I have to admit I knew very little about Daion or the Headhunter, but it's on its way to me from Guitar Center in Pittsburgh. I did a little interwebs homework and decided it's worth taking a chance. Worst case scenario, I'll return it locally and be out the $19.62 in shipping. Guitar Center's description was far off in describing it, so I imagine they really didn't know how to price it. I imagine someone inherited it and traded it in, which typically works out well for me.
So here's what I know. It was made in Japan in roughly 1982 and people rant about its build quality for its price way back then. It has individual coil taps and a brass nut, so I expect it will sound a lot like 1982. Guitar Center had it priced about 1/3 less than the lower end asking prices for these in righty mode. This one being a lefty makes it a lot more rare, and those righties are considered rare-ish. It has a center block of maple sandwiched between spruce, and that center block is routed with 10 "sound grooves". We'll see how that plays out.
I saw a lot of people raving about these, and some people looking for one without finding. That was really what made me take the chance. I did see one guy suggesting to swap the pickups but keep the originals around, and of course that's always an option if I love the guitar but hate the tone. The others I saw around the web all had original pickups though, so maybe they're good after all. If the guitar is too bright overall, the first thing I would try is replacing the nut with a bone one. On the other hand, it might give me a reason to buy that new Rockman X100, but I don't see me doing that. If anyone has played one, let me know what you know? Thanks!
Here's some of the store pics:
Incoming: Daion Headhunter 555
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BatUtilityBelt
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BatUtilityBelt
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UPS tracking says the guitar will land here Tuesday. So there's at least a 16% chance of that happening. In the meantime, I've done some homework.
The model is highly regarded by owners and previous owners, some who regret selling, great. This is also the only naturally born lefty I can find on the web. I did see one monstrosity converted from righty to lefty, but this one was born lefty. So that's good too.
What's not good is that I found this exact guitar in an estate sale last August/September. I can't tell whether it sold, but the high bid was only $270. Wish I knew about that auction then. That was at the house of the previous owner in a Pittsburgh suburb, and I don't know the story, but it ended up later at Guitar Center in Pittsburgh. So maybe it wasn't an effective auction company and the family took it to sell outright at GC, but that's just a guess. Near as I can tell, the guitar should be worth between $1200 and $1600 if lefty is in the same ballpark as the righties out there (and the rarity should make it more). There are listings asking $2500-$3000 but I think they're crazy. All this gives me basis for comparison. To me, it's about how good an instrument it is, not a dollar valuation. The price just lets me know what to compare it to subjectively. And in 1982 MCI priced it new at $649, it was supposed to compete with Gibson.
So I've decided to compare it against my Gibson 335 at the high end, my B&G Little Sister in the mid-range, and several Ibanezes toward the lower end. If it can't hold its own against the Little Sister, it's going back or I will flip it. That's harsh, but in my opinion a vintage instrument should be as good an instrument as anything else in its current value range. It's a tough competition, because I generally like the Little Sister more than the 335.
A history page (daion.com/headhunter) says it was designed for more sustain and resonance than other semi-hollows. If true, that's great!
The model is highly regarded by owners and previous owners, some who regret selling, great. This is also the only naturally born lefty I can find on the web. I did see one monstrosity converted from righty to lefty, but this one was born lefty. So that's good too.
What's not good is that I found this exact guitar in an estate sale last August/September. I can't tell whether it sold, but the high bid was only $270. Wish I knew about that auction then. That was at the house of the previous owner in a Pittsburgh suburb, and I don't know the story, but it ended up later at Guitar Center in Pittsburgh. So maybe it wasn't an effective auction company and the family took it to sell outright at GC, but that's just a guess. Near as I can tell, the guitar should be worth between $1200 and $1600 if lefty is in the same ballpark as the righties out there (and the rarity should make it more). There are listings asking $2500-$3000 but I think they're crazy. All this gives me basis for comparison. To me, it's about how good an instrument it is, not a dollar valuation. The price just lets me know what to compare it to subjectively. And in 1982 MCI priced it new at $649, it was supposed to compete with Gibson.
So I've decided to compare it against my Gibson 335 at the high end, my B&G Little Sister in the mid-range, and several Ibanezes toward the lower end. If it can't hold its own against the Little Sister, it's going back or I will flip it. That's harsh, but in my opinion a vintage instrument should be as good an instrument as anything else in its current value range. It's a tough competition, because I generally like the Little Sister more than the 335.
A history page (daion.com/headhunter) says it was designed for more sustain and resonance than other semi-hollows. If true, that's great!
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andrewsrea
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- Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO
- Gearlist: 28 Guitars: (2) basses, (2) acoustics, (3) hollow bodies, (3) Semi hollow, (1) Double-neck, (17) Solid-bodies
HNGD!
Did you get a discount form someone taking a bite out of the bottom of the guitar body?
<sorry - could not resist!>
Did you get a discount form someone taking a bite out of the bottom of the guitar body?
<sorry - could not resist!>
Live life to the fullest! - Rob
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BatUtilityBelt
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HA. I think I might call it a "Flying U".andrewsrea wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 11:13 am Did you get a discount form someone taking a bite out of the bottom of the guitar body?
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tonebender
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- Gearlist: Fav: Gibson LP and Gibson Goldtone Amp. Other gear: Gretsch, Peavey, Taylor and more.
I'm just glad they were willing to give you the guitar after you bought it.
"Will follow through with a transaction when the terms are agreed upon" almightybunghole
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BatUtilityBelt
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Oops just dropped off a package at my door and my doorbell camera alerted me. I went to pull the guitar in, and saw a tiny package on my stoop about 4" x 6" x 1". Crap, not a guitar. I heard the truck so I grabbed the tiny package and chased him just to the next house. He exited his truck and said "Yup, I just saw it, not your package", and he pulled a guitar sized box out and we swapped. I'd say the guitar has landed. But it's only 15 degrees F here, so now the waiting begins. I'm not going to open a 40+ year old guitar until it approaches room temperature. More news later.