PSA: 80 Special Basket Case Needs Love & Affection

[Hbom]

Looks like a good one for someone with a lot of desire for an old red guitar. 1980 Vintage Red Hamer Special Electric Guitar~ No Electronics | eBay

 

[crunchee]

Looks like it's gone now.  Funny how there's no photo of the front of the headstock, and not a great one of the back of the headstock.  

[Hbom]

Gone in a flash and didn't have a BIN! Hmmm. Serial # appears to be 0 2221

[Dave Scepter]

2 hours ago, Hbom said:

Gone in a flash and didn't have a BIN! Hmmm. Serial # appears to be 0 2221

It had a $695.79 BIN...  That was a great price for a worthy project 👍

[Hbom]

I thought that was a bid price. Didn't see BIN. 

[bruce919]

23 minutes ago, Hbom said:

I thought that was a bid price. Didn't see BIN. 

yes I would have snagged it for that BIN price.  

[HamerCustomEr]

From the seller, "Also, the guitarist from Cheap trick played one just like this. Just a multi necked guitar."

Uh, I think that Rick Nielsen's guitar had electronics.

[kizanski]

I hope this was just poor Photoshop cropping...

[Eli]

I think whoever "bought it now" might not have seen the poor/questionable photo curation and has a surprise coming in the mail.

[kizanski]

22 minutes ago, Eli said:

I think whoever "bought it now" might not have seen the poor/questionable photo curation and has a surprise coming in the mail.

I was joking at first, but the more I look at it, there isn't a single full on picture of the guitar...

Sure he writes "No breaks or repairs or anything like that," in his description, but he also wrote, "Steve Stevens from Billy Idol played a hammer," so who tf knows.

This guy's all over the place.

[smith]

I snagged it for $650.  The seller had 100% positive feedback on over 1,200 sales.  I'm pretty sure it was a photoshop glitch on that one photo that looks like the neck is broke off.  The other photo of the neck and fingerboard doesn't have that black smudge thingee.  But, he doesn't show anything above the 9th fret.  The seller has sold some guitars in the past, but doesn't have anything currently, so I can't know if this is how he always posts pics of his guitars.  I guess I'll find out in about a week.

[kizanski]

7 minutes ago, smith said:

I snagged it for $650.

I would have rolled the dice too.  

The Sustain Block is there.  That's the most important thing, providing everything is cool with the wood.  

I'm sure you have everything else that's needed in a parts drawer like the rest of us. 

Fingers crossed.  

[Dave Scepter]

4 hours ago, smith said:

I snagged it for $650.  The seller had 100% positive feedback on over 1,200 sales.  I'm pretty sure it was a photoshop glitch on that one photo that looks like the neck is broke off.  The other photo of the neck and fingerboard doesn't have that black smudge thingee.  But, he doesn't show anything above the 9th fret.  The seller has sold some guitars in the past, but doesn't have anything currently, so I can't know if this is how he always posts pics of his guitars.  I guess I'll find out in about a week.

Congrats!.. Great catch... Awesome project "if the neck is straight and truss rod is working properly"👍

[HamerCustomEr]

3 hours ago, kizanski said:

Sure he writes "No breaks or repairs or anything like that," in his description, but he also wrote, "Steve Stevens from Billy Idol played a hammer," so who tf knows.

This guy's all over the place.

Maybe Steve Stevens from Billy Idol hit this guitar with a hammer... thus breaking the neck.

Seriously, it sounds like a good price, and yes, you will get the sustain block, which is worth quite a bit on its own, but even more when attached to a Hamer guitar.

[smith]

Lol, I hope not.  Fingers crossed.

 

[marc61]

Showing as still Active to me. Maybe he had 2?

[Dave Scepter]

13 hours ago, marc61 said:

Showing as still Active to me. Maybe he had 2?

 

[DaveL]

Kind of cool…  I look forward to seeing it listed next week for $3600! 

[smith]

No Sir!  I plan on keeping it, unless I can't get along with the neck.  I'm sure it will be super thin, but hopefully not too narrow.  I had a black '81 Special about 10 years ago that a huge neck...never should have sold it.

[Len]

On 6/8/2023 at 3:58 PM, smith said:

No Sir!  I plan on keeping it, unless I can't get along with the neck.  I'm sure it will be super thin, but hopefully not too narrow.  I had a black '81 Special about 10 years ago that a huge neck...never should have sold it.

Keep us Updated !!

[bry4321]

Re: The pics. As I recall eBay offers some optional photo editing option that deletes the background of the item you are listing, and it sometimes causes glitches like the one shown for this guitar. 

[Drew816]

If it's a thin neck and you can't live with it, let me know. I'll give you tree-fiddy and have a bag or Oreo's for it!  😉

Looks great if the headstock face is in tact, cool grab!

[smith]

Looks like it's going to arrive on Friday via UPS.  The seller has some of the parts which I'm also trying to acquire, including what sounds like the original neck pickup.  He says it's black and white, so I'm assuming it's the original DiMarzio zebra.  He say the bridge pickup is black, so that sucks.  He's looking for the pots and switch.  Hopefully I can make a deal.  I'll keep y'all updated. 

[smith]

So, the seller found the original pickups and rings.  Both pickups are dead, so I  bought them and the rings for $80.  I'm counting on having them rewound, but I'll fully check 'em out when they arrive.

[smith]

Got the Special today!  The gamble paid off.  It's really in good shape.  I was hoping it would have the checkerboard decal.  Of course, the neck is on the skinny side, but it's 1 5/8" at the nut, which is not preferable, but okay with me.  I'm going to wait on the original pickups before I start putting it together.  They should be here mid next week.  I'm hoping they're not dead like the seller said.  If they are, I'll get them rewound Josh.