'82 Special Basket Case...

[kkeller]

So, I find myself with an '82 Checkerboard-logo Special that I purchased from eBay a few years back. The shipping, as I recall, cost more than the actual guitar, but I took a chance because the pic on the auction looked like the original pickups were intact. It was missing the bridge and looked to be in really deplorable condition. I received the guitar and it had an unmistakable funk about it, was beat to death and was basically just junk.

The guitar had been routed (badly) for a Kahler Pro, and many of the screws attaching the hardware had been replaced with things like sheetrock screws.

But...The guitar had no breaks and the pickups were undamaged and actually worked! I brought it into the shop with the full intention of bandsawing it up and cutting my losses.

I just couldn't do it. I started talking to the techs in the shop, we decided to rescue it if we could. This is going to involve a good bit of work and skill to make this thing back into a Hamer. The initial exam showed that someone had shaved off one of the 'horns' quite a bit, almost 3/16".

So, the next step is to re-rout the trem cavity and block it in with a piece of mahogany. The Kahler mounting holes will be doweled and trimmed.

The plan: Since the neck angle is shallow on these, we are going to remove about .075"(+/-) of the original top and body, down to meet the sanded part, and cover the top with a AAAA maple cap. The top then gets bound with creme celluloid and I'm thinking a light Tobacco Sunburst finish. It'll get a 2-FIG bridge, new machine heads and all new hardware along with the original pickups.

I'll be posting up more pics as we go along on this project, along with descriptions of problems and solutions as we go. Stay Tuned!

Kim

[cmatthes]

The BCR shot was from a bunch of Sustainblock repros that Tim/Hamerhead here made up a few years back, if I recall correctly.

[django49]

And I thought I had a lot of clamps!

[velorush]

Beautiful. A 2FIG too. I had a piece of 2FIG pron posted (by BCR?) which had a group shot. They were awesome looking. Anybody here got that pic?

The BCR shot was from a bunch of Sustainblock repros that Tim/Hamerhead here made up a few years back, if I recall correctly.

...yes, that took some searching [finally hit using Google Image "hamerhead sustain block" of all things] and yes, I have lots of other things to be doing on a Friday afternoon, just none this interesting...

Yes, they are beautiful... hope to have one under my palm in just a few days...

[wil50n]

mmmm....love that sustain block pron !!!

Great post Kim, thank you. I love seeing some of the inside running of Hamer, and on a good old one to boot.

[hamerhead]

Hey! That's my dining room table! Think about polishing each of those saddles to a mirror finish on all 6 sides by hand on a buffing wheel. Nice picture, but it really sucked getting there. Like walking 6 miles to school every day in a snowstorm uphill both ways.

..........That's why I feel left out........

Me and Stonge talked quite a bit at the time. His process was far more difficult than mine, so I have nothing to whine about. He made great parts in much-less-than-ideal conditions. He's a bigger fan of the Sustain Block than anyone on this board, without question.

Kim - it's great to have you back on the board. I can't wait to see this one when it's done.

[kkeller]

• OK, The top has been shaped and the binding channels routed. The single-ply creme binding has been glued into place:
  

Underneath the black paint and logo on the peghead, we found a piece of nice flamey veneer. There's plenty of thickness left, so we will be able to shoot it with a trans finish to match the body:

[kizanski]

What are you going to do for a logo?

Any checkerboard logos in your desk secret stash?

[Steve Haynie]

The brass nut is definitely a period correct modification. Does it stay or go?

[bubs_42]

The brass nut is definitely a period correct modification. Does it stay or go?

Its gotta go! I hate the Brass Nut on my Standard it binds up all the time.

[kkeller]

The brass nut goes away...soon. It will be replaced with fossilized ivory.

We'll just have to see about the logo.

Tomorrow: refret and seal the finish!

[kizanski]

Really... would't it have been easier and cheaper to build a brand new one? lol

[Steve Haynie]

Really... would't it have been easier and cheaper to build a brand new one? lol

Never expect musicians to make the wisest decisions.

[blackfbiv]

Really... would't it have been easier and cheaper to build a brand new one? lol

Never expect musicians to make the wisest decisions.

I think this is more akin to a pilgrimage than anything else. (Cue angelic choir)

[Bennyboy-UK]

Only just clocked this, - it's absolutely wonderful!

[kkeller]

Really... would't it have been easier and cheaper to build a brand new one? lol

Never expect musicians to make the wisest decisions.

Kiz & Steve,

See my earlier post. This was a 30-year old guitar that I was going to bandsaw. I just couldn't do it, and I needed a piece to show off our skills just a little bit. As far as cost, it's projected to cost about half of what a new SB77 would. If you don't remember the SB77, it was also known as the HFC2, a Sunburst with a thicker cap. It should be an interesting shootout in a month or so: an original Sunburst, a SB77 and this guitar. Maybe throw in a Special FM and a Studio Custom for perspective. Let me know if you want to come to New Hartford to help judge, we can post the results here, and I'll buy lunch!

KK

[Bobby Marshall]

That is a cool offer. 8)

[G Man]

Let me know if you want to come to New Hartford to help judge, we can post the results here, and I'll buy lunch!

KK

Hey now, I'm only about an hour from New Hartford and would love to make the trip down and help judge, sounds like great fun.

[murkat]

old Honduras wood

vs.

New wood

?

No contest.

[serial]

Hmmm-what approximate date?

[Steve Haynie]

Considering how business has been lately I would have the time to drive to Connecticut, maybe not the money, but the time.

I remember those Sunburst recreations when they were announced at the second HFC event.

For the record, I have a refinished Blitz with far more invested than it will ever bring if it is sold. AND there is another Hamer in my collection that is going to cost more in repairs than it is worth. Oh, I understand paying for restoration.

[G Man]

For the record, I have a refinished Blitz with far more invested than it will ever bring if it is sold. Oh, I understand paying for restoration.

Hey, me too.

[tbonesullivan]

hmmm.. this is making me want to get the beat up eclipse refinished...

[bcsride]

Really... would't it have been easier and cheaper to build a brand new one? lol

Never expect musicians to make the wisest decisions.

Kiz & Steve,

See my earlier post. This was a 30-year old guitar that I was going to bandsaw. I just couldn't do it, and I needed a piece to show off our skills just a little bit. As far as cost, it's projected to cost about half of what a new SB77 would. If you don't remember the SB77, it was also known as the HFC2, a Sunburst with a thicker cap. It should be an interesting shootout in a month or so: an original Sunburst, a SB77 and this guitar. Maybe throw in a Special FM and a Studio Custom for perspective. Let me know if you want to come to New Hartford to help judge, we can post the results here, and I'll buy lunch!

KK

If this is an open HFC invite, please post the schedule and provide enough lead time to schedule the trip. I might be able to fit it in and would love to visit compare the guitars. Also, there seems to be the question of the tonal impact of dekahlering and putting a block of new mahogany in there.

Awesome thread and it is nice to see that Hamer is committed to keeping old Hamers alive.

[hamerhead]

Sorry - you can't go. 3300 post minimum.

[burningyen]

old Honduras wood

vs.

New wood

?

No contest.

I was going to post this. +1