Guest Luthier Series: Jol Dantzig

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Hello, Jol.

I have been elected to ask this question. Is there any chance of ever seeing an official Hamer checkerboard strap again? The originals have gotten extremely expensive if you can find them for sale.

Steve, I like those checked straps.

Here's the first one on my 1960 sunburst before I gave it to Rick Nielsen in 1974.


We're not in the accessory business, so I'm not the person to ask about these. I'm sure that somebody can make them.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Anytime I get to talk to a person who's known for building amps, I'm always interested to see which guitars and pickups they use with them.

So my question to you, being known as a guitar builder, is what amps are in your collection, and which amps are you particularly fond of?

 

[Devnor]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Jol,

Here's a reason to build the Cali again

Now what about those Boomers!

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

If you're still checking... did you see my question?

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Thanks for answering my question.

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

This was on the first page and I think it also fell through the cracks. I think it might have been asked loosely through the other posts but here it is.

How does it feel to have a part in molding the sound of Rock and Roll?

What were some of your favorite custom guitars you made for someone famous?

What is your personal favorite tonewoods for your guitar... If you had unlimited access to money/material and had a perfect clone of yourself to build it (so you don't have to spend time doing it yourself)? What fret size, fret number, pickups etc... to sum it up what's your perfect dream guitar that you would build for yourself.

I've lived quite a satisfying dream, getting to work with creative people in our shop and great artists who have used our instruments to make amazing music. It still stops me in my tracks when I see someone playing something I've designed and we've made. The thrill is not gone.

I liked the Andy Summers projects a lot. The Phantom A5 and A7, the harp guitar:

The Jimmy Scott and Pete Farndon era Pretenders guitars were satisfying too. Ilove working with Keb' Mo' who is a genuine and brilliant artist.

I got goose-bumps hearing Elliot Easton play the solo to "My Best Friend's Girl" in a stadium, and Sammy Hagar put a red Scarab on his album cover.

I watched Sting play his Cruisebass on stage in dozens of venues.

Lately, I've worked with Jon Herington who is an amazing guitarist who plays with Steely Dan. To hear Jon play those Dan tunes on one of our guitars is a thrill.

Nope, the thrill ain't gone yet.

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

I'm afraid I don't have any thought-provoking questions for you; I just wanted to say I've been reading your excellent blog and have gained a lot of respect for you. I really appreciate your outlook in life and the results it garners. It's nice to know there's someone out there who's still doing things the right way. I also love it when you post pics of weather and animals and other things that make me want to move up there immediately and apply for a job with you.

Actually, I do have a question:

There's something about the guitars you guys make that transforms them into something greater than the sum of their parts, something with "soul", a "real guitar". Is this something you consciously do, and what would you say contributes the most to this result?

You've really articulated the whole essence of what we strive for. Art carries its beauty in an unconscious way that make it seem easier than it is to do. The only way I know how to do that is to relax and have fun with it, but don't take the easy way out either. Yes it's a conscious goal, but in the act of doing it we rely upon years of training to know what to leave out. It's a lot like playing guitar really. If you try too hard, it just comes off all teenage and akward.

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Jol,

Here's a reason to build the Cali again

Now what about those Boomers!

OK OK OK. Boomerang inlays. I designed them, I know all about them. I have a set on the mantle over my fireplace!

I cannot tell you how clever I though they were. I also cannot count how many people told me they got rid of their boomerang guitars because they couldn't figure out where they were on the fretboard when they played them.

I though it was simple... you play the fret that the inlay crosses. I lost that battle every stinkin' time. Ok, maybe someday I'll make ones that don't cross the fret, but that just RUINS it for me.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Anytime I get to talk to a person who's known for building amps, I'm always interested to see which guitars and pickups they use with them.

So my question to you, being known as a guitar builder, is what amps are in your collection, and which amps are you particularly fond of?

This is what I want to know!

 

[Devnor]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Plenty more where that came from Jol. We want Boomers and across the frets please. Would look silly any other way. You didnt answer the question but I think you heard me! Thanks!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Jol,

Here's a reason to build the Cali again

Now what about those Boomers!

OMG That is AMAZING!!!!


Thanks for sharing the pics Jol! So were you resposible for Rick Nielsons checker board fetish??

Evan and the Duncan family, This has been an event of a lifetime! Thank you !!

Good questions Bros and Sis'! Many asked what didnt think to..

 

[StalePretzel]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

I say you take their complaints and make one GIANT boomerang inlay that goes from the first to the last fret.

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

I say you take their complaints and make one GIANT boomerang inlay that goes from the first to the last fret.

