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Go to the grave guitars?


Greg G

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1 hour ago, Camstone said:

My R8 is the one guitar that checks all of the boxes. Goes with me to every gig and gets played the most. I won't be buried with it, but I will have to be dead to ever let it go.

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So, that means your junior is up for grabs...? DIBS!!!

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I've owned someone else's proclaimed go to the grave Studio Custom for nearly 15 years now, and he's still alive. Does that count?
And every time one of the guys claims dibs on one of my guitars, I always proclaim, "That's the one I'm going to be cremated with."
I definitely have favorites, but everything's expendable, really.
That said, there's probably lots of them that will still be around when I kick the bucket.

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My green Cali, and as a bassplayer I'd say my Hamer Chaparral Bass. I don't plan to sell my other gear though. And even though I recently play other stuff (Hamer Steve Stevens, Fender Strat built from parts, Fender US Dlx J Bass) quite much, the Cali and Chap Bass will stay my favorite instruments.

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I could narrow it down to three.

The obvious choice is the ’81 Special that has seen more playing time than any of my other guitars, My Beloved Blackie. I’m the original owner; I bought it bought new from The Musician’s Shop (it’s long gone now) in Bellaire, Texas.

When I was at GIT in the 80s, people tended to be identified by the guitar they played. The guy with the yellow Charvel, the guy with the red Strat, etc. I was The Guy with the Black Hamer.

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Next is my 1975 Gibson SG, bought new from Evans Music City in Houston on November 8, 1975, for $470.89, including hardshell case and sales tax. I was 14 years old.

I saved up for it for months and months, forgoing any and all frivolous spending. I worked out a deal with my parents that when I was halfway there they would loan me the rest, and that’s what we did. It took a while, but I paid them back in full with money I earned playing it.

These days it mostly stays in the case, but it still makes an appearance from time to time.

(Sadly, after over 70 years in business, Evans closed in 2018.)

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Finally, Shishkov Ultimate #0063. It’s an amazing instrument in every way: workmanship, sound, playability, you name it (but y'all know that already). Beyond that, it was the first time I was able to have a say in every step in the process, from selection of the wood for the top to the neck shape. And as if that wasn’t enough, in the summer of 2017 my daughter and I embarked on an epic Texas-Connecticut road trip and picked it up in person, spending the day with Mike and his family.

(0063, by the way, is a nod to my wife’s birthday, August 9, 1963. We had been married 30 years when she passed away in 2014.)

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I have a few SG's and a few HAMERS. My 1984 PROTOTYPE II is my absolute favorite Never ever get rid of it. Also my 1995 HAMER ECLIPSE 12 string. That thing is awesome. man. I am unable to post pictures because the files are too large . How do i get  smaller files anybody know ????. I bought the PROTOTYPE II at a music shop in about 1993. It had a small Kahyler bridge problem easy fix took 5 minuets got it for 300 $.  I had a HAMER phantom at the time. Best playing guitar i ever had. It got ripped in Erie PA. Didn't really love the body style but it played so well i had to have it. 

Anyway the PROTOTYPE II was black had a horrible finish. Paint was worn off the back of the neck half the body. So i tore it down and had a friend shoot about 15 coats of white laqure on there and now its beautious. My 12 string is candy apple green. Beautiful guitar man.  

I would post pics but like i said all the files are larger that the max you can download on this here thang. That PROTOTYPE II tips the scales at a wee bit over 10 lbs. Heavier than hell as compared to a 6 lb SG. It's like having a down rigger weight tied to your shoulder. But it's doable. The SG's are great guitars man. They sound great with stock 490 R and 490 T pups. The one i have came with P 90 single coil pups. I had to install a Dimarzio  Dual coil P 90 at the bridge It sounds good now. P 90's are just too whimpy for me.  I bought the guitar because it's beautiful not for the pups. But i knew i could modify it anyway. A .wee bit neck heavy but a good 3 inch suede strap takes care of that. I have absolutely no problem with the neck heaviness at all. You can get the action super close on those guitars. I like it close Easier to bend 2 strings at once like that for me. I think my action is around .020 " last time i gauged it. Smooth all the way no buzzes anywhere. Precision man. >020 " is about the thickness of a zippo lighter lid. Not very much at all.  

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  • 2 weeks later...

A hard decision. If they would make me dig my own grave, then I'd take the one most useful as a showel. 

But if it's to play, then these two, most probably.

y4m0gBgXq0Lrt1PsTT-mfuto3Gsp5e2U7Caxkn25   2005 Korina Standard

y4manfNPYfKdJkdMrtB-LSykqnB4i8lfSjGtVeBN   1979 Sunburst Custom

 

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Two thoughts to add to the thread, then back to your regularly scheduled guitar porn:

1 - Please, please, please make sure you update your homeowner's/ renter's insurance policy to accurately reflect what's in your collection!

2 - Please update your legal documents to reflect what's in your collection (and leave it all to me).

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