Every guitarist has that one special guitar that they wished they had back. It might be because it was a sentimental gift, maybe it was sold to pay the bills, or maybe you just didn't realize how much you loved that guitar until it was gone. These are the stories of the ones that got away. Most of them are my own stories, but send me your stories as well and they just might get published here.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
1984 Fender Flame
Story submitted by Alex Herrlein
Back when I was in high school, the place to buy guitars was the Starving Musican in Santa Clara, CA. I think it has changed some over the years, but, in the early and mid-'90s, it had a lot of used gear at good prices. I was ready to move up from my first guitar (an Ibanez Roadstar in white, with a black neck from another Ibanez) to a better one. I saw a 1984 Fender Flame and figured since it said "Fender" and was black (which was where my heavy-metal color preferences fell in those days) it had to be good.
The price tag was $250, and I got $75 in trade from the Ibanez. These guitars were supposedly made only in 1984 in Japan, around the time when Fender wasn't doing any American production. They made a very similar Esprit and eventually they became the Robben Ford model. I guess the idea was to compete more with Gibson, since this had humbuckers, a set neck, a quasi-Tune-o-matic bridge, and a slightly arched top like a Les Paul. From what I heard, the slightly smaller humbuckers were made by Schaller, and I think the tuners and bridge were too. I believe the body was alder with a maple top. It was gleaming black, with cream binding around the body, neck, and headstock.
Too nice for a high schooler's second guitar, but there you have it.
I didn't care for the stock humbucker, which I thought was kind of muddy, so I had Starving Musician replace the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan Hot Soapbar P-90, which I believe fit pretty closely. That was my main guitar in my high school band, but got less play afterwards when it became the backup to a 1979 Gibson "The SG," which I still have. Predictably, it played great and was well-made. I sold it for $300 a few years later to a friend and band mate who I believe still has it. I've considered contacting him to buy it back, but I decided to let it go.
Note: this picture is not of mine, but looks just the same.
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5 comments:
Freaky, I'm in Santa Cruz to adopt a baby. I went to Union Grove Music last night. Still haven't made it to Starving Musician.
Also my first real guitar was a Gibson "The SG". I sold it ten years later and still want to buy it back.
Hey, send us the story of your "The SG." Thanks for reading. - Jaimie
I just heard back from the current owner of this guitar. I don't think I can afford to buy it back. So it goes.
About this car guitar when it was brand new back in 84 I think it was at a music store in Lodi California just south of Sacramento I've been playing it ever since I playing a classic rock band and I've been doing it for over 35 years rock still playing the same guitar has a little road rash it's all original and still sounds really great I would not trade it for anything I'll send you some pics if you want me to
1984 Fender Flame Tobacco Sunburst with case and spare F-top knob for auction on 15 March 2024 at Lacy Scot and Knight
https://www.lskauctioncentre.co.uk/auction/lot/526-a-1984-fender-flame-master-series-electric/?lot=561809
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