Showmaster/HM Heavy Metal, BEST FAVORITE FEATURES COMPARISON

chromeface · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:45 pm

Not all Showmasters were thru-necks.

Some USA-made Showmasters (such as the Custom Shop Standard and the Highway One) were bolt-ons, while others employed a set-neck construction.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

chromeface wrote:

Not all Showmasters were thru-necks.
Some USA-made Showmasters (such as the Custom Shop Standard and the Highway One) were bolt-ons, while others employed a set-neck construction.

Quickly reading, neck-through guitars cost more and are harder to build.
Does this mean that the Showmasters with a neck-though design are
better made guitars that Showmaster without and HM Heavy Metal guitars?

Are neck-though guitars "adjustable" or allow for "neck adjustments"

Because of the past two comments, looks like we have
three (3) main guitars to discuss within this thread:
1) Fender HM Heavy Metal guitars with bolt-on necks
2) Fender Showmasters with bolt-on necks
3) Fender Showmasters with neck-thru body foundations

Back to the main thread question: Laid side-by-side next to each other,
and with all pickups removed, which is the better made guitar:
1) 1988-1992 24-fret HM Heavy Metal Guitars
2) 1998-2009 24-fret Showmaster Guitars
3) 2000s era 24-fret Showmaster Guitars with the neck-through body

Any of the three known to be "near custom shop" quality?
Have a better reputation?
Have known production problems?

Thanks for any input. Toppscore

chromeface · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:01 pm

Showmasters had a much better reputation than the HM series. These guitars are regarded as Fender's first serious attempt to enter the superstrat legacy.

Squier Showmasters (aka Stagemasters) were made in China and retailed for $499.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

chromeface wrote:

Showmasters had a much better reputation than the HM series. These guitars are regarded as Fender's first serious attempt to enter the superstrat legacy.

Squier Showmasters (aka Stagemasters) were made in China and retailed for $499.

Thanks, Chromeface. the "reputation legacy" is what I'm seeking.

Question: don't you think the earlier HM Heavy Metal Strats were the first
flirtation with Super Strats for Fender? Why is the later produced
Showmaster considered the first "serious" attempt in your opinion?
Toppscore

chromeface · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:13 am

Found a Wiki article about the Showmaster series, unfortunately the text was changed since.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

Wiki or not,
Don't you think the 1988-1992 HM Heavy Metal Strats
were the first Fender flirtation into Super Stratdom?
Toppscore

chromeface · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:03 am

Yep, but the HM series was not a huge success.

The first "real" and successful Fender superstrat was the Showmaster.

Quote:

During the 1980s, superstrats were becoming popular amongst the many hard rock and metal guitarists, who needed the modifications to suit their individual playing styles. Soon, many guitar manufacturers began producing instruments with these modifications as standard. Most notable were the manufacturers Ibanez, Jackson/Charvel, Carvin and Yamaha. However, Fender itself had limited success thereabout. This was partially due to Fender's previous CBS ownership, which caused a drastic loss in Fender's quality and market share. The Showmaster is hence its most recent foray into the superstrat niche, and was introduced in 1998. Gene Baker, the Senior Master Builder of Fender's Custom Shop at the time, was responsible for the creation of this set-neck, carved top instrument. Early Showmaster models (prototypes) were originally labeled as Stratocasters on their headstocks and are very rare.

rkreisher · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:34 am

chromeface wrote:

Yep, but the HM series was not a huge success.

The first "real" and successful Fender superstrat was the Showmaster.

Quote:

During the 1980s, superstrats were becoming popular amongst the many hard rock and metal guitarists, who needed the modifications to suit their individual playing styles. Soon, many guitar manufacturers began producing instruments with these modifications as standard. Most notable were the manufacturers Ibanez, Jackson/Charvel, Carvin and Yamaha. However, Fender itself had limited success thereabout. This was partially due to Fender's previous CBS ownership, which caused a drastic loss in Fender's quality and market share. The Showmaster is hence its most recent foray into the superstrat niche, and was introduced in 1998. Gene Baker, the Senior Master Builder of Fender's Custom Shop at the time, was responsible for the creation of this set-neck, carved top instrument. Early Showmaster models (prototypes) were originally labeled as Stratocasters on their headstocks and are very rare.

Only because they were so expensive for the time period. Otherwise I would have bought one then instead of the Squier version.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

chromeface wrote:

Yep, but the HM series was not a huge success.
The first "real" and successful Fender superstrat was the Showmaster.

