Question for you guys

Howdy. I have a "hot pink" 1986 or 87 Invader with a Kahler trem. It's pretty much the guitar being played in the ad from back then.

I traded a black and gold stripped EVH Charvel guitar for it about 20+ years ago, when I felt I'd outgrown that guitar.

From what I've read on the Internet, this model wasn't as popular as it could have been, which leads me to wonder as to the value of this guitar...I'm not selling it, or trading it away - the single coil sounds are fantastic. The bucker is a little bright for my tastes - so I tend to lower the treble on the amp and increase bass to compensate for all that brightness. Anyway: I have never seen anyone that lives in my area own or play one of these guitars. Are they collectable? Do they fetch a good price? One day, I'll end up leaving my instruments to my son, and I want him to be informed.

Thanks for any information you can provide!

The 80's invaders a great guitars ( I have 2 , one was hot pink! ),
they haven't found the collectors niche like some of the other Leo-era instruments ,
but I bet they will go up in collectors/resale value over the next decade. especially if they are stcok with the original finish.
(so many of those pink guitars where repainted, but we know trends tend to come back as nostalgia hits the aging
players out there.

Most invaders go for 400-700 depending on cond./case/etc. .I bought both my beater invaders for about 200 each...
one must have had 7 coats of paint...from brown to gold sparkle ...eventually pink was below it all)

I don't have a blue book, so these are just guesses. Maybe someday folks who want a leo-era rampage and can't afford the
1000+ price tag they can bring, will start searching out us lucky invader owners and start making some good offers .
They ARE killer guitars !!

How about a pic or three?
and Welcome !!
Elwood

I've been tempted by several old Invaders, but haven't found the right one yet. They seem to sell pretty consistently in the $500-$700 range, but the ones I've seen have all been black with a lot of finish wear.

I'm not sure why, but I rarely see G&L superStrats that don't have spots worn through to the wood at the forearm contour and just below the high E string. On the other hand, none of my other mid-80s G&Ls (or others I've seen) have those same wear spots.

Ken

The 80's invaders a great guitars ( I have 2 , one was hot pink! ),
they haven't found the collectors niche like some of the other Leo-era instruments ,
but I bet they will go up in collectors/resale value over the next decade. especially if they are stcok with the original finish.
(so many of those pink guitars where repainted, but we know trends tend to come back as nostalgia hits the aging
players out there.

Most invaders go for 400-700 depending on cond./case/etc. .I bought both my beater invaders for about 200 each...
one must have had 7 coats of paint...from brown to gold sparkle ...eventually pink was below it all)

I don't have a blue book, so these are just guesses. Maybe someday folks who want a leo-era rampage and can't afford the
1000+ price tag they can bring, will start searching out us lucky invader owners and start making some good offers .
They ARE killer guitars !!

How about a pic or three?
and Welcome !!
Elwood

Repainted? That's blasphemy, to me. Mine has the original color to it. I like my stuff to remain stock. I don't replace pickups or other parts. Rather than call it "hot pink," I just call it "Salmon pink." I'll post some pics of it as soon as I can. The guitar is in really good condition, considering it's age - but my guitars stay in the case until I play them. I like them to stay as shiny and new looking as possible.

Thanks for the welcome!

200? My goodness, that's quite the deal you got there.

I think that, based on the fact that these didn't sell so well - and I have no idea why - supply and demand would dictate a future shortage of this guitar. Low supply and high demand = a more valuable instrument. I'd hang onto the two you've got. I'm hanging onto mine.

I've been tempted by several old Invaders, but haven't found the right one yet. They seem to sell pretty consistently in the $500-$700 range, but the ones I've seen have all been black with a lot of finish wear.

I'm not sure why, but I rarely see G&L superStrats that don't have spots worn through to the wood at the forearm contour and just below the high E string. On the other hand, none of my other mid-80s G&Ls (or others I've seen) have those same wear spots.

Ken

Mine still looks pretty close to new. I do have a weird issue with the finish on the back of the guitar. It's not worn away - but the finish almost looks like it has moved (I can't think of a better way to describe it) in a weird way.

Well...

My Windows phone isn't showing up on my pc as a device, and that's where I've got my pictures of the guitar.

Not sure how to get it to show up in device manager or my computer to post pics. Maybe sometime soon, I'll get it out here.

It's in great shape, though. There isn't even belt buckle wear on the back of it.

It's not mint, but it's very close.

