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-   -   Show OFf Your 80's Metal Guitars!!! (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=525054)

LouieAtienza 10-15-2018 11:47 AM

Show OFf Your 80's Metal Guitars!!!
 
With apologies to the "traditionalists" LOLOL

Just wondering how many closet hard rock/metal guys there were over here? I started on the acoustic guitar building journey about 10 years ago (which led me here to the AGF), but I never really gave up on my 80's guitar lust. I started out around '88 with a cheap plywood Kramer Aerostar ZX10, but I really wanted the Baretta (like many teen metalheads back then). A few years later in the mid 90's I finally got my first one - when grunge and folk and indie music were on the rise, and metal fell off the face of the planet. There seems to be a bit of a resurgence in these guitars in the last few years, and I'm glad for it, and glad I still have some "cool" ones. Here are a couple:

ca. 1984, Kramer Focus 1000, with the early non-tilt banana headstock (or what is known in Kramer circles as the "Grail" headstock):
[IMG]https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1903/...2bf9e9dc_b.jpg20181010_225001 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr[/IMG]

1984, Kramer Baretta, non-tilt "Grail" (body and neck restored by Lee at GMW Guitar Works):
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1854/...55aebd40_b.jpg20180820_132641 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

1986, Kramer Baretta, rare matching pointy headstock and maple fretboard:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/...069c18f9_b.jpg20180817_134543 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

1883, Kramer Pacer Special, aftermarket graphic painted around 1990:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/807/3...8dc85ece_b.jpgPacer-1 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

LouieAtienza 10-15-2018 11:48 AM

And no, I rarely use a neck pickup, but probably because most my electrics don't have one HAHAHA...

cuthbert 10-15-2018 01:37 PM

Are these enough?

http://i63.tinypic.com/2m35uys.jpg

http://i67.tinypic.com/243i6mo.jpg

http://i65.tinypic.com/1ooaxf.jpg

LouieAtienza 10-15-2018 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuthbert (Post 5863555)

WOW... Love that Buddy Blaze and the Barettas... and always loved reverse pointies! Nice collection!

I had a Stagemaster Archtop a l I ng time ago, dead mint, in seafoam green.. one I wish I had back...

Dru Edwards 10-15-2018 05:06 PM

This is going to be a great thread! Let me dig out an old pick.

fazool 10-15-2018 06:26 PM

3 Attachment(s)
I bought one of these around 1983 I think. It was my second guitar and first electric.

This guitar was one of those weird, inexpensive Gibson experimental research type projects.

However, they had four models. The Standard and the Deluxe were "plain jane" affordable LP alternatives. The Performer was a zany electronics monster built with Moog processor internals.

The Custom, however was the "sweet spot" for this guitar. They upgraded the pickups to dual dirty finger high output humbuckers (12 adjustable poles each) and coil splitting, ebony fretboard and LP controls (as I understand it). The guitar is a beast of mass and sustain but plays and sounds amazing.

This is my replacement version that I fully restored to showroom condition.

fazool 10-15-2018 06:30 PM

and here is my "metal" TRC thread

LouieAtienza 10-15-2018 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazool (Post 5863773)
I bought one of these around 1983 I think. It was my second guitar and first electric.

This guitar was one of those weird, inexpensive Gibson experimental research type projects.

However, they had four models. The Standard and the Deluxe were "plain jane" affordable LP alternatives. The Performer was a zany electronics monster built with Moog processor internals.

The Custom, however was the "sweet spot" for this guitar. They upgraded the pickups to dual dirty finger high output humbuckers (12 adjustable poles each) and coil splitting, ebony fretboard and LP controls (as I understand it). The guitar is a beast of mass and sustain but plays and sounds amazing.

This is my replacement version that I fully restored to showroom condition.

Wild and cool 80s guitar!

LouieAtienza 10-15-2018 08:04 PM

I have to do a "group" shot... tough in a small apartment!

