That strange custom Vector Gene (BTNM) used to own… has anyone seen it again?

[zorrow]

@Ham Rex and I have been talking about @BTMN/Gene’s strange Vector which featured a weird paint scheme, a 67 Flying V body, and a pointy-yet-blunt headstock.

As far as I understood, it was destined to Michael Schenker, who for some reason rejected it, so it ended up in a pawn shop somewhere (Jacksonville, FL?) and Gene purchased it eventually, but later on he wanted an amp, so he sold it to purchase the amp… and then he —and nobody else— never saw that guitar ever again.

Given there are new HCF-ers since the last time we asked, we ask again:

Is anyone here aware of the existence of this guitar, and of where it could be nowadays?

These are the only two pictures of it I have —Gene might complete the story of the guitar, add the S/N (if he remembers) and tell us the entire story:

[BTMN]

Well, that’s close. I bought the guitar at a pawn shop in Jacksonville Florida in December 1982. I was informed that it had been pawned by Dave Hlubek after I had paid for it. I had bought two of his guitars. A few months later, it was confirmed by Hamer that the guitar had been made for Michael Schenker and they did not know where it had disappeared to. Not long after that I ran into Dave at a bar in Jacksonville called playground south. He admitted the guitars were his and that he pawned them and he didn’t care for them. Just guitars. The guitar the V had been a gift from Michael to him when they toured together because Dave was a Hamer guitar player. Michael had taken a deal from Gibson by then. That was the spring of 1983 when I met him. In the spring of 1986 I met Banner Thomas. He was working at American Music in Jacksonville. I kind of got excited about meeting him and talking with him and allowed myself to be talked into trading the V for a Music Man HD 120 2-12. Great amp but to much for me at the time. Last time I saw the V it was in another guitar shop on the south side of Jacksonville and that was 1992 and by then someone had put a Floyd in it, which was horrible to see, and by the time I went back a week later to buy it and try to resurrect it it was gone. I wish I had put a deposit down, but I had no money the week before when I saw it. It still had the paint job, but it was Floyded. I’m gonna figure that some sailor, because Jacksonville has such a large population with three different naval stations, that some sailor bought it and moved away back home and it’s under somebody’s bed or in a closet in the Midwest, northwest, somewhere, someplace. Serial number was 0415.  😎👍❤️🏁

Edited August 18 by BTMN

[BTMN]

Those are the only pictures I have of it also. 

[RobB]

21 hours ago, BTMN said:

Last time I saw the V it was in another guitar shop on the south side of Jacksonville and that was 1992 and by then someone had put a Floyd in it, which was horrible to see, and by the time I went back a week later to buy it and try to resurrect it it was gone.

Do people suck? People do. 

[cmatthes]

14 hours ago, RobB said:

Do people suck? People do. 

No lies detected here.

[zorrow]

6 hours ago, cmatthes said:

No lies detected here.

By the way, aside from this one and my 2-S/N Schenker Vector, are you aware of any other Vector featuring the 67 V body? 

[Ham Rex]

Zorrow is an awesome person. He's super considerate, funny, and has many gifts of talent. He assisted me in buying his guitar using payments like a couple other of my Favorite HFCers. You know who you are and thank you all for selling me one offs, rare and choice Hamers.

I saw his Double SN 4 Digit and Stamped 84 Flying Vee on Sunday. What a beautiful looking and playing guitar. I wanted to start making payments but it going to someone special.

What a heart to help someone try to reunite their sold guitar and get it back to the owner that loved it. 

I'm sure his Flying Vee will end up in the hands of BTMN who will cherish it as long as possible. 

Thank you, Zorrow!

I love the Standard. Hope you changed the status on the posting to SOLD

All the best to everyone who sold a piece of equipment that connected their heart and soul to sound waves. Keep looking and fill the hole.

Best of luck to BTMN!!!

Zorrow, you're awesome.

Ham Rex

Martin

[BTMN]

Umm I am not buying a guitar from Zorrow. 

[cmatthes]

On 8/19/2026 at 4:56 PM, zorrow said:

By the way, aside from this one and my 2-S/N Schenker Vector, are you aware of any other Vector featuring the 67 V body? 

It's possible that there are others - I have a vague recollection of seeing one or two, but I can't think of any specific examples off the top of my head though.

[zorrow]

On 8/20/2026 at 10:20 AM, BTMN said:

Umm I am not buying a guitar from Zorrow. 

I told him you had dibs on it. I know you like it. For now, the guitar isn’t FS. I would sell it to someone who does care, if I ever do. I know you care. 😉

[zorrow]

On 8/21/2026 at 11:24 AM, cmatthes said:

It's possible that there are others - I have a vague recollection of seeing one or two, but I can't think of any specific examples off the top of my head though.

They are pretty uncommon. If you can find pics of more 67-bodied Vectors, that would be great. 

[RobB]

16 minutes ago, zorrow said:

They are pretty uncommon. If you can find pics of more 67-bodied Vectors, that would be great. 

Didn’t one of our Euro-members post a FS/PSA of two, flame-top Vectors in the EU? I’m pretty sure one had a ‘67 headstock/control config. 

Edited Sunday at 09:37 PM by RobB

[boundandcrowned]

40 minutes ago, RobB said:

Didn’t one of our Euro-members post a FA/PSA of two, flame-top Vectors in the EU? I’m pretty sure one had a ‘67 headstock/control config. 

  😉This one?

[RobB]

12 minutes ago, boundandcrowned said:

  😉This one?

If the controls are arrayed in a triangle shape, then yes. 

[boundandcrowned]

31 minutes ago, RobB said:

If the controls are arrayed in a triangle shape, then yes. 

Please see "The Unequal Twins".

[RobB]

Congratulations. You own the two cleanest Vectors on the planet. 

Prick..!

Edited Sunday at 11:09 PM by RobB

[boundandcrowned]

7 minutes ago, RobB said:

Congratulations. You own the two cleanest Vectors on the planet. 

Prick..!

 

I'm so sorry. 😄

[BTMN]

This thread needs a photo of Zorrow’s Vector. 😁🤩😇🥰

[hamerhead]

On 8/17/2026 at 9:02 PM, BTMN said:

Well, that’s close. I bought the guitar at a pawn shop in Jacksonville Florida in December 1982. I was informed that it had been pawned by Dave Hlubek after I had paid for it. I had bought two of his guitars. A few months later, it was confirmed by Hamer that the guitar had been made for Michael Schenker and they did not know where it had disappeared to. Not long after that I ran into Dave at a bar in Jacksonville called playground south. He admitted the guitars were his and that he pawned them and he didn’t care for them. Just guitars. The guitar the V had been a gift from Michael to him when they toured together because Dave was a Hamer guitar player. Michael had taken a deal from Gibson by then. That was the spring of 1983 when I met him. In the spring of 1986 I met Banner Thomas. He was working at American Music in Jacksonville. I kind of got excited about meeting him and talking with him and allowed myself to be talked into trading the V for a Music Man HD 120 2-12. Great amp but to much for me at the time. Last time I saw the V it was in another guitar shop on the south side of Jacksonville and that was 1992 and by then someone had put a Floyd in it, which was horrible to see, and by the time I went back a week later to buy it and try to resurrect it it was gone. I wish I had put a deposit down, but I had no money the week before when I saw it. It still had the paint job, but it was Floyded. I’m gonna figure that some sailor, because Jacksonville has such a large population with three different naval stations, that some sailor bought it and moved away back home and it’s under somebody’s bed or in a closet in the Midwest, northwest, somewhere, someplace. Serial number was 0415.  😎👍❤️🏁

There's a lot of sadness in that story. Damn.