Look for 1981-2 special in tv yellow

[Guest gearwhore]

I am new here and have visted for a years but just recently I became a member. And thanks to this site and other research I now know what it is I am looking for.

OK here a story of tragedy, and maybe a little hope...when I was in high school I spent entire summer paying off a used 81-2 checker headstock special...completely stock..what a guitar..I loved the guitar from the moment I picked it up off the wall. And was imediately bummed also, the price was $575. More money than I would see in months. So I left and a few weeks later I went back to drool and this time my uncle was with me, he had his eye on 12 string jumbo Guild acoustic. And as he too found his guitar was above his cash in hand buying power so he put it back in the case and said maybe in the future to the owner. He quickly said why wait put $50 down and make payments. Which my uncle quickly did..then he turned to me and said I know you want the Hamer and I quickly replied for sure but its above my pay grade even on payments. At the time I worked few hours a week and made about $150 a month. He then said well since my uncle agreed to full price on his guitar he would sell me the Hamer for $450..and in the end actually he took $425..I quickly handed every penny in my pocket as my down payment and spent every free penny for the next 3 months paying off the ax. I got just as school started and by midterm it was gone...it was in the back of my car when my car was stolen...I got the car back but I never saw the guitar again.

I then spent the next year calling every pawn shop and guitar shop in couple hundred mile circle, with no luck. And from there life took over..got out of school-partied too much got a girl pregnant and I am sure you all know how the story goes from there for the most part....married divorced more kids..married again...blah blah blah..

Ok so for the last 5 years I have finally been in a position to A. have the internet to help me figure out what exactly I had and B.the means to shop over large areas..with ebay and craigslist and forums like these. and C. most inportant in a postion to afford to spend the money.

I have been looking hard now for 18 months and have had no luck finding a guitar just like mine...I want one just like mine...or really close

So the break down is it was a low end special...if you can call any low end...but it was no frills....solid yellow paint...stock dimarzio pups..fixed bridge..checker board type headstock...I am looking for this guitar or one like it...I will buy it-trade for it....So if all the folks here can shine a light on this 25year old missing link in my life...I will be super stoked.

[cmatthes]

I don't think I've seen an opaque yellow 80s Special in over a decade!

I'll definitely keep an eye open for one though...

[Guest gearwhore]

lol...yes that seems to be the biggest issue now...I have yet to one see except in pictures in the last 5 years...It was a part time obession then but last 18 months I have watched ebay daily. and spend a day a week searching the bigger cities on craigslist...So far nothing close...color wise...and most of any I found have some sort of tremolo and I want hard tail.

[HamStd]

Gearwhore,

This special is vintage yellow, not opaque yellow and it is an '80. But it is for sale and a lot less than the one on ebay right now. Let me know if you are have any interest.

Thanks

Peter

Hamstd@gmail.com

[carfish7]

Could always have one refinished too I guess......but I totally understand if you are seeking an original one.

[Bobby Marshall]

You could get an 81 special in another color and send to Murkat for a repaint.

By the way, that bridge is called a sustainblock.

Hope you are soon finding what you are looking for.

[Guest gearwhore]

You could get an 81 special in another color and send to Murkat for a repaint.

By the way, that bridge is called a sustainblock.

Hope you are soon finding what you are looking for.

the hard tail fixed bridge= sustain block?

yeah I have thought about finishing one but I am fighting the purist snob in me...making a clone is kinda like buying staight 6 mustang and putting a truck v8 in and calling it a shelby. it may fool passers by ,but I know the dirty truth,lol. No seriously it is definitely an option.

thanks

[Guest gearwhore]

Gearwhore,

This special is vintage yellow, not opaque yellow and it is an '80. But it is for sale and a lot less than the one on ebay right now. Let me know if you are have any interest.

Thanks

Peter

Hamstd@gmail.com

isn't the string spacing wider on the 1980 Vs the 1981-2?...I will definite inquire more. thanks

[Andrew]

1977-1978 - 57mm string spacing (shim bridge)

1978-1980 - 52.5mm string spacing.

1981-1988 - 50mm string spacing.

[Bobby Marshall]

Murkat saved this one. Check out the full thread.

