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

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

You know, Hamer came out with the double cut LP Special or TV look before PRS did. Of course Gibson came out with it first. But Gibson didn't do anything with that look after about 1960 and just abandoned it. I always thought of PRS as copying Hamer to some degree. But PRS just took that look at ran with it.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

You guys all know me...and I played a Hamer once.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

PRS kinda took the basic idea of Hamers guitars (make a better guitar at a higher cost level) and modified them a touch. The PRS sound really started with changing the scale length to its own beast. Hamers have the standard Gibson scale. There's no denying both Hamer and PRS probably got their inspirations from the original Gibson Les Paul (aka the "SG") and the doublecut Les Pauls.

Hamer was the original boutique company. The odd thing is that they never caught on. It seems musicians have always stuck with Gibson or Fender (even through their rough eras) and just like you won't find Suhrs, Andersons, Groshs and the like in most bands arsenals, you won't find Hamer (and they've been around since the 70s).

Musicians are a conservative bunch of folks. I'm still trying to figure out how PRS managed to break that mold. I guess it's a "right place, right time" deal and Hamer managed to miss that mark. I do think Hamers (atleast the USA ones) are amazing guitars though. I did own a Special FM that had one of the craziest flames I've ever seen in my life. It was unreal (sounded phenomenal and the Rio Grande pickups in it fit the guitar well), but it ended up getting sold because it was too pretty and I like simpler looking pieces. There are some days when I question exactly why I sold it - it was incredible (and I think I paid around $800 for it which is untouchable).
 
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Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

this is definitely off-topic, but i'm considering a hamer custom shop job, for a long-scale hollowbody.
i have this forum to thank for teh hamer and carvin GAS
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

There was a point in the mid eighties when Hamer was almost the guitar of choice.
Martin Barre from jethro tull, both the guys from Judas Priest went the way of Hamer and Gary more was known for using one at times, and don't forget the Steve Steavens model.
There was a point when the expensive wall in my local music shop contained one Gibson LP, a Hamer Standard, a Hamer Scarab, a Scarab Bass, Hamer super strat thing like the one Tipton uses and a Bright pink Hammer Steve Steavens. Two years later it was all PRS.
At the time people did not go for Gibson or Fender that much, they were too old fashioned.
Hamer should have had the success that PRS had but they just didn't get the formula right, or more to the point tried too many different things.
As to why so few top players use Hamers? That probably just down to the fact that there are so many good guitar makers out there, and a top player who's not tied to a company will either just play the same guitar he's always played (see Steve Howe for details) or will play assorted different guitars during a gig/recording (Gary Moore/Joe Bonamassa).
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

The short answer to the original question is economics. The original Hamer operation was a small workshop, producing a modest number of high-quality, hand-made instruments. The company did not have the budget for "artiste giveaway". (Comparisons to pre-factory era PRS could be drawn here.)

Older readers may remember The Police appearing in a promotional video, sporting matching red Hamer Explorer guitar and fretless bass, respectively. Photographs exist of Summers and Sumner using these instruments on-stage during an early Eighties tour. In the longer run, however, these instruments were not their Numero Uno axes.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

You're right Ant, I forgot all about the Priest guys. They still use Hamer's on some songs live I think.

I think it probably comes down to the fact that Gibson and Fender have lower budget versions of their guitars available to beginner's and those on a budget. Squiers and Epiphones are everywhere, and, to all intents and purposes, look the same as their more expensive Fender or Gibson counterparts. So a kid gets an Epiphone SG, like his hero Angus, then he gets older, gets a job and can afford something better. What does he get? A Hamer or a Gibson? No brainer surely?
I've been looking for used Hamer's on ebay for a while and haven't been able to find anything that caught my eye, whereas there's a million Epiphones and Squiers out there used, and not just that, they're cheaper than the used Hamers I've seen, even the lower quality Hamers!
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

The irony of the OP asking why Hamer's aren't more appreciated, then having a PRS photo in his signature notwithstanding, the answer is that Hamer doesn't have a unique enough brand identity to resonate with young buyers. I worked with a chap once who shared the OP's lament when he could never sell Hamers. Folks would always pick an often more expensive lesser quality in his opinion Gibson. Hamers look like what they are - knockoffs. There is not enough distinctiveness for most people versus the Gibson's they are mainly copying. Same could be said for Heritage. PRS started as Double Cut LP copies, but developed their own distinctive contours and features creating their own style and identity.