Now THAT's my kind of solution!

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Jol,

I'd known about Hamers for years, but my introduction was in 01 (9/11 related, long story). Picked up a used Special FM which played and sounded like nothing I'd ever touched before. Have been hooked since. Custom ordered my main player in 04; Studio Custom (bound and victoried), all korina, chambered.

A couple of Qs. Have you have thought of making a slightly smaller version of the Standard on a regular basis? Just love the shape, sound, and comfort, but having the frets near the nut closer in would be a world of difference. Yeah, retooling is expensive, but had to ask, lol.

Also, ever thought of reviving something else in the flat-top vein? Not a redo of the Eclipse, Firebird, TLE, Special, etc, but a new twist. Sonically, there is just something about a flat slab that is different (and appealing).

Hi Gearhead, that's an interesting idea. I know what you mean about the way the neck sticks out to the left and you really have to reach for that first position. I don't think that the problem gets solved by making the body smaller though. The point at which the neck and body meet would still be about the same relative to the strap button position. On the other hand, if you were to set the neck into the body further your goal would be achieved. Of course part of the beauty of the design is the access to the high frets (for those who are not interested in making any money playing guitar).

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

What changes have you noticed since FMIC bought out Kaman?

We get Fender shirts at employee pricing.

For the most part Fender has only added to our resource base with interaction from people who really know their stuff.

Actually, I've known so many of the Fender people from years and years in the industry that when I go to the custom shop, walk in the factory or even go to the NAMM show, it's like old home week. The biggest change for me is that now I'm not a "visitor".

Inside Hamer, there hasn't been any change, we're still doing things the way we do them and if anything, people are curious about what we do. They realize that there's always something to learn.

 

[blindedbysilence]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

What guitar do you consider to be your #1? The one you reach for whenever you feel the need to play. Could you explain what makes you gravitate towards that particular one? Pic perhaps?

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Dear Jol, i've never really had much money to invest in guitar repair. If something was wrong I always had to learn to fix it, or live with it. From someone who is pulling his hair out due to stress, could you maybe explain some home-style methods of shaping and slotting a nut on a guitar. It would be very helpful. Thank you very much.

-=Stale=-

I'm actually in the process of making a video about how we do that. It's pretty basic stuff. We rough shape the blank and put marking slots in with a small saw. Then we use a fixture to determine the overall height of the nut by measuring the difference between the nut platform and the top of the first fret.

We then sand the bottom of the nut down until the entire piece is the correct height, then we glue it down. Next we use files and sandpaper to bring the ends flush with the neck and shape the front of the nut.

It's a lot easier to watch the video, so keep you eyes on the Workshop Blog at: Guitar Designer's Workshop.

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Hi Jol - Thanks for all the great years of guitars. I have been a Hamer Fan since '76 and a Hamer owner since '82, a '79 Standard.
My Standard was owned by Dave Hlubek. Any cool recollections of working with him and how many of the Confedrate Flag Standards do you recall making for them?

I have other questions but I got only a minute here at work. Look forawrd to reading the thread at home tonight after work.

THANKS AGAIN For Stopping In. :approve:

I remember Dave's guitars pretty well. I think we made two of those flag guitars. Dave was a great guy to work with, but he could get pretty rowdy when we got to partyin'. The whole rock-star thing kinda got them off course and ruined it for them, but Dave would do anything for you if he liked you. He turned a lot of southern rock bands on to Hamer too.

 

[Jol Dantzig]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Jol, it's good to know that you're into bass as well.

With all respect to well-regarded makers like yourself, Alembic, Spector, Pedulla and so on, would you say that Fender got it right with the 2nd-gen P and the vol-vol-tone Jazz, or are there still some advances to make in the field?

Also, to echo the above questions, what do you think of environmentally-responsible woods like teak or bamboo laminate for instrument making?

Sorry, I think I only answered the first part of your question before.

Builders will always keep trying different woods and use what is available to them. I don't think that guitar tone woods are limited to just mahogany, maple, rosewood and so on...

In our segment, we're making a certain kind of article that goes beyond just sound, so in a way we're not bound to those woods, but in a premium priced guitar there are certain expectations, and rarity is one of them.

 

[Wattage]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Series Feature's Hamer's Jol Dantzig

I know you answered some Cheap Trick questions earlier but with all the guitars you have built for them over the years do you have a favorite?

I remember Johnny Ramone using a Sunburst for a while and even had an ad with Johnny playing one, any good stories about him?

Oh yeah here is my partner in crime with his 80's Custom Shop Hamer, it is still great guitar!