Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

rivera213

rivera213

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And I mean as their MAIN axe, not 1 of many.

Everything I hear, especially on this forum, about Hamer guitars is good but you look at their artist roster and for the most part, it's a who's who of unknown, session and mediocre guitarists within pop and rock.

I realize endorsements play a huge part in what a player uses (Ibanez being the most obvious), but the players I'd like/expect to see using Hamer guitars (those with unquestionably excellent tone) wouldn't take an endorsement deal from a lesser company to detrement of their tone.

Sure, players like Scott Henderson, Guthrie Govan & Dave Kilminster play an equally high-end company's guitars (Suhr) whilst 2 primarily Ibanez players of the past (Rick Graham & Tom Quayle) now use Suhr. Allan Holdsworth's main axe is a custom Delap, Ron Thal's main axes are custom Vigier geets as were Shawn Lane's in the last part of his career, John McLaughlin's main electric axe is a Godin etc... (and all of theseir choices were pre-endorsement for those who now have an endorsement).

Can anyone tell me why Hamer only have average players on their roster when their guitars are, by all accounts, as good as Suhr?

Or are you as perplexed as I am?

- Steve
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

It sounds like you might be lumping in the unknown and session players with the mediocre ones. Session guys are awesome.

There's definitely money and politics involved in player endorsements, and I would say that the name recognition on a manufacturer's roster has little to do with how good the guitars actually are.
 
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Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Well I did say session, unknown and mediocre to split them apart.

But having said that, session guitarists are jack of all trades and are limited to being session guitarists for the most part.

Any session player who has any sort of originality has a seperate career as a solo player or within a band which has received critical acclaim within their field (journos and players alike).
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

You seemed to be implying that the endorsements of unknown and session players aren't valuable at all, but I might have just been reading too much into your post.

I do wonder, though, when some brands have all kinds of name recognition on their endorsement roster, while others have little or none. What are the real reasons? I mean, Dave Mustaine endorsed Jackson for years. He left because they cut back on free guitars, royalties, and a bunch of other stuff that Dave had gotten used to. Does that mean the guitars suddenly weren't any good? Well, as far as I know, he recorded the music that I respect him for, with Jacksons.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

I was thinking purely in terms of the best players playing the best instruments as opposed to Hamer's side of things.

Mustaine also actually tried to BUY Jackson guitars & left Jackson for ESP as a result of not being sold the company.

Now he has Dean guitars wrapped round his little finger.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

I don't think there's such a thing as the best players playing the best instruments. First of all, good/better/best in guitarists is so subjective that I don't put much stock in it. Now, if a company trotted out the names of a bunch of 16-year-old YouTube wankers as endorsers, I'd wonder which hand they were smoking from. On the other hand, I'm not going to split hairs when it comes to the exact hierarchy of death metal dudes endorsing ESP, nor am I going to try to suss out the reputation of various jazz players when I go shopping for a hollowbody. Endorsements are interesting, but at some point the guitars really have to speak for themselves. The rest is just window dressing for the tourists.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Well, why did the Beatles break out from so many other bands? Well skill, but also they were in the right place at the right time. I think Hamer just got the short end of the stick. And wedging itself into a market dominated by the big 3 (Gibson, Fender, Ibanez) is no small feat. Same goes for artists. They've been doing fine with their Fenders and Gibsons so far, so why improve the wheel?

And remember, one Pagey Jim was a session player before his turn came. It could be a matter of time now.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Needless to say I would choose and buy a guitar based on my own opinions, not Paul Gilbert's or whoever.

But it's still extremely strange to see a company who make guitars as good as Hamer to not have at least 1 top level player on their roster.

And level of playing isn't as subjective as people think. When we take into account phrasing ability, musicality, note choice, timing, intonation, technical ability- it really transcends style and there IS such thing as the best players regardless of what style they play.

The names I mentioned are in that bracket and you wouldn't find a serious player or someone who knows what exactly makes a good player arguing in the choices, but none of the players on Hamer's list are anywhere near the list in my OP, which is extremely strange when you take into account the quality of Hamer guitars.


