Hamer?

[Rich_S]

Re: Hamer?

You'll want to avoid the Slammer line of Hamers. That is like the Squier Affinity line, ultra cheapo import stuff. The good Hamers are the USA ones and high end imports.

Actually, there were different lines with the "Slammer" name. The first run of imports were labelled "Hamer Slammer Series". They were made in Korea, reputedly by Cort, and are really nice instruments. I just bought a flat top "Sunburst" model, though mine is red, not 'burst. It's a first-rate guitar, but fortunately for me the "Slammer sucks" generalization keeps the prices low. Those "in the know" can pick up some deals on (IMO) undervalued instruments.

I think the later cheapo Slammers were labelled "Slammer By Hamer". More recently, imports Hamers just said "Hamer" and the country of origin was missing entirely or very small and hard to find. If it's a USA-built guitar you really can't go wrong. Anything imported, you need to know what you're looking at, or inspect/play it before buying.

If you want the full-on handmade Hamer experience, look into Mike Shishkov's guitars. There is a whole room dedicated to them over at the Hamer Fan Club forum.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Hamer?

The Korean imports I have played run a range - but I'll say generally solid value for the price. The USA's…..as Gene said. EXCELLENT in every way!

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Hamer? YEAH Man!

Re: Hamer? YEAH Man!

USA Studio Customs are (Insert your favorite superlative) guitars. :headbang: This is 5-0 my 1991 Sunburst Archtop. The name of the Studio before it became that. It is basically the "grandson" of the Sunburst model. Mine being the son and the original flat top Sunburst being the grandad of the line.

Buy one you wont regret it. :cool2:

This guitar is beautiful!!

I've seen them in the 1200-2000 range more or less, for used double cut models like the ones I posted. i'm very tempted to work towards this as a backup guitar.

I watched a short hamer documentary where they said "people wanted guitars they could play on the road and keep the vintage stuff at home""

My les paul is not vintage, but beating up a 1,500 Hamer that sounds and looks as good as my LP sounds alot better to me than beating up my Les Paul that I gigged so hard to afford.

Any key differences between the studio and the les paul? It looks to be a personalized version of the design.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Hamer?

At one stage I wanted a LP, so I did the research and bought a USA Hamer Studio Custom, even though there were none to try out down here. The guitar Gibson wished they could build but couldn't.

I read a whole bunch of interviews with Jol Dantzig at that time. It seems that when Kayman bought them, they injected a lot of money so that Hamer could buy the very best drying equipment, and got to select from the wood stocks before the Gibson people did ...Hamers were always Honduran mahogany, Gibson weren't/ aren't. Also the injection of cash allowed Hamer to prepare neck blanks to a certain stage and then allow them to settle for six months before final shaping. That way, necks were stable on new instruments, and would not continue to change after they'd been purchased.

In my view, beat up your Gibson and cherish a USA Hamer because they're far superior instruments in every way. Better still, sell your Gibson, you won't need it.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Hamer?

At one stage I wanted a LP, so I did the research and bought a USA Hamer Studio Custom, even though there were none to try out down here. The guitar Gibson wished they could build but couldn't.

I read a whole bunch of interviews with Jol Dantzig at that time. It seems that when Kayman bought them, they injected a lot of money so that Hamer could buy the very best drying equipment, and got to select from the wood stocks before the Gibson people did ...Hamers were always Honduran mahogany, Gibson weren't/ aren't. Also the injection of cash allowed Hamer to prepare neck blanks to a certain stage and then allow them to settle for six months before final shaping. That way, necks were stable on new instruments, and would not continue to change after they'd been purchased.

In my view, beat up your Gibson and cherish a USA Hamer because they're far superior instruments in every way. Better still, sell your Gibson, you won't need it.

Great argument. I was actually thinking of this myself, the way that something similar in quality to my guitar could end up replacing it altogether.

To be honest with all of you, I am very very seriously considering at least owning a Hamer just to try the instrument and see the quality of the product.

If it doesn't jive with me, I can always send it right back.

