Zerberus Guitars / Hydra III / 2013 / Caramel-Burst / Guitar
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Many friendly guitar players asked me if there ever will be a Hydra II guitar with fix bridge, and I always had that in mind.
Now I decided that it is about time for a Hydra III with fix bridge and some improvements.
please notice: That Hydra III has a solid 2-piece quilted Mahogany top and a nice Mahogany back. That kind of quilted Mahogany is relatively hard to get and after 20 guitars the stock is empty and I don´t know if or when I will have a chance to get that wood again.
There will be a small limited edition of only 50 pcs. (only 20 with that quilted Mahogany top and 30 with hard Maple top and quilted maple veneer) of that kind in the first run, but it surely will take a few months before I can offer the Hydra III.
But before I have a new guitar built, there always are two prototypes to see how the guitar in real life looks, feels and sounds.
This also gives me the chance to see if I will want to change some details.
But what about the prototypes?
It does not make sense to keep them locked in my showroom.
Those guitars should be loved and played on stages, studios and rehearsal rooms :)
I don´t find the time to play guitar seriously anymore, so the Prototypes are for sale now.
There are two of them and this is Prototype serial number #001.
The other prototype is a little bit different regarding the wood that is used.
But they are amazing both of them.
A lot of people were so impressed by the Kammerstein Quadrail humbuckers that I had on the Hydra II.
So I decided to have them on the Chimaira I and also keep them on the Hydra III (never change a winning team).
Those pickups offer extreme versatility and a sound to die for.
The Hydra III prototype has the same controls as the Hydra II (Master-Volume / Master-Tone and Coil-split-shift potentiometer)
For the Hydra III series, I decided to use the same controls as on the Chimaira later.
So the serial Hydra III will only have two (push-pull) potentiometers.
The prototypes have créme colored pickup rings - the serial will have Gold plated rings
The prototypes have Grover tuners - the serial will have Wilkinson locking tuners
You can see, that even if the prototypes are the casting mold for the new Hydra III series - they are different in some features and will remain very rare and special.
As soon as I can find a minute, I will make some sound samples with the prototype #002.
That guitar really has an amazing sound.
I find her a even little bit more resonant than the Hydra II.
Maybe that is because of the roller bridge ad the string-thru.
The neck is a 5 layer neck with hard Maple and Purpleheart stripes and a Rosewood fretboard.
The body is made of Korina wood with a solid quilted Mahogany top!
The guitar has a 648mm scale and a 14" neck radius.
This is not a wizard neck.
It is a nice and "meaty" neck.
More a classic Str... than a Les P...
I think you get it, right ?
I don´t want to bother you with a long text.
Take a look at the pictures :)
The guitar comes including Zerberus hardcase and certificate.
I have made two funny sound samples with the prototype #002.
I will make some sound samples with prototype #001 as soon as I find some time and replace them.
Please don´t judge me for all the wrong notes :)
I don´t find the time to practise and my motto is: If you can´t play it right, then at least - play it fast :)
Zerberus Guitars, Germany 
All custom guitars are completely made by only one luthier - ME.
Zerberus-Guitars is some kind of a One-Man-Show and it´s only me in the workshop.
I do all the works - drive arround to find amazing long time stored lumber - saw out the bodies and necks -shape that all by hand without using CNC machines - equipp the hardware - install the electronis - paint the guitars and so on......I also take the photos and make the website.
No step of my work is done by someone else.
That makes the guitars very unique.
Building such a handmade unique specimen takes at least 6 months.
For making my custom guitars, I don´t use computer controled CNC-machines.
I do all the routings and carvings by hand and so I am not restricted to any standard designs.
I come from a very musical family.
My grandfather played trumpet in a band and my father is a professional rock´n roll guitarist in my region.
On the other hand my ancestors have been very skilled craftsmen who worked as makers of wood cartweels (Grand-grandfather) and wood barrels (Grandfather).
My father does not have a hand for woodworking :)
But he is a lifetime Rock guitarist.
So in my person the two rows come together being a rock guitarist that also loves woodworking :)
I have inherited some woodworking tools from my grand-grandfather that I still use when building my handcrafted custom guitars.
When I was 14, I have built my first guitar with the help of an old luthier.
Later in 1992 I had my own design company and I specialised in guitar design (have played in several bands this time).
Later in 2002 I founded my very own guitar company Zerberus-Guitars and fullfiled one of my biggest childhood dreams with that.
Is it your dream to own an instrument that is the only one of its kind on the planet, as individual as you - the owner, an instrument that is lovingly handcrafted, using selected timbers and the finest hardware, to satisfy your very own aesthetics, needs and personal preferences?
In my Custom Shop, I specialize in carefully hand-building the kinds of guitars and basses that reflect the DNA of their players. I do not employ CNC-machines which mechanically churn out half-finished guitar bodies every few minutes. By contrast, all carving, assembly and finishing is performed by one skilled craftsman, so that my guitars can not be clones of any models made previously.
Each instrument leaving my Custom Shop is a unique specimen. And not being restricted to proprietary designs, I am able to develop very individual guitars and basses in response to the originality and inspiration of our clients.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us.
