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Thinking of passing this one on to a next gen metalhead...

Oldguitarist

Asked by Oldguitarist,

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Oldguitarist Member

Oldguitarist

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Hi folks, I hate to sign up to a forum just to "use" it for info, but I think a Hamer forum is my best bet for reliable data....

Anyway, I have an '84 Blitz Explorer I bought new. It is completely original except for strap locks. It's got LOTS of road rash, but still looks great from an audience distance, and plays & sounds awesome. Up close....well... lets say it's been around. Some may consider its "patina" a plus, others a minus. Either way, I realize pics are important, and I am happy to post some when I get a chance, but generally speaking, I was just wondering what it's value might be.... It has survived my 80's metal days and has been on countless stages, a sweet axe for sure...

Thanks for any and all thoughts/comments/input!

Oldguitarist

34 answers to this question

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Victor (Fret Friend) Veteran HFCer

Victor (Fret Friend)

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It's not worth half as much as it ought to be I can tell you that! Some of the guys here will have more of an idea than I have & photo's will really help...

carfish7 Veteran HFCer

carfish7

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There is likely no better place for info OR potential sale. Those can be desired or create a chorus or crickets depending on headstock shape (3+3 vs 6 in line) or which trem is on it if any, and of course asking price.

Welcome either way and get a pic or 2 up for a better opinion, or at least fill in the deets.

carfish7 Veteran HFCer

carfish7

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I think the interest and potential price went up a tick in some circles......

Hockey-stick is cooler I think, Kahler maybe a demerit in some minds. A Floyd or Sustainblock would likely have boosted it's appeal to the top of the Blitz heap.

Or if you had said it had a flame top and TOM............ :ph34r:

zorrow Veteran HFCer

zorrow

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Pics will certainly help!

Hockeystick head does look interesting to me. White color too. On the other hand, a Kahler inspires me a big "meh". I would have preferred a sustainblock fixed bridge, or even a sustainblock trem. :)

Oldguitarist Member

Oldguitarist

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Well, mine is no where near as nice as that one... The paint has yellowed considerably. There are many dents and scratches. Beer, sweat, hot lights, fog machines, various guitar techs...it's seen it all! I am actually quite proud that it's in as nice a shape as it is, considering all the use it got.

I have a few pics, but not sure how to post... Do I have to use photobucket? Or is there another way?

Edit: Just read the FAQ page.... I'll figure it out....

carfish7 Veteran HFCer

carfish7

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Some of us like honest wear. That means there was reason to ride it hard and often. If you worked that thing from new into a true relic, I'm proud of you. That is what they are for after all, right?

"Tree-fiddy" will be offered eventually, so I'll just get it out of the way, but that is an inside joke so don't take it too seriously, ok?

Victor (Fret Friend) Veteran HFCer

Victor (Fret Friend)

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***

zorrow Veteran HFCer

zorrow

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Me likes. One of those with a sustainblock would be just perfect.

In addition, my wife loves that shape, so I guess bringing home an Explorer-like guitar wouldn't imply divorcing. :)

Victor (Fret Friend) Veteran HFCer

Victor (Fret Friend)

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That looks great! I'm a Floyd man & have never tried a Kahler but I'm ruling myself out as I'm in England anyway & import duty just f*cks us right over nowadays (I used to buy all my gear from USA). Explorers are my fav shape (I have a Samick Explorer [Greg Bennett design] with maple top). Just bought it & I love it...

samick.jpg

Oldguitarist Member

Oldguitarist

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That looks great! I'm a Floyd man & have never tried a Kahler but I'm ruling myself out as I'm in England anyway & import duty just f*cks us right over nowadays (I used to buy all my gear from USA). Explorers are my fav shape (I have a Samick Explorer [Greg Bennett design] with maple top). Just bought it & I love it...

samick.jpg

Love the fret board! Sweet!

Victor (Fret Friend) Veteran HFCer

Victor (Fret Friend)

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That's some of the best $120 [uS] I ever spent = got it for £80.00 [GBP] on eBay UK recently. I removed the Duncan Designed Chrome p-ups & installed Guitarfetish [GFS] HOT PAF Zebra's...

Steve Haynie Veteran HFCer

Steve Haynie

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Do you really want to sell that Blitz? Have you thought about putting it away for a few months and then pulling it out to play it again? You might surprise yourself with that guitar.

zorrow Veteran HFCer

zorrow

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I like your Blitz a lot. It does have scars, but I don't think they're nasty. Actually, I swear to the metal gods I would have grabbed it immediately if it had a sustainblock -either fixed or trem.

Just a question like that for the readers around: how hard/expensive would it be un-kahlering such a guitar? Is the nut too hard to convert into a "normal" nut?

I'd put a string-through-body hardtail on that and I'd be the happiest man on Earth. :)

Oldguitarist Member

Oldguitarist

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I have owned both trems and I think the difference can be summed up like this: The Floyd is a hot rod with lots of feel, the Kahler is more of a luxury car - smooth and easy to manage. I like them both for different reasons. The Kahler is probably more "user friendly". I think it would be theoretically easier to "unkahler" vs. "unfloyd"... Honestly, I think it deserves to be kept original....that's just me....

I like your Blitz a lot. It does have scars, but I don't think they're nasty. Actually, I swear to the metal gods I would have grabbed it immediately if it had a sustainblock -either fixed or trem.

Just a question like that for the readers around: how hard/expensive would it be un-kahlering such a guitar? Is the nut too hard to convert into a "normal" nut?

I'd put a string-through-body hardtail on that and I'd be the happiest man on Earth. :)

carfish7 Veteran HFCer

carfish7

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That looks perfect as-is! Honest wear, nice fading, and you can tell you at least wiped her down after use or that bridge would be MUCH uglier than it is.

Sure, it could be "un-Kahlered", but why take an all original vintage guitar and rework it? Just find another candidate like that butchered red one and go to town......

Oldguitarist Member

Oldguitarist

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Do you really want to sell that Blitz? Have you thought about putting it away for a few months and then pulling it out to play it again? You might surprise yourself with that guitar.

It's last official gig was in June 1989. The next morning I cleaned it, re-strung it, tuned it, put it in its case and put it away. I opened it up again in 2009 when my old band decided to do a few reunion gigs. I also did some session work with it. Yes I love the guitar, but all it does is sit. I have a couple others that I can beat on that I don't care if they explode or not... I don't have to sell it, but if I do, I want it to go to a good home where it will be cared for AND rocked with.... Thanks for your thoughts!

Victor (Fret Friend) Veteran HFCer

Victor (Fret Friend)

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I hope it finds a good home at a HFC fair price...

Steve Haynie Veteran HFCer

Steve Haynie

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If we all sold guitars that just sit in cases and rarely come out we would glut the market with cool guitars.

For the record, I want your guitar. I cannot buy another guitar right now.

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