Post by cobb on Jun 14, 2013 8:29:04 GMT -5
Hello everyone, glad to be a member of the forum.
So I picked up a pretty nice HM strat project yesterday. My first guitar was a HM strat and like a fool I sold it. So I was going over the local Craigslist and found one for $100 that needed electronics work. So I jumped on it for that price, and I'm glad I did.
So this was listed as an '87 HM? I don't know for sure so I will list some info for you guys to see what you think. I don't have it with me at the moment to check the serial on the neck heel but I do remember it started with: E8. I will post the serial this evening.
This guitar has the "Talon" headstock versus the good ol' Fender pre-CBS shape. It does have an awesome, almost chameleon, color changing finish which is purple/blue/green metal flake. Original Floyd Pro, Gotoh's, and the hardware/body is an overall 9 out of 10. It is the pickguard version, HSH pickups, volume/tone.
Now for the bad, . The previous owner used a household cleaner on the headstock and the cool "Fender Strat" logo is long gone. The original DiMarzios and TBX circuit are also long gone. It has a Duncan Invader in the bridge and I think a JB in the neck. The original five way was swapped out for a three way? The leads for the neck humbucker are about 2-1/2" long and were just cut off and hanging loose. The single coil had nice long leads but was also disconnected and taped off underneath. The Invader has nice 4-5" leads but was hooked up backwards? The tone control was simply not there.
So long story short, decent components basically hacked together and ruined by someone that didn't have a clue. I'm far from a master, but I know when I'm in over my head.
Anyway, I can't have a NGD and not hear it through the ol' Gibson amp. So I just unwired all the craziness and just wired the invader straight to the volume. Oh yea, then I found that the input jack was wired backwards! Damn.
I played it until around 1AM, just couldn't put it down. I love that 17" radius and the wide wizardesque neck. So now begins the journey of restoring this bad boy. It's been 15 years since I last played a HM and I really missed it. It's just one of those guitars that just fit right all around.
This may be my #1 so I want to do it right. Though I'm no purist, I would like to put DiMarzios back in it, 5 way and wire the TBX circuit back in, so versatile. I would like to get the "F" logo knobs like it originally had but they are kind of hard to find, so it'll sport black knurled Tele knobs for the time being. As for the logo, I will try to have a new one made. I know it's taboo to talk about decals so I will leave that topic alone.
I am interested in the history of this guitar though. I know the neck plate says "Fender USA" but that doesn't really mean a US built guitar correct? Most likely Japanese possibly assembled in the US? Either way doesn't matter to me, both are high quality and you can tell the fit and finish on this one is terrific. I swear it reminds me of a JEM the way it plays. It will be an Ibanez slayer when I'm done with it. ;D
Alright, sorry for the rambling. I love this guitar and I'm stoked to bring it back to it's former glory. Pics will be posted this evening after work as well as serial. Any info or tips are welcome from the HM vets out there. Thanks for reading.
So I picked up a pretty nice HM strat project yesterday. My first guitar was a HM strat and like a fool I sold it. So I was going over the local Craigslist and found one for $100 that needed electronics work. So I jumped on it for that price, and I'm glad I did.
So this was listed as an '87 HM? I don't know for sure so I will list some info for you guys to see what you think. I don't have it with me at the moment to check the serial on the neck heel but I do remember it started with: E8. I will post the serial this evening.
This guitar has the "Talon" headstock versus the good ol' Fender pre-CBS shape. It does have an awesome, almost chameleon, color changing finish which is purple/blue/green metal flake. Original Floyd Pro, Gotoh's, and the hardware/body is an overall 9 out of 10. It is the pickguard version, HSH pickups, volume/tone.
Now for the bad, . The previous owner used a household cleaner on the headstock and the cool "Fender Strat" logo is long gone. The original DiMarzios and TBX circuit are also long gone. It has a Duncan Invader in the bridge and I think a JB in the neck. The original five way was swapped out for a three way? The leads for the neck humbucker are about 2-1/2" long and were just cut off and hanging loose. The single coil had nice long leads but was also disconnected and taped off underneath. The Invader has nice 4-5" leads but was hooked up backwards? The tone control was simply not there.
So long story short, decent components basically hacked together and ruined by someone that didn't have a clue. I'm far from a master, but I know when I'm in over my head.
Anyway, I can't have a NGD and not hear it through the ol' Gibson amp. So I just unwired all the craziness and just wired the invader straight to the volume. Oh yea, then I found that the input jack was wired backwards! Damn.
I played it until around 1AM, just couldn't put it down. I love that 17" radius and the wide wizardesque neck. So now begins the journey of restoring this bad boy. It's been 15 years since I last played a HM and I really missed it. It's just one of those guitars that just fit right all around.
This may be my #1 so I want to do it right. Though I'm no purist, I would like to put DiMarzios back in it, 5 way and wire the TBX circuit back in, so versatile. I would like to get the "F" logo knobs like it originally had but they are kind of hard to find, so it'll sport black knurled Tele knobs for the time being. As for the logo, I will try to have a new one made. I know it's taboo to talk about decals so I will leave that topic alone.
I am interested in the history of this guitar though. I know the neck plate says "Fender USA" but that doesn't really mean a US built guitar correct? Most likely Japanese possibly assembled in the US? Either way doesn't matter to me, both are high quality and you can tell the fit and finish on this one is terrific. I swear it reminds me of a JEM the way it plays. It will be an Ibanez slayer when I'm done with it. ;D
Alright, sorry for the rambling. I love this guitar and I'm stoked to bring it back to it's former glory. Pics will be posted this evening after work as well as serial. Any info or tips are welcome from the HM vets out there. Thanks for reading.