Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
- Thread starter rivera213
- Start date
Kosh Naranek
New member
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
Great point. I mean, how many of us who play Hamers would actually want the company to start going down that slippery slope? No telling where that would end up.
rivera213
Guest
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
I definitely applaud Hamer for sticking to their philosophy when many a company would've sold out in their position.
As for the point about controls. I've never been a player who switches pickup positions too often or utilizes volume swells so the layout of, for example, the Studio wouldn't bother me. There are a few of you who find the layout a problem which is a shame.
Are those, other than BTMN who have a custom shop Hamer? PIcs are mandatory!
I definitely applaud Hamer for sticking to their philosophy when many a company would've sold out in their position.
As for the point about controls. I've never been a player who switches pickup positions too often or utilizes volume swells so the layout of, for example, the Studio wouldn't bother me. There are a few of you who find the layout a problem which is a shame.
Are those, other than BTMN who have a custom shop Hamer? PIcs are mandatory!
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
I have a Studio Custom (vintage sunburst over flame maple top, similar to the pic that's been posted earlier in this thread). I lost everything from my hard drive a while back, including pics. It's only just getting light here at the moment, i'll take it outside in a while and take some fresh pics.
I was actually planning on buying a Les Paul, but became disillusioned after reading much information and opinions online ("Be sure to play many many LP's to find a good one..." .... not really an exciting prospect when they cost so much down here). Plus I'd always been haunted by a full-page ad i'd seen in a music magazine, a pic of what i think was a Studio Custom (it may have been known by a different name at that time). It was a huge gamble moving away from the 'G' brand, and Hamer's weren't available here when i got mine a few years back. I bought mine from the US and had to deal with Customs fees here, but still ended up with a better deal than I would have if i could have bought one here.
I have a Studio Custom (vintage sunburst over flame maple top, similar to the pic that's been posted earlier in this thread). I lost everything from my hard drive a while back, including pics. It's only just getting light here at the moment, i'll take it outside in a while and take some fresh pics.
I was actually planning on buying a Les Paul, but became disillusioned after reading much information and opinions online ("Be sure to play many many LP's to find a good one..." .... not really an exciting prospect when they cost so much down here). Plus I'd always been haunted by a full-page ad i'd seen in a music magazine, a pic of what i think was a Studio Custom (it may have been known by a different name at that time). It was a huge gamble moving away from the 'G' brand, and Hamer's weren't available here when i got mine a few years back. I bought mine from the US and had to deal with Customs fees here, but still ended up with a better deal than I would have if i could have bought one here.
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tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
dunno man, seeing herrington play one on with steely dan is all the 'known' i need ... the vids on jol's blog are KILLER for tone
and i still have to fight the urge to drop major coin on one like evan's korina p90 double cut
dunno man, seeing herrington play one on with steely dan is all the 'known' i need ... the vids on jol's blog are KILLER for tone
and i still have to fight the urge to drop major coin on one like evan's korina p90 double cut
LtKojak
New member
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
All Hamer imports I've seen have been of good quality, every bit as good as the PRS imports.
A friend of mine got one with Duncan Designed HB102 and even though was good stock, after a magnet change and a few tweaks it became a killer.
Not many 'round here in Italy to find nowadays... not even imports!
All Hamer imports I've seen have been of good quality, every bit as good as the PRS imports.
A friend of mine got one with Duncan Designed HB102 and even though was good stock, after a magnet change and a few tweaks it became a killer.
Not many 'round here in Italy to find nowadays... not even imports!
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
im glad hamer doesn't have 'big name' guitarist endorsed. i remember when dave mustaine left jackson and went to esp he was thinking of going to hamer but said they wouldnt be able to meet his demands. iwould hate to see hamer lower their standards to make a shredder guitar. mustaine sucks. hamer makes real instruments
im glad hamer doesn't have 'big name' guitarist endorsed. i remember when dave mustaine left jackson and went to esp he was thinking of going to hamer but said they wouldnt be able to meet his demands. iwould hate to see hamer lower their standards to make a shredder guitar. mustaine sucks. hamer makes real instruments
J
Jessie Sammler
Guest
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
I actually like much of Dave Mustaine's music, but I have to say I admire Hamer and other companies that have stood up to him and not changed their policy on endorsement deals to suit him. He's made it really clear that it's all about what the guitar company can do for him, which means that the part about him playing the guitars means nothing to me. Just about any manufacturer can copy a King V for $3,000; how many more headstocks are we going to see on it, anyway?
I actually like much of Dave Mustaine's music, but I have to say I admire Hamer and other companies that have stood up to him and not changed their policy on endorsement deals to suit him. He's made it really clear that it's all about what the guitar company can do for him, which means that the part about him playing the guitars means nothing to me. Just about any manufacturer can copy a King V for $3,000; how many more headstocks are we going to see on it, anyway?