Here are various anti-Hamer thoughts and musing of my own and heard form others -
Hamer guitars are meh, blah. Compared to Gibson and PRS, they just have a generic cookie cutter vibe and look to them.
The headstock logo is ugly and cheap looking.
The headstock itself is big and ugly.
Finishes are thick and plasticky.
The straight inline control layout is not practical and looks goofy.
All these factors gives the impression of cheapness even though the build quality may be outstanding.
The models don't have catchy memorable names.
To many the prevailing Hamer image is the late 70's early 80's maple top explorer copies. This model is now called the ...Standard Custom...fascinating.
Most of the famous Hamer players of the halcyon day are largely irrelevant to today's buying public. Cheap Trick? Jethro Tull? Wishbone Ash? How many people under age 40 can name the guitar players in those bands?


I did own a 90's DuoTOne for a while because at the time it was about the only magnetic/piezo hybrid. The quality was not very impressive for the price which was I think $1600-2000. Mediocre fretwork, cheap plastic nut poorly slotted from factory, terrible unadjustable intonation, acoustic sound was unusably bright requiring major offboard tweakage. Maybe the quality has improved, but the initial assertion that they are "as good as Suhr" seems a stretch.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

:chairshot :jester: :flush: :chairfall :wrf: :11:

:opcorn: :nono: :soapbox:

:laughing: :23:

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

creeping malaise said:
The irony of the OP asking why Hamer's aren't more appreciated, then having a PRS photo in his signature notwithstanding, the answer is that Hamer doesn't have a unique enough brand identity to resonate with young buyers. I worked with a chap once who shared the OP's lament when he could never sell Hamers. Folks would always pick an often more expensive lesser quality in his opinion Gibson. Hamers look like what they are - knockoffs. There is not enough distinctiveness for most people versus the Gibson's they are mainly copying. Same could be said for Heritage. PRS started as Double Cut LP copies, but developed their own distinctive contours and features creating their own style and identity.
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Right. Hamer did not make the step to original designs. To the casual observer they are "copies". A PRS has a distinctive shape you can recognize.

To make matters worse instead of basing their early success on the halfway original Sunburst line (aka a double-cut LP that Gibson doesn't offer in quite the same form) they used the Explorer form. The Explorer just isn't for every player neither taste wise nor playing wise (arm positions thrown off).
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

Hamer history actually has them putting the early emphasis in 1980 to 1982 in the Sunburst, Special, and Vector lines guitar wise. The Cruise Bass from that time period is a fantastic take on combining a PBass and JBass. The Standard was at that time in a subset serial numbering with up to only 450 Standards of about 750 guitars/basses in that subset serial numbering being made 1976 to 1985. This subset was the custom orders and the celebritie's stuff along with the Standards. The Explorer shaped Blitz and Blitz Bass came along in 1982-'83 and then the Scepter replaced the Standard in 1986 for a few years as the Explorer shape available from them. The Scarab was out then too. The Standard returned to the line up as a continuing model about '95 with a few having been made in the 1986-1995 period. You are correct. The Explorer shape is not for everyone. The original intent I felt from Hamer back then was great Maple topped and bound offerings that as mentioned, Gibber didn't do. The Sunburst and the Standard. The Special was the lowest priced Hamer with no binding and a thin veneer on top of a 1 piece Honduran Mahogany body. I recall thier attempt at the The Standard, the E2 and the The V. While beautiful in most instances Gibber's versions wieghed a ton. That there is another thing. Hamer has been pricey all along too because they use a better grade of wood. When I first wanted a Hamer in the late '70s they were the first guitars above a $1000 without being a vintage guitar I noticed. Standards were $1400-$1700 in 1979 new in Minneapolis. Pricey to a 18 year old with no job. I owned a $300 Gibson The Paul then.

No inner development to create thier own models? Centaura, Californian, Chapperal, Monaco, Talladega, Improv, Steve Stevens I and II, 12 String Bass. Just to name a few.

I'm biased. I love them. To each his own. I plan to add at least one more for my 50th birthday in 20011 but who know what Hamer G.A.S. awaits me between now and then. :headbang:
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

As much as I value feel, playability, tone, and quality...............the way a guitar looks is also important to me. And that big fugly headstock on those Hamers is enough to keep me away. I've already got a Gibby Explorer so I don't need a Standard Custom. I don't really see anything else in the line that is visually appealing to me at all. I shouldn't neglect to mention that my tastes tend to run more toward the modern rock guitar designs (ESP, Jackson, etc) as opposed to the classic designs.....although I still love LP's and strats. I just can't get past that headstock.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

You guys are killing me. I just walked in the livingroom and stood a '79 Sunburst, a '94 Special, a 90's Schulte Les Paul Standard, and a Warmoth LP by each other. The Hamer headstocks are barely longer than the LP style and while LP style is curved and slimmer in the A/B tuner area the Hamers are slimmer in the end area of the headstock. Wanna talk Big headstock, Deans. Hated them for 25 years. Now I own 18 Deans since 2003.

