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Vintage S

e-isle rock

By e-isle rock
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e-isle rock Inner Circle

e-isle rock

Posted
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Hey all,

Have several questions. I have a 1992 Vintage S with the 3 single coils and ABM roller bridge. Does anyone know where I can find the Copeland TC300 preamp that came with those? Does anyone have one for sale? This Vintage S has an EMG SA set installed, would the preamp work okay with the EMG's? Also, in the early 90's I played one and remember the bridge could be locked against the body or unlocked. Mine is locked down. Do you just remove some of the springs from the claw to unlock it? Are the tremelo arms for the ABM bridges available somewhere? Mine is missing. I also have a 1989 Vintage S with the optional humbucker in the bridge and Hamer stamped Kahler bridge. The humbucker on that one quit working. I know it was a Seymour Duncan but what model? I have a WCR Herc humbucker I could put in but I think I'd like to keep it original. What do you think? And one more thing, Holy Crap that Vintage S on ebay is expensive!

Thanks!

Nuclear Wessel Inner Circle

Nuclear Wessel

Posted
Posted

I have a couple of Vintage S's. Both have the ABM bridge.

I always thought the onboard preamp was an EMG unit. So I assumed it'd work fine with EMG's. As to where you could buy one, that question has come up here before. No one seems to know.

As far as I know, the "locking down" of the trem unit that the old Hamer catalog described was merely lowering the two pivot screws so the bridge sits flush against the guitar body. You can then tighten the springs a little because it doesn't have to float. And you compensate for lowering the bridge by raising the individual saddles a little.

The humbucker in your H-S-S Vintage S could be anything. Those were custom order instruments. Maybe the label on the bottom of the pickup, if it's there, will tell you. One of mine is H-S-S and I've never taken the bridge humbucker out but if I had to guess by the tone, I'd say it's a '59.

e-isle rock Inner Circle

e-isle rock

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Thanks for the help. I'm not completely sure about the preamp being a Copeland TC 300. There is a schematic here on the HFC that has the TC300 and several years ago I emailed Hamer about it and they replied it being a TC300. However, my Centaura's preamp is an EMG. So maybe they used both with Vintage S's. The EMG looks to be adjusted with a jeweler's screwdriver. I think the TC300 used an Allen wrench. As far as the humbucker I can't find a sticker on it. I'll just go with the 59 and if I don't like it I have several WCR pick ups laying around. Have you used EMG's in your Vintage S at all? My little practice amp they sound good but going through my Mesa I'm having a tough time getting a decent sound. The rest of my guitars all sound great through it. Anyway, thanks again for your help. :)

Nuclear Wessel Inner Circle

Nuclear Wessel

Posted
Posted
Have you used EMG's in your Vintage S at all?
No, never tried that. I've never been able to get a great tone out of any of the guitars I ever owned that had EMG's, except an 80's BC Rich NJ Series super Str@t I once owned, and that was only because the brute muscle of the 81 at the bridge made it the ideal guitar for high gain playing.
e-isle rock Inner Circle

e-isle rock

Posted
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Posted

Yep, EMGs are getting pulled. Maybe replace them with Hotrails/Coolrails? I wish the original electronics were still there but someone long before replaced all that stuff. And then proceeded to butcher the body. Man I wish people wouldn't that :) .

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