EDIT: Reply to Jessie.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

I shall refer to the general theme from the Book of Ecclesiastes (funny, i'm not too religious yet I've found so many great Bible quotes recently).

Life's not Fair. By some divine mystery, some people do better than others. Enjoy the small stuff in any case and get on with it.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

This is job for.....


Someone who hangs with the Hamer forum!
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

rivera213 said:
Needless to say I would choose and buy a guitar based on my own opinions, not Paul Gilbert's or whoever.

But it's still extremely strange to see a company who make guitars as good as Hamer to not have at least 1 top level player on their roster.

And level of playing isn't as subjective as people think. When we take into account phrasing ability, musicality, note choice, timing, intonation, technical ability- it really transcends style and there IS such thing as the best players regardless of what style they play.

The names I mentioned are in that bracket and you wouldn't find a serious player or someone who knows what exactly makes a good player arguing in the choices, but none of the players on Hamer's list are anywhere near the list in my OP, which is extremely strange when you take into account the quality of Hamer guitars.


EDIT: Reply to Jessie.
Click to expand...

I'm not convinced. Having a music professor dissect a song or a solo and explain to me why Holdsworth is better than Mr. X Whoever isn't going to make me like Holdsworth's music more. This goes double for McLaughlin. I like what I like what I like.

Lo siento.

Edit: I'm not normally this snarky. I just have never come up with a unified theory of equipment endorsements, a model that can explain the different phenomena that we see. I don't mind egghead guitarists whom (apparently) only theory majors can fully appreciate, but over-intellectualizing it doesn't add anything for me.

Finally, I don't care who endorses what guitar. As far as I know, Jackson's most famous endorser is a porn star whose main instrument is the skin flute. This has no effect on my opinion of their guitars.
 
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Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

I swear I've seen Rick Neilson play a Hamer or two.......he's pretty good as well.

-dave
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

AFAIK, Hamer does not pay people to play their guitars, and they like being lowkey and top notch. Keb Mo has a Hamer on the cover of his new live cd because he wants a Hamer on the cover of his cd not because Hamer paid him to hold it. :)

I like that.

<--- shameless, unofficial unsigned unknown(to them) Hamer Endorsee. :kabong:
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

BTMN said:
AFAIK, Hamer does not pay people to play their guitars, and they like being lowkey and top notch. Keb Mo has a Hamer on the cover of his new live cd because he wants a Hamer on the cover of his cd not because Hamer paid him to hold it. :)

I like that.

<--- shameless, unofficial unsigned unknown(to them) Hamer Endorsee. :kabong:
Click to expand...

That's ****ing awesome.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

I think they're fookin awesome guitars.

<<<<<<<<<<<

But what the hell do I know.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

I have two Hamers.....but you don't know me. The only reason I'm an unknown is due to the witness protection program.

Hamers are awesome. I don't know why more people don't play then. I don't know why I don't use mine more often, too many guitars I guess. It's kinda cool the underground vibe they have............
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Aren't they owned by Fender now? My guess is the real money is going into Fender products and endorsees.
I think, like ESP, they don't really have a big 'identity' to most people. They improve on classic designs for the most part. They are not known for innovation, just slightly more modern takes on what has been the status quo for 50 years. The few I have played I liked, but not enough of an original thing to make me buy. But I am strange with what guitars I like.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Because most "known" players can afford Gibsons? :smokin:

No but seriously, most people who want a modernized doublecut les paul already have a paul reed smith.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Maybe they just don't need the business or don't see it as necessary. They might be perfectly happy with the number of guitars they produce and sell. They may believe that higher production may lower quality.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Part of it is also because often managers get endorsement deals rolling and not players. For example I´d rather pay to play a Jackson than get paid to play an ESP. Depending on the player, the company may not be interested inb them or the player may not be interested in the company.

There are thousands of companies worldwide producing outstanding guitars. Endorsements are for the most part just marketing´s way of trying to convince sheeple that "ours are better because so many people play them" ;)
 
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