They seem to come with 59s stock... what does the forum think of this? with all the talk of the 59s being boomy etc..

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Hamer?

I remember in the 80s drooling over the Hamer ads in the Circus and other mags I used to get. I had a box full of Circus and Faces and stuff that had all the 80s Kramer, Hamer, Ibanez, Charvel and Jackson ads in them.. My mom tossed them when she moved.. Not to mention all the pics of the bands I loved , Ratt, crue, dokken....etc

I was one of those kids, too, although I didn't enter the guitar realm until '89, only about 3 years before the new world I have discovered was murdered by flannel shirt wearing bandits. It would have committed suicide anyway if that hadn't happened, but I was sad to see it go so soon. My object of lust was the top line Californian with PATB pickups and boomerang inlays, but I was WAY too broke at the time (a mere kid with an allowance) to buy it. Should have scooped one up in the mid '90s when you couldn't GIVE anything associated with '80s LA Metal away. Now they are back to being very expensive, and I already have basically everything I want, but I'll still snipe a Hamer one day...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hamer?

I think Hamer suffered a little like Charvel did in the 80s- putting out tons of lower priced imports that were nowhere near the quality of the USA guitars. Now the brand just sits there, and it is a shame.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Hamer?

I think Hamer suffered a little like Charvel did in the 80s- putting out tons of lower priced imports that were nowhere near the quality of the USA guitars. Now the brand just sits there, and it is a shame.

I understand they've been discontinued. Kind of makes me want one a little more.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Hamer?

fender bought them, then killed them off. i have a monaco elite (single cutway lp style), daytona (strat), and '87 chapperel bolt on (my only floyd axe these days). all three are very well build guitars albeit a touch different than their inspiration in the case of the monaco and daytona. if i was to get another guitar, it would probably be another hamer

 

[dystrust]

Re: Hamer?

I think Hamer suffered a little like Charvel did in the 80s- putting out tons of lower priced imports that were nowhere near the quality of the USA guitars. Now the brand just sits there, and it is a shame.

Charvel may have put out cheap, inferior imports in the early 90s, but their 80s MIJ guitars were excellent. I've compared my two 80s MIJ Charvels to both earlier and later USA Jackson / Charvel guitars and there isn't a lot of difference.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Hamer?

FWIW.I've got a 90 USA Centaura.
Among the best $400 I've ever spent.
EMG 85,Full Scallop/Rev Hdstk.

Metal Much?

If you don't buy it,you'll prolly wish u had,then at least you've had teh option.

Easy Flip or Lifer...


.02

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Hamer?

Actually, there were different lines with the "Slammer" name. The first run of imports were labelled "Hamer Slammer Series". They were made in Korea, reputedly by Cort, and are really nice instruments. I just bought a flat top "Sunburst" model, though mine is red, not 'burst. It's a first-rate guitar, but fortunately for me the "Slammer sucks" generalization keeps the prices low. Those "in the know" can pick up some deals on (IMO) undervalued instruments.

I think the later cheapo Slammers were labelled "Slammer By Hamer". More recently, imports Hamers just said "Hamer" and the country of origin was missing entirely or very small and hard to find. If it's a USA-built guitar you really can't go wrong. Anything imported, you need to know what you're looking at, or inspect/play it before buying.

If you want the full-on handmade Hamer experience, look into Mike Shishkov's guitars. There is a whole room dedicated to them over at the Hamer Fan Club forum.

Yeah, he has pics of a couple of my dream guitars on his site.. A purple quilt and a black quilt top "standard/explorer shape" (not sure what he calls the model as its not listed as an avail option that I can find)

Thanks for the info in the slammer break down! always wonder exactly... I knew they degraded down the line, but know some of the first ones were pretty good


Oh yeah! I almost forgot you had a Hamer somewhere under those stickers Randy... haha

 

[saladin]

Re: Hamer?

All this talk of Hamer's just had to make me check ebay...I want this one!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hamer-USA-S...396171?hash=item4b065e62cb:g:iDcAAOSw-itXsd~w