New Gear Score!!

Benjy_26

Benjy_26

25's Nemesis
Hey guys.

Today I took a lunch break from work and decided to stop by the pawn shop across the street. I was looking around and at the far end of the rack, I saw a red double cutaway Hamer. Thinking it was an import, I asked the guy behind the counter if I could take a look at it. It turned out to be a Hamer USA Studio. Needless to say, it's mine now. It's kinda scratched and it has a pair of EMG's (APH and Custom will take care of that), but I think I could have done worse for $400. :newangel:
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

lol sweet score man. Fix 'er up and get some damn pics on here. I love finding quality us aes for under $500. I got a US G&L asat for $450 at a music store... in great conditions.
Later,
Brian
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Pawnshops usually aren't the best place to get a bargain on music gear, but my curiosity always draws me into them. Sometimes, you get lucky...like you did.
You could even pay for your new Duncans by selling those EMG's, and break even.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

That's a hell of a score. You'll really like that guitar, I absolutely love my Hamer Studio. They are some of the best guitars money can buy, end of story. The attention to detail that Hamer gives each guitar is unmatched by any other major guitar builder. In the rare event that you don't like it, you can always unload it on Ebay for at least $600. Lets see some pics...here's my beloved Hamer

http://home.comcast.net/~rspst14/hamer1.jpg

Ryan
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

rspst14 said:
That's a hell of a score. You'll really like that guitar, I absolutely love my Hamer Studio. They are some of the best guitars money can buy, end of story. The attention to detail that Hamer gives each guitar is unmatched by any other major guitar builder. In the rare event that you don't like it, you can always unload it on Ebay for at least $600. Lets see some pics...here's my beloved Hamer

http://home.comcast.net/~rspst14/hamer1.jpg

Ryan
Click to expand...
Sorry to hijack the thread somewhat, but Ryan, that is the coolest finish I have ever seen on a Hamer. Its just jawdropping. A+++
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

bvc310 said:
Sorry to hijack the thread somewhat, but Ryan, that is the coolest finish I have ever seen on a Hamer. Its just jawdropping. A+++
Click to expand...

Thanks. I can never get really good pics of my guitars, they always seem to be too dark or too washed out. The pickup covers are nickel, but they almost look gold in that pic. It is a really nice finish, and a pretty rare color given that it's a '94 model. Until recently, almost all Hamers were made with red, sunburst, or natural finishes. Mine has a few scratches as well, but I got it from a private seller at a great price. Not as good as Benjy's deal, but better than I could've done on Ebay for the same guitar.

Ryan
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Benjy_26,

Well done for firstly getting a great score and welcome to the wonderful world of US Hamer guitars. I love them and as a number of people have found out they are quality guitars and a proper pups they will not disappoint you at all. Don't worry about the nicks or scratches with a little bit of attention that guitar is going to sing and you will find using that guitar is a real pleasure. Check out my Custom Studio (its a '59 burst) in my link below.

Ryan lovely guitar - but then you knew that already, I do think that the colour is probably a custom one which Hamer did especially for the guitar/person.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Hey guys, I did get REALLY lucky on this one. Ryan, that is one sweet axe, bro! Looks as good or better than a lot of PRS's I've seen. Mine is nowhere near as pretty though. Mine has much less noticeable figuring on the top, but it does have a gorgeous figure on the mahogany back. Cool finish on yours too Norman. I wish mine had the same figure as y'all's. :32: Mine is cherry red transparent with no binding. Which model does that make it? It says Studio USA on the headstock, but I'm sure there are differing trim levels. I also don't have the Tune-o-matic with a tailpiece, mine has what looks to be a modified strat style hardtail bridge with string thru body mounting.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Sounds like you have a standard Hamer USA Studio model from the mid 90's. Look at the first digit of the serial number, that'll tell you what year it was made. I'm guessing it'll be somewhere in the 5-7 range, as I believe 95-97 was roughly the time when Hamer started using the one piece wraparound bridge. Hamer makes two USA Studio models: a Studio and a Studio Custom. The differences between the two are purely cosmetic. The Studio Custom has Les Paul-style block inlays rather than dots, and it also has a bound neck and body. For a while, they also made a model called the Studio FM, which was the same as the standard Studio, but with a flat top rather than a carved top. So if the top is flat, that may be the model you have. If it's not flat, then it's a standard USA Studio.

