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Posted by: Zephyr Jan 5 2009, 12:22 AM

Hey guys, I wanted a few outside opinions on this, I'll try to keep it short.

I was at Guitar Center, and happened to see a 1989 Fender HM Strat. I picked it up, just out of curiosity, and wound up spending over an hour just jamming on this guitar and a Fender amp, not sure what. Anyways, it was incredible! The amp was great, as well, but the guitar just blew me away! Not to mention the amp is way out of my price range...

Long story short, I'm thinking about taking the cash from selling my old acoustic and putting towards this guitar. This particular one has a HSS pickup configuration, 5-way switch, coil tap for the bridge, 24-fret neck, and a master volume and two tone knobs. The bridge is a Floyd Rose (didn't catch what kind, or even used it, there was no bar.), and it has a locking nut. The price was between $350 and $450, I can't remember it exactly, but it's somewhere in that range. Anyways, it plays and sounds like $1200+ guitar to my hands and ears, but maybe I'm crazy.

Does anyone have any bad experiences/warnings about this line? Do you think it seems like a decent instrument?

Posted by: sigma7 Jan 5 2009, 12:30 AM

are you sure it was the guitar and not the amp that sounded good? did you try that guitar on other amps?

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Jan 5 2009, 12:32 AM

It sounds like a really nice instrument mate. I can't think about one thing to not but such an instrument. You feel confortable and you like the sound...
The only thing I could say is: be sure to check every little detail so the don't sell to you a damaged instrument. Check the bridge, the neck (look for space between the body and the union with the neck), the electronics.

Posted by: Praetorian Jan 5 2009, 12:33 AM

I was just going to say that!

Posted by: Zephyr Jan 5 2009, 12:36 AM

Yes, I did, and it still sounded great, although it was more just the feel of it that attracted me.



That's one thing I'm worried about, there was nothing immediately visible, but I think I should take some more time with it just to be sure. The bridge, I'm not sure about. I don't have any experience with Floyd Roses, so I couldn't even tell if there was anything wrong with it, apart from the normal bridge functions. It does look a little worn, but there's hardly even a dent on the thing. It's like it's got all the good wear, but none of the bad somehow.

Posted by: sigma7 Jan 5 2009, 12:40 AM

if you have such a connection to a guitar, you should get it...just like Harry Potter and the Wands haha 24 frets, floyd rose, fender, how can you go wrong? sounds like it is worth it

Posted by: Fran Jan 5 2009, 01:10 AM

I agree. Just make sure it wasn't the amp and that it's in good condition as others mentioned

Posted by: audiopaal Jan 5 2009, 12:52 PM

If you like it that much, you should buy it

Posted by: Smells Jan 5 2009, 12:59 PM

I wanted one of these guitars when they first came out but I couldnt afford it at the time, I was about 18/19, they are pretty rare now (see the odd one on ebay), but I`ve heard nothing but good things about them, if its in great shape and you really like the way it plays then get it!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jan 5 2009, 01:52 PM

I've owned a couple of these and they're great instruments!
2 friends of mine use them as their main Instruments, they're both Professional Musicians and Teachers!
That also sounds like a good price too!
I'd say 'Go for it'!!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jan 5 2009, 02:48 PM

It sounds like a great deal, but I would be weary a bit because of the low price. That seems like a too low price for a Strat mate. Is it USA Strat? If it is, then 350-450$ means that something could be wrong with it. I would check out Floyd Rose first to see if it tunes properly after some playing. Also look for some bumps or scratches. Again I say, it's only a suggestion mate, in the end I really feel that if you like the guitar, then you should get it. Good luck, and tell us how it went!

Posted by: Zephyr Feb 3 2009, 01:16 AM

Hey, everybody, I just thought I'd update this, as I finally bought the thing today! Paid $399 for it, and its definitely worth it. I'll post pictures and a review sooner or later, but trust me, it is fantastic.

It has some custom work done, as well, which I didn't notice at first. The 2nd tone knob is added on, and both tone knobs are blend pots. I'm not sure exactly what they do yet, but both have a capacitor and two resistors connected to them.

I still am not sure what the bridge is, but it's not the stock (a Kahler Spyder). It's a "Licensed Under Floyd Rose" tremolo, but I can't pinpoint the maker. The closest-looking one I've seen is the Schaller version, but mine doesn't have a brand name anywhere on it! Anyone have any clue about this?

The pickups may or may not be stock, I'm not sure, but the bridge does look like a DiMarzio.

Posted by: jdriver Feb 3 2009, 04:38 AM

Sounds like the previous owner gave it a lot of love and goodies. I'm betting there is nothing at all wrong with it, the guy just wanted a new guitar and traded that one.

The low price just means Guitar Center didn't give much in trade, and also they are desperate for sales right now.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Feb 3 2009, 02:28 PM

When you post some Pics we may be able to help identify these rogue Parts for you!!

Posted by: Wyldedime Feb 3 2009, 04:01 PM

I`ve got a strat HM, and I think it`s an real Ibanez killer(and you can get the classic Fender tone out of it).
They made two versions of this guitar, as far as I know, one with Khaler trem and one with Floyd Rose.
I think the Floyd Rose version is quite rare, I`ve been searching for another one to have a back up but it`s not that easy to find(I`ve got the Floyd Rose version).
And by the way it`s not a "licenced under Floyd Rose", it`s an original Floyd Rose.
If it`s an "licenced under Floyd Rose" in the one you`ve seen you shuld be a bit careful becouse this could be an after market part with lower quality than the original.

Posted by: Toni Suominen Feb 3 2009, 05:39 PM

Like said above, check what type of Floyd Rose it is. But if it is otherwise in good condition, I would say go for it

Posted by: Zephyr Feb 3 2009, 11:31 PM

Yeah, I'm actually not a big Ibanez fan, but everything that I hear Ibanez fans praising their products for seems to be on this guitar: fast action, thin neck, locking/floating tremolo. Plus it just has that "shreddy" feel to me...

And it is definitely a licensed Floyd Rose, says so right on it. But that's all it says, there's no brand name or anything at all on it. It did come with a Kahler, though, as the locking nut and the spring claw are both Kahler. The bridge is the only new part. I did finally get a few pictures... sorry! A cheap camera plus a terrible photographer does not equal clear pictures... So... any ideas?







The only problem with it I've seen is that the heads of the screws that the bridge is mounted on are stripped, so I'm having quite a hard time adjusting the action... hopefully that is how you are supposed to adjust the action, if I'm wrong, please let me know, because I'm just going on common sense here. I've got no floating tremolo experience at all. What (I think) I've figured out is that the two large screws are to adjust the action, the adjustable saddles are for intonation, and the springs/screws in the rear cavity, like a normal tremolo, are to balance it. Is this right?

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Feb 4 2009, 01:30 AM

COngratulations man! Can we see some pictures of the whole guitar please?

Posted by: Zephyr Feb 4 2009, 01:35 AM

Well, yes. I'll do a review soon, too. Right now I'm just trying to figure the bridge out.

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Feb 4 2009, 02:47 AM

I'm glad you went for it man!

Congrats on your new axe

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