Hamer Imports...?

[JeffB]

I've been GAS'in HARD for an Explorer.

The Import Hamer standard seems to get really good reviews considering the price (yeah I know it needs new pups).

The Alder body kinda bugs me...but they still seem to get some good reviews with a pup swap...

Anyone familiar with this model in particular or Hamer imports in general?

Or for that matter...with the Epihones Explorers or something similar (def wanna set-neck and TOM bridge so Jackson Import Kelly's are out)

Thanx in advance.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I've only owned USA made Hamers but you are right: the imports get excellant reviews. Just swap the pickups for some USA Duncans and you'll probably have a totally professional sounding guitar when you're done. Lew

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

A friend of mine has an imported Explorer and it's good...for $300 bucks it is a great value. Nothing wrong with it at all and it actually sounds pretty good stock, too. With SD it will be even better.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I've only owned USA made Hamers but you are right: the imports get excellant reviews. Just swap the pickups for some USA Duncans and you'll probably have a totally professional sounding guitar when you're done. Lew

+1. The ones I've played have been pretty decent.

 

[Dangerine49]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I had a MIK Hamer Vector Flying V for a while. It was a curious mix of nice and not-so-nice.

Not-so-nice: Cheap tuners (replaced them with Gibson LP tuners), Duncan Designed pups (replaced them with a set of PG's), cheap bridge and plastic nut. Also had a fret that wasn't leveled properly.

Nice: It had a beautiful Cherry Burst finish (flame maple over alder), and a very playable neck (rosewood with cool boomerang inlays) and a nice looking binding.

Overall, it was a great looking axe and sounded terrific after the upgrades.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I've got an imported Hamer, and it really is a fine instrument. It feels much better than the Epi LP I used to own. I put some Duncans in it and it would be a very solid working instrument.

It's not an explorer, it's one of the archtop doublecuts, but it does have a TOM.

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I have a Hamer Echotone, their Korean-made 335-type. If my guitar is representative of all of their imports, you'll need to change tuners, p'ups (the stock p'ups are ok, but not great, IMO) and the nut. I had to just about resort to dynamite to get the POS plastic nut off of the neck.

Good guitars for the money, I think that I payed $300 for mine.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I have come so close to buying an import Hamer Standard (explorer) but I keep chickeing out. THey seem really nice, well worth the cost.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I have come so close to buying an import Hamer Standard (explorer) but I keep chickeing out. THey seem really nice, well worth the cost.

Scott,

Don't be a-scared. Go for it!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I've been looking at those explorers as well recently.....but then again, I've been looking at everything recently...lol

 

[Fiber-Optics]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

I have a Hamer Standard (explorer copy) import. It is awesome, I love this thing a pickup change would be cool but I havnt had the catch, the pups on it arent too bad just kind of noisy. It is pretty heavey, and Im so pissed because I had my first strap slip accident with I got strap locks today though. I would diffenetly recommend it, for the price range you can't beat this explorer type guitar.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

Thanx everyone for the info.

Got to thinkin and by the time I buy new pups, pay to have them put in, buy new tuners, and a case it will run almost as much as a Gibby..and it still won't be mahogany (which is a big sticking point for me).

I've had 2 Explorers and have missed both dearly. One was an actual 76 reissue Korina , the other a 89 or 90 pewter color with a baseball bat neck. Jes luv the way they feel and that huge body gives 'em virtually as much sustain as a LP. Just doesn't have quite the brightness due to lack of maple cap. I had a Custom bridge and 59 neck in the Pewter one and it really was one of the best sounding guitars I've ever owned. Great piece of wood and fat neck I guess in combo with the Duncans.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Hamer Imports...?

If you're not set on the Explorer shape, check out a used Hamer USA Studio. They are the best deal on the used market as far as I'm concerned.

Ryan