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
I heard that. I'd love one of those.
I heard that. I'd love one of those.
Laughing Kookaburra
New member
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
I've owned a couple of American Hamers, and they are excellent guitars. Way better than some other Ami contemporaies.
I checked out a Hamer non American made semi hollow when I lived down under, and it was a very decent axe. Great price, under $AU600. I would have bought it in a heartbeat, but I knew my Aussie GF was a drag, and that I would have to leave...
I've owned a couple of American Hamers, and they are excellent guitars. Way better than some other Ami contemporaies.
I checked out a Hamer non American made semi hollow when I lived down under, and it was a very decent axe. Great price, under $AU600. I would have bought it in a heartbeat, but I knew my Aussie GF was a drag, and that I would have to leave...
bard2dbone
New member
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
My only real complaint against Hamer is their model names. I have an import double cutaway carved top guitar. I have no idea what to call it.
I've seen my model called the Sunburst. But mine doesn't have a sunburst finish.
I've seen it called the Archtop. But to me an archtop is one of those hollow jazz boxes. These are carved tops.
I've owned the same model twice. I bought one from Guitar Center and started modifying it. I swapped the Duncan Designeds for a set of boutique tapped humbuckers, changed out the tuners, pots, switches and hardware...put in Tone Pros bridge and tailpiece, locking tuners, custom switching, better electronics...etc
It made it into a Les Paul slayer. A friend was really impressed and bought it from me. After I sold it I regretted it and bought another and am doing similar mods to it. I think this time I want to try to make something like the Jimmy Page mod with only three pots and one selector switch. Maybe I'll use Triple Shots. I don't know.
But the point is that even cheap import Hamers are good stuff. And the American ones are great stuff.
My only real complaint against Hamer is their model names. I have an import double cutaway carved top guitar. I have no idea what to call it.
I've seen my model called the Sunburst. But mine doesn't have a sunburst finish.
I've seen it called the Archtop. But to me an archtop is one of those hollow jazz boxes. These are carved tops.
I've owned the same model twice. I bought one from Guitar Center and started modifying it. I swapped the Duncan Designeds for a set of boutique tapped humbuckers, changed out the tuners, pots, switches and hardware...put in Tone Pros bridge and tailpiece, locking tuners, custom switching, better electronics...etc
It made it into a Les Paul slayer. A friend was really impressed and bought it from me. After I sold it I regretted it and bought another and am doing similar mods to it. I think this time I want to try to make something like the Jimmy Page mod with only three pots and one selector switch. Maybe I'll use Triple Shots. I don't know.
But the point is that even cheap import Hamers are good stuff. And the American ones are great stuff.
Jeffrec
New member
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
The original model was called the "Sunburst", then in 1991 they added the "Archtop" after carving the maple cap similar to the Les Paul. It's been renamed a few times since then.
BTW, I love Hamers!
The original model was called the "Sunburst", then in 1991 they added the "Archtop" after carving the maple cap similar to the Les Paul. It's been renamed a few times since then.
BTW, I love Hamers!
BTMN
LifeIsGoodologist
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
Oh yeah, I'm aware of all that. I'm just posting that the current import the cat above my post has is probably called a Sunburst Archtop. Yet all these names have been used in various forms by Hamer over the years. Just as ole Gibber has about 25 and more LP named models over the years. I have a '79 Sunburst and two late '90s Import Flat top Sunbursts similar to my '79. I have had a couple other Sunburst Archtops in the past. All Fun guitars.
Oh yeah, I'm aware of all that. I'm just posting that the current import the cat above my post has is probably called a Sunburst Archtop. Yet all these names have been used in various forms by Hamer over the years. Just as ole Gibber has about 25 and more LP named models over the years. I have a '79 Sunburst and two late '90s Import Flat top Sunbursts similar to my '79. I have had a couple other Sunburst Archtops in the past. All Fun guitars.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
You mean something like a Chapparal, Centaur, Californian, or Steve Stevens? All Hamer designs, all "shredder" guitars that according to your statements are not real instruments and therefore cannot be Hamers... :smack:
A guitar being classified as a "shredder" guitar or "classic" guitar is close-minded enough as it is considering the plethora of "out of that particular box" tones almost any guitar can generate.
But condemning an entire and hugely broad "genre" of instruments regardless of manufacturer, even worse to "compliment" one specific maker that ironically produces exactly that style as well... Well, that´s just shutting yourself off from the real world entirely and basing your statements about items upon your apparent hatred for a person that you associate with them.
"Chevrolets aren´t safe, Dale Earnhardt died in one"
"I don´t like John Mayer, therefore Fenders are crap"
"Paypal is great becasue they´re not owned by eVilbay"
These three statements echo the validity of yours by presenting information as truth that has very little if any basis in real world facts and instead mereley showcasing your disdain for the part of the statement that nobody was talking about in the first place.
