frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Saw it on a few forums, mods can close if there's already a thread. What a great and rich history...
Hamer shutting down?
- Thread starter frankfalbo
- Start date
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Yep...FMIC is shutting the doors after all the standing orders are filled...
Sort of sad if you ask me.
Yep...FMIC is shutting the doors after all the standing orders are filled...
Sort of sad if you ask me.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Wow. *sigh*
Wow. *sigh*
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Hamer shutting down?
I'm really not surprised though. Being exclusively a custom shop isn't the greatest business model. Not even the boutique supercar shops are exclusively custom shop - they still have production models.
They should've kept going with a line of production model USA-built guitars and basses marketed aggressively through FMIC, instead of remaining an obscure super-boutique shop that only a relatively few guitarists know of.
I'm really not surprised though. Being exclusively a custom shop isn't the greatest business model. Not even the boutique supercar shops are exclusively custom shop - they still have production models.
They should've kept going with a line of production model USA-built guitars and basses marketed aggressively through FMIC, instead of remaining an obscure super-boutique shop that only a relatively few guitarists know of.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Why is it a shame? Im not trying to be a peckerhead, but i think the brand just ran its course..like Pontiac.
Its sad, sure, but if they wrere to revivve the brand name, itd probably only be in name only. The stuff that made Hamer what it was is no longer in existense, or is it?
This is going to make some of the best old Hamers really jump in price , no? Maybe even all of the US hamers.
I guess one of my dream guitars is a Hamer explorer..one of the early models.
I actually had one.An early Hamer Explorere. It Played like butter, but was neck heavy so i sold it for penuts. Oh how I wished I had that back!
What an incredible shame.
Why is it a shame? Im not trying to be a peckerhead, but i think the brand just ran its course..like Pontiac.
Its sad, sure, but if they wrere to revivve the brand name, itd probably only be in name only. The stuff that made Hamer what it was is no longer in existense, or is it?
This is going to make some of the best old Hamers really jump in price , no? Maybe even all of the US hamers.
I guess one of my dream guitars is a Hamer explorer..one of the early models.
I actually had one.An early Hamer Explorere. It Played like butter, but was neck heavy so i sold it for penuts. Oh how I wished I had that back!
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Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Shame indeed. Now prices are going to hit through the roof for those wanting to buy used.
Shame indeed. Now prices are going to hit through the roof for those wanting to buy used.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Hamer shutting down?
It's weird - FMIC take-overs seem to run the gamut of results, from great (Gretsch, Jackson/Charvel), to so-so (SWR, Guild), to complete destruction (Hamer, Tacoma).
I wonder what the logic behind all that is.
It's weird - FMIC take-overs seem to run the gamut of results, from great (Gretsch, Jackson/Charvel), to so-so (SWR, Guild), to complete destruction (Hamer, Tacoma).
I wonder what the logic behind all that is.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
again, why is it a "shame"? Because prices will go up on used USA and USA vintage models?? Thats hardly a shame. I beat you to that observation, monkey.
again, why is it a "shame"? Because prices will go up on used USA and USA vintage models?? Thats hardly a shame. I beat you to that observation, monkey.
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MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
were wanting FMIC to build a high level Gibson style guitar? Fender deosnt build Gibson Custom Shop style guitars.
Maybe they feel the brand name recognition is so strong, that they can eventually introduce a mid level asian made guitar with the Hamer name?
were wanting FMIC to build a high level Gibson style guitar? Fender deosnt build Gibson Custom Shop style guitars.
Maybe they feel the brand name recognition is so strong, that they can eventually introduce a mid level asian made guitar with the Hamer name?
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
That really is to bad. I'm a Hamer fan. Owned a Monoco Super Pro, an Artist, as well as a Sunburst and a Hamer Explorer at one time.
Great American guitar company that should have been an even bigger success than it was.
They used Duncan USA pickups in most or all of the models.
Some of the Studio model and Artist series guitars are super nice like PRS guitars are super nice. But I really loved the Monoco Super Pro Models.
You got a lot for your money with a Hamer and they usually played, looked and sounded great!
Their Strat copy always weighed a tone though! Never could figure out what that was about.
Jol Dantzig did a great job designing Hamers models though. Good looking. He left the company a while back though to do his own thing. http://dantzig.com/
That really is to bad. I'm a Hamer fan. Owned a Monoco Super Pro, an Artist, as well as a Sunburst and a Hamer Explorer at one time.
Great American guitar company that should have been an even bigger success than it was.
They used Duncan USA pickups in most or all of the models.
Some of the Studio model and Artist series guitars are super nice like PRS guitars are super nice. But I really loved the Monoco Super Pro Models.
You got a lot for your money with a Hamer and they usually played, looked and sounded great!
Their Strat copy always weighed a tone though! Never could figure out what that was about.