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/54927-rise-of-a-pheonix-a-sunburst-is-reborn-from-the-ashes-ntl-shop-hap-pictorial/?hl=pheonix

[Guest gearwhore]

1977-1978 - 57mm string spacing (shim bridge)

1978-1980 - 52.5mm string spacing.

1981-1988 - 50mm string spacing.

oh yeah this is what I am talking about..knowledge..thank you.

[Guest gearwhore]

Murkat saved this one. Check out the full thread.

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/54927-rise-of-a-pheonix-a-sunburst-is-reborn-from-the-ashes-ntl-shop-hap-pictorial/?hl=pheonix

wow it went through major finish over haul...dam nice job.

[carfish7]

Murkat is a Wizard.............

[Guest gearwhore]

Murkat is a Wizard.............

yes some magic in those hands...I like he put the age back in the new finish...I have a guitar that when in for a fret level...had for me some sweet fret board mojo..I got call saying needed a fret job too little fret left...so I let him refret it and was very clear to use same size wire and leave the marks in the fret board out a sign of respect to the hours the guitar has performed..I get it back not only did he buff out the whole guitar he planed the fret board and used jumbo frets on 1962 archtop. I am still mad and its been a few years.

[G Man]

While not TV Yellow, I have this 1981 Special I have been thinking about selling. And yes, Murkat could make it TV Yellow and look great doing it.

[Guest gearwhore]

While not TV Yellow, I have this 1981 Special I have been thinking about selling. And yes, Murkat could make it TV Yellow and look great doing it.

wow...nice guitar..I sent you a message.

[Guest gearwhore]

While not TV Yellow, I have this 1981 Special I have been thinking about selling. And yes, Murkat could make it TV Yellow and look great doing it.

wow...nice guitar..I sent you a message.

YEEEE

HAW...check out the ^^^^^^newest edition of the harem ...there is going to be few jealous Gibson’s..

with that said....I am still looking for a solid tv yellow...or one messed up enough I can change the color without the guilt of ruining a perfectly good guitar^^^^^^^^...thanks for the swift replies...let me know

[Bobby Marshall]

Fix the cigarette lighter. I mean bridge pickup.

[Guest gearwhore]

Fix the cigarette lighter. I mean bridge pickup.

lol already shopping...actually both need to go neither are stock...but the price was right

[G Man]

The neck pickup is stock, but it currently resides in the bridge position as it was hotter than the period correct double cream DiMarzio I picked up to replace the bridge pickup seen in the above image. So it currently has a double white in the neck and the zebra in the bridge.

[Guest gearwhore]

The neck pickup is stock, but it currently resides in the bridge position as it was hotter than the period correct double cream DiMarzio I picked up to replace the bridge pickup seen in the above image. So it currently has a double white in the neck and the zebra in the bridge.

oh cool I just bought double cream hot dimarzio...I thought was the other pic with the double black was current...well I am good to go..

[matchful]

Got a 2005 custom ordered TV yellow Special Junior for sale if interested. It ain't an '81 but thought I would throw it out there

[Guest gearwhore]

Got a 2005 custom ordered TV yellow Special Junior for sale if interested. It ain't an '81 but thought I would throw it out there

Thanks for the offer...I am really dialed in to just that guitar or one same year in rough enough shape so I won't feel guilty about making a clone...and I might already have a clone canidate in sight...everyone has been super awesome in this qwest of mine...I can't believe I was the owner of red burst 1981 special in the first day posting this...and like I said I have a second one on the radar....I wish I would have not been my stuborn "I can do it myself" attitude for so long..the further I journey down this road of life the more I see I started out all wrong...But in just few short days- years of chasing my tail are finally coming to an end.....these may be the last guitars I ever buy......well maybe not and HUGE thanks to all the replies

[Guest gearwhore]

ok this was brought up to me by another member and I have considered it before…my old guitar may have been white that had discolored to a yellowish creamy color…I know its been a long time since I had my hands on the guitar so I am going on memory…but the actual color may been originally white…but when I got it was long ways from the color white

[ARM OF HAMER]

SO..........................Like this one?http://www.vintageandrare.com/product/Hamer-Special-1980-White-27786