Quote:

During the 1980s, superstrats were becoming popular amongst the many hard rock and metal guitarists, who needed the modifications to suit their individual playing styles. Soon, many guitar manufacturers began producing instruments with these modifications as standard. Most notable were the manufacturers Ibanez, Jackson/Charvel, Carvin and Yamaha. However, Fender itself had limited success thereabout. This was partially due to Fender's previous CBS ownership, which caused a drastic loss in Fender's quality and market share. The Showmaster is hence its most recent foray into the superstrat niche, and was introduced in 1998. Gene Baker, the Senior Master Builder of Fender's Custom Shop at the time, was responsible for the creation of this set-neck, carved top instrument. Early Showmaster models (prototypes) were originally labeled as Stratocasters on their headstocks and are very rare.

Cannot argue too much.
"had limited success" refers to the HM Heavy Metal
"most recent foray" stands out as the Showmaster is in the realm of "Super Strat"

So, gotta say Fender gave Super Strat a try from 1988-1992 for five years.
Five years is nothing to scoff at.

Then they had a 1998-2009 successful twelve year run with the Showmaster.

Therefore, since nobody will flat out state it,
I am assuming the Showmaster is a better built guitar compared to the HM Heavy Metal.
(and I am not considering any pickup within this comparison, just build & component quality).
Toppscore

seattleman1969 · **Joined:** Thu Oct 11, 2012 1:33 pm **Posts:** 3

I personally own a showmaster QMT HH from 2006 and I love it. Of course I have made some improvements to it that make it awesome now.

1. Replaced the stock nut with a LSR Roller Nut
2. replaced the Bridge pearly gate that sounded thin and shrill to me with a Duncan Custom Five
3. Replaced the stock two point trem with the Guitar fetish USA Strat- 2 point Hardened Steel Tremolo System and replaced th steel block on that with the guitar fetish brass block.
4. Replaced the Stock tuners and string trees with Locking Schallers and roller trees.
5. Placed a Goeldo black box trem stabilizer device in the spring cavity

All hardware replaced with gold.....

All of this accomplished three primary things:

1. Stabilized tuning issues, especially when using the trem and allow the trem to float still
2. VASTLY increased sustain and tonal character
3. Made it purty with all that shiny gold hardware!

My Showmaster is my favorite guitar now, hands down. And for the entry price ($300 used plus $225 in parts and some time to install) I get a guitar that is far and away as capable, if not more so, than any Jackson Soloist, Kramer Stagemaster, etc. I have played.

seattleman1969 · **Joined:** Thu Oct 11, 2012 1:33 pm **Posts:** 3

Toppscore wrote:

[quote="chromeface"

3) 2000s era 24-fret Showmaster Guitars with the neck-through body

[/b]

THIS

auxsend · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:28 am

I own an '89 fender HM Strat. Was pink, now Blue. It's my favorite guitar I've ever played.

It is all stock, including the mystical prototype dimarzio super distortion pickup, and the patent pending Kahler Spyder bridge.

I basically only use the humbucker, and it's a beast of a pickup.

TEXASBLUEZMAN · **Posted:** Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:26 pm

I've seen an HM on CL recently. I've always wanted one, but it is pink! I'm sorry, but I'll never buy a pink guitar in this day and age. I've got standards you know.

Edit: Here it is: http://houston.craigslist.org/msg/3320868372.html

Appears to be a 24 fret USA. Not a bad price. Just a bad color, IMHO.

Arjun_M · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:00 am

I'd like a super-strat (or superstrat) by Fender, with all the features- 24 frets, double-locking two-way trem, at least a bridge humbucker. Here are the prime requirements-

Made in USA (or made in Japan AND USA)
Alder body (definitely not basswood)
24 frets
Double-locking trem of the Floyd/Schaller/GOTOH/Kahler variety
Bridge humbucker needed, neck humbucker better, HSH best- but not a one-humbucker pony.
A regular switching system, or Big Apple switching on HH
Any colour that's not black, bubblegum pink or white.

A few contenders that I have located-

Fender Showmaster Highway-One
Fender HM Strat 1988
Fender HM Strat 1989
Heartfield Talon by Fender

Here are my questions before this hunt-

What am I looking for, and what's the right guitar?
Where can I find it? They're difficult to catch on Guitar Center and eBay, and I have no experience using Craigslist.
What do I check with the seller? I can, hopefully, trace serial numbers.
What work will be needed once I get it shipped home?

chromeface · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:04 am

Only the CS can build your dream metal axe.

Prices are prohibitive unless you've enough bucks to place an inquiry for a Custom Shop Showmaster® guitar at your local showcase dealer.

Quote:

HSH best

I strongly recommend an HHH setup with coil tapping/splitting abilities. You'll get a wide spectrum of killer tones. :wink:

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