Jol Dantzig did a great job designing Hamers models though. Good looking. He left the company a while back though to do his own thing. http://dantzig.com/
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Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Well, being in Australia, as I am, US Hamers are very rare, and start at $3-4k new, so given the fact that they're no longer made, people will be selling them with tags like 'rare', 'discontinued', which will drive the price up further. Given the fact that many instruments are customizable, especially since Jol left, this could compound the issue.
Shame because it is a prominent boutique maker of Gibson-esque (and other original) designs, which many people thought was superior to big G. There are plenty of guitar makers in America, so guitarists won't starve for instruments, but with Hamer there is an element of nostalgia involved (as with vintage Fenders and Gibsons). As Joni Mitchell sings: 'you don't know what you got till it's gone'.
So, prices may go up or down, but, for myself, I was hoping to get a Standard or Vector one day, now it will be more difficult.
I guess now we know why BTMN's been hoarding, he saw this coming
.
Well, being in Australia, as I am, US Hamers are very rare, and start at $3-4k new, so given the fact that they're no longer made, people will be selling them with tags like 'rare', 'discontinued', which will drive the price up further. Given the fact that many instruments are customizable, especially since Jol left, this could compound the issue.
Shame because it is a prominent boutique maker of Gibson-esque (and other original) designs, which many people thought was superior to big G. There are plenty of guitar makers in America, so guitarists won't starve for instruments, but with Hamer there is an element of nostalgia involved (as with vintage Fenders and Gibsons). As Joni Mitchell sings: 'you don't know what you got till it's gone'.
So, prices may go up or down, but, for myself, I was hoping to get a Standard or Vector one day, now it will be more difficult.
I guess now we know why BTMN's been hoarding, he saw this coming
.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Sorry Perkins. I know ive been a unwarranted dick to you before. I apologise. I was just trying to make a reason for why the logic of FMICs action with Hamer.Plus Ive had ten Bottled Modelo Especials.
Sorry Perkins. I know ive been a unwarranted dick to you before. I apologise. I was just trying to make a reason for why the logic of FMICs action with Hamer.Plus Ive had ten Bottled Modelo Especials.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Hamer shutting down?
My GAS for a Scarab has probably passed into the realm of unobtanium.
FMIC was losing lots of money and Hamer wasn't making the situation better.
My GAS for a Scarab has probably passed into the realm of unobtanium.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Sorry to hear it. They made GREAT stuff. I'm glad I have my Vector and the Punisher, though i still wish I'd held onto one of my old Vector KK (Downing) sig models. I'd love to pick up one of the newer Monacos but I'll never have that kinda money again. I seriously doubt it'll have a good impact on their value. A few years down the road and nobody will remember them, at all.
Edit: man, I really am bummed. It feels like the end of an era, to me.
Sorry to hear it. They made GREAT stuff. I'm glad I have my Vector and the Punisher, though i still wish I'd held onto one of my old Vector KK (Downing) sig models. I'd love to pick up one of the newer Monacos but I'll never have that kinda money again. I seriously doubt it'll have a good impact on their value. A few years down the road and nobody will remember them, at all.
Edit: man, I really am bummed. It feels like the end of an era, to me.
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sixstringsamurai333
New member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
This. Hamer from a branding point of view has been mired in the past for a long, long time. FMIC obviously didn't see the demand to put any effort into rebranding or relaunching, or innovating with the product lines, so it makes sense to phase it out.
This. Hamer from a branding point of view has been mired in the past for a long, long time. FMIC obviously didn't see the demand to put any effort into rebranding or relaunching, or innovating with the product lines, so it makes sense to phase it out.
Re: Hamer shutting down?
They made great guitars, I'm glad I have my Monaco Elite. Just a wonderful guitar. I don't think it will make the used market go up in cost. Some may try to sell high used, but the brand just isn't well known enough for that. I could be wrong though! I'd never sell mine anyway!
They made great guitars, I'm glad I have my Monaco Elite. Just a wonderful guitar. I don't think it will make the used market go up in cost. Some may try to sell high used, but the brand just isn't well known enough for that. I could be wrong though! I'd never sell mine anyway!
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
If the Hamer brand was not profitable (or sufficiently profitable to make continued investment worthwhile) then it was inevitable. How did the company end up in FMIC's hands to begin with? The prior owners sold it. I suspect FMIC tried to unload it, but no one would bite. Therefore, they have to shut it down. There is a ton of competition out there now - much more than there's ever been.
I personally have never seen a Hamer played by anyone. The only reason I even knew about the Hamer name was because of their former "SLAMER by Hamer" budget line from years back.
If the Hamer brand was not profitable (or sufficiently profitable to make continued investment worthwhile) then it was inevitable. How did the company end up in FMIC's hands to begin with? The prior owners sold it. I suspect FMIC tried to unload it, but no one would bite. Therefore, they have to shut it down. There is a ton of competition out there now - much more than there's ever been.
I personally have never seen a Hamer played by anyone. The only reason I even knew about the Hamer name was because of their former "SLAMER by Hamer" budget line from years back.
