Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

[Kac]

mang! I played the most awesome 1990 USA Hamer Chaparral at the local guitar shop today. He had just gotten it in on trade and the thing freakin' rocked!!!

Guitar shop owner doesn't really know what it's worth, anybody here have any idea?

Ebony fretboard, 24 frets, boomerang inlays
H/S/H Set-up with parallel axis pickups ( all 3 of 'em...)
Schaller Floyd Rose bridge ( all black hardware)
Black w/ white flecks kinda paint job (looked very 80's)

What do ya think?

PICTURE:

 

[JeffB]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

look something like this??

I preferred the Diablo myself, but the Chappys seem to be real popular over on the Hamer Fan Club forums... linky



You may wanna take a look-see over there..btw..whatever you do... DO NOT go into the classifieds section...OMG talk about GAS :yell:

 

[Kac]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

Yes Jeff, thank you, that's it, but with this finish:

So, what's up with those pickups, Are they Hamer pups?

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

Bridge looks like parallel axis trembucker to me...

 

[shred-dog]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

it is called a chaparral elite and they came stock with duncan parallel axis pickups . great guitars

 

[kramer]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

I just recently bought an 88 Chap from Shred_Dog. It's my first Hamer USA, and my first Hamer shredder. I've owned a couple of cheaper import sunburst ATs over the years, but they didn't compare to this!! I haven't been able to put it down since I put it together....my other axes have been neglected for the last couple of weeks! Now I'm on the look out for an 80's Cali....this thing has made me a believer!

 

[Kac]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

Kramer, that's a beautiful Hamer, but I think it wants it's tone knob back, and damn dude... Get Some Schaller Strap Locks!!!

Rock ON :banana:

 

[kramer]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

Thanks man...., but who needs a tone knob anyways?! haha BTW the straploks are on the way, but they're Dunlops....my straplok of choice.

 

[Kac]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

Thanks man...., but who needs a tone knob anyways?! haha BTW the straploks are on the way, but they're Dunlops....my straplok of choice.

Right you are, I usually just cut the wires to the tone knob anyway...
I think Dunlop Straploks and Hamers go together very nicely.

Rock On~!~

 

[shred-dog]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

I just recently bought an 88 Chap from Shred_Dog. It's my first Hamer USA, and my first Hamer shredder. I've owned a couple of cheaper import sunburst ATs over the years, but they didn't compare to this!! I haven't been able to put it down since I put it together....my other axes have been neglected for the last couple of weeks! Now I'm on the look out for an 80's Cali....this thing has made me a believer!

NICE !!!! it looks good, what pickup did you put in it? screw the tone knob , that guitar doesn't need it

 

[Travis]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

The Chaps are very cool guitars. I had an 86 for a while and I loved it. The short scale on those early Chaps did it for me. However, I'm just not a fan of middle pickups. An Elite like that one is worth anywhere from $600-$800, but they don't demand that on the current market. You could probably find one of those for $400-$500 if you're patient.

BTW, here's my 88 Cali.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

KAC, YW Bro...

May I make a suggestion?

Offer him 4 bills...

Take the guitar..

RUN LIKE HELL with it...:laugh2:

 

[Travis]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

If you get that guitar for $400, you stole it. That being said, go in with $400 in cash and it'll probably happen.

 

[kramer]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

NICE !!!! it looks good, what pickup did you put in it? screw the tone knob , that guitar doesn't need it

Thanks dude, and thanks again for the awesome guitar! It'll be staying unfinished until the summer, at which point in time I think an airbrush job is in order to complete the 80's look!! I put in a JB I had lying around for the moment. I'm thinking that when funds allow I might order a p/u from Tim at Bareknuckle, maybe a miracle man or a nailbomb.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

Thanks dude, and thanks again for the awesome guitar! It'll be staying unfinished until the summer, at which point in time I think an airbrush job is in order to complete the 80's look!!

I dunno man, I dig the natural wood!

I still have my Diablo, bought it new in '93 and it's still the only guitar I have with a locking trem. Trans red with chrome hardware & the reverse headstock...man does that one rwak! I was in high school at the time and I'm just glad that I didn't get some piece of crap with a naked chick on it! I'd love to own a Steve Stevens like the white one he had in the ads but I just can't justify it.

Kac - go into the shop with cash. Feel him out and see if you can snag it in the $350-500 range. If you REALLY want it, I'd go as high as $650 but no more. Point out "flaws" like a wonky output jack or finish cracks & checking LOL

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

mang! I played the most awesome 1990 USA Hamer Chaparral at the local guitar shop today. He had just gotten it in on trade and the thing freakin' rocked!!!

Guitar shop owner doesn't really know what it's worth, anybody here have any idea?

Ebony fretboard, 24 frets, boomerang inlays
H/S/H Set-up with parallel axis pickups ( all 3 of 'em...)
Schaller Floyd Rose bridge ( all black hardware)
Black w/ white flecks kinda paint job (looked very 80's)

What do ya think?

Chapparals are AWESOME guitars.......(even if i am a bit partial to the first version custom chapparals, the ones with the 24.75 set neck). Here's mine:

Perfect guitars.....i cannot see the reason for buying a custom shop jackson for $$$$$$$$$$$$ and not getting one of the hamer shredders(chap/californian) for $........remember the custom chapparals in 1986 were going for 1600-1700$ which even by todays standards is a lot of money......well back in 86 that was a SSSSSSSSSSErious amount of money......now you can get them for just as low as 400-1000$(the flame maple ones)
Almost all floyd equipped axes are a little bit stiff and do not have THAT openess to their sound like regular tremolo equipped guitars. Not chapparals.........Amazing sustain.....especially if you consider the floyd.....awesome tone......it's my only guitar i do not miss the tone because of the floyd......
The only thing that these guitars need is a REFINISH :chairfall those 80's colours are......horrible to say the least.......... :smokin:

 

[Daveeure]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

Yes Jeff, thank you, that's it, but with this finish:

Got one forsale best offer daveeure@hotmail.com dam near mint 757-202-2703 sweet
So, what's up with those pickups, Are they Hamer pups?

Got this forsale hamer USA near mint daveeure@hotmail.com 757-202-2703

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Awesome Usa Hamer!!!

I got a lot of good info from BTMN and the hamerfanclub forums. In fact, I got a good (IMO) trade for a Hamer project from there very quickly.