Re: Explorer Pic Thread
Some questions.. How do the Hamers play and feel compared to a Gibby?
I wanted one of the Gibsons with the black flame top that they recently discontinued.
Looking at that Willcut page, I found my ULTIMATE! Hamer standard with black quilt top!!
Any guesses what those run??
Well...in build quality..there's no comparison in a USA Hamer and a production Gibby. Hamer is at the top of the heap of "elite" builders. Something out of the Gibson custom shop would me more comparable. I found the quality of my Standard Custom the best I've seen....ever...from anyone..for anything. It was def a better built instrument than any Gibson I've owned (My R8 was close) or any of my PRS guitars. It was dang near flawless. The binding, the quality of the mahogany and maple, the nut, the binding, the inlays, the components and hardware..it just doesn't get any better.
You'll also be pretty much guaranteed you'll get a great sounding instrument. The guys at Hamer are using the best woods you can get.
That said, I LOVED my White Gibson Explorer...it was built well and had an really good piece of wood in it, and it played magnificently: the best player I've had in many years, but it could not beat the Hamer for sheer build quality, beauty, and tone. Not that the Hamer played poorly...far from it, just that one Explorer played better.
As for price...I got mine at Wilcutt last fall...A "run of the mill" Hamer Standard custom for $2K. Standard woods(mahog/maple), standard inlays(traps), standard pups(59s), standard color(Tobacco SB). If you're looking ata model with an upgraded top (I dont see how anything could be "upgraded" from mine..just different), inlays, ebony board, etc..you're gonna be getting into the $2500-$3000 range...like the Korina models. And they are worth every friggin' penny they charge for them.
I've been saving up for another Standard Custom... putting aside a little here, and a little there since last spring.
here's my old one
