Hank Marvin Signature Strat?

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:24 pm

There's a weird second hand clothes shop in Scarborough which seems to specialise mostly in Hawaiian shirts, leather jackets and cowboy boots. I'd somehow never been in there until today, and while I was browsing I noticed they had a few guitars for sale, including Hank Marvin Strat for Â£185. I'm guessing this is pretty much a steal? I know virtually nothing about Strats, but it looks pretty rad. I can't seem to find much info online.

Is this a BUY NOW/THINK LATER situation? Apparently it's been sat in there for months so I don't think there's much of a rush.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:31 pm

Make sure it's genuine, and see if it's a Squier or a Fender.

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:35 pm

It's definitely a Fender (or at least it definitely says Fender rather than Squier on the headstock). The only details I can remember are that it said 'with synchronised tremolo' underneath the Fender logo, and it had Hank Marvin's signature on the round part of the headstock. And obviously the colour.

How can I judge whether it's genuine?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:44 pm

Have a good close look at it for any weird, cheapy bridge that'll be a giveaway if it's fake. Then buy it. If it turns out it's a fake, return it and quote the Sale of Goods Act. But mainly: buy it.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:00 pm

Does it have gold or chrome hardware?

One way or another, if it's not a Squier or a forgery, it's rare and well worth 200 pounds.

dude on the Fender Forums wrote: 1)The first one was a prototype made by the CS at the request of Arbiter according to the specs of HBM.
After some months, without any news from HBM, Arbiter gave the green light to the CS to build a first batch of 25.
Then HBM woke up and said no: Arbiter recalled all to retrofit them but 5 escaped So I own one of these "survivors".

2) In 1992 The HBM CS Signature Strat appeared : about 140 made. I had one I sold because of the deceiving sound

3) in 1995 the CS Scratch Autograph (they had two pickguards, one signed by HBM) HBM Strat appeared : 200 made. I still have one

4) in 1998 the CS 40th Anniversary HBM Strat appeared: 40 units, retrofitted by Arbiter with a led decorated neck

5) in 2008 Oasis Music (Arbiter is now out of the picture with Fender which has its own UK Office) tried to sell a 50th Anniversary HBM Strat , a batch of 25 but I haven't heard about them since last year; the one too many

6) Fender Japan issued an HBM Squier in 1992 : about 1500 were made; then two additional batches of 500

7) in 2000 a limited batch of HBM Strats MIM was released: about 200; they were delivered with an additional tremolo bar : the EasyMute. I had one which I sold after retrofitting it with Kinman pick ups.

As of today, that's all, as far as I know.

But each new series is depreciating the ones before: Limited + Limited+ Limited ..etc = Unlimited with all the resale consequences.
Greed Kills. Specially as the Market Target is very narrow: Old European Shadows Fans and Japanese ones. Most of the Shadows Fans can only afford one at best. Roughly an HBM CS Strat still fetches about US$ 7000

I hope it helps

Alain

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:14 pm

Silver hardware as far as I remember. I'll go back and have another look on Monday!

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:32 pm

benecol wrote:...quote the Sale of Goods Act.

This is an interesting point actually. They had it labelled as 'Hank Marvin Replica Guitar' so I guess it's ambiguous. I'm assuming they mean it's his signature guitar, and therefore presumably a replica of his own guitar.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:17 pm

As far as I remember his strat has gold hardware, but I could be wrong.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:01 pm

If it has "Fender" on the face of the headstock as well as the signature, surely that's a pretty good indication that it's not a rebranded Squier? I'd have thought that would be tricky to do, to remove the Squire logo, replace it with a Fender one, relacquer and have the lacquers melt so that it's not noticeable as fuck?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:19 pm

Could it be a squier hank marvin with the squier decal swapped?

http://www.vintage-guitars.se/1991-1992 ... L01258.htm

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:51 pm

^ this is what I was going to say... fender one had gold hardware.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:32 am

laterallateral wrote:
dude on the Fender Forums wrote:I had one I sold because of the deceiving sound

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:50 am

dezb1 wrote:^ this is what I was going to say... fender one had gold hardware.

From what I could gather, The MIM and US variants did have gold hardware but then, I found this:

Which is apparently a 1995 CIJ variant.

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 2:05 am

Never heard of those. I think the color and signature on the headstock would tell either way.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 2:13 am

Check if it has truss rod adjustment at the headstock or just a rosewood plug... and vintage style slotted Kluson-type tuners or modern 10mm jobbies. The neck on the Fender one is like a proper '50s RI whereas the Squier is just some salmon-coloured modern Strat.

Also check if the saddles say "Fender" on them, as the Squier ones don't because they aren't genuine Fender parts.