My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr. *NEW PICS* & Review
- Thread starter Evan Skopp
- Start date
MikeRocker
What's Your Forum Nameologist?
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
It's a very cool looking guitar. Unfortunately, after doing a web search for the price, it seems that Hamer is going the way of Gibson these days in the cost department. I don't recall their prices being so outrageous just a few years ago. I wish that some guitar parts company would start making quality set-neck necks and bodies so that we could build our own less expensive but still high quality Gibsonesque guitars!
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
It's a very cool looking guitar. Unfortunately, after doing a web search for the price, it seems that Hamer is going the way of Gibson these days in the cost department. I don't recall their prices being so outrageous just a few years ago. I wish that some guitar parts company would start making quality set-neck necks and bodies so that we could build our own less expensive but still high quality Gibsonesque guitars!
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
It gets worse my friends...
I found this review from Guitarist (UK) magazine on Jol Dantzig's site. The second page is a little grainy, but if you concentrate you can read it.
As for the price, yes, it's costly. But that's what you pay for small-batch, hand-made things: whether you're talking about guitars, furniture, watches, or whatnot.
As for going the way of Gibson, I doubt it. Read the review. Korina. The three-piece stressed neck with a quarter-sawn center and two grain-angled edges to prevent warping. The nitro finish. The Antiquity pickup. This is a no-compromise guitar.
This is a quote from the review, "Hamer's quality is... far superior to what you'll see on a Gibson production guitar these days." Think about what Gibson charges for production guitars. The fact that the Hamer is under $3,000 is pretty amazing to me.
There are two bottom lines here. One: you get what you pay for. Two: why did I have to start lusting after this axe? :smack:
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
It gets worse my friends...
I found this review from Guitarist (UK) magazine on Jol Dantzig's site. The second page is a little grainy, but if you concentrate you can read it.
As for the price, yes, it's costly. But that's what you pay for small-batch, hand-made things: whether you're talking about guitars, furniture, watches, or whatnot.
As for going the way of Gibson, I doubt it. Read the review. Korina. The three-piece stressed neck with a quarter-sawn center and two grain-angled edges to prevent warping. The nitro finish. The Antiquity pickup. This is a no-compromise guitar.
This is a quote from the review, "Hamer's quality is... far superior to what you'll see on a Gibson production guitar these days." Think about what Gibson charges for production guitars. The fact that the Hamer is under $3,000 is pretty amazing to me.
There are two bottom lines here. One: you get what you pay for. Two: why did I have to start lusting after this axe? :smack:
54stratlover
New member
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
I have never owned something with that style of bridge. I know some of the old les paul jr guitars would suffer from the bridge becoming loose in the mahogony. I don't know if that would be true in Korina.
I like this one with a stop tailpiece, and 2 p-90s.
http://guitarsale.com/frontend/ProductImage.aspx?ProductID=974
http://guitarsale.com/frontend/Product.aspx?ProductID=974
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
I have never owned something with that style of bridge. I know some of the old les paul jr guitars would suffer from the bridge becoming loose in the mahogony. I don't know if that would be true in Korina.
I like this one with a stop tailpiece, and 2 p-90s.
http://guitarsale.com/frontend/ProductImage.aspx?ProductID=974
http://guitarsale.com/frontend/Product.aspx?ProductID=974
rspst14
Tone Cat
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
New Hamers are expensive, but they are the greatest steal around on the used market. I would keep checking Ebay, and ask around on the Hamer Fan Club board. There are always guys over there interested in buying and selling, that's how I got my Studio. If one of those popped up on Ebay, you could easily get it for under a grand. Hamer just doesn't have the brand name recognition that Gibson does. I don't really understand it, but that's the way it is.
Ryan
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
New Hamers are expensive, but they are the greatest steal around on the used market. I would keep checking Ebay, and ask around on the Hamer Fan Club board. There are always guys over there interested in buying and selling, that's how I got my Studio. If one of those popped up on Ebay, you could easily get it for under a grand. Hamer just doesn't have the brand name recognition that Gibson does. I don't really understand it, but that's the way it is.
Ryan
Jeffrec
New member
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Evan,
I'm really partial to Hamers, and this version of the Special looks great. I've never played one, but who cares? It'll be another great edition to your stable
If you get it, post some samples so we can check out its sound.
Jeff
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Evan,
I'm really partial to Hamers, and this version of the Special looks great. I've never played one, but who cares? It'll be another great edition to your stable
If you get it, post some samples so we can check out its sound.
Jeff
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Well... I did it. I pulled the trigger on this guitar today. Custom order with a 25 1/2" scale length.
But... check this out. Turns out there's a worldwide Korina shortage. Plus, more than half of what comes out of Africa is unusable because of mineral streaks and fungus and whatnot. Most wood dealers don't want to touch it.
Hamer just got what might be one of the last shipments direct from Africa -- but they had to scrap out more than half of it. The good news is that I just got my order to them in time to get a premium Korina body and quarter-sawn neck blank for my Jr. (with a Brazilian fingerboard).
