post toastie
New member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
somewhere Rick Nielson weeps.
somewhere Rick Nielson weeps.
Hamer shutting down?
- Thread starter frankfalbo
- Start date
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Around 2006 I worked very hard to raise the money to buy a Les Paul. While doing the work, I did a lot of research, and I wasn't keen on the big risk i'd be taking buying a Gibson (esp in this country). So i studied everything i could about Hamer, and despite knowing I'd have to buy from the USA without ever seeing the guitar first, i felt i would get a far superior instrument.
I bought a brand new Studio Custom from a US dealer. It was made before the Fender takeover and before Jol left. It is a faultless instrument, perfectly built and astonishingly good. I don't understand why Fender didn't use Hamer to compete with Gibson, and i think it's a tragedy that such an awesome guitar-building company is going to cease to exist. If i lived in the USA, i'd certainly have a collection of Hamers by now. Gibson and PRS are probably the names people think of first, but Hamer produced the finest instruments in my not-so-humble opinion.
Around 2006 I worked very hard to raise the money to buy a Les Paul. While doing the work, I did a lot of research, and I wasn't keen on the big risk i'd be taking buying a Gibson (esp in this country). So i studied everything i could about Hamer, and despite knowing I'd have to buy from the USA without ever seeing the guitar first, i felt i would get a far superior instrument.
I bought a brand new Studio Custom from a US dealer. It was made before the Fender takeover and before Jol left. It is a faultless instrument, perfectly built and astonishingly good. I don't understand why Fender didn't use Hamer to compete with Gibson, and i think it's a tragedy that such an awesome guitar-building company is going to cease to exist. If i lived in the USA, i'd certainly have a collection of Hamers by now. Gibson and PRS are probably the names people think of first, but Hamer produced the finest instruments in my not-so-humble opinion.
Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Re: Hamer shutting down?
FMIC went public not too long ago because they had over 300 million in debt. they're probably cutting and concentrating resources on what is selling the most. With Guthrie moving to Charvel guitars, they're probably going to see a huge increase in sales. Guthrie did a lot for Suhr.
FMIC went public not too long ago because they had over 300 million in debt. they're probably cutting and concentrating resources on what is selling the most. With Guthrie moving to Charvel guitars, they're probably going to see a huge increase in sales. Guthrie did a lot for Suhr.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Last I heard Fender aborted those plans to go public.
I wish Guthrie the best with his Charvel, but IMO the Fender side of the shop is the company's bread and butter. Don't get me wrong, I like Charvels and Jacksons. just think having Guthrie will help but its not going to make a huge difference.
Last I heard Fender aborted those plans to go public.
I wish Guthrie the best with his Charvel, but IMO the Fender side of the shop is the company's bread and butter. Don't get me wrong, I like Charvels and Jacksons. just think having Guthrie will help but its not going to make a huge difference.
KeeperOS
Active member
jmh151
Active member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Fender tried to go public, but they didn't like the value their stock was estimated to bring in, they felt it was due to the economy and a bad time, so they aborted.
Joel Dantzig WAS Hamer, and he left a while ago.
I just dont think there was enough public demand for them anymore. Similar to Charvel- the collectors have wanted USA made strathead Charvels forever. So fender gave it to them. Once the collectors bought up all they want, there isn't enough demand in the market togo further with that style guitar, so they brancked out into set necks and neck thrus
Fender tried to go public, but they didn't like the value their stock was estimated to bring in, they felt it was due to the economy and a bad time, so they aborted.
Joel Dantzig WAS Hamer, and he left a while ago.
I just dont think there was enough public demand for them anymore. Similar to Charvel- the collectors have wanted USA made strathead Charvels forever. So fender gave it to them. Once the collectors bought up all they want, there isn't enough demand in the market togo further with that style guitar, so they brancked out into set necks and neck thrus
Ayrton
New member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Fender abandoned the plans to go public, and GG has NOT signed with Charvel. Fender/Charvel simply made GG a guitar and they are "talking".
Not that it matters, GG is a fantastic player, but hardly the type of name that moves thousands of instruments.
The market is saturated with guitars, and it is becoming harder and harder for the big names to net profit. Fender managed a $19M net last year, but it was on $700M in sales. That is a dismal 2.7%...
The year before, Fender lost $1.7M...
Add to that the roughly 300M in debt, and Wall Street does not take to kindly to such things.
Fender abandoned the plans to go public, and GG has NOT signed with Charvel. Fender/Charvel simply made GG a guitar and they are "talking".
Not that it matters, GG is a fantastic player, but hardly the type of name that moves thousands of instruments.
The market is saturated with guitars, and it is becoming harder and harder for the big names to net profit. Fender managed a $19M net last year, but it was on $700M in sales. That is a dismal 2.7%...
The year before, Fender lost $1.7M...
Add to that the roughly 300M in debt, and Wall Street does not take to kindly to such things.
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Laughing Kookaburra
Active member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Sad. I've owned four Hamers, a Sunburst Custom and a Scarab II in the past, and I have two Specials currently, one with P90s, one with buckers. Great guitars.
Sad. I've owned four Hamers, a Sunburst Custom and a Scarab II in the past, and I have two Specials currently, one with P90s, one with buckers. Great guitars.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Man that is just so sad! Back in the late 80's I worked for a Hamer dealer and handled a bunch of those guitars when they were USA only.
The one that got away for me was a honey burst solid Flame maple bodied Vintage S that was simply stunning. I also owned a Crimson Red Flame KOA Mirage.
I have always wanted a late 80's mid 90's USA Mahogany bodied Californian elite.
One more true boutique US Guitar company bites the dust and it's just heart breaking.
Man that is just so sad! Back in the late 80's I worked for a Hamer dealer and handled a bunch of those guitars when they were USA only.
The one that got away for me was a honey burst solid Flame maple bodied Vintage S that was simply stunning. I also owned a Crimson Red Flame KOA Mirage.
I have always wanted a late 80's mid 90's USA Mahogany bodied Californian elite.
One more true boutique US Guitar company bites the dust and it's just heart breaking.
J
JohnJohn
Guest
Re: Hamer shutting down?
I wonder if it's a permanent goodbye or if we'll see a resurrection down the road.
IIRC Fender shut down Charvel when they took Jackson over.
Or if they'll sell off the Hamer name.
I wonder if it's a permanent goodbye or if we'll see a resurrection down the road.
IIRC Fender shut down Charvel when they took Jackson over.
Or if they'll sell off the Hamer name.
jmh151
Active member
Re: Hamer shutting down?
Charvel was shut down long before fender bought it, it was shut down by the prior owners before Fender.
Charvel was shut down long before fender bought it, it was shut down by the prior owners before Fender.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Hamer shutting down?
So assuming this is the end, or that someone just buys the name to slap it on low cost imports completely disconnected from Hamer's original glory, I'm interested in everyone's opinion on something: If you were the doctor, when would you call "time of death"? When was Hamer "over" in your opinion?
When Kaman bought Hamer?
When they moved production to CT?
When Fender bought Kaman?
When Jol Dantzig left?
Some other influential person or event?
Not until the day they close forever?
So assuming this is the end, or that someone just buys the name to slap it on low cost imports completely disconnected from Hamer's original glory, I'm interested in everyone's opinion on something: If you were the doctor, when would you call "time of death"? When was Hamer "over" in your opinion?
When Kaman bought Hamer?
When they moved production to CT?
When Fender bought Kaman?
When Jol Dantzig left?
Some other influential person or event?
Not until the day they close forever?
