New Gear Score!!

Re: New Gear Score!!

Thanks for all the help, Curly! :cool3:


Hamer lists the original pickups for my guitar in that year as being Dimarzio PAF's. I have to check the serial number with Hamer to see if it is a special order with EMG's (cream covers on them BTW). If they aren't original, do you think that installing a set of Duncans would bring the value down even further? I'm not too interested in reselling, just curious as to how finicky the used/vintage guitar market is. :burnout:

I'm calling Hamer tomorrow to see if it is some kind of on off or if it has some value in the collectors market. I'm stoked! :dance:
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

What's the serial number? I can at least tell you for sure what year it is. The first number tells you the year, the other numbers tell you what number guitar it is out of all the Hamers made before it. For example, 542457 would be a '95 model, and the 42,457th Hamer ever made. If the serial number is very low, then it's likely to be an 80's Hamer. It does sound like you have either a Studio FM or Special FM...one thing I don't like about Hamer is that they keep changing the names of their models. One particular model can have several different names, depending on the year.

Ryan
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Benjy,
glad to help some!
I think it would be cool if what looked like an OK pawn shop prize actually turned out to be an early model.

I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as Lew and others about early Hamers, but here's my take:
although I've acquired several guitars over the last couple years, I don't consider myself a professional "collector", and most of my guitars are run of the mill, nice players, set up well, and well cared for.

10 years ago, when I had a dealer's license and attended a lot of the West Coast vintage shows, the vintage market was probably at its peak, due to a lot of factors .... demographics and the international exchange rates among others, since European and Japanese investors drove a lot of the increase in prices. They just recognized the investment value of vintage American guitars, and bought them.

I've always maintained that even a collectable instrument is only good for you if it has intrinsic value as a playable instrument - not all vintage instruments sound and play well!

The pickups are an issue, as I've said, as far as collectability. At that point, to me, the thing to do is get the tone you want if you can't restore it to original electronics. I hope the pots haven't been messed with, because I like the fact that Hamer uses their own custom taper - it gives them a great responsive feel and tone. I know that they did use DMs for their first few years before switching to SDs, but I just don't know when that was, and what year your ax is exactly.

I think you need to get a few good pics, and you might try posting on the Hamer Forum . I found those guys to be pretty helpful when I had concerns about the finish on my '94 GoldTop . I also emailed Hamer directly, and they were very polite and responsive.
I love my two Hamers! I love the work ethic of the company, the commitment they have to Old World Craftsmanship, and the tone and playablity of the instruments themselves.

that's my take on things .. more importantly is that you enjoy the ax, and find the right tone. The Specials have always struck me as a player's ax. I know that when BluesnMettle was around here, he picked up a couple off of ebay and loved 'em.

take care
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

rspst14 said:
It does sound like you have either a Studio FM or Special FM...one thing I don't like about Hamer is that they keep changing the names of their models. One particular model can have several different names, depending on the year.
Ryan
Click to expand...
I agree the name changes are confusing, and that's one aggravation with Hamers.
I don't know what the real model name was either, but I consider a flat top to be a Special, not a Studio. To me, the Studios are later Sunburst archtops.

I'd say it's a Special FM, like the one on ebay. Don't hold my feet to the fire on that, though - they did confuse things! :D
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

By the way, if the pots turn out to be non-original, I have a set of original Hamer 500k pots with the custom taper.

Ryan
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

It seems like the pots are original ( and I plan on keepiing them if they are!). I 'll post pics soon and Ryan, I'll post the serial # as soon as possible. I would do it now, but I'm at work. :blackeye:

It's not so bad though, it keeps me in new toys!

Thanks a bunch for the offer Ryan! I have to give the guitar a good look and a cleaning before I know what I really have.

AS far as the sound of it, I love the unplugged sound, even with the crusty strings the shop had on it. It's more open and detailed then my Lester. It also has a tighter low end and snappier highs. I think this will make an excellent rock axe with the right pickups.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Benjy_26 said:
It seems like the pots are original ( and I plan on keepiing them if they are!)
Click to expand...

If the EMG's are aftermarket, which I'm guessing they are, there's no way that the pot's are original, unless someone did a really crappy installation.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
If the EMG's are aftermarket, which I'm guessing they are, there's no way that the pot's are original, unless someone did a really crappy installation.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's probably true. I have push/pull pots installed in mine, so I couldn't use the stock pots. I'm sure you can buy new ones from Hamer's parts department, or you can have mine if you don't mind them being used and 10 years old.

Ryan
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

well, I'm kind of repeating myself here, but for Benjy, I wanted to make the point that I think that Hamer's custom tapered pots are really cool, and make them special.

I agree that if someone went to EMGs, they would likely use different pot values - at least I think so, but I haven't used 'em myself, so I don't really know for sure.

I feel that if it's a restoration project, you try to get as close to original as possible, knowing that it still won't be truly original.
If it's a matter of going for the best tone you can get in the guitar, then you use the pickups that get you that tone.

I'll think you'll know which way to go after talking to Hamer, and some Hamer players.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

:smack: You're right! I completely forgot that EMG's use different components.

I think I will take you up on the offer then, Ryan! :cool3:

Thanks a lot! PM me with the details.
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

I guess what I have to do is talk to Hamer and find out what I really have. If it's worth restoring, I will. If it's nothing rare or classic, I'll mess with it some for sure. :evil:
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

You might want to try posting pics and a serial number here: http://www.hamerfanclub.com/cgi-bin/hamer/dcforum/dcboard.cgi

I'm sure someone can tell you exactly what you have, how much it's worth, and whether or not it's something collectable.

If you want the Hamer pots, you can have them free if you don't mind sending a couple dollars for shipping. I don't see myself picking up another guitar for a while, so I really have no use for them. They work great, and have a very solid feel. They are tapered to give you a little extra boost when going from 9 to 10. PM me if you decide you definitely want them.

Ryan
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

I'll take you up on that offer Ryan! I'll PM you to set it up. Again, thanks a lot.


Thank you all for all the great info and interest that you've shown Wyou're all first class cats! :alcoholic
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Sorry it took me so long to get the Serial # to you guys, but here it is: 1 4678. I'll get pictures up as soon as possible. Thanks a lot gents!
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

So does this mean its an 80's model, as acording to curly its the 4,678th hamer ever...thats pretty low...I just got so indepth in this thread for some reason , twas w very interesting read..:laugh2:
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

yeah, it's #4678 made in 1981. I'll post pics soon. I got to admit, all who posted here did make it a very interesting thread. Thanks a bunch, gentlemen!
 
Re: New Gear Score!!

Dating Hamer guitars from their site:

From 1974 through 1981 Hamer USA employed two separate serial numbering systems, one for custom instruments and one for production models:

Custom Instruments: These instruments are easily recognized by the use of a four digit number stamped into the wood on the back of the peghead. The numbers ran from #0000 through #0680. All of the early Hamer USA Standards and 12-String basses as well as a number of prototype instruments were included in this serial numbering system.

Production Models: Production models are stamped (initially with ink, later into the wood, on the back of the peghead) with either a five or six digit serial number. The first digit indicates the year that the instrument was built. The next four or five digits are sequentially stamped in order of production. For example, serial number 7 0001 was built in 1977 and was the first production model guitar built. Similarly, 0 1964 was built in 1980 and was the 1,964th production guitar built. The serial numbering sequence by decade is indicated below:

1970s: 7 0001 - 9 1450
1980s: 0 1451 - 9 24192
1990s: 0 24193 - 9 50155
2000s: 0 50156 - present

So Benjy_26 has got a '81 Hamer - congrats and well done!!
 
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