Jump to content
Hamer Fan Club Message Center
  • 0

Chaparral Custom with maple top

ArsPo

Asked by ArsPo,

 Share

Question

ArsPo Member

ArsPo

Posted
Posted

Hello, gents.

I’ve got my eyes on this Chap. Seller claims it’s all original, but I believe it was heavily modified aftermarket. What do you think?spacer.pngspacer.pngspacer.pngspacer.pngspacer.pngspacer.png

18 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
hamerhead Veteran HFCer

hamerhead

Posted
Posted

That's a Californian, no? It seems suspiciously clean for a 40-year-old guitar. All the gold looks new. Most gold plating comes off if you just look at it too hard. The chrome on the pickups look out of place. And the guitars in the background are projects. Too many unknowns. I'd want my own eyeballs on it before shelling out what I'm sure is a fairly large pile of $$$.

Beautiful guitar. If it is what he says it is, it would be hard to resist.

  • Like 4
  • 0
ArsPo Member

ArsPo

Posted
  • Author
Posted
25 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

That's a Californian, no? It seems suspiciously clean for a 40-year-old guitar. All the gold looks new. Most gold plating comes off if you just look at it too hard. The chrome on the pickups look out of place. And the guitars in the background are projects. Too many unknowns. I'd want my own eyeballs on it before shelling out what I'm sure is a fairly large pile of $$$.

Beautiful guitar. If it is what he says it is, it would be hard to resist.

I don’t think it is Californian based on pickup selector placement

  • 0
Hbom Veteran HFCer

Hbom

Posted
Posted
25 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

That's a Californian, no? 

NO. Only 24 frets.

But I agree that it appears pristine except probable pickup change.

  • 0
hamerhead Veteran HFCer

hamerhead

Posted
Posted
23 minutes ago, ArsPo said:

I don’t think it is Californian based on pickup selector placement

 

21 minutes ago, Hbom said:

NO. Only 24 frets.

But I agree that it appears pristine except probable pickup change.

Yeah - I'm on drugs this morning.....the missing middle pickup threw me.

  • 0
stonge Veteran HFCer

stonge

Posted
Posted
On 11/9/2025 at 12:49 PM, Saul Goodman said:

Wouldn't that be a Centura, maybe just a Cantura body and a spare Hamer neck?

Centauras were all bolt-on necks.

Looks like a 24 fret setneck Chap - 87 would be about right for one those. Pickups look like OBLs (not totally sure about the bathtub around the humbucker) with an added tone control.  Ebony and boomerangs, and that flametop and matching headstock are plausible.  The thing throwing me off a little is the treble side cutaway, but that's kinda what it would look like if you asked for the Cali bevel on a flametop Chap.  If that was legit, it would have been pretty pricey with all those options/upgrades.

Hamer did make a lot of unicorns back in the day, even some that Peter hasn't owned lol. Looks cool to me...

 

  • Like 4
  • 0
cmatthes Veteran HFCer

cmatthes

Posted
Posted

I'm not sure - something seems off to me...

Sure, the Floyd, Tuners, knobs, all mounting screws (front and back) and switch tip have been switched, and the OBLs appear to be period-correct, but I am not sure about something that's really weird:  the 2 piece flame top on the mahogany body.  It's possible that it was an exceedingly rare custom order, but with something looking off with the logo shot that has the PRS and other Chap in the background being customized, I'm gonna say it was an '87 Chap that has been redone with a flame top and new parts.

Just my $0.02...

  • Like 3
  • 0
Bennyboy-UK Veteran HFCer

Bennyboy-UK

Posted
Posted (edited)

I'm sure I've seen that guitar for sale before years ago and it didn't sell - I reckon it shagged up old Chappy that was someones customisation project.

 

Someone who had an old Chap, and tried to make it as close to a Cali as possible - stick a yellow top on it, reroute for HC chamfer off the insides of the horns all that stuff. The neck joint is pure old Chappy

 

... and like Chris says - the guy is going to do it again on that taped up Chap behind god help us...

Edited by Bennyboy-UK
  • Like 2
  • 0
Jimbilly Veteran HFCer

Jimbilly

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, cmatthes said:

I'm not sure - something seems off to me...

Sure, the Floyd, Tuners, knobs, all mounting screws (front and back) and switch tip have been switched, and the OBLs appear to be period-correct, but I am not sure about something that's really weird:  the 2 piece flame top on the mahogany body.  It's possible that it was an exceedingly rare custom order, but with something looking off with the logo shot that has the PRS and other Chap in the background being customized, I'm gonna say it was an '87 Chap that has been redone with a flame top and new parts.

Just my $0.02...

too bad there's no list of Ed Roman builds

  • Haha 3
  • 0
topekatj Veteran HFCer

topekatj

Posted
Posted (edited)

That serial number photo shows that the back of the peghead was mucked with somehow.

Eddie Roman (Jr.) gots skills and guns.

ETA: Looks to be a Bill Lawrence pickup at the bridge (XL-500/550?). Not your typical Hamer factory original equipment.

 

IMG_0254.jpeg

Edited by topekatj
Boo boo
  • Like 1
  • 0
Jimbilly Veteran HFCer

Jimbilly

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, topekatj said:

That serial number photo shows that the back of the peghead was mucked with somehow.

Eddie Roman (Jr.) gots skills and guns.

ETA: Looks to be a Bill Lawrence pickup at the bridge (XL-500/550?). Not your typical Hamer factory original equipment.

 

IMG_0254.jpeg

didn't all the OEM OBL's have writing on them? 

  • 0
soli'd Veteran HFCer

soli'd

Posted
Posted
On 11/9/2025 at 9:51 AM, ArsPo said:

CBA7FAB8-CB9A-4EC9-88CB-CCD386A1D898.jpeg

Trying to figure out this picture... Looks like a rear trem cover, vertical, and behind the bridge on the front? What am I seeing here?

  • Like 1
  • 0
stonge Veteran HFCer

stonge

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, soli'd said:

Trying to figure out this picture... Looks like a rear trem cover, vertical, and behind the bridge on the front? What am I seeing here?

I think you're correct - maybe he was using it to block the floating trem?

  • Like 1
  • 0
soli'd Veteran HFCer

soli'd

Posted
Posted
On 11/29/2025 at 6:12 PM, stonge said:

I think you're correct - maybe he was using it to block the floating trem?

It's either that or an AI generated "enhancement", like 6 fingers on one hand. 😁

  • Like 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Answer this question...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to question listing
×
×
  • Create New...