WTB: Mint 85-87 Candy Apple Red Neck-Through Chaparall

[Lagunascorpio]

Hi all,

Sorry, my title is wrong because I fully understand the distinctions between gen 1 vs. gen 2. I'm seeking a gen 2, not gen 1... and Ferrari red, not Candy Apple.

A big regret of mine is having sold my Ferrari Red set-neck Chaparall (with the original black Floyd Rose) 20 years ago. Any likelihood one of you is currently sitting on one (mint) and would like to sell it? I'm in So CA.

This was mine the day before I sold it:

I know it's probably blasphemy here... but I prefer dots over boomers.

Thanks,
Bryan

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Nothing wrong with you preferring dots over boomers! It's what YOU want that's what WE like here

[Studio Custom]

Considering Hamer never made neck throughs it's gonna be a long wait.

[Andrew]

Hi all,

A big regret I have is having sold my Gen I ('86 or '87) Candy Apple Red USA neck-through Chaparall (with the original Floyd Rose) back in the day. All it had for controls was volume, tone, and a 5-way selector. Any likelihood one of you is currently sitting on one (mint) and would like to sell it? I'm in So CA.

I know it's probably blasphemy here... but I prefer dots over boomers.

Thanks,

Bryan

5-way selector means second generation.

And, agreeing to the above, Chaparrals had fixed (glued-in) necks, they are NOT neck-through.

[carfish7]

Welcome Bryan, and best of luck in your quest.

The "neck-through" vs "Set-neck" description is a very common misstatement, so don't worry too much about that distinction - we knew what you meant. These guys aren't trying to bust balls but they are correct on both counts and hopefully these distinctions will help further your cause as you cast your net wider.

[coolfeel]

Actually, Hamer did make a handful of neck through Impact Basses, but I digress - Happy Hunting!

[Lagunascorpio]

Thanks all. Well aware it's a glued-in neck. Semantics. Just don't want a bolt-on.

Let me know if you have one to sell.

[murkat]

here it is...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Hamer-USA-Chaparral-Guitar-/321227050204?pt=Guitar&hash=item4aca9fccdc

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

WANT ^^^

[Lagunascorpio]

Thanks. Yeah I've seen that one but I'm pretty sure that's not the candy apple red, and there's just far too much wrong with it. No locking nut, no case, no cover on back. I'm looking for something special.

[carfish7]

Never seen that Kahler on a Hamer before. Not a huge fan of that trem.

[Lagunascorpio]

Yep. I want the real deal. Original Floyd. Unmolested. Complete. Mint as possible.

[HamStd]

Lagunascorpio,

I have a couple of options of Chaps that I am selling (although neither are red).

1. Irridescent finish, set neck chap, Gen. 2, ebony board, boomerang inlays, neck pickup has been changed, no breaks or repairs

2. Midnight blue, set neck chap, Gen 1, rosewood board, dot inlays, harder to find bound top feature, no breaks or repairs.

I wouldn't call either mint, but I would give both of them an excellent plus rating on condition, shred-o-bility and tone.

If you have any interest, drop me a line at Hamstd@gmail.com.

thanks

Peter

[Andrew]

Never seen that Kahler on a Hamer before. Not a huge fan of that trem.

Most people don't realise that the Kahler Fulcrum was standard on the first generations Chaparrals with dots, the Floyd was for the Custom. But for some reason more basic Chaps appear with a Floyd - maybe they forgot to look at their own specs.! The Kahler is a perfectly serviceable unit but seems less desirable compared to a Floyd.

Here is the relevant catalogue - note the blue Chap has a Kahler.

http://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/1985a.htm

[Lagunascorpio]

Interesting. Well if those are in fact gen 1 then maybe I am looking for gen 2. You don't have a gen 2 catalog by chance, do you? :-)

I had just read somewhere that only the gen 1 had the slightly shorter scale than normal. I was thinking mine was the shorter scale at the time but I could be wrong.

I have seen a variety of options for sale with the coil tap switches and/or Kahler trems... but I only want the original Floyd with just volume & tone controls. Not sure which year that would have been. Now I"m thinking '87-'88. Mine was red with all black hardware.

[Lagunascorpio]

Pretty much exactly like this.... only red. The knob on the 5-way selector is wrong here... but close enough. Those volume/tone knobs are a unique shape.

This says it's an 87 and looks just like mine... and I thought '87 is gen 1.

[Andrew]

Early 86 - mid 87 1st generation, 24.75 inch scale, three switches.

Mid 87 on they are usually second generation, 25.5 inch scale, 5-way switch.

Change happens somewhere between numbers 7 17100 and 7 18000. I am sure between us we could narrow that down a bit.

A few shorter scale ones were probably still made out of the left over parts for a while, and occasional custom jobbies.

The change roughly coincided with the introduction of the Bolt-on version.

[Lagunascorpio]

Sounds about right. The S/N on that snakeskin above is 718835. So I guess mine was likely second generation 25.5" then.

[veatch]

Thanks. Yeah I've seen that one but I'm pretty sure that's not the candy apple red, and there's just far too much wrong with it. No locking nut, no case, no cover on back. I'm looking for something special.

Or buy a project, and let Mr. Murkat make it right for you.

[cynic]

Thanks. Yeah I've seen that one but I'm pretty sure that's not the candy apple red, and there's just far too much wrong with it. No locking nut, no case, no cover on back. I'm looking for something special.

Or buy a project, and let Mr. Murkat make it right for you.

When looking for a mint 25 year old guitar, this is the route I'd take. Snatch up the one currently on eBay and have exactly what you want for somewhere around $1700 at most.

[Lagunascorpio]

Just checked his site. Really nice work.

My recollection of the Chap I owned is that the stock paint was pretty unique relative to other guitars. It seemed "soft" with no lacquer clear coat over it... almost a "rubbery" feel. Can anyone back me up on that?

I have no knowledge about paint whatsoever but I do recall it being different from any other guitar I've owned since. To me it seemed like that was a big part of the guitar's character. Am I crazy?

Is that original paint process something that can be replicated?

[Lagunascorpio]

Just so you can see what's in my mind... this was my guitar. It's a second generation then, right?

[cmatthes]

Yep.

[carfish7]

I think I know what you mean by "soft", as my SS has a similar feel to it in some ways. When comparing the finish on my Hamer with any of the others with a hard poly finish, it is indeed a "softer" feeling finish. If one were so inclined, a fingernail or sharp object pressed into the finish of the Hamer will leave an impression without fracturing the finish itself. If one tries that with a Fender Strat for example, the finish will seem far harder to the touch and resist the effort to make it conform to the item being pressed upon it.

I would doubt there was any sort of custom rubberized finish going on with yours. It "appears" normally colored and with the expected level of reflectivity, but I suppose anything is possible since Hamer was always known for one-off wackiness.

+2 on having one modified to your exact specs. There are a few folks right here on this board who could likely provide a suitable candidate and a couple others who can make it EXACTLY what you want with the highest degree of skill. Murkat has one of my very favorite guitars as we speak and will be bringing it closer to perfection. Check out his work and be prepared to be highly impressed!

[Lagunascorpio]

Yes that's exactly the notion I was trying to convey, and it's the reason I was hoping to have a guitar with factory paint still in great condition (a challenge since it's so soft).

Could any of the customizers achieve literally identical paint composition to the factory?