Decent Chaparral for sale

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

I have nothing to do with this guitar, sale, or seller.

I considered bidding, since the price is currently so low...but I have 2 Chappies already. My GAS is in abeyance, at least temporarily...

Blue 1987 Chaparral.

Edited to correct my near-total idiocy compounded by a near-complete lack of reading comprehension.

[holLoWskull]

Looks to be a Chaparral, but still cool (probably even cooler since you don't see many maple boarded Chaps).

[atquinn]

Yup. Maple-boarded Chap. First I've ever seen, not that I pay all that much attention to non HSH Chaps.

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Austin

[guitarzandstuff]

WOW! A nice Chap for sure!!

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Okay, how the hell do you tell the difference between a 2nd version Chap and a Centaura at just a glance?

1st version chap is easy: input jack on the top.

But the 2nd version?

Based on this blunder, I've looked again at the description, and is it just the dot inlays and input jack?

Meaning, does every Centaura have offset dot inlays and Californian-style end-recessed input jack, vs every 2nd version Chap having centered dot inlays and traditional side-mounted, non-recessed input jack?

Is there anything else that gives it away?

[atquinn]

The main difference is the dots (all Cents are off-centered) and the fact that Chaps have full-sized bodies whereas the Cents have slightly-undersized ones.

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Austin

[cmatthes]

And according to this seller, something about the neck "fills" like a LP Junior.

What does it fill, exactly?

I've only seen a couple of maple-boarded Chaps. Pretty unusual order on that one.

[Jason01]

centauras usually have the diablo headstock as well.

A dealer I know is selling a sunburst centaura in Canada for $400 if anyones interested. PM or e-mail me and I can provide pics and his contact info. I told him I'd pass the word on if my other guitar player passed on it and he is too broke atm to swing it.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

The main difference is the dots (all Cents are off-centered) and the fact that Chaps have full-sized bodies whereas the Cents have slightly-undersized ones.

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Austin

I can't tell "full size" vs "slightly-undersized" bodies at a glance.

I've only seen a couple of maple-boarded Chaps. Pretty unusual order on that one.

maple-boarded centauras are slightly less rare, correct?

[cmatthes]

maple-boarded centauras are slightly less rare, correct?

WAY less rare!

[ZR]

And according to this seller, something about the neck "fills" like a LP Junior.

What does it fill, exactly?

Don't touch that neck...you don't know what it's filled!

everything said above is true, and...The Centaura usually has a little toggle "fat" (not phat) switch, the undersized body has a different shape as well with a smaller ass than the Chap (the end below the bridge). Both are cool guitars.

[Jem]

Obvious one is the neck:

Chap / Cali = 3pc

Diablo / Centaura = 1pc

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

maple-boarded centauras are slightly less rare, correct?

WAY less rare!

Huh. I thought when I picked up a Tobacco Burst Centaura, someone said that maple-boarded Centauras aren't very common.

...although I suppose there is a huge gap between "not very common" and actually "rare"...

everything said above is true, and...The Centaura usually has a little toggle "fat" (not phat) switch, the undersized body has a different shape as well with a smaller ass than the Chap (the end below the bridge). Both are cool guitars.

Obvious one is the neck:

Chap / Cali = 3pc

Diablo / Centaura = 1pc

That's good information. Thanks for the assistance/recognition lesson.

[cmatthes]

Maple-boards on a Centaura were standard (choice between maple & rosewood).

On a Chap, it was not a listed choice, and was available as a custom-order only.

I've seen a fair number of maple-board Centauras over the years.