replaced tail piece, replaced tuners and dead frets, plus that much grime under the pickguard.

The charm of old guitars. Wondering; guessing what kind of life they’ve had.

[aquin43]

Picture of the bridge taken with a long lens. String spacing between centres 52.8mm wheel diameter 18.24mm

[Sam Sherry]

1977, that's the "second swing through" edition.
What's the scale length on yours?

My ca. 1969 doesn't have a soundpost.

I really like the pickups. 8k = plenty of output, great full-but-hollow neck sound and sweet chime in the middle.
And as you've noted, the recurve is D'Aquisto DNA -- that didn't happen by accident.

+++

It's easy to picture what happened from the business standpoint: Hagstrom was making a perfectly nice guitar, nitro finish, quality build, but they only made something like 1200 of them over a decade and the Hagstrom brand never caught on in the US. Fender comes in and BOOYAH -- Jimmy has a nice-looking box at every Fender dealer in the US and Japan and they all sell too.

I owned an FD'A Elite and liked it a lot -- it's a classy guitar and the Schaller pickup sounds great. It left as part of a swap for a Gibson JS . . . after a while, I was looking to re-grab an FD'A when the Hagstrom came up for a small fraction of the FD'A price. Not sorry!

[Archie]

Picture of the bridge taken with a long lens. String spacing between centres 52.8mm wheel diameter 18.24mm

Aquin, thank you very much. I’ll import it into Fusion and see If I can’t replicate it.

In fact, it looks very much like the bridge on my Ibanez JP20.
That was modelled after a D'aquisto design.
I’ll show you a pic.

If you’re inclined, a picture of the z axis would be good too so I can size the height of the base and top piece.

Thanks once again.

[Archie]

1977, that's the "second swing through" edition.
What's the scale length on yours?

My ca. 1969 doesn't have a soundpost.

I really like the pickups. 8k = plenty of output, great full-but-hollow neck sound and sweet chime in the middle.
And as you've noted, the recurve is D'Aquisto DNA -- that didn't happen by accident.

+++

It's easy to picture what happened from the business standpoint: Hagstrom was making a perfectly nice guitar, nitro finish, quality build, but they only made something like 1200 of them over a decade and the Hagstrom brand never caught on in the US. Fender comes in and BOOYAH -- Jimmy has a nice-looking box at every Fender dealer in the US and Japan and they all sell too.

I owned an FD'A Elite and liked it a lot -- it's a classy guitar and the Schaller pickup sounds great. It left as part of a swap for a Gibson JS . . . after a while, I was looking to re-grab an FD'A when the Hagstrom came up for a small fraction of the FD'A price. Not sorry!

He put in a lot of work setting up the Hagstrom operation. Still I guess all that work went into
experience bucket.
I’ve got quite a big story coming about this guitar. I think you’re going to get a kick out of it! I’m bursting at the seems just keeping it in but I have to wait a few months before I can reveal.

[aquin43]

The other view of the bridge

[Archie]

The other view of the bridge

Many thanks Aquin

[sgcim]

How does it compare to the Fender D'AQ's?

[WhiteCatzs]

Today I purchased a 78 Jimmy F. The owner said it hasn’t been taken out of the case in 10 years. It’s now in the shop for a professional setup and inspection. I will post more photos when I get it back and tried it out thru an amp.

[LesB3]

I just purchased one of these as well, though mine is a '75. The serial number for your guitar will be stamped on the tailpiece and that will tell you exactly when it was made. Cool guitar, I love mine and I'm sure you will love yours too.