Wake up, man
You mean something like a Chapparal, Centaur, Californian, or Steve Stevens? All Hamer designs, all "shredder" guitars that according to your statements are not real instruments and therefore cannot be Hamers... :smack:
A guitar being classified as a "shredder" guitar or "classic" guitar is close-minded enough as it is considering the plethora of "out of that particular box" tones almost any guitar can generate.
But condemning an entire and hugely broad "genre" of instruments regardless of manufacturer, even worse to "compliment" one specific maker that ironically produces exactly that style as well... Well, that´s just shutting yourself off from the real world entirely and basing your statements about items upon your apparent hatred for a person that you associate with them.
"Chevrolets aren´t safe, Dale Earnhardt died in one"
"I don´t like John Mayer, therefore Fenders are crap"
"Paypal is great becasue they´re not owned by eVilbay"
These three statements echo the validity of yours by presenting information as truth that has very little if any basis in real world facts and instead mereley showcasing your disdain for the part of the statement that nobody was talking about in the first place.
Wake up, man
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bard2dbone
New member
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
It is a double cutaway carved top with binding. I refer to it as 'the poor man's PRS Santana'. When I bought it from the first owner it still had the original tag, which called ita 'SATF' which probably stands for 'Sunburst Arched Top, Flamed'. One of those words is accurate. It's an unstained carved top made of fairly bust maple. But somehow it never occurred to anyone that 'BCTF' would be more accurate. Or even 'NCTF'.
It is a double cutaway carved top with binding. I refer to it as 'the poor man's PRS Santana'. When I bought it from the first owner it still had the original tag, which called ita 'SATF' which probably stands for 'Sunburst Arched Top, Flamed'. One of those words is accurate. It's an unstained carved top made of fairly bust maple. But somehow it never occurred to anyone that 'BCTF' would be more accurate. Or even 'NCTF'.
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
Notable Hamer users
* K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), known for his famous Hamer Flyings V's.
* Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
* Wolf Hoffmann (Accept)
* Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), known for his custom-built 5-neck Hamer guitar.
* Tom Dumont (No Doubt)
* Marc Amendola (Coretez)
* Frank Aresti (Fates Warning, Dragonspoon)
* Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)
* Gustaf Hielm (Meshuggah)
* Billy Joel
* John Werner (Andrew W.K.)
* Andy Summers (The Police)
* Gary Moore
* Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
* Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), friend of Paul Hamer
* Lyle Workman
* Vernon Reid
* Ty Tabor
* Doug Pinnick
* Stone Gossard
* Billy Gibbons
* James Honeyman-Scott
* Tom Peterson
* Sting
* Pete Farndon
* Dave Edmunds
* Mark Knopfler
* John Entwhistle
* Elliot Easton
* Chris Hannah (Propagandhi)
* Ricky Medlocke
* Steve Stevens
* Rick Savage (Def Leppard)
* Steve Clarke (Def Leppard)
* Audley Freed
* Keb' Mo'
* Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
* Johnny Ramone
Notable Hamer users
* K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), known for his famous Hamer Flyings V's.
* Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
* Wolf Hoffmann (Accept)
* Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), known for his custom-built 5-neck Hamer guitar.
* Tom Dumont (No Doubt)
* Marc Amendola (Coretez)
* Frank Aresti (Fates Warning, Dragonspoon)
* Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)
* Gustaf Hielm (Meshuggah)
* Billy Joel
* John Werner (Andrew W.K.)
* Andy Summers (The Police)
* Gary Moore
* Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
* Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), friend of Paul Hamer
* Lyle Workman
* Vernon Reid
* Ty Tabor
* Doug Pinnick
* Stone Gossard
* Billy Gibbons
* James Honeyman-Scott
* Tom Peterson
* Sting
* Pete Farndon
* Dave Edmunds
* Mark Knopfler
* John Entwhistle
* Elliot Easton
* Chris Hannah (Propagandhi)
* Ricky Medlocke
* Steve Stevens
* Rick Savage (Def Leppard)
* Steve Clarke (Def Leppard)
* Audley Freed
* Keb' Mo'
* Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
* Johnny Ramone
BTMN
LifeIsGoodologist
Re: Why don't more "known" players use Hamer guitars?
The USAs definetly live up to the Sunburst Arched Top Flamed label. I'm not sure what your initials are so I cant tell if they are a good thing or a bad thing. :dunno:
One of my Hamer import Sunbursts has a plain top that actually is very unique looking. Kinda like the old Sammy Hager song "Plain Jane".
The USAs definetly live up to the Sunburst Arched Top Flamed label. I'm not sure what your initials are so I cant tell if they are a good thing or a bad thing. :dunno:
One of my Hamer import Sunbursts has a plain top that actually is very unique looking. Kinda like the old Sammy Hager song "Plain Jane".