FS: Studio Custom and Diablo, both USA

[Siaip Ciuvas]

Hi everyone,

older members remember me being active here some time ago, but times has changed... I haven't been actively playing for almost 3 years, due to my travel schedule at work and all my Hamers were gathering dust in their cases. My daughter (16) has started playing a bit, got into the band, so part of my stuff get regular use, but I think it is time to throw in a towel. I have sold all my studio gear last year, thinking that I can always record music at any local studio if I want, but kept my guitars collection along with couple of good amps and basic set of pedals intact.

And there is another thing. I live in Lithuania. It is now obvious, that the war from Ukraine will come to us, it is just a matter of time - Russia won't stop there, their mad emperror will go to the end (the end of empire, of course!)... I have enrolled into volunteer forces to get ready to give them a good fight. Unfortunately my country is not a rich one - the training is done with prehistoric carbines, and most of the equipment is well... inadequate, so every man has decided to buy everything on his own cost. I will get my 5,56 cal M4A1, magazines, boots, and all other stuff on my own budget, which I don't have at the moment. I have looked around and there were two obvious candidates, that can get me the cash.

Ok, this is a War sale, if you like. The mood here is - in time of war guitars make expensive firewood. I'd rather have less guitars, but be able to play them being free man, growing free kids in a free country.

Ok, so here they are:

Studio Custom '07 - originally ordered from Greg by one forum member (Nick, if you want to chime in, feel free) and then sold to me. It is a stunner and sounds aces! I have installed there Gregwind Voodoo protos that I have bought from Greg (he pulled them off from his guitar). The instrument has seen very very little use ever since. COA is there. I will make more photos, in the meantime please enjoy picture that was made my Greg himself (hope he is allright to use it) and current look in the case. I am looking around 1600$ (pickups are expensive!), but as you may understand I am open to offers.

USA Diablo '92, pickups changed to diMarzios (got originals, will be included), has several little dings here and there, but very little playwear. No case. 700$ plus shipping and paypal costs.

Hamer Standard '04 "The Riff" - this is one of a kind guitar, I believe forum oldtimers can tell more about this one. Currently it has WB Gregwinds installed, that work magic in that one. It is not a museum piece - has one ding and couple of scratches, but not a gigged beater either. Jumbo frets have a lot of life left. Ebony fretwood. Locking tuners. I will get more pics later, anyone interested please PM me, and I will email you them. $OLD.

Primarily I am looking to sell it in Europe, due to shipping cost to the US, but I will ship to US if the buyer will accept the cost.

Paypal costs are for negotiation.

If anyone is unsure about my reputation, check with Jay, Nick, Ionel, Rick and others that I have dealth with in the past. Or check my LinkedIn profile. Or Facebook page.

Any questions - give me a shout. I will be glad to discuss any sensible offers and ideas.

Peace to all of you.

ps. sorry, had to edit number of times before got images right.

[bambino68]

Pm sent

[Michael_B]

I'm really sorry to read about the situation. I wish you the best.

[Siaip Ciuvas]

Thanks, Michael! We do hope for the best, but we prepare for the worst!

Bambino - just found my PM box was full, now emptied. Please resend your PM. Thanks.

Please note time difference... Off to bed now, will reply everything in 7 hours from now

[Hamerica]

Siaip Ciuvas,

Best wishes to you, your family and your country.

Prayers and best wishes sent.

Hamerica

[Sugartune]

One of the rare times I wish I had a gun or two...to give to someone else for a guitar.

This situation is insane. I wish the rest of the world would actually step up to that clown. His thirst for the days of the USSR makes no sense.

All the best! Sad to see someone have to trade their axes for arms, but when duty and the times call...

[motorpriest]

Hang in there bro! GLWTS!

[polara]

+1 for a good guy and great guitars. I had the pleasure of sharing a beer or three with "Siaip" in Vilnius after delivering "The Riff" from the US as part of my travels... I still remember that unusual and delicious sausage and gravy dish we had.

I can recommend dealings with him and visiting Lithuania, home of friendly people and very very attractive Baltic women.

[LordOfTheThighs]

I commend you for your patriotism. We could use a healthy dose here in the USA.

Anyway ... good luck and keep your powder dry.

[it's me HHB]

Wow. Good luck with the sale and everything else!

[tomteriffic]

Siaip, it is good to "see" you again. I wish it was under better circumstances. I'd imagine that you'd want a fully automatic AR-15, which is illegal for a US citizen to own. I did a little research and the shipping, fees and legalities involved in getting any firearm from here to Lithuania (unless you happen to be the holder of a very rare and specialized Federal license) would amount to more than the cost of the firearm purchased there. It's just not practical. Not for me, anyway.

If I can offer a word of encouragement (?) Follow the money, follow the power. The current conflict to the south of you is about two things: The Russian natural gas pipeline to western Europe as well as a seaport to reach the Mediterranean. On the other side we have the West trying to surround Russia with missiles, primarily in Poland and Ukraine. If the Russian expansionist movement is for these reasons, you may see the conflict pass you right by. Still, it's hard to argue your desire to be prepared. I wish you the best.

[mathman]

Sorry, can't buy so I can't help that way. Maybe a paypal donation setup or something. I would like to see you setup to be as safe as possible.

[Jakeboy]

What size boots do you wear? Seriously. Also, will you get uniforms or do you need quality camo too?

[LordOfTheThighs]

Siaip, it is good to "see" you again. I wish it was under better circumstances. I'd imagine that you'd want a fully automatic AR-15, which is illegal for a US citizen to own.

