DarrenD Posted February 18, 2022 Posted February 18, 2022 I'm trying to confirm a few things regarding K.K. Downing's Hamer V with prototype Floyd Rose FRT-4. Also, I'm trying to find a date where it's first seen and confirm what type of sustain block is on it. I realize it was sold in auction a few years ago to a collector. Is that person on these forums? K.K. had a version two prototype FRT-4, a very rare tremolo and essentially one of the first tine-tuning Floyds ever built. I'm curious to see if it has a hot-rolled sustain block much like the production FRT-3 and FRT-4s. (For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, I've been heavily researching Floyd Rose history and accumulated all information on a vintage Floyd website).
DarrenD Posted February 18, 2022 Author Posted February 18, 2022 His proto FRT-4 Floyd trem was likely created near the end of summer/early fall 1982 (possibly mid-summer). Although, K.K. isn't seen with the trem until 1983, likely because he waited until the vengeance tour ended in February 1983. However, I can't find many live videos or photos of the guitar near the end of '82. He did seem to put some kind of other tremolo on it during the Vengeance tour, something similar to a Bigsby. When the tour was over, he likely had a luthier route the Hamer and throw the FRT-4 on. It's first seen at the U.S. Festival in May 1983......based on what I can find. 1983 U.S. Festival Judas Priest stopped in Seattle in November 1982, and my guess is Mr. Rose gifted him the tremolo then (Floyd is from Seattle). Mr. Rose was known to do this when bands stopped in town. So, here's my prediction: -November 1982: Floyd Rose gives K.K. the FRT-4 prototype in Seattle during the Vengeance tour, but KK has no time to deal with the route install during tour. -February 1983: Tour ends, sends guitar to luthier to put on the trem. Anyways, figured some of you may find this interesting. EVH, Steve Lukather, and K.K. Downing essentially had the first double-locking fine-tuning models ever created (prototype FRT-4 models). I'm just trying to lock a few more details on these trems. Not many people know they even exist. Again, if someone has better photos of Downing's trem (especially the sustain block), that would really answer a few more questions.
Biz Prof Posted February 19, 2022 Posted February 19, 2022 1 hour ago, DarrenD said: His proto FRT-4 Floyd trem was likely created near the end of summer/early fall 1982 (possibly mid-summer). Although, K.K. isn't seen with the trem until 1983, likely because he waited until the vengeance tour ended in February 1983. However, I can't find many live videos or photos of the guitar near the end of '82. He did seem to put some kind of other tremolo on it during the Vengeance tour, something similar to a Bigsby. When the tour was over, he likely had a luthier route the Hamer and throw the FRT-4 on. It's first seen at the U.S. Festival in May 1983......based on what I can find. 1983 U.S. Festival Judas Priest stopped in Seattle in November 1982, and my guess is Mr. Rose gifted him the tremolo then (Floyd is from Seattle). Mr. Rose was known to do this when bands stopped in town. So, here's my prediction: -November 1982: Floyd Rose gives K.K. the FRT-4 prototype in Seattle during the Vengeance tour, but KK has no time to deal with the route install during tour. -February 1983: Tour ends, sends guitar to luthier to put on the trem. Anyways, figured some of you may find this interesting. EVH, Steve Lukather, and K.K. Downing essentially had the first double-locking fine-tuning models ever created (prototype FRT-4 models). I'm just trying to lock a few more details on these trems. Not many people know they even exist. Again, if someone has better photos of Downing's trem (especially the sustain block), that would really answer a few more questions. I tnink you're on the right track. I also suspect that Dave Hlubeck somehow got one of these early fine tuner units for his unbound white Standard around this same time.
rallye440 Posted February 19, 2022 Posted February 19, 2022 I've got these pics shot at Astbury Hall in 2015. Had I known while I was there...
DarrenD Posted February 19, 2022 Author Posted February 19, 2022 1 hour ago, Biz Prof said: I tnink you're on the right track. I also suspect that Dave Hlubeck somehow got one of these early fine tuner units for his unbound white Standard around this same time. Good catch! I'm not familiar too with Dave Hlubeck, but I did a search from '82, and it seems he has some kind of early Floyd unit, however I can't tell if it's an FRT-4 or earlier non-fine tuning FRT-1 or 3. I'll have to search for better photos of this guitar he has - and the strat you mention. 1 hour ago, rallye440 said: I've got these pics shot at Astbury Hall in 2015. Had I known while I was there... Great photo of it! I remember seeing them at one point but lost track of them. In either case, I found a few photos from the back of the guitar, but the trem plate is always covering it. The sustain block identifies many things in these early Floyds, but of course, not easy to find photos of them back in 1980-1983.....from the back of the guitar.....with the trem plate off. Thanks for the photos. It's great (and interesting) to see KK still had it on his guitar after all these years.
Dave Scepter Posted February 19, 2022 Posted February 19, 2022 1 hour ago, rallye440 said: Looks like he just slid the pickguard in there without screws for the photo 🤣
Steve Haynie Posted February 19, 2022 Posted February 19, 2022 I was going to mention Hlubek. I remember talking with road crew member Bob Huckaba about it, and there was something said about breaking strings.
Biz Prof Posted March 28, 2022 Posted March 28, 2022 On 2/19/2022 at 7:54 AM, Steve Haynie said: I was going to mention Hlubek. I remember talking with road crew member Bob Huckaba about it, and there was something said about breaking strings. Somehow thought about this again over the weekend. If you check Darren's site and compare the early FRT-4 prototypes with black fine tuners, they sure do look a lot like what Hlubeck had on his white Standard. AND...one of the things I gleaned from Darren's site was the fact that Floyd Rose himself was at NAMM In Atlanta in '82 showing off these FRT-4 prototypes. Seems plausible that Hlubeck (or a rep of his) went to that NAMM show (it being not too far away from this home base) and got one from the man himself.
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