How hard is it to find a medium neck hardtail A5 Phantom or Prototype?

[Drastion]

Pretty much decided on getting a hardtail phantom as my first usa hamer. I just don't like real thin necks. Got an Ibanez that gets no play time because of it. I read that the medium neck just came on the sustain block tremolo models of the phantom. They may look a little odd but they look to be the perfect platform for the pickups I am putting together. Are they rare an command a higher price?

I see plenty with what I think are the kaller trem but not to many hard tails.

[Andrew]

Hard-tail Phantoms are not that common and do indeed usually have a smaller neck than the SB trem. versions which are chunky. The necks aren't thin/flat just a small C. The Kahler ones tend to be thinner but not always.

I think you may have great difficulty finding a chunky neck plus hard-tail on this model unless you are lucky enough to score a custom order should it exist.

[Drastion]

Ok, good advice thank you

So what would be the better compromise? Get a sustain block trem and bock it off or just go for a hardtail and hope it fits.

Its really hard to get an idea with what is thin to one is just right to another.

I recently got a slammer series daytona I assume that would be a ways thicker than a phantom or prototype? How abou the neck on say a schecter damien special? I would call it a small c but not sure if I would consider it thin.

Sorry about all the questions the neck is the last part of the puzzle as I don't see any type of numbers anywhere like measurements from a caliper like most companies do now a days.

[Andrew]

Hamer necks have always been finished/profiled by hand so every one is different. The necks that state exact dimensions are probably mass produced from a CNC machine.

It seems the only option is to actually try a Hamer in person. I am going out on a limb here but generalising any 1980-1983 sustain block hard-tail Hamer will have a similar neck (yes, I know there will be exceptions!), and all the SB trem guitars will also be similar.

[polara]

Drastion, if it helps at all, the A5 and A7 Phantoms I had (both with vibratos) had noticably chunkier necks than your import Daytona. And my '81 Special (hardtail) has a somewhat slimmer neck than the Daytona. It's really tough to make predictions with Hamer necks though. I've never had the pleasure of playing an A5 hardtail, but I'd love to snag one, too!

[serial]

Hardtail/sustain block Phantoms are a very rare bird to begin with. Most had SB trems or Kahlers. I have one of the only ones I've seen in person and its a lefty. Good sized neck though!

[Andrew]

Hardtail/sustain block Phantoms are a very rare bird to begin with. Most had SB trems or Kahlers. I have one of the only ones I've seen in person and its a lefty. Good sized neck though!

Elliot Easton's, possibly?

[Punkavenger]

I had a hardtail sustain block A5 and while the neck wasn't chunky it wasn't thin either. A really nice medium.

http://s5.photobucket.com/user/Punkavenger/media/P1010006-7-1-1.jpg.html'>

http://s5.photobucket.com/user/Punkavenger/media/P1010012-5.jpg.html'>

[Drastion]

Thanks for all the I fo everyone. Andrew's site is were I got most of my info. Thanks for putting that site together by the way. Being hand made they would be unique. They had to have some type of target neck shape. I don't see them putting that much work and leaving the neck shape as an afterthought.

polara

That's good news. Like the neck on that one a lot like a guitar I already have. There is a sustain block a5 on ebay. Though its refinished and with the wild body shape natural mahogany doesn't look right to me.

Punkavenger

Love that guitar! If you don't mind me asking what did you let it go for?

[Punkavenger]

I think I got $750 for it

[serial]

Hardtail/sustain block Phantoms are a very rare bird to begin with. Most had SB trems or Kahlers. I have one of the only ones I've seen in person and its a lefty. Good sized neck though!

Elliot Easton's, possibly?

You Might Think!

[Drastion]

So I what tremolo version should I look for? From many comments I assume the khaller is not very highly regarded. I don't plan in using the trem much but it would be better to start with the good one.

[mathman]

It's not exactly the same but I have a 84 prototype II with kahler. I rarely use the bar and it stays in in tune quite well.