Life IS Good! :werd:
 
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Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

creeping malaise said:
The irony of the OP asking why Hamer's aren't more appreciated, then having a PRS photo in his signature notwithstanding.
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Maybe because I and serious players look for different things in a guitar than you obviously do.

I don't see why I would dislike the look of Hamer's just because I like the look of PRS guitars. The Hamer Studio is a great looking guitar too IMO.

Suhr's models aren't exactly unique. They are basically super strats and strats b any other name yet Scott Henderson (1 of the best players around), Guthrie Govan, Rick Graham, Tom Quayle and others use them.


Here are various anti-Hamer thoughts and musing of my own and heard form others -
Hamer guitars are meh, blah. Compared to Gibson and PRS, they just have a generic cookie cutter vibe and look to them.
The headstock logo is ugly and cheap looking.
The headstock itself is big and ugly.
Finishes are thick and plasticky.
The straight inline control layout is not practical and looks goofy.
All these factors gives the impression of cheapness even though the build quality may be outstanding.
The models don't have catchy memorable names.
To many the prevailing Hamer image is the late 70's early 80's maple top explorer copies. This model is now called the ...Standard Custom...fascinating.
Most of the famous Hamer players of the halcyon day are largely irrelevant to today's buying public. Cheap Trick? Jethro Tull? Wishbone Ash? How many people under age 40 can name the guitar players in those bands?
Click to expand...

You've completely misunderstood the question.

I'm not asking why the average/general player doesn't use Hamer, but the guys I mention, while care about aesthetics, are nowhere near as superficial as you seem to think they are and use guitars because of the tone, playability etc.

Having a supposedly "cheap" image (I don't agree, I just think they have an understated elegance) wouldn't matter to top players plus people with that clout could/would have a custom anyway so only the otne and playability would matter.

It's extremely strange that there isn't 1 player the level of Govan using Hamer guitars and obviously no-one can put a finger on it.

And, NO, it isn't because of their aesthetics although you seem to really dislike the look yourself.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

in my mind the hamer body shapes dont really identify with any genre really well you have super strats and gibsons for metal (well gibsons for a lot of genres) and hollowbodys and such for jazz.hamer never really got to much of a public image and the most famous users (judas priest) dont have there guitars available for sell as normal production instruments.

when people think of a guitar company's sound they'll prefer to get something by that company since everything else will feel like an imitation,maybe that's one of the reasons prs have there own scale length.

ive owned a hamer special fm (sunburst) for over 10 years now and it took me a long long time to like the guitar,i used to have trouble with how it looked (i usually play supersrats) and wasnt used so much to the scale length but after changing the pickups twice (first emg's which i didnt like at all and then back to SD's alnico 2 pro neck and custom custom bridge) and replacing the stop tail to aluminum its really grown on me and i play it the most out of my guitars these days.
even during periods that i didnt like it so much i could always tell it's a real quality instrument,it resonates so well it's incredible.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

rivera213 said:
I'm not asking why the average/general player doesn't use Hamer, but the guys I mention, while care about aesthetics, are nowhere near as superficial as you seem to think they are and use guitars because of the tone, playability etc.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's just as simple as Hamer's, for all the good build quality and superb playability and tone, just don't give a unique enough tone/feel/look, and saying that top players don't care about the look/image of their instruments is possibly not very accurate.
Almost all players care how their instruments looks, one way or another.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

So Rivera, ever get yourself one of these?

studio_cu_655131.jpg


I thought I remembered you having some G.A.S. over a Hamer. Those Studio Customs are KILLER guitars and Les Paul Killers. The stock Duncans Rawk! :approve: :cool2:

One other neat thing I like about Hamer is the use of race track locations for guitar names. Monaco, Daytona, Talladega.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

I think there are a few things that always bothered me about Hamers- I don't like the switch location, the 3-in-a-line knobs or the fact that my small hands can't do volume swells on most of their guitars because the volume knobs are too far away. I am more into ergonomics these days than form, I guess.
 
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?

All valid reasons to not want one Dave.
 
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