Now, picture that wood in the hands of Hamer's craftsmen. Custom guitar. Premium woods. Hamer quality.
Will it cost a lot? Sure. But you get what you pay for.
The ten-week clock starts ticking now... Tick. Tock.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Well... I did it. I pulled the trigger on this guitar today. Custom order with a 25 1/2" scale length.
But... check this out. Turns out there's a worldwide Korina shortage. Plus, more than half of what comes out of Africa is unusable because of mineral streaks and fungus and whatnot. Most wood dealers don't want to touch it.
Hamer just got what might be one of the last shipments direct from Africa -- but they had to scrap out more than half of it. The good news is that I just got my order to them in time to get a premium Korina body and quarter-sawn neck blank for my Jr. (with a Brazilian fingerboard).
Now, picture that wood in the hands of Hamer's craftsmen. Custom guitar. Premium woods. Hamer quality.
Will it cost a lot? Sure. But you get what you pay for.
The ten-week clock starts ticking now... Tick. Tock.
MikeRocker
What's Your Forum Nameologist?
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Congratulations, I'm sure it'll be a beauty. But out of curiosity, why did you decide to go with a 25 1/2" scale length?
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Congratulations, I'm sure it'll be a beauty. But out of curiosity, why did you decide to go with a 25 1/2" scale length?
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Good question.
When it comes to playing, I'm a Fender scale length-guy. That longer scale length just feels "right" to me. It always has. Gibsons are somewhat easier to play, and you have to fight a little with Strats and Teles, but I always found the fight was worth it.
People have different guitar features that they relate to strongly. I have a friend, Gordon, who's totally into fingerboard radius. Personally, I never think about it. Other guys are into weight. Or the figuring of the top. Or the shape of the neck. Or the balance.
For me, it's scale length.
Also, since I'm dropping major cash on this axe, I really want it to be my main playing guitar. And I know me. And if it's 24 3/4", I just won't play it that much. I have guitars with that scale and I don't relate to them like my longer scale guitars. Plus, because Hamer is a custom shop, they'll make it however I want. Jol Dantzig is personally doing the drawing.
I'm totally psyched about this.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Good question.
When it comes to playing, I'm a Fender scale length-guy. That longer scale length just feels "right" to me. It always has. Gibsons are somewhat easier to play, and you have to fight a little with Strats and Teles, but I always found the fight was worth it.
People have different guitar features that they relate to strongly. I have a friend, Gordon, who's totally into fingerboard radius. Personally, I never think about it. Other guys are into weight. Or the figuring of the top. Or the shape of the neck. Or the balance.
For me, it's scale length.
Also, since I'm dropping major cash on this axe, I really want it to be my main playing guitar. And I know me. And if it's 24 3/4", I just won't play it that much. I have guitars with that scale and I don't relate to them like my longer scale guitars. Plus, because Hamer is a custom shop, they'll make it however I want. Jol Dantzig is personally doing the drawing.
I'm totally psyched about this.
Rich_T
Kyuss_Rockologist
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
I saw that one in Guitarist too... I absolutley love it, thier soundclips of it sounded wicked. I just had trouble justifying the price for something so back to basics. No doubt its a quality bit of kit though! Hope you like it Evan.
What SDs you gonna put in it?!
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
I saw that one in Guitarist too... I absolutley love it, thier soundclips of it sounded wicked. I just had trouble justifying the price for something so back to basics. No doubt its a quality bit of kit though! Hope you like it Evan.
What SDs you gonna put in it?!
gripweed
Jolvisologist
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
I've got that issue of Guitarist and I also fell in love with the looks. But not enough to blow that kind of cash lol. I don't blame you man, sounds like you got a great guitar.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Evan Skopp said:
I've got that issue of Guitarist and I also fell in love with the looks. But not enough to blow that kind of cash lol. I don't blame you man, sounds like you got a great guitar.
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
If it was coming with the standard 24 3/4" scale length, I'd probably leave the stock Antiquity in there.
However, I think there's a good chance the extra 3/4" will give it a spank injection and I don't want it to be too bright. If it is, I'll just go in and wrap another thousand-or-two turns of 42 PE to add d.c. resistance and bring down the resonant peak. The result will be more output and less high-end.
By the way, those dog ear covers are thermoformed just like the old Gibsons. They're super cool if you haven't seen them.
But like I said, the first thing I have to do is hear it.
Nine weeks and five days. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Re: My G.A.S. - Hamer Special Korina Jr.
I don't know yet. I have to hear it first.Kyuss_Rock said:
If it was coming with the standard 24 3/4" scale length, I'd probably leave the stock Antiquity in there.
However, I think there's a good chance the extra 3/4" will give it a spank injection and I don't want it to be too bright. If it is, I'll just go in and wrap another thousand-or-two turns of 42 PE to add d.c. resistance and bring down the resonant peak. The result will be more output and less high-end.
By the way, those dog ear covers are thermoformed just like the old Gibsons. They're super cool if you haven't seen them.
But like I said, the first thing I have to do is hear it.
Nine weeks and five days. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
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