Prices of Leo-era instruments have recently increased in commercial value and I believe they will only continue to do so... it may take some time but its simple supply & demand. The overall production numbers were relatively low compared to Fender's and Gibson's output back in the day so this coupled with more people getting hep to them I feel will spur things on...

There already is the big price difference btw Leo-era & 90's BBE models and that gap will continue to grow..True the company today is putting out great stuff but most if not all the original appointments have been done away with. By definition of the word Vintage they are becoming just that..... funny to think of 80's Super Strats being vintage....

Nitro cellulose finishes were used up until '85. Many of the early models have that tell tale odour... yours may be bit late for that but who knows??

One last thing - Al ot of folk cringe at some of the colours (I dig em)... think they forget - IT WAS THE 80'S !!!

Cheers,
KF

Here's one to that won't sell at that price...I believe the seller when he says it's stellar guitar,
that'll happen...but he needs to buy more G&L's and I am sure he would find some have what he's liking without a multi-$1000 price tag.
He does mention the sweet vanilla-esque scent of the nitro.

Now if it didn't have those silly single coils installed and extra switches I could see it bringing 4-5000,

at least he'll get to play his fave for a long time at that price...maybe he should look for that F-100 that was going for a few grand ( at least there was a picture with leo and the guitar with that auction. )

ok... /rant...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-G-L-Invade ... 4170484205

Here's one to that won't sell at that price...I believe the seller when he says it's stellar guitar,
that'll happen...but he needs to buy more G&L's and I am sure he would find some have what he's liking without a multi-$1000 price tag.
He does mention the sweet vanilla-esque scent of the nitro.

Now if it didn't have those silly single coils installed and extra switches I could see it bringing 4-5000,

at least he'll get to play his fave for a long time at that price...maybe he should look for that F-100 that was going for a few grand ( at least there was a picture with leo and the guitar with that auction. )

ok... /rant...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-G-L-Invade ... 4170484205

The fact that the headstock is painted - and painted right over the G & L logo tells me that someone is trying to hide something. I'd be willing to bet that that is a fresh paint job on top of hot pink, with a nice pack of lies to cover up the whole thing.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that price seems a bit...high for that one.

YEah, that may be but ya gotta remember its eBay and the sky's the limit as they say... can't fault a guy for trying....

Elwood - true - I think the 1 3/4 (nut width) neck plays a big factor in what he's talking about.. My salmon pink Rampage had the same style neck and the thing sustained for days.
Never experienced that on a guitar with Kahler...

I'm always very wary when someone says they have lots of guitars, yet they are selling the one they claim is the best. Do you know anyone in 'real life' who would do that?
I haven't tried, but with Google's image matching technology it may be possible to find out if it was played by/made for anyone famous if they were photographed using it. I fear it was a kids project...

Hello Guys,
Let me clear up a couple of items here, I'm not sure how long after '85 the nitro was replaced by urethane, but nitro was used through '85. I can't remember exactly when we began to use the two part urethane base coats ( '84 or '85 ) but we were still using the nitro colors and topcoats at least through the end of '85. I left G&L at the Christmas break of that year and I'm sure there were changes that occurred after that because Lloyd and Dale would have gotten more involved in the finish department after that.
The Invader on E Bay was NOT painted in my department. That finish is amateur all the way. If the guitar is an '85 I can assure you it did not leave my department looking like that. One of the pictures on the neck heel shows the orange peel from what is probably a puff can paint job. This is not the first time I have seen amateur work on E Bay that someone claims was done in the factory.
Vintage '86, I would like to see a picture of the "moving finish", that sounds strange. Maybe I can shed some light on why it looks that way.
Hope this helps,
Fred

Very Cool Fred - appreciate you chiming in...

Cheers,
KF

Katefan,
No problem, I always worry about these listings that misrepresent G&L because it makes the real ones more suspect to potential buyers. I wrote the owner and he wrote back saying he had modified the listing but he did not post my e mail. His change of description is barely noticeable that I can see. Oh well, at least now if he does sell it ( fat chance ) he will have to live with the fact that he disregarded the warning about passing on an embellished story.
Fred

I'm always very wary when someone says they have lots of guitars, yet they are selling the one they claim is the best. Do you know anyone in 'real life' who would do that?

Nope, not a one. Why sell your best?

I haven't tried, but with Google's image matching technology it may be possible to find out if it was played by/made for anyone famous if they were photographed using it. I fear it was a kids project...

I don't think it's worth your time or effort.