Ryan
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Awesome dude! Do you know what EMG model's they are? They'll have a sticker under em, like SD's, or if the top logo is still visible, what color is it? Give them a try before you dissmiss em!

Norman...Who is that drop-dead gorgeous blonde in your photo album? Going by other threads and memory, I think it's your daughter?
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

I'm pretty happy with my '99 Hamer Studio ... another acquisition I credit to forum members - in that case, Lew. ;)

I love the craftsmanship in Hamers. For some reason, I'm just a lot more comfortable playing my Studio than I am my Les Paul. :sad:

FWIW, Hamer's gone to a set of '59s on newer ones, as opposed to the '59/ JB bridge they used before. I asked, and they said it was due to players' changing tastes.

I don't know about the other Hamer owners here, but I find the mid position very usable in my Studio. At first I thought that two volumes and one tone seemed odd, but Hamer uses their own pots, and at 9-10, it's almost like an overdrive or something - actually very cool once you get the hang of it. You could leave the switch in the mid position and get a lot of variation due to the interaction.

again, cool score!
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

NICE GRAB MAN!!!!

it's always nice to be at the right place at the right time with some cashola!!! :laugh2: :32:
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

My Hamer is a thin flat top with no binding and dot inlays. That makes it an FM, right? The logos on the EMG's are gold colored. What models are those? I'll try them out on Monday, after I do a set up with some new strings.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

I'm guessing that's an 85 set, unless it's got push/pull pots. In that case, it's an 89, which is an 85 that's splittable. The 89's will have more of a bronze like gold, and th 85's will have a more silverish gold.

Either way, the 85 is an excellent bridge and neck pickup!
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

with a flat top, it sounds like an FM Special

from the Hamer Fan Club site :

"Special (1st version) (1980 - 1983) - Double cutaway unbound body with flat flame maple top (opaque colours also available), glued-in 22-fret mahogany neck (24.75 inch scale) with rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays and three-a-side peghead. Fitted with two DiMarzio PAF humbuckers and Sustain Block bridge.

Special (2nd version) (1992 - date) - Similar to the 1st version but has all mahogany construction, tune-o-matic type bridge with stop tailpiece and two Seymour Duncan P90 Soapbar pickups. Also available with humbuckers.

Special FM (1993 - date) - As the 2nd version but has figured maple top and two Seymour Duncan humbuckers. Known as the Special Custom from 1997."
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Holy-moly! Let me get this straight. According to the info you just gave me, Curly, my axe might be a 1st version Studio FM from 1980 to 1983?
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

I wondered about that .... actually there should be some pics on the fan site or factory site of a sustain block ... I think they had a piece of wood though and were a kind shape like a V with a flattened bottom


OK .... here's some details on Sunburst models, but it should apply:
details
 
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Re: New Gear Score!!

This is it! Mine is just like the one on the far right hand side of the picture, but in a transparent cherry finish. :dance:

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/81class.html

Mine also has the Schaller tuners and the exact same type of bridge assembly (which has slightly tarnished saddles, BTW).

Was this bridge also released on later models or is it only found on early studio's?
 
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Re: New Gear Score!!

cool!

I'd say you have a collector's item on your hands .... unfortunately the EMGs devalue it a good deal as far as that goes, but if it's an early 80s, that's pretty cool

anyway, I'm sure you can check the serial # on the fan site ... I'm not super knowledgeable about the early Hamers, but I'd find out what kind of pickups your year had, and try to at least restore it as close as possible to original

but ... I'd verify for sure that the EMGs aren't original - Hamer has always been known for its custom orders

for comparison, here's an early 80s Special FM :
80s Special
 
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