Hm Strats

[newbieguitarmaker]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you have ever played them or seen any custom guitar luthiers that make them. I just recently learned about the wonders of Greg Howe's fusion playing and when I saw this guitar I knew I had to have it hah

[Myst and rain]

Uhm, the Fender custom shop? I'm sure they'll be able to make that.

Alwin

[newbieguitarmaker]

yeah but they'd probably charge me like 3000 bucks compared to much cheaper if say Chris Woods made the guitar.

Literally I've been working and saving and selling to get another guitar and I've been playing around with a few ideas such as a custom Jem, custom Jackson soloist, Edwards, Caparison, and I was leaning towards a G&L Invader from Matt's Music but the Hm strat is like the answer to my prayers, it is like an Invader but 24 frets!! hah

btw does anyone know the scale of the neck? I thought you couldnt have a 24 fret strat without that weird hangover the fretboard does like on warmoth's and I didn't think you could order a custom from Fender custom shop, I thought that was just a name cause I've never seen an order form where you choose options

[Myst and rain]

"All HM strat US made models had a scale length of 25.15 inches (639mm) and a radius of 17 inches (431.8mm)."

^^
From Wikipedia's page on the HM Strat.

You'd probably be able to get a guitar like this made for, like, $2000 at the average custom shop, I think. The custom shop of Fender may be more expensive.

You know, you could also get one of these:



It's a current production model Strat. You could click on the pic for more info.

Alwin

[newbieguitarmaker]

the new one doesnt impress me, it is 21 frets and non recessed floyd and I'm pretty sure I could get it for less than 2k at an average custom shop, I mean from warmoth I figured out the price of this amazing soloist would be around $1400 and it had like quilted top and burst finish and ebony fretboard

[Myst and rain]

$1400? Wow, that's great!

Alwin

[newbieguitarmaker]

I'm surprised no1 else has any input, I guess I'll check out what some luthiers are doin and see if this is a possibility, also the strat in the pic with greg howe has a pickgaurd and it looks as if it is a thinner neck so I'm guessing this is a pure custom

[waylay00]

HM Strats are great. One of my old friends had one (don't know if he still does), and it was awesome. White finish, ebony board, Kahler Spyder, 24 frets, etc...

Edit: It was just like e-Bay item 170194214381

[rlintz]

John Suhr is now building 24 fret models. Check out some details here. Great quality but will likely cost you in excess of $2K.

You might also want to check out USA Custom Guitars - they're much like Warmoth and have a cool virtual guitar builder.

I'd also check into ESP as they have a custom shop and build nice stuff also.

Good luck!

[newbieguitarmaker]

thanks man, I actually love Esp's vintage headstock, even though it isn't original fender looking it still looks sweet and the Suhr is one bad mofo

edit: man the Esp custom shop's like cheapest you can order a guitar for is like 4k, at least from the online quote, a real quote will probably be less, I'd hope

[Brosa]

I have a Fender 1988 HM strat. One of the best playing guitars you can get

This is how they look:

[DannyB819]

You can sometimes find the original HM Strats on the 'bay. When the originally came out, I was about 9 years old and thought that Kramer was the center of the guitar universe so I never played them in the stores.

Last year, I was tooling around in the Hollywood GC, and they had one up on the wall. It was pink, with a maple board, HSS config (with no pickguard) and a Kahler Steeler locking trem. I friggin' loved this guitar. The only two other Fenders I ever liked enough to buy were the SRV model (which I still have with a swapped out pickguard) and the Clapton model (which I never actually bought because I didn't like the pickups, but loved the neck), but this HM strat was awesome. It had a rail humbucker in the neck (which I'm seemed aftermarket) and some wear on the fingerboard, but it played like a dream. The price was a little high ($900) for a 17 year old guitar with major paint and fingerboard problems, but it was a really nice guitar. I would've picked it up for $500 and refinished it myself.

If you really dig those guitars, though - you can find them on the 'bay or even build one yourself from Warmoth parts. Just go with the contoured heel, wider nut width, recessed Floyd, and rear route.

Cheers,
Danny

[Brosa]

Also, you can buy a used Fender HM for about 500/ 600 dollars at evilbay.

I scalloped the guitar myself in 1997 with the luthier tools from my grandfather. I still love this guitar. I highly recommend a Fender HM if you play fusion/ rock.

[newbieguitarmaker]

so how does it have 24 frets and no hangover like what warmoth does? does it have the middle pickup lowered and a neck joint that goes lower?
edit: also I know most of them had Kahler Spyder trems, would that swap with an Ofr because I'd like a trem that is still being made so I can service it easier

[Brosa]

Originally Posted by newbieguitarmaker

1. so how does it have 24 frets and no hangover like what warmoth does?
2. does it have the middle pickup lowered and a neck joint that goes lower?
3. also I know most of them had Kahler Spyder trems, would that swap with an Ofr because I'd like a trem that is still being made so I can service it easier

1. Sorry, i have no clue.
2. You can lower the middle pick-up that with a screwdriver. The neck joint is a mix between the old Ibanez neck joints and the new ones. I never had any problems with it what so ever.
3. No swap with an OFR. The OFR is wider.