Kramer_nut Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Well picked this up today, having only seen one picture of the guitar I drove over two hours to meet the guy to pick it up. The price was so good I felt that even with the "finish flaws" he described it would be worth it. I think it's a 1990 model from the serial number. Well here are the pictures, (before the bath and restring) Looks like it has been setting in the corner for several years without being touched. Rusty strings, rusty floyd and dust for days. Have any of you ever seen a finish crack like this? It plays nice after a bath and restring. Let me know what you think? I've never seen any single coils like these either. Thanks for the help. Todd
BubbaVO Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 The finish on my Centaura's Floyd is not as severely oxidized as yours. And I don't have the cracks that yours does either. Reminds me sort of George Lynch's " Tiger" guitar. I believe the story behind that guitar is that it was shipped across the country within days of getting completed and the cold/freeze/heat/thaw cycle resulted in the cracked finish. Given the oxidation, it appears there was some exposure to the elements - or lots of beer. I bet that maple neck is still pretty straight. The single coil pups look the same as mine. You should be able to hit a wide array of tones with that SSH configuration. How resonant is the body? How does it play unplugged?
Kramer_nut Posted February 17, 2008 Author Posted February 17, 2008 Thanks for the information, I haven't had too much of a chance to play it so I can't tell you tonally how it sounds. Unplugged it sounds similar to the other Super strats I have. Not quite as loud as some of the Kramers that I have. The humbucker just says Hamer on it, looks like a Duncan. The neck is fine, truss rod reacted nice when I adjusted it. I can clean up the floyd, but the finish cracks are another story. Don't quite know what to do about them other than just play it and not worry about them. What do you expect for $175.00 Todd
Blueshound Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 The finish on mine has cracks, too. Not quite to the extent your does, though.Lee
Eric Weston Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 The finish on mine was exactly like that.....only took a few years too (Minneapolis winters ). I HAD to strip it and it looks great now (in vintage natural stain from Menards). The pickups are a bit different though. Mine has staggered singles and the bucker isn't in a mounting ring like that one, but I've seen them both ways.
stonge Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 I have a Centaura that has some finish cracking, but not to that extent. I have more trouble with the white pearl finishes cracking - seems almost like the metallics and pearloids from that era are more susceptible (sp?). I got backstage a few years ago at Cheap Trick to see Rick's guitars; the '59 LP he was traveling with (thought the tech said it was the one used on "Surrender") had so much checking on it that it makes your Centaura look minty fresh lol. He still plays it I'm sure you could double your money on that one pretty quick - play it and enjoy it! I think I have some new screws (the really rusty ones in your photo that hold the saddle down to the baseplate) lying around in my parts pile that I will snailmail out to you gratis if you want them. Email me at stongemonataoldotcom and I'll send out a few. I bought a couple hundred of them from McMaster-Carr a few years back (and I don't have quite that many Hamers lol). For some reason, I always find that those screws and the long screws that clamp down the strings rust the most (I think they are a black oxide coating).
Kramer_nut Posted February 17, 2008 Author Posted February 17, 2008 Thanks for the info guys, at least I know mine isn't the only one that has finish problems. I will definately play it! I think I'll change the humbucker, I've got a Duncan distortion and a JB to swap it with. See how they sound.
Bass Guy Dave Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Welcome! Ridiculously good score! The single coils look like the 'Slammer' pickups made for Hamer by DiMarzio (and if the humbucker just says "Hamer USA' onthe bottom, then it's going to be one of the Slammer DiMarzios as well. One of these days I need to track down a couple of those singles for an early Phantom I've got. I'd had some Slammer pickups in an '89 Chap that worked pretty well. I've still got some in an '83 Blitz that are just the perfect fit for that guitar. I've tried plenty of others, but the Slammers just worked the best. I've got some fnish checking like that on an '82 Cruise. Ugly close up, but hard to spot from 3 feet away. Again congrats and welcome! Your Hamer addiction is only starting. Best Wishes
Stike Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 Funny, if that wasn't a "shredder" that finish checking would be described as "vibe and mojo" . Add some double whites and you're good to go. 1990? Hamer stopped using nitrocellulose lacquer around 91/92 I'm guessing to avoid that.
Guest JackButler Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 My Chap Elite Sustainor is in Ice Pearl White and is severely checked like this if not more. I think they have character when they look like this and the old girls show that they've been played and loved.
guitarzandstuff Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 SheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiitttYou'b be surprised at what people do to achieve checking on thier guitars...Keep her as is and play the F*ck outta it!!
Jimbilly Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 Mine is black sparkle with pretty much the same checking, all front to back. On mine, it's much more visible from one side, and very hard to see from the other side, I've got a pic here someplace, it's near the lower right.
BubbaVO Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 Jimbilly - You've got a totally cool collection of guitars. That black Prototype is awesome. Reminds me of JLo more than the Victoria Secrets models and there ain't nothing wrong with that.
Kramer_nut Posted February 18, 2008 Author Posted February 18, 2008 Funny, if that wasn't a "shredder" that finish checking would be described as "vibe and mojo" I was thinking the same thing. If this was an 80's or 90's LP I would have people clamoring to give me top dollar for it. Where's the Shredder love??? Todd
Jimbilly Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 I think Centauras will gain some respect when they're 20 years old or older, 'teenage' guitars often just don't get taken seriously.
BillW Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 Have any of you ever seen a finish crack like this? Quick answer: YES. That is pretty standard weather checking. I have a couple guitars with that issue, they were both frozen during delivery.
mhmike Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 My Phantom A5 has checking like that. The cracks aren't as close together, but they are quite numerous along the whole body and the headstock. I suppose I could get it refinished one day as its in a standard gloss black, but it really doesn't bother me a whole lot. Most likely from a previous owner's cold-to-hot transportation mishap.
LadyScary Posted February 19, 2008 Posted February 19, 2008 Minor nicks and chips, but an all around great guitar!
Kramer_nut Posted February 19, 2008 Author Posted February 19, 2008 I like the way some of them have direct mount humbuckers. I've often wondered how much different they would sound like that. I'd hate to modify the mounting tabs on a pickup just to try it. I"ll have to look for a use Seymour Duncan that someone has already changed and try it sometime.Thanks for the replys everyone. At least I know mine is not out of the norm.Todd
BubbaVO Posted February 19, 2008 Posted February 19, 2008 Lady Scary, your tobacco burst and mine seem to have escaped some of the finish issues of the others. Does anyone know if that is just because they avoided the heat and thaw cycle or is it that they were different compounds used on the finish?
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