Any ideas on this one

[Brian Brown]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1984-1985-ROBIN-STRATOCASTER-HUMBUCKERS-GUITAR-VINTAGE_W0QQi temZ7414815984QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrd Z1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/1984-1985-ROBIN-STRATOCASTER-HUMBUCKERS-GUITAR-VINTAGE_W0QQitemZ7414815984QQcategoryZ2384QQssPage NameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

This is mine and I'm thinking about selling it but now I've got all these questions about where it came from. I don't know. It was a gift and I've loved it for 20 years.

[BCRGreg]

Wanna trade for something?

[Brian Brown]

I'm wanting a real Strat. American, rosewood fretboard, medium jumbo frets, 60's C neck, and the body has to have the individual pup routing. Color and such dont really matter. Got anything close? http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2986.jpghttp://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2987.jpg

[BCRGreg]

Nope.

I tend to avoid Fenders.

[Aldo Roldan]

i am curios greg, why do you avoid fenders?

[Brian Brown]

Can you tell me anything about this Robin? Model? Origin? Are there any places to look for specific markings? I have now learned the serial number system. Is there anything else? Should I insure it or is it just a great playing cheapy? I have taken it off of eBay because I have found the strat I've been looking for and it didn't cost what I expected.

[Brian Presley]

It's a 1982 RH-2 BB (BB is black) with rosewood fingerboard. The tremolo does not look stock and the string retainer on the headstock is after-market. As far as I know, the only string retainers used were the 2-string barrel or the button type, which can be seen on the 1982 catalog at

http://www.robinguitars.com/1982.html

These were MIJ by Tokai and the serial #'s were randomly assigned so the system used by the USA built Robin's doesn't apply.

I own 2 of these with maple necks. My modified RH-2 (Batman) is posted on this site at
http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2345.html?1136262374

the other arrived courtesy of Ken Jones who was able to provide me with a matching, all original RH-2 BB/maple to go with Batman.

If you are still thinking about getting rid of it, we can talk. FYI- These don't bring a lot of cash like the USA Robin's.

Questions:
Do you have the original case, or any other original parts for it?
Is there a "TM" next to the "N" in the Robin headstock logo?

Brian Presley
fastelvis@everestkc.net

[Brian Brown]

The case they gave my wife when she bought it is the Washburn that I still have. NO Robin case. The trem block snapped in half a long time ago. It was a real cheap cast piece. It came off a Kramer or Hamer or some simular. It works and is made of steel. No TM next to Robin. I hate locking nuts so I had it trashed when the new bridge was installed. Had a bone put on. The retainer I think was just something he found that ended up working quite well. It uses the same holes as the old locking nut.
Do you have any info on the pups? I'm not super happy with them. They are a little too tinny to me. This guitar is heavy too. Maybe 10# or more. I've decided to keep it. It may not be worth much but it would be expensive to replace. Thanks for the info and I'm glad I found this site. I'll be around.

[Ken Jones]

The pickups are probably not original. Guitars from this era did not have covers.

If the pickups are original, the bobbins would be "zebra" and they would be "Tokai '57 PAFs". When these guitars came from Japan, the pickups still had the "PAF" stickers on the bottom - they removed these stickers from the bottom of the pickup before selling the guitars. They didn't want the guitar to say "Tokai" on it anywhere. If you look closely, you might see a little rectangle of residue on the bottom of the pickup from the old sticker.

Also - is the high "E" tuner bent? I'd say 20-30% of all of these early Robins have that tuner bent. The tuners should say "Robin" on the back.

Do you still have the "Robin" bridge saddles from the old bridge?

[BCRGreg]

"i am curios greg, why do you avoid fenders?"

They suck.

To me.

Your mileage may vary.

[John Dubeski]

Greg, don't bottle up your feelings...express yourself!

[BCRGreg]

Not a fan.

[John Dubeski]

That's why Dave and many other fine luthiers exsist! Diversity,Man! I had the same tele for 13 years till I took the plunge...and now I'm 3 Robins deep in the line up. Ol' Red is starting to look lonely.