Not to split hairs, but US citizens can own selective fire (full-auto) weapons. You have to pay a $200 tax stamp, and hurdle a stack of NFA paperwork. But as long as

you can pass the background check, you can wait up to 9 months for the gov to process your request, your golden.

Of course, if one is a citizen in a "less than gun friendly" state, it may be damn next to impossible to procure one, tho.

Oh, btw ... and you can't own a select fire weapon manufactured after 1986. And those that are purchasable, pretty much start out at $15,000, and head north from there.

So start saving up those $$$$$.

[tomteriffic]

I was aware of that, LOTT. And let's not forget that you have to purchase the firearm first, then apply for the stamp. If you get turned down, you're out the bucks. And the background check is exhaustive, too.

I really should amend that to say "as a practical matter".

[kizanski]

I don't know about any of that other stuff, but I do know something about that Standard.

It is one of the - maybe - three (?) guitars which I regret selling.

Great hunk of resonant wood, perfect neck with jumbo frets ebony board and a lone Victory inlay.

Riffmonger famously pestered the guys at Hamer when he spec'd it out, but the proof is in the pudding, and it's dripping off of this bad boy.

I posted on another thread a few days ago how I had had a set of Rios in a korina Standard and the guitar had more midrange than I would have liked.

Well, THIS guitar LOVES Rio Grande pickups.

I can't remember what guitar had me so horney that I had to sell this one, but I do know that I no longer have it, so...not a good move.

If you can get it, GET IT!

[Siaip Ciuvas]

Wow! Thanks to all of you for your support here, via PM and email... I really have missed the spirit of this place! True gentlemen club!

Also thanks for all the proposals to donate in money or in kind... Honestly it was not my intention, and I'd like to buy everything on myself. Yes, I have to sell some stuff to buy other stuff, but I will feel much better if it remains this way. I have already found second hand AR15 (if you can call 500 rounds fired in 6 months used, I'd say in HFC terms - broken in ) at a good price (for Europe of course), and most of the stuff is available here and with the cost of USPS I guess most of the low cost stuff like boots or camo will be much more expensive to ship over here, than to source locally. The volunteer force ("The riflemen" is the name for it in English) is overwhelmed by the amount of new members, so I am a candidate for now, but they even try to give some pre-preparation for us.

By the way - big thanks to all you guys in US and other NATO countries. I am 120% sure, that if not 173rd Airborne guys, sent in here several months ago and help from other NATO countries with air patrol mission, emperor Pu would be here by now. Oh, and 1st Cavalry lads are on their way to us... The war is not imminent, but the amount of troops deployed for training and the speed of deployment shows that the situation is damn serious. Our logic is the following - we have our professional armed forces (not huge ones, but they are good at what they do), if we could have 30-40 thousand armed and trained volunteers, who can be called to duty on short notice, NATO allies filling the gaps we have with heavy armour, airforce and airdefence... This would be more than enough to keep idiot in kremlin from stepping in. You might think you tax dollars can be used elswhere, but think of us here, celebrating 4th of July as if it was our special date... Maybe that will make you feel better about it

And you know why I hate Putin personally? Instead of learning 7th chords inversions, I have to study urban warfare tactics, gun calibers and military gear. It is not that I hate military stuff, but I'd rather leave it on recreational level...

Thanks again everyone for support and speak to you soon!

[mrjamiam]

Wish I could swing the Standard purchase, because I consider this a very good cause that I'd like to support. GLWTS! And if the situation changes and you reconsider contributions, let it be known. Hoping for the best for you and your countrymen from here!

[Siaip Ciuvas]

The Riff is on hold.

[RichRS6]

Whoever got the Standard can you put my name on top of the dibs list please !

[Steve Haynie]

This thread is the saddest reason for having to sell a guitar ever.

[kizanski]

This thread is the saddest reason for having to sell a guitar ever.

Sure beats the crap out of all of the bullshit excuses we've all read over the years, too.

Especially when those same people selling the sob stories are right back at buying more gear shortly after.

Clearly not the case here.

[Siaip Ciuvas]

thanks again to all of you for your support! I am touched to tears... HFC is the best thing that ever happened to me!

As I received several donations from bros with whom I've dealt in the past and they knew my paypal, I feel I have to explain my position about it once more...

I am not selling my LAST guitars. I will keep my Monaco Mahogany (my main guitar that have seen loads of gigs and fun and has Joe Bonamassa signature on it) and will keep playing it time allowing. I am keeping one amp and basic set of pedals for my daughter and occasionally for myself. It is just reality of life, that priorities are different now and creating volunteer force, to make crazy emperor to think twice is more important at the moment. And after selling some gear locally and The Riff I have enough money to get started. Will I sell Studio Custom remains uncertain (if there will be buyer and need to do it). So I am not really broke, I am rising money and have resources to do it. Morally I can't accept donations, because of that. And the war may come, and it may not. The Riff is going to Russia, by the way. And the buyer is from this forum, I will introduce him later if he will want to.

But again, please don't get me wrong - I am touched to tears to see this kind of brothership, but I am not in a moral position to accept donations.

I can promise, that if the crap will hit the fan and I will need your help, I will let you know.

For now, I have Diablo for sale, just in case anyone is looking for floyded superstrat.

[cmatthes]

This is a FOR SALE ad. If you have questions or concerns about something that is political in nature, take it up with the OP offline.

Any future posts along these lines will be deleted, per Forum rules. If you have any doubts about whether what you're about to post as a response, please read Thundernotes' post at the top of this section.

[specialk]

Hi Siaip,

Best of luck with the sales! Sorry I can't help you out in picking something up.

Good to see you posting on here again. Stay well.