Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

I have a 2004 Hamer USA Studio Custom, which is an carved top. I believe this basic shape has had several different names over the years, and as people are saying here, they were flat-tops way back then. I always thought they looked like great guitars, and they certainly are. They are built like Les Pauls, or rather the way LP's should be, but aren't. I think in the USA they cost the same as a LP.

Before i got this guitar, i had what you guys call an 'import' version of the same model, and i was painfully disappointed. I got rid of it pretty quickly....it looked like it's more expensive USA-made brother, but that was as far as any similarities went.

I always read here that s/h Hamers are great value there in the USA, and i don't doubt it. (here they are scarce new or s/h, and it was a huge decision for me to break away from the 'G' brand, as i knew if i wasn't happy with the Hamer, i stood to lose a lot of $$$$ on the s/h market). I expect it may be a similar thing in the UK. But the few people i've spoken to here who have experienced Hamers over the last 3 decades speak very highly of them.

Anyway, here's a rough pic of mine.....(pickups are SD hybrids, C/59 bridge, Jazz/59 neck, both A5). Sounds awesome.
 
Last edited:
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

That's cool CP! You're right, Hamer's are quite scarce over here in the UK, especially old second hand ones.
It annoys me to buy something like Guitarist magazine every month and read, every other month, reviews of "new" model Gibson Les Pauls or Fender strats, yet other brands, like Hamer, seem to struggle greatly in comparison to the big two. Even Jackson's are fairly rare over here in comparison to the likes of Fender.
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

Well Guitars 4 you usually have a few Hamers in (look under more tasty guitars) and will give ou an idea of new and second hand shop values for MIA ones.
They've got a Studio in atm, second hand, still thick end of £900.
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

That's a pretty good site Ant, you ever bought stuff from them?
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

Thank you for the kind words.

Specials & Sunbursts. Imports & Domestics
040826.jpg


Essie '79 Sunburst
040827.jpg


Espy '80 Special
040828.jpg


Amber '81 Special
040829.jpg


Ty '92 P90 Special
040830.jpg


Lil Red '90s import Special
040831.jpg


Red Dawg '90s import Sunburst
040832.jpg


040825.jpg


The last one, the Red Flat top is an older Korean import. I also have an Amber colored one. They can be had VERY economically. They read Hamer with Slammer Series under it.
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

Those are fantastic. :) I like the red one the best.

No one's got a black one though?
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

That's a pretty good site Ant, you ever bought stuff from them?

Well The guy who runs the joint I've known for years as he used to work in my nearest music shop when I was a kid.

He knows his stuff, but he charge top dollar for second hand.

If you ever find yourself near Ashbourne it's worth visiting the shop, just leave the credit card in the car :)
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

I don't even have a credit card - I have enough trouble without getting into that! :)
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

I gotta say I'm GASing bad for a black sunburst/studio. Would definitely need non-dot inlays and neck binding. Maybe an ebony board... Mhmmmmm...
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

Steve Clark had a Nice Special back in the day, IIRC it's in the High And Dry video, and Pete Willis LOVED his Standards even if they were almost as big as he was.
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

I gotta say I'm GASing bad for a black sunburst/studio. Would definitely need non-dot inlays and neck binding. Maybe an ebony board... Mhmmmmm...


I hope you're still in Amsterdam, bawbag, cos if any of those come up on UK ebay they're MINE! :D
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

Steve Clark had a Nice Special back in the day, IIRC it's in the High And Dry video, and Pete Willis LOVED his Standards even if they were almost as big as he was.

I know the one you're talking about with regards to Steve, but I thought that was a Gibson double cut. I'm not suggesting it really was, I just assumed that's what it was since Steve was such a Gibby freak.

Pete Willis seemed to be dwarfed by whatever guitar he played, again I never realised it was Hamers he was using.
 
Re: Anyone got a Hamer like Martin Barre's?

Darn it I so want a Hamer, preferably with a floyd mind :)
 
Back
Top