PSA: Kahler-iffic battle-scarred Blitz with a bit, just a bit, of controversy

[mrjamiam]

My local dealer has this available:  1984 Blitz, "very obviously custom ordered and is all original, including the factory Kahler tremolo."

Also "It's a great playing and sounding guitar that shows HEAVY wear and a pretty gnarly headstock repair that is stable but that we have not attempted to clean up. Original case is present and intact, but has seen better days."

His price is $4,000.

Some of his regular online advertising outlets won't let him advertise this one, which is why I don't have a link for you.  His Facebook post is already filling up with the sort of commentary that isn't permitted on our fine well-administered website.  I can put well-established members in touch if you message me.  I also have a few more photos that give more detail on the wear and tear.  I've bought from and sold to him and wouldn't hesitate to do so again, if he has what I want at a price I can handle.

[mrjamiam]

And sold.  Nothing to see here (anymore).

[The_Cali_Kid]

Wow, this sold for $4k?! 🤯

[Saul Goodman]

4 minutes ago, The_Cali_Kid said:

Wow, this sold for $4k?! 🤯

Well, if you're in the know. 😎

[mathman]

5 minutes ago, Saul Goodman said:

Well, if you're in the know. 😎

Well, I know I still have 4k....

[mrjamiam]

After I had texted with him a bit about the details earlier, the dealer had the courtesy to let me know that it had been sold.  No additional info.

[Steve Haynie]

So, Dave Hlubek did not have the only factory Confederate battle flag finish! 

Wow!!! 

The price was too high, but that Blitz is rare!  

[mrjamiam]

3 minutes ago, Steve Haynie said:

So, Dave Hlubek did not have the only factory Confederate battle flag finish! 

Wow!!! 

The price was too high, but that Blitz is rare!  

I might be risking getting tossed from the group, but I will admit that I have never paid $4k for a guitar.  Also never bought one with a headstock repair.  So I decided today was not the day to do both, but I would have been much more tempted had either one of those things, the price and/and the headstock, been closer to my comfort zone.

[Steve Haynie]

The headstock shape and the paint job are the selling points, but the condition does not seem to have factored in.  

How many USA flag finishes were done on Blitz guitars or basses?  Someone I knew got a Blitz bass with that finish in the 80's.  They do not show up as often as black and white graphic finishes.

[cmatthes]

The flag graphic finishes were pretty rare, but honestly, not really all that desirable - I'm talking about ANY of the flag designs they did.  

That wasn't a Custom Order or anything - Blitz guitars with Kahlers were regular fare in '84-'86, and the flag graphics (Confederate, USA, Union Jack) were done in small numbers, but just as stock graphics if a dealer ordered it or they just did the finish and shipped it out.

I would have less than zero interest in that particular one, but for somebody who had to have that, I'd think you'd be overpaying at $1k, honestly.

[hamerhead]

What was it glued with? Heinz ketchup?

[Jakeboy]

Gnarly headstock repair is an understatement….whoever did it couldn’t be bothered just to wipe off the excess or squeeze out?

[mrjamiam]

5 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

What was it glued with? Heinz ketchup?

Ha!  I said that it looked like it had nearly bled out from the headstock break.

For a short while I was trying to value it for my own purposes, but I didn't get as far as coming down on a number when I heard the asking price and switched to PSA mode.

Pros:

80's Blitz, Hamer-quality mahogony of that era

Non-paddle headstock

Slammer pickups?

Graphic finish

Original HSC

Nearby me, so no shipping

 

Cons:  

Wear and tear

Headstock repair

 

Is the Kahler a pro or a con?  I've never handled one, but I certainly see a lot of ridiculing of them, although I can't always tell if it's the Kahler itself or questionable quality conversions.