Here's another 1983 Kramer "Grail" Baretta. What's unique about this one is that it isn't a production model. When the original Kramer custom shop luthier, Paul Unkert, left, Billy Connolly took over. Paul and Billy assembled many of EVH's striped stage and backup guitars back in the 80s. Billy assembled this guitar from parts left over from Paul, when Kramer was outsourcing different vendors for necks. This neck is a prototype, and not sure where it was made, but judging by the thick slab rosewood board, it may have been Sports in CT where the body was made. Billy sold this guitar to mega-Kramer-collector Mike Mojabi in the 90's and it's passed through quite a few well-known Kramer collectors and finally me!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1918/...6a62fc82_b.jpg20180428_110945 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

You guys must know by now, I love me Barettas! 1984, candy apple red.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1951/...e309b871_b.jpg20180819_190814 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

Got me some mutts, too. Here is a Japan-market Kramer body, with a very rare ESP non-tilt banana neck...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1920/...7c451cbd_b.jpg20181011_190123 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

Before you all think I don't use a neck pickup ever... I have another mutt, this a 1982 Kramer USA Pacer body, with later reissue neck. Currently looking for an era-correct neck...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1967/...c5118e29_b.jpg20180819_192034 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

I also have a Kramer Ferrington acoustic, this a KFS-2 (dot inlay neck), which I since upgraded to a KFS-1 (claw inlay neck):

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/...fa4fb603_b.jpgP1040032 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

DavidE 10-15-2018 08:15 PM

I had some shredder Hamers, but they were never my thing.

LouieAtienza 10-15-2018 08:20 PM

And a few that, sadly, I had to let go... it's always tough as I want to keep them all!

1979 Charvel San Dimas pre-pro reverse bumblebee "EVH" model, one of only two I know that's yellow with black stripes:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1921/...b20ec49d_b.jpgVH-1 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

ca. 2003 Vaccaro V2 X-Ray. Henry Vaccaro Sr. was the original investor in Kramer Guitars. This was his last-ditch effort at running a guitar company. They had some high profile players like Lenny Kravitz. Unlike the original aluminum necks, these necks were T-bars that had a full wood jacket on the back, so the only exposed aluminum was the headstock, a nod to the early Kramer "lumies." This guitar kicked some serious behind...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1936/...0fa408c2_b.jpgVaccaro1 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

1981 Charvel pre-pro Strat. This was originally one-hum with a brass vintage trem in safety orange. The front pickup was added, then a Kahler was installed. The guitar was modded again to recessed Floyd (possibly by someone at the Kramer factory) and repainted flip-flop pink (also possibly from a Kramer employee.) The Duncans on this thing cranked, and of course the feel of an oil-finished maple neck with years of patina is just so comfortable...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1974/...290c7ec1_b.jpgPrePro1 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

Not a real Charvel, this neck was actually on a famous fake Charvel. I had the body made, but wasn't happy with the pinstriping on the flames. Neck is actually a rare ESP strat-head...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1939/...7e9866dc_b.jpgHRF-1 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

My old workhorse. Fender "The Strat." Was hot pink but the body was stripped, not by me! Fretboard was scalloped, also by someone else. I added the Roland pickup. Played and sounded great with the slightly shorter scale.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/...1c2c0217_b.jpgHM-1 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

Boogie Bodies Tele, ca. 1982. The neck was supposedly once owned by Joe Perry. The body and neck plate are floating around somewhere, and I've been searching for them! Still have this one, one of the best playing necks I have!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1972/...a1d3ae89_b.jpg20180407_000558 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

Boogie Bodies hardtail Start, ca. 1980. Another awesome guitar I hated to let go. Beautiful swamp ash body paired with the most outrageously figure birdseye and flame maple neck.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1976/...9e48353a_b.jpg20180406_235444 by Louie Atienza, on Flickr

Jaden 10-15-2018 09:08 PM

Great thread, lots of eye candy. Looking forward to seeing some Ibanez JEMs/ Steve Vai fan here.

The Growler 10-15-2018 09:23 PM

Kinda diggin' that flamed knock off Charvel.

51 Relic 10-15-2018 10:10 PM

Show OFf Your 80's Metal Guitars!!!
 
Ah those were the days . I loved my Yamaha RGX and still do it sits in its case waiting quietly . Together with the Yamaha FX500 into a Marshall silver jubilee combo , wonderful sound . Now where’s my Whitesnake LPs ( yes I still wish I had that amp )

Dru Edwards 10-16-2018 04:08 PM

Here's the BC Rich Warlock I bought new back in 1989. I still have it but don't play it anymore. I put in a Seymour Duncan Invader in the bridge years ago.

https://i.imgur.com/yF9sqKzh.jpg


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