It's a sham and a shame that someone would try to pull that.

Hello Guys,
Let me clear up a couple of items here, I'm not sure how long after '85 the nitro was replaced by urethane, but nitro was used through '85. I can't remember exactly when we began to use the two part urethane base coats ( '84 or '85 ) but we were still using the nitro colors and topcoats at least through the end of '85. I left G&L at the Christmas break of that year and I'm sure there were changes that occurred after that because Lloyd and Dale would have gotten more involved in the finish department after that.
The Invader on E Bay was NOT painted in my department. That finish is amateur all the way. If the guitar is an '85 I can assure you it did not leave my department looking like that. One of the pictures on the neck heel shows the orange peel from what is probably a puff can paint job. This is not the first time I have seen amateur work on E Bay that someone claims was done in the factory.
Vintage '86, I would like to see a picture of the "moving finish", that sounds strange. Maybe I can shed some light on why it looks that way.
Hope this helps,
Fred

Ah, my phone camera isn't all that great, and, believe it or not, I've yet to buy a digital camera.

The "movement," if you will, is under the clear coat. I doubt if it's movement at all. What it is is that the finish isn't a consistent color, and there are a couple of lines there. I keep my good guitars cased up at all times (other than when I'm playing them, of course). I don't play this one as often as my others. I'm not sure why. It's not the color. I don't care what people think of a pink guitar. It's a quality axe. No one notices, because no one can see it. It's not like it's some horrible thing. It's just an odd thing - especially so, because, as far as I can tell, it happened in the case (which isn't a G & L case - that didn't come with the trade-in), during a semi-long time of being in the case. It is three semi-circular lines, right where belt-buckle damage usually happens. Two long ones, with a very small one between. They end at the bevel and just about reach the control cavity. They're sort of an orangish color. No big deal, and I'm certainly not complaining about them. There is no nick in the finish anywhere on the back of the guitar, so, whatever happened, it happened on its' own. If I can, I'll post pics.

I'm not concerned in the least. I just found it interesting.

I have a couple of mid-80s G&Ls with odd marks on the back. I'm getting ready for work right now and don't have time to take/post photos, but I will try to do it tonight if I have any energy left. One of the guitars is a black '86 Superhawk, which I initially thought had been dabbed all over the back with black nail polish. The color is consistent, but there are big lumpy splotches all over the back - almost like the guitar has a rash. Another is my white '84 Interceptor Bass, which has a stain under the finish in an inverted "U" shape. I think one of my others has a faint mark like this as well, but I would need to look them over.

I think these most likely came from being left on stands by previous owners.

Ken

Wow. I've learned quite a bit about my guitar since my first post here. I'm going to check the S/N when I get home. Based on the trem on it, and the color/options, I would think that, whomever ordered this guitar back then, got it after looking at that ad, because it's got the black hardware (at an additional expense, according to the ad).

My Windows phone is a pain in the @$$, but I sent a few pictures of the guitar to my Internet email address. I'll see if I can post them a bit later tonight, because they still haven't sent yet.

Looking at G & L production for just guitars between 1985 and 1987 - they didn't produce nearly the quantity that I thought they would have. Now I know why I've not seen anyone with one of these guitars. They're kind of rare. I'd like to congratulate the younger me, but he didn't have a clue, other than he (me) liked the way it sounded, and the fact that I could turn any pickups on or off.

Anyways, I'm hoping my stupid phone managed to send the pics to my Internet email account.

S/N: CO16379. 1986 model.

Now I've got some pictures, but I have no idea how to post them on here. I click Img, the tags appear, but I don't know how to upload the pictures into the thread here. I can't just copy them in...

Ah, I found the tutorial in the G & L porn forum. That will take me that much longer...

S/N: CO16379. 1986 model.

FYI, the first letter is undoubtedly a 'G' for Guitar, and the second is the numeral 0. And it has not been entered in the Registry yet

- Jos

S/N: CO16379. 1986 model.

FYI, the first letter is undoubtedly a 'G' for Guitar, and the second is the numeral 0. And it has not been entered in the Registry yet

- Jos

Also, check this post in the G&L Knowledgebase: Serial number significance.

S/N: CO16379. 1986 model.

FYI, the first letter is undoubtedly a 'G' for Guitar, and the second is the numeral 0. And it has not been entered in the Registry yet

- Jos

Thanks. It was awfully hard to read. It's stamped on the plate where the neck joins the body. I'll add it in.