Jimbilly

I had to wonder if this is really Andrea Martin from SCTV, but no

Was the front strap button originally on the back of the neck where it meets the body? is there a hole there where there used to be a strap button? Be careful not too offend the headstock, those can crack with even a sideways glance it seems: My ss1 and ss2 both have headstock crack repairs.

I was a bit surprised to see that name on a theater marquee yesterday I'd be tempted to go if I didn't have rehearsal, I used to listen to them 40+ years ago, not much since then

An artwork element to the paintjob for sure, and some rarity. I think a few pros had played them?, which always helps a whole lot. I have a Gibson 'designer series' Explorer bass in a black and white stripe graphic, I think it's super cool, so very '80s, - which were largely my formative years for music and pop culture

If I didn't like 5 ers so much, I'd play the 4 in my profile pic a whole lot more

as I understand it... generally it's the size of the inner core of the string and not the winding diameter, which is why a strat for example will most often have the two 'stair steps' at similar placement (cores of the wound strings are roughly similar diameter as the plain strings). I think I've got a tapered B on my old Chap 5, it's roughly a 'straight slant'. As a sidenote; there's a youtube review of a low cost headless bass, a model that I own and like, where the guy goes on and on with difficulty setting it up after a string change, FINALLY getting to the point: he put standard scale with tapered B strings on his fan fret (35" scale) headless: the taper on both ends, especially at the nut made it impossible to setup. 'User-error' ("what does this screw do?") is very common with used gear, I've been guilty but improving. When buying used bikes to flip, I call it 'the mark of the bonehead', - something has been adjusted or setup weird, now where is it? More common with bikes, but not uncommon on guitars

my first thought from the 2nd photo: "there's no way that's properly intonated" - which is a common observation/guess for me

they've been showing up in my youtube feed too, it must be their turn. The arrangement of I Like To Rock is really impressive. it's nice to see them getting some attention, I admit that I was mostly unaware back in the day. I actually sent the youtube link for I LIke To Rock to my 18yr old daughter, she thought it was cool.

John was really a genuinely nice good person. I'm glad I knew him, sad that I didn't stay in contact more recently

hmm, Guitar Maniacs has been a 'brick and mortal' store in Tacoma WA for 30+ years, Rick King (owner) is a real and early vintage expert. looks like he is just on facebook and reverb now, no standalone website https://reverb.com/shop/guitar-maniacs?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=shop&utm_content=68574

sounds like something I would have appreciated as a kid, piano was nearly torture! My kids also didn't enjoy the year or so of piano we put them through. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/piano-students-sweep-national-competitions-after-learning-payam-method-60-minutes-transcript/

cool find! I don't recall having seen on like that before, you've tried using 'google lens' on it?

my wife just counted guitar cases, uh oh!, - damage control! flowers? jewlery?

I believe my late '80s desert yellow Jem had the same color hardware as this black '89 Jem, the DY had a busted tuner and I wasn't able to find a matching Cosmo Black tuner or set back then, - at least it should be easier to find a trem bar than a tuner set for an 89 Jem. I have a 2000 ish 'Cortek' Ibanez RG (the neck through mik RG) that also has the same color hardware, but it uses a different trem arm I think, - and was also missing the trem arm when I bought it.

I see black, or chrome, but not Cosmo Black, am I missing it?

this looks like what is on the newer AZ series with Gotoh non locking trems, could be a good solution https://www.amazon.com/RED-BISHOP-MAGIK-ARM-IBANEZ-RBAH2B2/dp/B08B3X2YNK?th=1

black, chrome, gold, are easy to find. 'black chrome' is what I'm looking for

Push in (no threads, the one with the nylon bushings). I'm having trouble locating one in black chrome, I could be wrong about the color name. Somewhat common 30-40 years ago I think, not so much now. I'll add a photo when the site allows

and really really heavy to be authentic I just watched that the other night too, I though it was good. The truss adjust nut is probably the best clue, the fakers would really have to go to some effort to do a Gibson style truss rod nut. Whenever I see one at a pawn shop, I always start by assuming it's a fake

T-62 in Seafoam Green. Same pawn chain, but an Idaho store, they say 'like new' condition, $2020 + $125 shipping https://shop.pawn1.com/Item/Details/HAMER-GUITARS-T-62/692ee8d80c174deba4b5b1d62334cd69

whoever works at this pawn shop knows enough to have gotten quite a few details right, or they are very good at using google. This is an unusual finish for a Centaura? Sounds kind of beatup, - but they do often discount, depending on who you talk to. Physical location is Spokane WA, which is the far East side of the state, a bit too much of a drive for me to go see (5hrs+) https://shop.pawn1.com/Item/Details/HAMER-USA-CENTAURA-1990-IRIDESCENT-SWIRL/ef8174cd53934f14bc4a6a09427524a4

I flipped one too long ago to remember much other than 'this is really cool!'. Do I remember correctly that there's minimal to no bracing inside?, which should allow it to resonate 'bigger'? I suppose you might want to keep it out of long term UV to keep it from yellowing and possibly degrading, other than that, it should be really tough. - Given the abuse my bicycles have taken, a guitar should last pretty much forever! (do you plan to carry it on the roof of your car, leave it out in the shed? use it in the rain/mud, wash it with a hose, jump on it? etc).

I got the '89 Jem back from the 'shop' yesterday, took the neck off to see the ink stamps, took the pickguard off to clean around under the edges and see the wiring, and de-oxit the pots. After stringing it up and after initial setup, while re-aligning the trem bar retainer spring: this little brass plate fell out from somewhere, the guitar setup just fine, but there's this mystery, what is this from/for?

I saw a good local Rush tribute (Anthem) about 2 weeks ago, 'Ged' was playing a black Ric with the white body binding, - that really is a good classic stage look, the black body with white binding really works, the real Geddy should stick with that

among all the people he mentioned meeting, I can't believe he left out meeting me in the early 2000's!! I had brought a stack of his cd's for him to sign, probably 4 or 5, he was : "oh wow, thanks!, oh wow! thanks!!..." etc -seemed super cool