Hey DJ, You Ever See One Like This Before?
 

Wonder if you might recognize this Barn Find...?

didn't Dimebag Darrell have one of those?

Nope. This is the only one ever made like this. Figured our Jacksonville contact might know it....

Terrible Ted?

Nope, that's a Dean ML about 20+ years later. Dime was a middle schooler when this one toured the world.

Ive seen it but cant remember. Had to be with Skynnard, Hatchet, or 38.

You're in the right ballpark. It's a oneoff, custom made Hamer built when the player got sponsered by Hamer. A 1979, so out of the original Hamer factory and handmade too.....

I dont know who had it. Im so jet lagged right now that my google abilities suck very much bad.

A clue...

https://i.imgur.com/dTmNcI8.jpg

Hey Whiskey Man...:seasix:

Yep, that's it. Dave Hlubek from Molly Hatchet. So details about the guitar:

When Hamer sponsored Dave, they offered to build him any kind of custom guitar he wanted, and this was the design. It's the only one Hamer ever built, but spanned a large number of copies from Japan in particular. Hamer started to build "New Vintage" Guitars, the idea to be building guitars as good as what Fender and Gibson used to make and whose quality dropped a lot in the mid 70's. The company had only 4 workers/ owners/ employees total until 1980. This guitar was hand built in 1979 by those four, making it collectable as an early Hamer in it's own right. It's been played by Dave, DJB, Steve and a few others over the years. While it was toured HARD for many years, it is in amazing shape overall. Clear coat cracking and a little yellowing, but no major chips or dents anywhere. Even has it's original factory case.

*** Added edit- The pickups are hand wound Dimarzio pickups. Made by the man himself before he started his company to make pickups!

It currently belongs to somebody I know, as Dave passed away a few years ago. I'm working with him on COA and defining it's history so he can place it for auction in hopes of getting it to a future owner that will preserve it and it's legacy long term. I have played it, and it plays great, no wonder Dave could make it sing. Dave was often local in Orlando, and was such a nice, encouraging guy to me as a new player. To have played his most notable guitar was quite an honor.

Rather fitting I ask the Jacksonville musician about it and he's too tired to figure it out! I miss the days of the Allmans, Skynyrds, Hatchets Blackfoots, Axe and Outlaws...too many of the great players are gone now.

:cert:

[Paul Harvey] And now you know.....the REST of the story. Good day! [Paul Harvey]

I didn't appreciate Skynard as much in their heydey as I do now.....the "guitar army" created some of the best riffs in music....

Shit. I have pics with Dave before he died. Last time we talked, I was playing with a classic rock group called back in time band and the drummer took me over to meet a friend of his in the club. Dude was introduced, heard my name, and said, "Critter, from fleet reserve club, is that you? Yep. It was dave. Met Banner thomas there, too.

He was always friendly to everybody. Met Banner a number of times, and in the early days of internet was a MySpace friend who chatted with him often. I'm still sad that ALL the original Hatchet guys are gone, including Jimmy and Riff. The circuit of Florida clubs that made them all possible are long since gone too...

Hmmm....you remember Stranger out of Tampa?

Nope. Keep in mind, I don't remember much about the states before I moved back here in 1994 from Italy.

I do have the 1st of 4 original 5-string Peavey Bass guitars made for and owned by Tim Lindsey of Molly Hatchet. He doesn't want it back, but has agreed to sign it for me.