Any of you have an 80's Fender HM Strat?

[PowerTube]

You know, the one with the huge word "Strat" across the headstock, as favored and advertised by Greg Howe? If so, what do you think of it? Also, what's your opinion of the Kahler Spyder trem (licensed Floyd, I assume)?

[Carbuff]

Ive got a pink one with a maple board. I will never part with it. Ive never had any problems with the kahler but I dont really wank on it too much . I love the super 3 in the bridge. Mine is supposedly mij because it has the smaller pots and white plastic 5-way switch. Ive had it since the early '90s. Bought if from a friend who said it was "firewood".

[85 San Dimas]

I think its a helluva shred guitar for the money. The Kahler is a really good trem. Equal to the Charvel model series easily and with that headstock a bit more traditional appearing (no pointy).

[Axewielder]

Cool guitars! The tbx tone knob is a bit weird, and the spyder is hard to get parts for, though.

[horns666]

I have the TBX treble boost on my Floyd Rose American Classic. I use a smidge of boost from flat. It sounds good thru the darker Uber but not thru the Marshall. Cool geetar..Greg Howe used those for years.

[straycat]

I've had several and all were great.Very nice players love the spyder trems too.

[Dave L]

I had a white MIJ one years ago, I got it basically for a song from a local guy. It was a very solid guitar; good tone, great playability and nice workmanship. The sad thing is that the Kahler was absolutely shot, and I didn´t have the patience or internetz skillz to hunt down parts back then. I think my cousin still uses it with the bridge fully blocked, however.

Anyhoo, today I would gladly buy another... but prices seem to have gone up a bit.

[nhspike]

I love mine!
This was one of the last series, made with leftover Heartfield parts but with real Floyd, and Dimarzio's, etc.



All of these are killer guitars, and getting harder to find in nice (un-modded) condition!

[DonP]

Ive got a pink one with a maple board. I will never part with it. Ive never had any problems with the kahler but I dont really wank on it too much . I love the super 3 in the bridge. Mine is supposedly mij because it has the smaller pots and white plastic 5-way switch. Ive had it since the early '90s. Bought if from a friend who said it was "firewood".

I have the same EXACT one. Bought it for a song because the electronics were all jacked with (amature).

It sat in my closet for two years, until a couple of weeks ago when I decided to put a BKP warpig in it (got the warpig for free with a used ESP purchase).

I was floored - played and sounded AWESOME. Nailed tones from many 80's bands, mainly Maiden (and I'm a huge Maiden fan). It's got that wah in the right spot, and a nice bass response. The neck has a 17" radius which is nice and flat. The trem came blocked and I don't have a bar, so I haven't used it yet. The guitar itself is light and resonant. About the only downside is the color, but damn if it isn't fun to play! I was haven't a blast with this (the Les Paul and SL2H were sitting idle). I'm one that usually hates bolt ons (because neck thrus have more sustain)

I'm at a crossroads - I have a Super3 that I was going to use to put it back to stock, but it sounds so good as is. I still need some single coils for it as well (or hotrails or JB Jr etc). The reason I didn't put the Super3 in was that it was drilled for a direct mount. Carbuff (Thanks!) sent me the nuts but I haven't had the time to solder them onto the Super3 and get it running.

I think Econ had an HM Strat as well. He had Slash cut up a new body for it, but I'm not sure where it went from there.

All in all, I was pretty impressed. I would be very curious to see how these would compare to a new Charvel production model.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I had one back in the 80's; black single humbucker, in between some Kramers and Charvels. It was a good player, for sure.

[PowerTube]

Thanks for the input, guys. About three weeks ago, I bought my first ever Fender product (seriously), a Fender Bullet Stratocaster with the H-S-S config. It actually has a nice feel to it. For over ten years, an HM Strat sat in a music store near me brand new. The guy just couldn't move it because there isn't much of a metal/shredder market around here. I called them yesterday and it's now gone.

But if I run across one somewhere, I'm interested.

Nhspike..... is your original Floyd stock or did you install it and replace the Spyder? If so, do the posts line up for an original Floyd? I happen to have an original black Floyd I can spare if I find an HM.

[Rupe]

These were all made in Japan. They were great guitars for sure...blew away the competing Charvel Model Series IMO.

[Dave L]

I´m pretty sure the Spyder uses a different post spacing than the OFR. IIRC the only Kahler that has the OFR spacing is the Steeler.

[DonP]

Spike's is most likely original. Kahler went belly up (which pissed off Fender), so they bought Floyd and retrofitted the models with Floyds.

[heartfielder]

Spike's has an original Floyd Rose PRO on it. It was standard at the time as were the Dimarzio humbuckers. I should know, he got it from me !!! He He !!!