centaura What am I looking at here? Anyone know the history/origins of this?

[Trobe]

Hi guys, new to the Hamer world and was wondering if anyone had any information on this guitar they could share with me. I know the Steve Stevens association with this but I am looking to see if anyone knows this specific model's origins etc. Obviously it has had upgrades and a new finish but the bare bones guitar itself I am curious about. Any help in this would be much appreciated. 

 

 

[Steve Haynie]

That looks like a Centaura to me.  

[Jeff R]

Specifically and officially, the rarer Centaura 2HB. I've owned two over the years. Considering the graphic is an exact copy of a Lynch tiger, with no clearcoat yellowing as opposed to the headstock (that logo should be white) ... I'd bet the farm it's a refin.

Non original tremolo (that's a Gotoh 1996T derivative with what appear to be FU-Tone upgrades). Added claw upgrade, added trem stop, non factory knob.

Sweet piece!

 

[Trobe]

On 9/20/2025 at 1:05 PM, Jeff R said:

Specifically and officially, the rarer Centaura 2HB. I've owned two over the years. Considering the graphic is an exact copy of a Lynch tiger, with no clearcoat yellowing as opposed to the headstock (that logo should be white) ... I'd bet the farm it's a refin.

Non original tremolo (that's a Gotoh 1996T derivative with what appear to be FU-Tone upgrades). Added claw upgrade, added trem stop, non factory knob.

Sweet piece!

 

Thanks for the reply Jeff. What are your thoughts on value for something like this. Don't worry, I wont hold you to it.

 

[Jeff R]

I have no clue because I got my dream Centaura derivative about 10ish years ago and I haven't tracked Hamers in general on the used market since. The last time I recall discussing a 2HB on the HFC was in this thread ... 

Usually a refin and upgrades detract from a guitar's street value, but those are all quality and desirable upgrades in the opinions in the big picture shreddysuperstrat market. I like yours better than the two I had before!

[The_Cali_Kid]

It’s a refin, last time I saw it for sale was by a guy in New Zealand. He listed it on Reverb a while ago trying to get crazy money for it. I reached out to him at the time with what I thought was a fair offer which he scoffed at. 
I suspect it may have originally been Diablo’s as it has many of his hallmark mods, which is what drew me to it.

Here’s the most recent ad from the Kiwi seller: https://reverb.com/item/84931171-hamer-usa-centaura-custom-bengal-tiger-last-month?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=84931171

Edited September 26, 2025 by The_Cali_Kid

[diablo175]

7 hours ago, The_Cali_Kid said:

It’s a refin, last time I saw it for sale was by a guy in New Zealand. He listed it on Reverb a while ago trying to get crazy money for it. I reached out to him at the time with what I thought was a fair offer which he scoffed at. 
I suspect it may have originally been Diablo’s as it has many of his hallmark mods, which is what drew me to it.

Here’s the most recent ad from the Kiwi seller: https://reverb.com/item/84931171-hamer-usa-centaura-custom-bengal-tiger-last-month?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=84931171

Yup. 

That used to be mine. I bought it refinished as is. I may have dropped a different bridge p'up in there and likely a new Schaller Floyd. Can't recall. Somewhere between then and now, it's gotten a few additional mods. 

It is (was?) a solid player but it wasn't enough to remain in the harem.  

It's worth whatever you're willing to pay for it. As a refin and modded piece, it's not worth nearly as much as it would be in an original, stock state. I paid around $1400 I think and sold it for close to the same amount.  

Edited September 26, 2025 by diablo175

[Jimbilly]

I would half jokingly call that an SS-4:  proto = "ss zero" ( ss 1, ss 2 ) regular Centaura = "SS-3") 

I always wanted a reverse slanted dual hum Centaura, but I'm 'too good a bargain shopper' to buy one for market value online, I love the reverse slanted pups. I can console myself by having an SSii custom and a regular Centaura.