Sunburst '78?

[Hamer Dave]

It's black. 3 pups. ? 0766 stamped in yellow. I can't make out the inked first digit, wanting to say 8? Pots are dated 1978. 29th, 32ndth weeks. I'm leaning to it being 1978(late). What you guys think? Database has a 8 06?? 1978, and I believe 9 08?? Is earliest 1979 I saw. Also if any of you midwest folk can remember a guy by name of Joe/Joseph Snowden, or Joe Snow? It was made for him, with Joseph on truss cover. Someone said he played in a band Skin & Bones late 70's. The story goes poor guy passed due to drugs, spending his last days with a sister in Florida.

[Andrew]

9 0638 is the earliest 79 I have seen, so 0766 would be 79 for sure, yellow paint numbers are normal for black Sunbursts and they are always difficult to read. Serial reckons they can fade away, too (I haven't seen this happen).

Pots are unreliable as Hamer would have had a big box of them bought well in advance and used in no particular order (see previous debates on Bulls-eye Grovers), and they can be changed later on even for older ones.

[Hamer Dave]

Andrew, you're awesome. Data base shows 8 0607, so change over is within the couple dozen after. So 0766 is a rather early 1979, as it appears they went as far as about 1500? I've an 0 1670 which is 1980, and very nicely scalloped. Could Hamer have done this scalloping you think? There are perfect dot markers, and also additional routing on back, all professionally done. Though unlike control cavity, the unique compartments have no finish inside. Could Hamer route something after the finishing stage of the build process? For a custom request?

[RichRS6]

1978, Black, 3 Pick ups.................

Pics or it didn't happen !!!!

Edited to ask if it has a shimmed bridge or sustainblock and is it a long or short headstock.

[Hamer Dave]

Also gold hardware, b & c. I'll post a couple pics. I've uploaded them. Can't add on mobile site. Andrew says it's 1979, but I see an early one. No shim, not the longest of headstocks. Sustainblock, I think it has the transitional saddles though.

[RichRS6]

Gold hardware and B&C too !

Nice one.

Sounds like a real find.

[Andrew]

Andrew, you're awesome. Data base shows 8 0607, so change over is within the couple dozen after. So 0766 is a rather early 1979, as it appears they went as far as about 1500? I've an 0 1670 which is 1980, and very nicely scalloped. Could Hamer have done this scalloping you think? There are perfect dot markers, and also additional routing on back, all professionally done. Though unlike control cavity, the unique compartments have no finish inside. Could Hamer route something after the finishing stage of the build process? For a custom request?

0 or 9 1500 is indeed close to the year change, in the 1500s anyway. I don't think scalloping had even been invented in 1980 (at least it was a very rare thing) so probably just a good later job. No finish in a rout virtually guarantees a later and non-factory modification.

Pics please of 9 0766.

[Hamer Dave]

Hope this works, and I know it's only a pic from my phone. Trying to figure the image posting thing. Sorry, better ones to come. But quickies for now...

It's a great guitar. Loved playing this one on stuff like The Strokes in the cover band.

So... You just copy/paste the photos?!!!! I was trying to use that damn 'image' tool, in the tool bar to no avail!!!

edited to show serial, and full shot.

Time to go swimming with the lil' monsters.

Dave

[serial]

I know that guitar. I have ALL of the guitar logs from the factory from 77-81, so I can give you the info on that guitar when I can get to my stuff. It would be a 79.

[RichRS6]

Whoo hoo !

Thats a beauty !

Is the middle P/U a factory job ?

[cmatthes]

Damned cool! Replacement pickups, most likely, but I love it.

Dibs.

[serial]

The factory logs show a couple 78s with three pickups, but no 79s. 9 0766 is just listed as a black Sunburst w/crown inlays.

[serial]

That doesn't mean it didn't ship that way-best way to tell would be to get a shot of the middle pickup cavity route. The middle and neck pickups are not original-bridge might be, but can't tell.

[Armitage]

Wow, I've always loved the look of three pickups!